Chapter 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the research design, the description of the

respondents, the instruments, and the data-gathering procedure used in this

study. The treatment of the data gathered and how the research assumptions

were tested are likewise the discussed in this chapter.

Research Design

The goal of this study was to discover the emotional struggles among

working Senior High School students of Malasiqui National High School. This

study employed a qualitative phenomenological method of investigation. The

focus here is on people's lived experiences and, as such, putting aside

preconceptions from researchers. It concentrates on the study of human

experience and the meaning of lived phenomena.

Qualitative research, as Bhandari (2024) notes, involves collecting non-

numerical data such as text, video, or audio to explore concepts, opinions,

and experiences. Tenny et al. (2022) expand on this, highlighting its

effectiveness in answering "how" and "why" questions by providing a deeper

understanding of participants' experiences, behaviours, and perspectives.

This flexible approach allows researchers to uncover rich and nuanced

insights into human experiences.

Phenomenological research, according to Tanhueco-Tumapon (2024),

focuses on uncovering the meaning individuals attribute to their lived

 26

experiences. It focuses on subjective experiences, intentionality,

embodiment, and lived time to gain insight into the essence of a

phenomenon. The method aims at understanding how the participants

perceive, interpret, and give meaning to their experiences. By focusing on

the core of human consciousness and perception, phenomenology aligns with

the aim of the study in examining in-depth the emotional struggles

experienced by working Senior High School students.

Respondents of the Study

The respondents for this study will be ten (10) working Senior High

School students from Malasiqui National High School who have experience

balancing work and academic responsibilities. Using purposive sampling,

participants will be selected based on their current employment status, at

least three (3) months of work-study experience, and willingness to share

their emotional struggles. Students who are no longer employed, whose work

does not significantly impact their academics, or are unwilling to participate

will be excluded.

Purposive sampling ensures that the respondents have relevant

experiences aligned with the study's objectives. Participants will be identified

through school records, teacher referrals, or self-identification. This approach

focuses on selecting individuals who can provide meaningful insights into the

emotional struggles of working Senior High School students, offering a deeper

understanding of their challenges and well-being.

 27

Data Gathering Instruments

Using researchers’ semi-structured interview questions about Exploring

the Emotional Struggles of Working Senior High School Students:

The researcher utilized this method of data gathering because it is

cost-effective and minimizes bias while enabling open-ended responses. This

approach provides flexibility to accommodate diverse perspectives related to

the study and ensures that responses remain relevant and specific to the

research objectives. It also encourages respondents to be more cooperative,

as the format is designed to be comfortable and relatable to their

experiences.

The following are the guide questions:

OBJECTIVE 1

Question 1 How does your age influence your ability to balance academic

and work responsibilities?

Question 2 Base on your experience, how do you think does your gender

shapes your approach to managing stress and maintaining focus as a working

student?

Question 3 In what ways does your current grade level influence your ability

to balance the demands of schoolwork and employment?

Question 4 What type of work or occupation do you currently engage in?

OBJECTIVE 2
 28

Question 5 As a working student, what are the primary sources of stress you

experience as a working student

Question 6 How has working while studying influenced your self-esteem and

confidence?

Question 7 In what ways do you prioritize and act self-care into your routine

while having do balance your dual demands of work and academic

responsibilities?

Question 8 Do you ever feel isolated from your peers or family due to your

dual responsibilities? In what ways?

OBJECTIVE 3

Question 9 Can you explain how academic-related stressors, such as exams

or project deadlines, contribute to your overall emotional challenges?

Question 10 How do work-related pressures, like long hours or demanding

tasks, affect your academic focus and mental stability?

Question 11 How do family responsibilities affect your emotional well-being

as a working student, and what emotional struggles do they create for you?

Question 12 What personal challenges have you faced, and how do they

impact your ability to manage work, academics, and emotional well-being?

Validation of the Instrument

To ensure the validity of the research instrument, researchers will

seek assistance from master teachers with at least five years of

 29

experience. The principal of Malasiqui National High School will be asked for a

pproval through a letter of request. The chosen evaluators will check

the reliability of the instrument and give suggestions to enhance the quality

of the instrument. Careful consideration and incorporation of the feedback

will be done in the final version of the instrument.

Once the evaluators approve the revised instrument, the researchers

will prepare the final copies for use in the data collection process, including

interviews. This process ensures the appropriateness and effectiveness of the

instrument in gathering accurate and reliable data.

