METHODS AND PROCEDURE

Chapter III

METHODS AND PROCEDURE

 

This chapter will discuss the method of research to be used, the respondents of the study, the sampling technique, the instrument to be used, the validation of the instrument, the administration of the of the instrument and the statistical treatment of the data that will be gathered.

 

Method of Research to be Used

 

There are three kinds of research methods, correlational, experimental and descriptive. The correlational kind of research method is used due to ethical problems with experiments. Moreover, it is also used due to practical problems with experiments. Moreover, inferring causality from correlation not actually impossible, but very difficult. This mode of study is widely applicable, cheap, and usually ethical. Nonetheless, there exist some "third variable" issues and measurement problems. The correlational research refers to studies in which the purpose is to discover relationships between variables through the use of correlational statistics (r). The square of a correlation coefficient yields the explained variance (r-squared). A correlational relationship between two variables is occasionally the result of an outside source, so we have to be careful and remember that correlation does not necessarily tell us about cause and effect. If a strong relationship is found between two variables, using an experimental approach can test causality.

 

On the other hand, the experimental method is the only method that can be used to establish cause-and-effect relationships. That is, it is the only one that can be used to explain the bases of behavior and mental processes. In this method, the subjects are split into two (or more) groups. One group, called the experimental group gets the treatment that the researcher believes will cause something to happen (this treatment is formally called the independent variable). The experimental and control groups are compared on some variable that is presumed to reflect the effects of the treatment, or outcome. This is formally referred to as the dependent variable.

 

And lastly, the descriptive research method uses observation and surveys. In this method, it is possible that the study would be cheap and quick. It could also suggest unanticipated hypotheses. Nonetheless, it would be very hard to rule out alternative explanations and especially infer causations. Thus, this study will use the descriptive approach.  This descriptive type of research will utilize interviews, questionnaires and observation in the study.  To illustrate the descriptive type of research, Creswell (1994) will guide the researcher when he stated: Descriptive method of research is to gather information about the present existing condition.  The purpose of employing this method is to describe the nature of a situation, as it exists at the time of the study and to explore the cause/s of particular phenomena. The researcher opted to use this kind of research considering the desire of the researcher to obtain first hand data from the respondents so as to formulate rational and sound conclusions and recommendations for the study.

 

This study basically intends to identify the roles of involved in parenting a child with AS and high stress. The primary source of data will come from a researcher-made questionnaire with selected parents with  a child suffering from AS. 

 

The secondary sources of data will come from published articles from social science journals, theses and related studies on health and child care.

 

For this research design, the researcher will gather data, collate published studies from different local and foreign universities and articles from social science journals, distribute sampling questionnaires; arrange interviews; and make a content analysis of the collected documentary and verbal material.  Afterwards, the researcher will summarize all the information, make a conclusion based on the null hypotheses posited and provide insightful recommendations on the dealing with parent roles.

 

Respondents of the Study

The general population for this study will be composed of selected parents of children with AS, numbering thirty (30) respondents. 

 

Instruments to be Used

To determine the roles of parents involved in the rearing of a child with AS, the researcher will prepare a set of guide questions that will be asked to the intended respondents. 

 

Part 1 will determine the reactions of the parent on upon learning the disorder of the child and their consequent actions and perceptions with regards to parenting.

 

Part 2 will identify the reaction of the parents to the stress related to the care of their child with AS. The questions shall be designed to bring out answers on how parents deal with the difficulties of parenting a child suffering from a disorder.

 

Part 3 of the question will ask for the characteristics of the parents according to age, gender, general location, and educational attainment.

 

 

Validation of the Instrument

For validation purposes, the researcher will initially submit a sample of the set of survey questionnaires and after approval; the interview will be conducted to five respondents.  After the questions were answered, the researcher will ask the respondents for any suggestions or any necessary corrections to ensure further improvement and validity of the instrument.  The researcher will again examine the content of the interview questions to find out the reliability of the instrument.  The researchers will exclude irrelevant questions and will change words that would be deemed difficult by the respondents, to much simpler terms.

 

Administration of the Instrument

The researcher will exclude the five respondents who will be initially used for the validation of the instrument.  The researcher will also tally, score and tabulate all the responses in the provided interview questions.

 

 

 

Sources:

Creswell, J.W. (1994) Research design: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage.

 

 

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