Chapter 3

METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the method and materials that was used by the

researchers. Specifically, the study presents the research design, subject of the

data, data-gathering procedure, and data-gathering instrument and statistical

treatment of data.

Research Design

The researchers used descriptive-correlation method of research. This

was used to determine the students’ significant relationship of the performance in

correct use of function words and figurative language of the students. Moreover,

this kind of research method is appropriate for it determine if two or more

variables are associated with each other and used to describe the present

behaviour or characteristics of a particular population.

As cited by Khalid (2008), correlational research is to determine the

degree of relationship between two or more quantifiable variables. The

relationship thus determined could be used for making predictions. On the other

hand, according to Tuckman (1978), a correlation is an indication of the

predictability of one variable to other.

The study entitled “Students’ Performance in Correct Use of Function

Words and Figurative Language” was conducted at Pangasinan State University,

Lingayen Campus, located at Alvear St. Lingayen, Pangasinan during the first

semester of the A.Y. 2014-2015.

Respondents of the Study

The respondents of this study were the seventy-five (75) English students

from the Junior AB English Program Academic Year 2014-2015. Given the total

population of ninety-four (94) Third Year AB English students, the researchers

randomly chose: thirty-six (36) from section A and thirty-nine (39) from section B

which gave a total of the desired seventy-five (75) respondents.

They were chosen through Stratified Random Sampling. According to

Good (1998), stratified randomly sampling is a process of selecting randomly,

samples from the different strata of the population used in the study. Thus, this is

used when the population of the inquiry has class stratifications or groupings and

is applied when the population is divided into different strata or classes wherein

each class must be represented in the study that is why this sampling was used.

Furthermore, as explained by the US Investopedia, stratified sampling is

a method of sampling that involves the division of a population into smaller

groups known as strata. In stratified random sampling, the strata are formed
based on members’ shared attributes or characteristics. A random sample form

each stratum is taken in a number proportional to the stratum’s size when

compared to the population. In other words, these subset of the strata are then

pooled to form a random sample.

Consequently, the researchers determine a common stratum or class to

which all the elements of the population belong. Then, the researchers divide or

group the elements of the population according to the characteristics inherent in

whole class or stratum that make the elements of the population different from

one another.

Data Gathering Instrument

The researchers partially modified a survey questionnaire as the main

data instrument from the study of Escalada, Jamaica [Link] (2010), the survey

questionnaire was composed of two parts.

The first part of the questionnaire is about personal profile of the

respondents which was modified and involved more profile variables such as

sex, monthly family income, and educational attainment of parents, GPA in

English and Literature subjects, reading habit, reading attitude and media

exposure, excluding the first language spoken, language used at home and

literature subjects taken which was originally involved from the study of

Escalada, Jamaica [Link] (2010).

literature performance was divided into two. The first dealt on correct use of

Function Words which was formulated by the researchers themselves. The

second focused on figurative language along Idiomatic Expression, Figures of

Speech and Proverbial Expression which was adopted from the books written by

Al-Amrey, Melody Raquel (2011) entitled “Content-based English as a

SECOND LANGUAGE: A Multiple Intelligence Approach for College Students”,

and Calixihan, Jovita (2004) entitled “GEM IN AFRO-ASIAN LITERATURE”,

The correct use of Function Words contains fifty (50) items and the figurative

language containing sixty (60) items having three (3) categories, a total of one-

hundred ten (110) items.

Data Gathering Procedure

The researchers addressed a letter asking permission and approval from

the authorities, specifically, from the Campus Executive Director, Chairperson of

the Languages Department, and Thesis Professor. The request was granted, the

researchers then coordinate with the subject teacher to conduct the study and

letters for the respondents were also given in order to know their available time.

Moreover, the researchers explained and distributed the questionnaires

personally and tried to entertain questions from the respondents for some

clarifications which may be raised by the respondents. The questionnaires were

collected by the researchers personally. On the other hand, the data were
collected, tallied and tabulated by the researchers with the guidance of the

statistician. The data tallied and tabulated were given to the statistician for

analysis and computation. Then, the data analysed by the statistician and

interpreted by the researchers.

Statistical Treatment of Data

After all the needed data had been gathered and properly tabulated,

summary tables were constructed and appropriate statistical test were applied to

answer the formulated research problem in Chapter 1.

Specifically, the statistical treatments and methods were used to answer

the research problems. As for problem number 1, which is to determine the

profile of the student-respondents, frequency counts and percentage distribution

were used in taking the percentage as the formula shown below:

P= ( Nf ) x 100
Where: P = percentage

F = frequency

N = number of respondents

To determine the reading habit, reading attitude and media exposure of

the respondents, the average weighted mean was used, using the below formula:
Wxn
AWM =
N

Where: AWM = Average Weighted Mean

W = description

n = respondents

N = total number of the respondents

For the determination of reading habit and reading attitude:

Computed values of AWM were interpreted in the following criteria:

Rating Scale Equivalent Descriptive Equivalent Description

5 4.2 – 5.0 Always Highly Favorable

4 3.4 – 4.19 Often Favorable

3 2.6 – 3.39 Sometimes Moderately Favorable

2 1.8 – 2.59 Seldom Slightly Favorable

1 1 – 1.79 Never Not Favorable

To answer problem no. 2, which is to determine the performance level of

the respondents in terms of correct use of function words and figurative

language, the frequency counts and percentage distribution was used.

Where: P = percentage

F = frequency

N = number of respondents

For the performance level of the students in Correct Usage, the tabulated

scores of each student were interpreted using the scale below:

Score Interval Descriptive Equivalent

0 – 10 very low

11 – 20 low

21 – 30 average

31 – 40 high

41 – 50 very high

For the performance level of the students in Figurative Language, the

tabulated scores of each student were interpreted using the scale below.

Score Interval Descriptive Equivalent

0 – 10 very low
11 – 20 low

21 – 30 average

31 – 40 high

41 – 50 very high

To answer problem no. 3, which sought to determine whether there is a

significant relationship between the students’ performance in correct use of

Function Words and Figurative Language and profile variables, Chi-Square test

was used as shown below:

Σ ( Of −Ef ) 2
Formula: x 2=
Ef

Where:

2
x = Chi-Square

0f = observed frequency

Ef = expected frequency

Σ(0f – Ef) = Algebraic sum of all the squares of (0f-Ef)