CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter presented how this study dealt with in terms of research

design, sources of data, research locale, subjects of the study, data collection

and instrumentation, and population sampling used for data analysis and

statistical treatment and data.

Research Design

This study employed the descriptive survey research methods of gathering

the necessary data needed which were collected from the photocopy operators in

selected places in San Carlos City, Pangasinan.

The focus was on prevailing conditions, or how a person, group or thing

behaves or function in the present. The main purpose of the design was the

description of phenomenon and in content of containing what causes them or

what are the values and significance (Calderon and Gonzales, 2008).

This design was fitting to this study in that it surveyed on the present

status of knowledge of photocopier operators along radiation and its effects, as

well as their prevailing practices along radiation safety.

In this regard the researchers were able to evaluate, record, analyze and

interpret the profile, knowledge and practices of photocopy operators about

radiation with the use of the questionnaire as the primary tool for gathering data.

35

Sources of Data

The main sources of data in this study were the photocopy operators on

selected places in San Carlos City, Pangasinan, specifically photocopy shops

located near schools anduniversities within the urban areas of San Carlos City,

Pangasinan.

Locale of the Study

Source: Googlemaps © 2015

Legend:

A. VirgenMilagrosaUniversity FoundationB. Gospel of Christ Montessori SchoolC. St. Charles AcademyD. San Carlos CollegeE. Central I and Central II Elementary

SchoolF. Speaker Eugenio Perez Agricultural

SchoolG. Pangasinan State UniversityH. PIMSAT Colleges

36

Figure 7. Map of urban areas of San Carlos City, Pangasinan

Figure 7 shows the locations where photocopy shops are located within

San Carlos City, Pangasinan. The letters denote the universities and schools

while the red stars are the places where photocopy shops are located. The

respondents purposively chose selected photocopy shops near different schools

and universities.

San Carlos City was once known as Binalatongan. From the time of its

founding up to the middle of the 19th century, it was considered as the biggest

and most populous town of Pangasinan composing of the whole third of the

province. It is recorded in history as a bastion of freedom fighters, with famous

uprisings against Spaniards led by Andres Malong (1660) and Juan dela Cruz

Palaris (1762). These heroic acts prompted the Spanish Colonizers to change

the name of the town to San Carlos in honor of King Carlos III of Spain. San

Carlos became a city by virtue of Republic Act No. 4487 on June 19, 1965.

It is classified as a third class city, a place comprised of land measuring a

total of 17, 087 hectares and composes of 86 barangays bounded by the towns

of Lingayen, Binmaley and Calasiao in the north, Bugallon and Lingayen in the

west, Sta. Barbara and Malasiqui in the east, and Basista, Urbiztondo and

Mangatarem in the south.

37

As of 2011, the actual population of the city is 174, 143 and the total

number of household households is 35, 827, according to the City Planning and

Development Office of San Carlos City, Pangasinan.

Population Sampling

For the population sampling of this study, the researchers used purposive

sampling that is known to be appropriate when the study places special

emphasis upon the control of certain specific variables.

The researchers chose photocopy operators and owners in selected areas

in San Carlos City who agreed to serve as respondents. The respondents were

also purposively chosen because they are capable of answering questions

regarding photocopy machine operation and maintenance. There were a total of

48 number of respondents who are either or both employee-operators and/or the

photocopying service shop owners within the 22 photocopying service shops

around the urban areas of San Carlos City, Pangasinan.

Inclusion criteria for therespondents ere as follows:

Owners of photocopy service shops or their staff working as

photocopy machine operator

Adult, that is, at least 18 years of age

Able to read, write and understand simple written instructions

Willing to participate in the study as respondents

38

Research Instrument

Instrumentation and Data Collection

A set of questionnaires was utilized because it is readily accessible and

perceived as most appropriate instrument in gathering data in the study. There

are two parts of the questionnaire. The first part includes the respondents’ profile

as to their name, age, sex, educational attainment, civil status and their length of

service as photocopy operator. The second part includes questions that

determine their knowledge about radiation as to its nature, hazards and effects in

health; and their practices that will evaluate if the safety practices in operating a

photocopy machines are applied in their work. Through survey forms-

questionnaires, the researchers were able to determine if photocopy operators

are knowledgeable about radiation and its effects, and what safety practices they

observe in operating a photocopy machine. Letters of permission signed by the

advisers, program coordinator and dean was given to the proprietors of different

photocopy shops. This allowed the researchers to gather data by approving their

operators to answer the questionnaire.

Permision letters were drafted by the researchers that were used to seek

approval to conduct the study from the college dean and program coordinators

and research advisers. When this was settled, letters of permission to the

photocopy shop owners were also sought so they would llow their photocopier

39

Validation and Testing the Reliability of Questionnaire

Selected Photocopy Operators Answerthe Set of Questionnaire

Repeat the procedures three times for Tower A

Dessimination of Letters of Permission to the selected Photocopy Operators

Collecting the answered Questionnaires from the Operators

Construction of Questionnaire

Approval of Letters of Permission by the Dean, Adviser and Program Coordinator

operator-staffs to consider taking part in this study’s survey phase. Some

proprietors of the photocopy service shops also served as respondents, them

being knowledgeable about the operation of photocopiers as well.