Data Gathering Procedure

Before conducting the study, the researchers will submit a letter to the

Principal, Assistant Principal as well as the faculty members concerned to

obtain the permission to conduct this study inside the campus. Researchers

will subject the self-developed research instrument to reliability and validity

evaluations to ensure the accuracy and quality of the data collected from the

respondents. Once the request letters are approved, the researchers will

conduct the interviews.

The researchers will provide a clear and thorough explanation of the

study to the respondents, ensuring they can answer the interview questions

honestly and accurately. The significance of the research will also be

emphasized to ensure participants have a full understanding of its purpose.

Following the interview, the researchers will organize, analyze, and interpret

the responses collected from the participants.

 30

Data Analysis

The collected data of emotional struggles of working Senior High

School students will be analyzed using thematic analysis, a method that

involves identifying and organizing recurring patterns from interview

responses into meaningful themes. This approach will help uncover key

aspects of the students’ experiences, such as academic pressures, work-

related stressors, family obligations, and personal challenges. Thematic

analysis is particularly effective for exploring complex emotional experiences,

as it captures the depth and diversity of participants’ perspectives, providing

valuable insights into the factors that shape their well-being.

To ensure accuracy and reliability, the researchers will anonymize all

interview transcripts by assigning pseudonyms to protect participants'

privacy while maintaining contextual relevance. Transcripts will be completed

within 24 hours to allow researchers to engage with the data promptly and

gain a deeper understanding of the participants' narratives. Transparency and

honesty will be maintained throughout the process by carefully documenting

coding decisions, conducting peer reviews, and ensuring alignment with the

study's objectives. By systematically analyzing the participants’ responses,

the study aims to provide meaningful insights into the challenges and coping

mechanisms of working Senior High School students, contributing to a

broader understanding of their emotional struggles.

 31

Data Familiarization

The preliminary data such as the written transcripts as well as

transcriptions audio files will be thoroughly evaluated by the researchers.

During this process, the researchers seek to ensure the comprehension of the

content of the data and locating and rectifying any mistakes present.

Generating Initial Codes

At this stage, researchers will derive first codes. These concepts will be

embedded within data and will serve as succinct tags to mark key aspects

and concepts. The researchers will begin with some words and phrases as

outstanding ideas, then move on to common words and phrases and divide

them into the relevant concepts.

Organize Codes into Potential Themes

Once the codes of the data and their meanings have been developed

and defined, the next step researchers will take is to group together related

codes with the aim of determining the possible themes that they will take. In

other words, finding areas of similarity amongst the codes of the themes. The

resulting themes will represent the various significant characteristics of the

data captured in relation to the problem being investigated.

 32

Review and Refine Themes

At this point, the researchers will examine these themes to check

whether all of them are substantiated and are not overlapping each other. It

is also possible that the researchers have to go back to the available data to

confirm the feasibility of the themes and alter them in order to increase their

precision and clarity. The goal is to develop a set of themes that are strong

and clearly defined.

Develop a Coding Scheme

Following theme identification, researchers will develop a

comprehensive coding scheme to guide data analysis. This scheme will

comprise predefined operational definitions and guidelines to ensure inter-

rater reliability and consistency in the coding process. Researchers will

thoroughly document the scheme and disseminate it to all research team

members.

Coding Scheme and Analyze Data

Researchers will utilize the established coding scheme to code each

data point according to the pre-defined themes. This process, managed by

researchers, will facilitate the identification of patterns and relationships

within the data. Appropriate software may be employed by researchers for

data management and analysis.

 33

Subsequently, researchers will perform thematic analysis to inform the

interpretation of findings and address the research questions. Rigorous

attention will be paid by researchers to data accuracy and contextual

precision to ensure the generalizability of findings.

Finally, researchers will enhance the credibility and trustworthiness of

the research through a robust validation process. This will involve peer review

by independent researchers and, where ethically permissible and feasible,

the provision of raw data to participants for verification of the findings by

researchers. This multi-faceted approach, overseen by researchers, aims to

ensure the integrity and reliability of the study's conclusions.

Ethical Considerations

The participants in this study will not be subjected to any form of harm.

Before the interview begins, the selected respondents from the Senior High of

Malasiqui National High School will be asked to provide their full consent. The

privacy of all participants will be safeguarded, and their voluntary

participation will be highly respected. Additionally, participants will retain the

right to withdraw from the study at any time, should they choose to do so.

