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The Dark at the End of the Feed: A Correlational Study on Doomscrolling and
Psychological Distress Among Senior High School Students
of Cavite National High School

A FIRST NAME MI. SURNAME

B FIRST NAME MI. SURNAME
C FIRST NAME MI. SURNAME
STRAND-SECTION

JUNE 2026
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CHAPTER II
METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the methods and procedures that will be used in

conducting the study. It includes the research design, respondents of the study, data

gathering instruments, data collection procedures, and statistical treatment of data.

The purpose of this chapter is to explain how the researchers will systematically

gather and analyze data to determine the relationship between mobile phone usage

and academic performance among Grade 11 students.

Research Design

This study will utilize a quantitative correlational research design. A

quantitative approach is appropriate because the study aims to collect numerical data

and analyze it using statistical methods. The correlational design is used to determine

whether a significant relationship exists between mobile phone usage and academic

performance among Grade 11 students.

This design does not involve manipulation of variables. Instead, it focuses on

measuring the degree of association between the independent variable, which is

mobile phone usage, and the dependent variable, which is academic performance.

Through this approach, the researchers will be able to identify whether increases or

decreases in mobile phone usage are related to changes in students’ academic

performance.

The use of a correlational design is suitable for this study because it allows the

researchers to examine real-life behaviors of students in their natural setting without

controlling or influencing their actions.

RESEARCH LOCALE
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This study will be conducted at Cavite National High School – Senior High

School, located in Cavite Province, Philippines. The school is a public secondary

institution that offers various academic strands under the Senior High School

curriculum, including the Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM),

Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS), Science, Technology, Engineering, and

Mathematics (STEM), Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL), and Arts and Design

(AD) strands.

Cavite National High School – Senior High School was selected as the

research locale because it has a diverse population of Grade 11 students who actively

use mobile phones for both academic and non-academic purposes. This diversity

allows the researchers to gather data from students with different academic

backgrounds and learning experiences.

Furthermore, the accessibility of the respondents and the availability of

necessary data make the school a suitable location for conducting the study efficiently

and effectively.

Participants of the Study

The participants of this study will be selected Grade 11 students from Cavite

National High School – Senior High School during the School Year 2025–2026. The

respondents will come from different academic strands, namely Accountancy,

Business, and Management (ABM), Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS),

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Technical-Vocational-

Livelihood (TVL), and Arts and Design (AD).

The researchers will use a stratified random sampling technique to ensure that

students from each strand are proportionally represented in the study. This sampling
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method is appropriate because the population is divided into distinct groups or strata

(strands), and respondents will be randomly selected from each group. This helps

improve the representativeness of the sample and reduces sampling bias.

The participants will include students who are currently enrolled in Grade 11

and are willing to participate in the study. They are considered appropriate

respondents because they regularly use mobile phones for both academic and non-

academic purposes.

Participation in the study will be voluntary, and informed consent will be

obtained from the respondents before data collection. The selected participants will

answer a survey questionnaire designed to gather relevant data on their mobile phone

usage and academic performance.

RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

The primary instrument that will be used in this study is a structured survey

questionnaire. The questionnaire is designed to gather relevant data on the

respondents’ mobile phone usage and academic performance.

The survey questionnaire will consist of two main parts. The first part will

collect the demographic profile of the respondents, including age, sex, and strand. The

second part will measure the level of mobile phone usage in terms of frequency and

duration for both academic and non-academic purposes. This section will use a Likert

scale, where respondents will indicate their level of agreement with each statement.

The items included in the questionnaire will be adapted from the Smartphone

Addiction Scale – Short Version (SAS-SV) developed by Kwon et al. (2013), a

validated instrument designed to assess smartphone use among adolescents. This scale

is widely used in research and has been proven to be both reliable and valid in
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measuring patterns of mobile phone usage behavior. Selected items from the scale

will be modified to align with the context of Grade 11 students and to focus on

general mobile phone usage rather than addiction.