All respondents were given adequate time to answer the survey

questionnaires after the study’s objectives and the instrument have been

explained thoroughly explained and distributed. Clarificatoroy questions from

respondents were entertained to ensure that all questionswere understood so

that their respondes would reflect their true and current state of knowledge on

radiation and their safety practices in their workplace.

The instrument was retrieved on the same day that these were distributed

to ensure 100 perent retrieval rate. Only upon the retrieval of all full

accomplsiehed questionnaire did the researchers commence with data

processing procedures.

40

Figure 8. Course of Data Collection

Validity and Reliability of the Instrument

Questionnaires underwent content validation through the assistance of

research staff of the university’s Research Department, the researchers’ adviser

for research and their research course instructor of Virgen Milagrosa University

Foundation to ensure that the content of the instrument would ably capture and

measure the photocopier operators’ profiles, knowledge and practices on

radiation and radiation safety.

No reliability test was conducted since the researchers haveassumed the

internal consistency of the instrument, as supported by the postulate that an

instrument that is found to be valid can be construed to be reliable as well

(Calmorin and Calmorin, 2004).

Only aftr these two processes were the questionnaires disseminated to

willing respondents-participants to this survey.

41

Tools for Data Analysis

The researchers measured the level of knowledge and practices on

radiation of photocopier operators with the use of different statistical tools.

The following are the tools used in this study are:

Frequency Distribution and Percentages. It was used for descriptions

of respondent’s profile, knowledge, practices, effects and benefits of working as a

photocopier operator.

The given formula for percentage is:

P = fN× 100

Where:

P = Percentage

f = frequency

N = total number of respondents

Mean Score Percentage. It was used to gather the mean percentage

score value of knowledge and practices of the photocopier operators regarding

the nature, hazards and effects of radiation from photocopier machine.

The given formula for percentage is:

% = fN× 100

42

Where:

% = Percentage

f = Mean Score

N = Total number of respondents

The respondents’ knowledge was determined by the use of the table of

Valentin and by counting the number of correct answers on the knowledge

section of the questionnaire. The score was interpreted as follows:

Table 2. Transmutation Table for Knowledge (Valentin, 2009)

Percentage Descriptive Equivalence70% - 100% Highly Knowledgeable50% - 69% Knowledgeable30% - 49% Moderately knowledgeable1% - 29% Slightly knowledgeable

Percentage Descriptive Equivalence Interpretation

70 – 100% Highly knowledgeable (HK)

The respondent at this level has eveloped the fundamental knowledge and skills and core understandings and can transfer these understandings automatically and flexibly trough authentic performance tests

50 – 69% Knolwedgeable (K) The respondent at this level has developed the fndmental knowledge and

43

skills and core understandings and with little guidance from the supervisor and can transfer these understnadingfs through authentic performance tests

30 – 49% Moderately knowledgeable (MK)

The respondent at this level posseses the minimum knowledge and skills and core understandings, but neds help throughout the performance of authentic tasks

1 – 29% Slightly knowledgeable The respondent at this level struggles with his/her understanding; prerequisite and fundamental knowledge and/or skills have not been acquired or developed adequately to aid understanding

The mean score percentage was interpreted based from the knowledge

interpretation from transmutation Table of Valentin (2009) where a mean score

percentage of 70% - 100% will be rated Highly Knowledgeable, 50% - 69% as

Knowledgeable, 30% - 49% as Moderate knowledgeable, 1% - 29% as Slightly

knowledgeable.

Pearson r Correlation

 Pearon Coefficient Moment of Correlation, or simply Peason r, is a

measure of the linear correlation (dependence) between two variables X and Y,

44

giving a value between +1 and −1 inclusive, where 1 is total positive correlation,

0 is no correlation, and −1 is total negative correlation.

This correlation statistical tool is appropriate when the variables to be

paired for association analysis are both quantitative and when normal or

Gaussian distribution can be assumed, The use of this tool also presumes the

existence of linear relationship between paired variables (Calderon and

Gonzales, 2008, and Calmorin and Calmorin, 2004).

Where:N= Numbers of pairs of score∑xy= Sum of products of paired scores∑x= Sum of x scores∑y= Sum of y score∑ y2= Sum of squared y scores

∑ x 2= Sum of squared x scores

45

Obtained statistics values of Pearson r were interpreted as follows:

0.0 – no linear correlation

± 0.01 – 0,25 – minimal correlation

± 0.26 – 0.50 – moderate correlation

± 0.51 – 0.75 – high correlation

± 0.76 – 0.99 – very high correlation

± 1.00 – perfect correlation

All r values were deemd significant or otherwise based on the set alpha

at .05 where α = p.