The data collected will be handled with strict confidentiality, ensuring

that respondents’ information is protected. Misrepresentation of primary data

or the inclusion of misleading information will be avoided, and the findings

will not be presented in a biased manner. The researchers will uphold the

highest level of objectivity during discussions and analyses throughout the

study. Furthermore, any affiliations, sources of funding, or potential conflicts

 34

of interest will be fully disclosed. Lastly, all communications related to this

action research will be conducted with honesty and transparency.

Research Limitations

This research focuses on the emotional struggles of working Senior

High School students. It is important to acknowledge its limitations, as

recognizing these can help improve the quality and applicability of the

findings.

 The small sample size consisting of 10 participants makes it difficult to

generalize to the population of working Senior High School students.

 The focus is on a specific group of working students, narrowing the

range of emotional struggles explored.

 Only certain aspects of the students' emotional experiences are

examined, limiting the overall understanding of their challenges.

 Some participants may be reluctant to discuss their emotional

struggles, affecting the depth of the data.

 Time constraints impacted the data collection process, limiting the

amount of data gathered.

 35

Bibliography

A. Books

Baum, Sandy. (2010). Student Work and the Financial Aid System.
Understanding the Working College Student, Routledge.

Tenny, S., Brannan, J. & Brannan, G. D. (2025). Qualitative study.

In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.

B. Unpublished /Thesis Dissertations

Rissa Mae L. Alarilla. (2024). Inspiring Journeys of Resilience and

Success of Working Students: Real Life Stories of Overcoming
Obstacles. Thesis, Central Mindanao College, Kidapawan City.

Candelasa, L. et al., (2024). Preferred time management

techniques among working students. Thesis, International
Multidisciplinary Journal of Research for Innovation,
Sustainability, and Excellence.

Castillon, W. et al., (2024). Social and emotional learning affecting

the academic performance of senior high school students in
Divine Word College of San Jose. Thesis, Divine Word
College, San Jose.

Simpson M. Slade (2023). The Effects of Social-Emotional Learning,

Classroom Relationships, and Collaborative Learning on
Students’ Emotional Intelligence and Academic Achievement.
Thesis, Minnesota State University Moorhead.

C. Electronic Sources
 36

Bailey, S. (2022). Clearing the hurdles: Concrete steps to helping

students overcome academic struggles. CEA Critic, Retrieved
from [Link]

Barman, L. et al., (2023). Hardness or resignation: How

emotionalchallenges during work-based education influence
the professional becoming of medical students and student
teachers. Vocations and Learning, Retrieved from.
[Link]

Beddoe, L., Baker, M., Cox, K., & Ballantyne, N. (2024). Mental health
struggles of social work students: Distress, stigma, and
perseverance. Qualitative Social Work, Retrieved from.
[Link]

Deng, Y., Cherian, J., Khan, N. U. N., Kumari, K., Sial, M. S., Comite, U.,
Gavurova, B., & Popp, J. (2022). Family and academic stress and
their impact on students’ depression level and academic
performance. Frontiers in Psychiatry, Retrieved from.
[Link]

Drăghici, G.-L., & Cazan, A.-M. (2022). Burnout and maladjustment

among employed students. Frontiers in Psychology, Retrieved from.
[Link]

Fernandha, A., & Grasiaswaty, N. (2022). Role conflict and well-being

among working students: The viewpoint of a full-timer. Journal
Educative: Journal of Educational Studies, Retrieved from .
[Link]

Gomez, A. M. C., Calonia, J. L., & Huera, M. D. (2021). Stress and coping
strategies of senior high school students: Basis for action
plan. Sapienza: International Journal of Interdisciplinary
Studies, Retrieved from.
[Link]
 37

Iuga, I. A., & David, O. A. (2024). Emotion regulation and academic

burnout among youth: A quantitative meta- analysis.
Educational Psychology Review, Retrieved from.
[Link]

Liu, Z., Xie, Y., Sun, Z., Liu, D., Yin, H., & Shi, L. (2023). Factors associated
with academic burnout and its prevalence among university
students: A cross- sectional study. BMC Medical
Education, Retrieved from [Link]

Mofatteh, M. (2020). Risk factors associated with stress, anxiety, and

depression among university undergraduate
students. AIMS Public Health, Retrieved from
[Link]

Muhyatun, M. (2023). Overcoming mental and emotional challenges in

high school students: The role of the counselor in school. Jurnal
Kajian Pendidikan Dan Psikologi, Retrieved from.
[Link]