For academic performance, the researchers will request the respondents’

grades or General Weighted Average (GWA) for the current semester, which will

serve as the basis for the dependent variable of the study.

To ensure the validity of the instrument, the questionnaire will be reviewed by

research experts or subject teachers to assess its clarity, relevance, and

appropriateness. Necessary revisions will be made based on their recommendations.

Additionally, a pilot test will be conducted among a small group of students who are

not part of the actual respondents to identify any unclear items and to ensure the

reliability of the instrument.

DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE

The researchers will follow a systematic process in collecting the data needed

for the study. First, a formal request letter will be prepared and submitted to the

school principal of Cavite National High School – Senior High School to seek

permission to conduct the study among Grade 11 students. Upon approval, the

researchers will coordinate with subject teachers or class advisers to facilitate the data

collection process.

The researchers will identify the respondents using a stratified random

sampling technique, wherein students from each strand (ABM, HUMSS, STEM,

TVL, and Arts and Design) will be proportionally represented. A random selection

method will be applied within each group to ensure equal representation and minimize

bias.
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Before administering the questionnaire, the researchers will provide the

respondents with an informed consent form explaining the purpose, procedures, and

importance of the study. Participation will be voluntary, and respondents may

withdraw at any time without penalty. The researchers will also ensure that all

responses will be treated with confidentiality and anonymity.

For respondents who are below 18 years old, a parental or guardian’s consent

will be secured prior to their participation in the study. Only those students who have

obtained proper consent will be included as respondents.

After obtaining the necessary consent, the survey questionnaires will be

distributed to the selected participants. Clear instructions will be given to guide them

in answering the questionnaire properly, and sufficient time will be allotted for

completion.

After the questionnaires are completed, the researchers will collect and review

the responses to ensure completeness. The gathered data will then be organized,

tabulated, and prepared for statistical analysis. All information collected will be used

strictly for academic purposes and handled with utmost confidentiality.

DATA ANALYSIS

After the data have been collected, the researchers will organize, tabulate, and

analyze the responses using appropriate statistical tools. The data will be encoded and

summarized to ensure accurate interpretation of the results.

To describe the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of age, sex,

and strand, frequency and percentage distribution will be used.

To determine the level of mobile phone usage, the weighted mean will be

computed based on the responses to the Likert-scale questionnaire items. The results
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will be interpreted using a corresponding verbal description (e.g., very low, low,

moderate, high, very high).

To assess the level of academic performance, the respondents’ General

Weighted Average (GWA) will be collected and categorized based on standard

grading interpretations.

To determine if there is a significant relationship between mobile phone usage

and academic performance, the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient

(Pearson r) will be used. This statistical tool will measure the strength and direction of

the relationship between the two variables.

All statistical computations will be conducted using appropriate tools, and the

results will be presented in tables for proper interpretation and analysis.

POTENTIAL ETHICAL ISSUES

In conducting this study, the researchers recognize the importance of

addressing potential ethical issues to protect the rights and welfare of the respondents.

One of the main ethical concerns is ensuring that participation in the study is

voluntary. The respondents will not be forced to participate, and they may withdraw

from the study at any time without any consequences.

Another ethical issue is informed consent. The researchers will ensure that all

participants fully understand the purpose, procedures, and nature of the study before

agreeing to take part. For respondents who are below 18 years old, a parental or

guardian’s consent will be obtained prior to their participation.

The researchers will also maintain confidentiality and anonymity of the

respondents. Personal information will not be disclosed, and the data collected will be
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used solely for academic purposes. Responses will be kept secure and will not be

shared with unauthorized individuals.

Additionally, the researchers will avoid any form of bias, deception, or

manipulation during the data collection process. The questionnaire will be designed in

a clear and neutral manner to ensure honest and accurate responses from the

participants.

Overall, the researchers will strictly follow ethical standards to ensure that the

study is conducted responsibly and respectfully.