CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

The researchers used comparative research. This type of research is often used to analyse

differences between two groups to understand them better. The groups which were used as the

respondents were the optimistic and pessimistic students in Fiat Lux Academe. They were

identified based on the results of the pre-test. The researchers compared two (2) dependent

variables – the academic grades of optimistic grade ten (10) students and those of the pessimistic

students for them to be able to draw conclusions regarding their difference.

The goal of the researchers in conducting the study is to determine how much the

difference between the academic performances of optimistic and pessimistic students in the

institution is, and which of the two groups have higher academic performances.

Sampling Technique

According to Singh, S. (2018), sampling is one of the most important factors in a study

because it determines the accuracy of a researcher’s survey result. For this study, the category of

sampling used is the Non-Probability Sampling, since the selection of the population and sample

is not randomized; only the grade ten (10) students are to be selected.
 Under the Non-Probability Sampling, Purposive Sampling and Quota Sampling have

been used. For the Purposive Sampling, the samples are chosen based on the intention of the

study and the elements that were needed for the purpose of the study were the ones that were

selected – since the aim of the study is to determine the difference between the academic

performances of the optimistic and pessimistic grade ten (10) students, the selected samples were

only from the tenth grade level. Lastly, for the Quota Sampling, the researchers had set an aim to

have fifty 50% of optimistic and fifty 50% of pessimistic students as samples.

Research Participants

The research work involved the overall total of eighty (80) respondents from the selected

Junior High School students of Fiat Lux Academe – Dasmariñas, specifically from the grade ten

(10) students. The participants’ age and gender were identified.

Research instrument

Request Letter – To be able to make them answer the research survey and

questionnaires, the researchers asked permission to their subject teachers with a permission letter

(signed by the subject teacher as well as the administrators) during the teachers’ vacant period

indicating that we would have to ask some of their period during their class hours (probably ten

to fifteen minutes).
 Informed Consent – The first part of the survey was to explain briefly about the purpose

of the study that was conducted. In the informed consent, the researchers explained the topic of

the study as well as the names and aims of the researchers. Under the informed consent, names

and signatures of the respondents were requested, which served as the proof of agreement that

they agreed to be part of the conducted study.

Personal Data Sheet – Attached along with the informed consent and survey sheets are

the personal data sheets which the respondents had to fill up before answering the questions in

the actual survey sheets. The personal data sheets contain data regarding the respondents’ name,

age, gender, birthdate, e-mail address and home address.

Survey Sheet – For the questions that would be used for the identification of the students

as optimists or pessimists, the survey sheets include twelve (12) agree/disagree questions based

on Alan Loy McGinnis’ twelve characteristics of optimists and three (3) illustration analysis to

answer with two (2) choices each.

Validation of Instruments

The stated research instruments were validated by the subject teacher of the researchers.

The publication of the request letter, informed consent, personal data form, and survey sheets

were checked beforehand.

After the approval for the instruments, the request letter was signed by the subject teacher

as well as the school vice principal and principal.

The researchers conducted the data on January 21, 2019 in Fiat Lux Academe

Dasmariñas. They were permitted to gather data from the three (3) sections of Grade 10 as they

approached the students’ subject teacher. They presented the request letter to the subject teacher

and discussed what their research is all about. After that, they asked permission to do the data

gathering to their students.

The researchers proceeded to the data gathering. They disseminated the survey sheets

with attached form for the students’ consent and personal data. Even though the purpose of the

study was stated in the informed consent sheet, the researchers explained them to the students

verbally.

The researchers’ survey form is composed of the questions regarding their names, grade

and section, age, final academic grades, and Facebook account or cellphone number. The survey

questions will be composed of the following: three (3) illustration analysis and twelve (12)

agree/disagree survey questions. The agree/disagree survey questions will be based from Alan

Loy Mcginnis’ twelve characteristics of optimists. With this survey questions, the researchers

were able to distinguish easily the optimist and pessimist in the research respondents.

In order to make sure that the respondents’ answers to the questions are accurate, the

researchers instructed the students to check their average grades from their grade certificates

attached in their handbooks, and if they are not sure on what their grades are because of not

bringing their handbooks, the researchers will contact them via Facebook or e-mail with the help

of the information that they included in the personal data sheets so that they could be able to send

their academic grades.

instructions.

Data Analysis Procedure

Using the data gathered, the researchers were able to observe the difference of the

academic performances of the optimistic and pessimistic students who were selected as the

respondents. The participants were identified as the optimists and pessimists by using the data

from agree/disagree questions and illustration analysis in the survey sheets.

The data from the latest academic grades of both groups were divided into four ranges

and the researchers had given corresponding scores to each grade ranges. The ranges and points

are as follows:

 75-79 = 1

 80-84 = 2

 85-89 = 3

 90-94 = 4

The results were obtained using the method called Two Sample Z-test which is used for

comparative studies with more than thirty (30) respondents. After determining if there is a

significant difference between the two samples (the academic performances of optimistic and

pessimistic students) with the Normal Distribution Curve or the Bell Curve for the Z-test to

identify which of the hypotheses will be rejected and accepted, the researchers manually
identified which of the two groups of respondents (the optimistic and pessimistic students) have

higher academic performances using the data gathered from the survey questionnaires.

Ethical Consideration

The researchers made sure that there will be no ethical responsibilities violated. They

formulated a request letter for the teachers and principals of both junior and senior high school so

that they were informed formally of what actions the researchers made. The researchers also

created informed consent for the research participants so that they could fully inform them about

the purpose of the study. The researchers made sure that there will be no leaking of information

provided by the participants, as well as maintained the anonymity of the participants in the data

presentation and analysis in order to protect their identity and respect their confidentiality. They

ensured that all of the answers of the data gathered would only be used for academic purposes.

No biases happened on the findings of the data gathered, and lastly, the sources of information

were recognized to avoid plagiarism by using APA citation.