Nirmalasari, L., & Minai, M. (2023). Role conflict and performance of part
time students in Indonesia: The effect of burnout, coping behavior
and spiritual intelligence. Annals of Management and Organization
Research, Retrieved from .
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Pascoe, M. C., Hetrick, S. E., & Parker, A. G. (2020). The impact of stress
on students in secondary school and higher education.
International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, Retrieved from .
[Link]

Romano, H. J. M., Abadiano, M. N., & PhD. (2021). The lived experiences of
working senior high school students in the new normal: A
grounded theory. Turkish Online Journal of Qualitative
 38

Inquiry, Retrieved from .

[Link]

Saputra, C. V., Rostiana, R., & Hindradjat, J. (2023). The role of time
management and sleep quality on the well-being of
working students. Indonesian Journal of Global Health
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[Link]

Verulava, T., & Jorbenadze, R. (2022). The impact of part-time

employment on students’ health. Malta Medical Journal, Retrieved
from. [Link]
 39

APPENDIX A

A LETTER REQUESTING PERMISSION FROM THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

TO CONDUCT THE STUDY

Republic of the Philippines

Malasiqui National High School
Malasiqui, Pangasinan

Ronald C. Celino
Principal IV
Malasiqui National High School

Sir.
The undersigned is a Grade 11 Senior High School Students of
Malasiqui National High School who are presently conducting a research
study entitled, "Exploring the Emotional Struggles among Working
Senior High School Students". This study serves as a partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the Practical Research 1 Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics

In view thereof, in behalf of the group 3 would like to request

permission from your office to allow the researchers to interview selected
students as participants of the present study. Rest assured that all data
gathered will be kept with strictest confidentiality.

Fervently hoping for your approval thereof. Thank you and God bless!

Respectfully yours,

REGIE LYN A. FERRER MICHELLE D. DOMANTAY,

EdD
(Researcher/Leader) (Research Adviser)

Recommending Approval:
VANESSA C. RAPSING, PhD
(Officer-In-Charge, SHS)

Approved:
 40

RONALD C. CELINO
Principal IV

APPENDIX B
A LETTER REQUESTINCIP PERMISSION FROM THE ASSISTANT SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL TO CONDUCT THE STUDY

Republic of the Philippines

Malasiqui National High School
Malasiqui, Pangasinan

VANESSA C. RAPSING, PhD

Officer-In-Charge, Asst. Principal II
Malasiqui National High School

Madam.

The undersigned is a Grade 11 Senior High School Students of

Malasiqui National High School who are presently conducting a research
study entitled " Exploring the Emotional Struggles among Working
Senior High School Students ". This study serves as a partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the Practical Research 1 Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics.

In view thereof, in behalf of the group 3 would like to request

permission from your office to allow the researchers to interview selected
students as participants of the present study. Rest assured that all data
gathered will be kept with strictest confidentiality.

Fervently hoping for your approval thereof. Thank you and God bless!

Respectfully yours,
REGIE LYN A. FERRER
(Researcher/Leader)

MICHELLE D. DOMANTAY, EdD

(Research Adviser)

Approved:
 41

VANESSA C. RAPSING, PhD

Officer-In-Charge, Asst. Principal II
APPENDIX C
A LETTER TO THE RESPONDENT

Republic of the Philippines

Malasiqui National High School
Malasiqui, Pangasinan

Date
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________

Dear Respondent,
The undersigned is a Grade 11 Senior High School Student of Malasiqui
National High School who is presently conducting a research study entitled,
“Exploring the Emotional Struggles among Working Senior High
School Students”. This study serves as a partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the Practical Research 1 Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics.

In behalf of our group may I request a portion of your most precious

time to be one of the participants in the present study. Your all-out support
and cooperation will be of great help to us in the completion of this vital
requirement of our Practical Research 1.

Thank you very much and GOD BLESS!

Respectfully yours,
REGIE LYN A. FERRER MICHELLE D. DOMANTAY,
EdD
(Researcher/Leader) (Research Adviser)

Recommending Approval:

VANESSA C. RAPSING, PhD

(Officer-In-Charge, SHS)
 42

Approved:
______________________
______________________
(Signature over printed name)

APPENDIX D
A LETTER TO THE EVALUATORS ON THE CONTENT VALIDITY OF THE
INSTRUMENT

Republic of the Philippines

Malasiqui National High School
Malasiqui, Pangasinan

_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
Sir/Madam:

The undersigned is a Grade 11 Senior High School Students of

Malasiqui National High School who are presently conducting a research
study entitled, “Exploring the Emotional Struggles among Working
Senior High School Students”. This study serves as a partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the Practical Research 1 Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics.

