CHAPTER III

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the research design and methodology used in the study. It describes the

overall approach, the locale of the study, the respondents, sampling method, research instrument,

data gathering procedure, and the statistical treatment of data. The chapter aims to provide a clear

explanation of how the study was conducted to assess the spiritual impact of the house-to-house

visitation conducted by evangelizers on the parishioners of St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Tigaon,

Camarines Sur. By outlining the methods and procedures employed, this chapter ensures that the

study is systematic, reliable, and capable of generating meaningful and valid results.

A. RESEARCH DESIGN

This study employs a descriptive research design utilizing a mixed-method survey

approach in order to assess the spiritual impact of the house-to-house visitation conducted by

evangelizers among the parishioners of St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Tigaon, Camarines Sur. The

descriptive method is appropriate for this research because it seeks to examine and evaluate the

experiences and perceptions of parishioners regarding the pastoral visitation ministry

implemented within the parish community.

The study incorporates both quantitative and qualitative elements in the data collection

process. The quantitative component consists of structured survey questions with fixed-response

options designed to measure specific aspects of the parishioners’ spiritual experiences. These

questions will allow the researcher to systematically assess key variables related to the study,

such as the development of community unity, the influence of the visitation on the understanding
and practice of the Catholic faith, and the growth of the parishioners’ personal relationship with

God. By using standardized response options, the researcher is able to maintain coherence and

consistency in the data gathered from the respondents.

In addition to the structured questions, the research instrument will also include open-

ended questions that allow respondents to freely express their personal experiences and

reflections regarding the house-to-house visitation conducted by the evangelizers. This

qualitative component is intended to capture deeper insights into how the pastoral ministry

affects the spiritual lives of parishioners beyond what can be measured through fixed survey

responses alone. The inclusion of subjective responses enables the researcher to understand the

pastoral and spiritual dimensions of the visitation ministry from the perspective of those who

directly experience it.

Through the integration of both quantitative and qualitative data, this research design

provides a more comprehensive assessment of the evangelization program implemented in St.

Clare of Assisi Parish. The findings of the study will offer valuable insights that may help parish

leaders, the Archdiocese of Caceres, and the Commission on Mission and Evangelization

evaluate and further strengthen their missionary initiatives aimed at fostering the spiritual growth

of the faithful.

B. RESPONDENTS OF THE STUDY

The respondents of this study will be selected parishioners of St. Clare of Assisi Parish in

Tigaon, Camarines Sur who have personally experienced the house-to-house visitation conducted

by the parish evangelizers. These respondents are considered appropriate participants for the
study because they are the direct recipients of the pastoral ministry being examined and are

therefore capable of providing relevant insights regarding its spiritual impact on their lives.

The study will involve parishioners who are members of the parish community and who

have participated in or received visits from the evangelization ministry organized by the parish in

coordination with the Archdiocese of Caceres Commission on Mission and Evangelization.

Through their participation in the visitation program, these individuals have firsthand experience

of the spiritual guidance, prayer, and pastoral interaction provided by the evangelizers.

A selected number of parishioners will be invited to participate in the survey using a

purposive sampling method, wherein respondents are chosen based on their direct involvement

or experience with the house-to-house visitation program. This method ensures that the data

gathered is relevant to the objectives of the study, as the participants are able to meaningfully

reflect on the pastoral initiative being assessed.

The respondents will be requested to answer a survey questionnaire designed to evaluate

the influence of the visitation ministry on three aspects of their spiritual life: the sense of

community and unity within the parish, their understanding and practice of the Catholic faith,

and the development of their personal relationship with God. Their responses will provide

valuable data that will help determine the overall spiritual impact of the evangelization program

implemented in the parish.

C. SAMPLING METHODS
 This study will employ a purposive sampling method in selecting the respondents.

Purposive sampling is a non-probability sampling technique in which participants are chosen

based on specific characteristics that are relevant to the objectives of the research. According to

John W. Creswell, purposive sampling allows the researcher to deliberately select individuals

who have experienced the phenomenon being studied and who can provide meaningful insights

about it.1

In the context of this research, the respondents will be parishioners of St. Clare of Assisi

Parish who have personally experienced the house-to-house visitation conducted by the parish

evangelizers. The selection of respondents will therefore focus on individuals who have been

visited by evangelizers and who are capable of sharing their experiences and perceptions

regarding the spiritual influence of such pastoral initiatives.

This method is appropriate for the study because it ensures that the participants have

direct exposure to the evangelization program being evaluated. By selecting respondents who

have firsthand experience with the visitation, the researcher can obtain more relevant and reliable

data concerning its impact on their spiritual lives, including aspects such as prayer life,

participation in parish activities, and personal relationship with God.

Furthermore, the use of purposive sampling allows the researcher to gather both

quantitative responses from structured survey questions and qualitative insights from subjective

portions of the questionnaire. This combination provides a broader understanding of how house-

to-house evangelization contributes to the spiritual development of parishioners within the

community.

1
Creswell, John W., and J. David Creswell. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods
Approaches. 5th ed., SAGE Publications, 2018.
D. RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

The primary research instrument used in this study is a structured questionnaire designed

to assess the spiritual impact of evangelizers’ house-to-house visitation on the parishioners of St.