In this regard, may I request your most precious time to go over the
attached guided questions which will be used to establish the content validity
of the instrument. Your expertise along the area will contribute very much to
the improvement of the instrument.

Thank you very much for sharing us your time and expertise.
Respectfully yours,

REGIE LYN A. FERRER MICHELLE D. DOMANTAY,

EdD
(Researcher/Leader) (Research Adviser)

Recommending Approval:

VANESSA C. RAPSING, PhD

(Officer-In-Charge, SHS)
 43

Approved:
RONALD C. CELINO
Principal IV

APPENDEX E

A QUESTIONNAIRE ESTABLISHING THE CONTENT VALIDITY OF THE

INSTRUMENT

Name: Position/Designation:

Name of Institution:

Direction: Please read all the directions and terms in the research instrument
and rate its content using the scale below. Kindly put a (/) mark on the space
which corresponds to your evaluation; evaluate each indicator to determine
the validity.

Weight Level

5 Very Highly Valid (VHV)

4 Highly Valid (HV)

3 Moderately Valid (MV)

2 Valid (V)

1 Not Valid (NV)

Indicators VHV HV MV V NV

5 4 3 2 1

1. The instructions in all subsections of the

instrument is clear.
2. All the terms are clearly stated.
3. All the items are readable.
4. Enough space is provided to avoid
crowding among the items.
5. The instrument is comprehensive
(it covers areas that are vital in the study)
6. Each item is focused on one particular
thought or idea.
7. The terms are objective, that is, the responses
to be elicited are neither based nor reactive.
 44

8. The terms are systematically arranged

according to desirable sequence.
9. The terms do not overlap each other.
10. The terms are formulated in accordance
with the explicit/implicit objectives

Comments and/or Suggestions

 45

APPENDEX F

SUMMARY OF EVALUATORS’ RATING ON THE CONTENT VALIDITY OF

THE INSTRUMENT

Indicator
1 2 3 Total Average
s
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Total

Average
 46

CURRICULUM VITAE

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

Name : Regie Lyn A. Ferrer

Address : [Link], Malasiqui Pangasinan

Date of Birth : May 14, 2008

Place of Birth : San Benito Norte, Aringay La Union

Parents : Rizaldy C. Ferrer

Margie A. Ferrer

Status : Single

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Graduate Studies

Secondary

Name of School: Malasiqui National High School

Year Graduated: 2024

Elementary

Name of School: Cabatling Elementary School

Year Graduated: 2020

 47

CURRICULUM VITAE

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

Name : Gian Carlo DG. Fernandez

Address : #199 Brgy. Payar, Malasiqui, Pangasinan

Date of Birth : September 01, 2008

Place of Birth : Malasiqui Pangasinan

Parents : Carlito H. Fernandez

Mingie De Guzman

Status : Single

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Graduate Studies

Secondary

Name of School: Malasiqui National High School

Year Graduated: 2024

Elementary

Name of School: Payar Gomez Elementary School

Year Graduated: 2020

 48

CURRICULUM VITAE

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

Name : Jonnalyn Q. Ferrer

Address : #143 Barangay, Tambac, Malasiqui, Pangasinan

Date of Birth : November 18, 2007

Place of Birth : Barangay, Tambac, Malasiqui, Pangasinan

Parents : Benigno F. Ferrer Jr.

May Ann T. Quinicon

Status : Single

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Graduate Studies

Secondary

Name of School: Malasiqui National High School

Year Graduated: 2024

Elementary

Name of School: Malasiqui Central School

Year Graduated: 2020

 49

CURRICULUM VITAE

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

Name : Kurt Jakob E. Dizon

Address : Brgy. Polong Sur, Malasiqui Pangasinan

Date of Birth : December 14, 2007

Place of Birth : Dagupan City, Pangasinan

Parents : Jeffrey A. Dizon

Jane E. Dizon

Status : Single

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Graduate Studies

Secondary

Name of School: Malasiqui National High School

Year Graduated: 2024

Elementary

Name of School: Malasiqui Central School

Year Graduated: 2020