Clare of Assisi Parish. The questionnaire was carefully constructed to gather both quantitative

and qualitative data in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the respondents’

experiences and perceptions.

The instrument consists of three main parts. The first part gathers the demographic profile

of the respondents, including basic information such as age, gender, and level of participation in

parish activities. This section aims to provide contextual information that may help interpret the

respondents’ perspectives regarding the evangelization program.

The second part contains closed-ended questions using a Likert-scale format. These items

are designed to measure specific aspects of the spiritual impact of the evangelizers’ visitation,

such as the respondents’ prayer life, participation in church activities, awareness of Catholic

teachings, and sense of connection with the parish community. The Likert scale allows

respondents to indicate the degree to which they agree or disagree with the statements presented,

thereby providing measurable data that can be analyzed statistically.

The third part includes open-ended questions that allow respondents to describe their

personal experiences and reflections regarding the house-to-house visitation conducted by the

evangelizers. This section enables participants to express insights, spiritual experiences, or

suggestions that may not be fully captured by fixed-response items. The inclusion of these

qualitative responses provides a deeper understanding of the personal and spiritual significance

of the visitation program.

by the research adviser and selected experts to ensure clarity, relevance, and alignment with the

objectives of the study. Necessary revisions will be made based on their recommendations to

improve the reliability and effectiveness of the instrument in collecting accurate data.

E. DATA GATHERING

The data for this study will be collected using a survey questionnaire distributed to

selected parishioners of St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Tigaon, Camarines Sur, who have

experienced the house-to-house visitation conducted by the parish evangelizers. The collection

process will follow the steps below:

1. Permission and Coordination: Prior to conducting the survey, formal permission will be

obtained from the parish priest and the parish office to ensure the proper coordination

with parish activities. The Archdiocese of Caceres and the Commission on Mission and

Evangelization will be informed about the study to align it with ongoing pastoral

programs.

2. Distribution of Questionnaires: The questionnaire will be administered to the selected

respondents using purposive sampling, ensuring that all participants have received at least

one house-to-house visitation. The questionnaires may be distributed personally during

parish activities, parish gatherings, or scheduled home visits, depending on the

respondents’ convenience.

3. Instructions and Clarifications: Respondents will be provided with clear instructions on

how to answer the questionnaire. They will be assured of confidentiality and anonymity
 to encourage honest and thoughtful responses. The purpose of the study will also be

explained to ensure informed participation.

4. Collection and Organization: After completion, the questionnaires will be collected and

reviewed for completeness. Quantitative responses from Likert-scale items will be

encoded and organized for statistical analysis, while qualitative responses from open-

ended questions will be compiled and categorized according to emerging themes.

5. Follow-up and Verification: In case of incomplete or unclear responses, follow-up

clarification will be conducted to ensure the reliability and integrity of the collected data.

Through this structured process, the study aims to gather accurate, relevant, and

comprehensive information regarding the spiritual impact of evangelizers’ house-to-house

visitation on the parishioners’ faith and communal life.

F. STATISTICAL TREATMENT

The data collected from the survey questionnaire were organized and analyzed using

Microsoft Excel. Descriptive statistical tools were employed to interpret the findings of the study

in relation to the research objectives. The following statistical tools were utilized:

 Frequency and Percentage – used to describe the demographic profile of the

respondents, including age, gender, and level of participation in parish activities.

 Weighted Mean – used to determine the level of spiritual impact of the house-to-house

visitation conducted by evangelizers on the parishioners. The weighted mean allows the

researcher to measure the degree to which the visitation influences the respondents’ sense
 of community, understanding and practice of the Catholic faith, and personal relationship

with God.

The weighted mean was calculated using the formula:2

WX̅ = \frac{\text{Total of (Number of people × Score)}}{\text{Total number of respondents}}

Where:

 Number of people = how many respondents chose a particular answer

 Score = the value assigned to each answer (for example: Strongly Agree = 5, Agree = 4,

Neutral = 3, Disagree = 2, Strongly Disagree = 1)

 Total number of respondents = all the people who answered

Example:

 10 people said Strongly Agree (5 points) → 10 × 5 = 50

 15 people said Agree (4 points) → 15 × 4 = 60

 5 people said Neutral (3 points) → 5 × 3 = 15

Weighted Mean = (50 + 60 + 15) ÷ (10 + 15 + 5) = 125 ÷ 30 ≈ 4.17

This means that, on average, respondents agree that the house-to-house visitation

positively affects their spiritual life.

The results were analyzed and interpreted in light of the study’s objectives. This approach

allowed the researcher to determine how the house-to-house visitation conducted by evangelizers

influences the spiritual lives of parishioners, particularly in terms of their faith understanding,

community participation, personal prayer life, and relationship with God. Additionally,

qualitative responses from the open-ended questions were thematically analyzed to supplement

2
Creswell, John W., and J. David Creswell. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods
Approaches. 5th ed., SAGE Publications, 2018.
the quantitative findings, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the spiritual

significance of the pastoral visitation program.