qualitative research about technology in the philippines

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Addressing the Ten Commonly Asked Questions about Qualitative Research in the Philippines

2017, The Qualitative Report

There is no doubt that the need for qualitative research has increased and has been felt all around the world. Once feared, detested, or even not much valued by some, qualitative research has now become the rare bird many people are trying to catch. Unfortunately, as more and more people and institutions try to embrace qualitative research, maybe more damage is being done in the process because of the lack of solid understanding of qualitative research. To pave a strong way to excellence in qualitative research conduct and dissemination, it is important to have an idea of the current state of qualitative research. This paper is based on content analysis of the input from 197 higher education professors, administrators, researchers, graduate and doctoral students from 40 higher education institutions in the Philippines. It is based on 10 most commonly asked questions about qualitative research. These questions are grouped into three major themes: the fundamentals, the methodology, an...

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The Qualitative Report

Safary Wa-Mbaleka

There is no doubt that the need for qualitative research has increased and has been felt all around the world. Once feared, detested, or even not much valued by some, qualitative research has now become the rare bird many people are trying to catch. Unfortunately, as more and more people and institutions try to embrace qualitative research, maybe more damage is being done in the process because of the lack of solid understanding of qualitative research. To pave a strong way to excellence in qualitative research conduct and dissemination, it is important to have an idea of the current state of qualitative research. This paper is based on content analysis of the input from 197 higher education professors, administrators, researchers, graduate and doctoral students from 40 higher education institutions in the Philippines. It is based on 10 most commonly asked questions about qualitative research. These questions are grouped into three major themes: the fundamentals, the methodology, and the trustworthiness of qualitative research. Understanding these commonly asked questions can help us pave better the way to quality capability training in qualitative research.

Founded in 2015, the Asian Qualitative Research Association (AQRA) has become a leader in fostering qualitative research practice and education in the Philippines and beyond. Stating in 2016, AQRA has sponsored an annual conference featuring original qualitative research and scholarship. Past conference presenters were invited to submit their papers to The Qualitative Report (TQR) for peer review. As a result of this rigorous process, TQR is delighted to present this special issue in conjunction with AQRA.

Al Gerald Barde

It seems that most people, especially students, at this day and age have been so engrossed with the offers of worldly offers: Technology, Modernization, Commercialism, Social Media, and countless things which seem to feed the hunger for a convenient existence. This research endeavored to unfold the Spiritual realm of people towards the sacred journey towards holiness in imitating Jesus Christ. Qualitative research particularly Interpretative Phenomenology design was employed in this study. Purposive sampling was employed from which fifteen (15) informants participated. Data were gathered by interviewing the informants. The interview was voice recorded. Most of the informants were spiritually inclined and for them to become Christ is a life-long journey, a mission and a vocation. This research concludes that every human person can become like Christ or Alter Christus, regardless of belief and disposition.

Seda Khadimally

Crafting a research design is a daunting task no matter what research method the researcher chooses to work with. Qualitative research study stands as one of the most rigorous and demanding—yet rewarding—research paradigms when the researchers have a narrative, a story to portray in the literature-specific both for their readers and the scientific community. With the intent to describe not only their own personal journey, but also that of those who help unravel previously unexplained phenomena, qualitative researchers undertake a central theme and refer to the lived experiences of their study participants, starting from the data collection stage to analysis and interpretation of their findings. They ask the very fundamental question words (i.e., how, why, and what) with which the study builds up to a rather more profound level. With certain philosophical underpinnings, dimensions, and approaches, qualitative researchers find themselves engaged in a plethora of words, texts, and images (Creswell, 2007). Researchers’ ontological and epistemological positioning additionally informs their choices of methods and methodology, the latter which is a theoretical perspective acting as a bridge between the two (Creswell, 2007). Regarding this and other characteristics, it is also important to note that an impeccable qualitative study design cannot be achieved without researchers’ investing a long time and finances, the resources without which a seamless research study would not be produced. With the purpose of discussing such and several more distinctive characteristics, metaphors, various research paradigms, and considerations throughout, the purpose of this paper is to shed light to what a qualitative research study essentially is, how researchers deal with it throughout the research process, when it is appropriate to conduct one and when not, its advantages, disadvantages, and others. Each component that goes into the design of qualitative research study will be handled under close lens.

Khalid Arar

International Journal of Educational Development

Michael Crossley

International Forum

Qualitative research is an ongoing disruptive innovation in educational research all around the world. For a century or more, the world has predominantly been under the dominion of quantitative research. In fact, when qualitative research was introduced a few decades ago, it met strong resistance and repugnance, just as is the case of any groundbreaking innovation. Today, this opposition to the different way of thinking that qualitative research promotes still exists in many countries around the world. One of the reasons why scholars resist qualitative research is that they simply do not know what it is and what makes a good qualitative research study. This paper uses leading qualitative research texts to propose a list of criteria to evaluate the quality of a qualitative research paper. Keywords: qualitative research, triangulation, quality in qualitative research, evaluation of qualitative research, myths of qualitative research, importance of qualitative research, evaluating qualitative research

Sharayi Chakanyuka

DR FREDRICK ONASANYA

The paper covers the following areas: definitions, characteristics, methods of data collection methods of qualitative research, sustaining the validity of qualitative research, judgments of truthfulness, or dependable qualitative research, analyzes of qualitative data, advantages and disadvantages of qualitative research. Qualitative research is about digging into matters, understanding, and developments, responding to questions, by examining and determining and making sense of unstructured data Qualitative research is mainly exploratory utilize to earn understanding of fundamental reasons, impressions, and motivations. It furnishes perceptivenesses into the problems or assists to originate thoughts or hypotheses for possible qualitative research. Qualitative research has the power to investigate or examine into reactions and answers from the participants.. The researcher can obtain information not expected by the researcher

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Tech brain drain fuels Philippines’ cybersecurity skills gap

Already have Rappler+? Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism.

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

MANILA, Philippines – Nurses, engineers, doctors – now cybersecurity experts. As the Philippines counts the cost of brain drain, a surge in malicious cyber activity has highlighted the country’s digital security skills gap.

US cybersecurity firm Resecurity reported a 325% jump in hacking and other digital intrusions targeting the Philippines during the first quarter of 2024 amid rising tensions with China, largely over disputed territory in the South China Sea.

That prompted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to launch a cybersecurity strategy to beef up the nation’s cyber defenses to combat attacks and digital crimes. Its military said last year it would create a cyber command.

But industry analysts say such plans could struggle due to big shortages of skilled “cyber warriors” in the Philippines, which is estimated to need tens of thousands of digital security professionals.

Whether targeting ordinary people, journalists or activists, online threats from doxxing to domain blocking and digital surveillance are rising in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations, highlighting a lack of resources and expertise to fight them, experts say.

“What the government doesn’t recognise is we’re having a brain drain not only in the healthcare sector but also in cybersecurity,” said JM Cipriano, a cybersecurity professional who has worked for a multinational company in the Philippines.

Despite a higher salary than other careers in IT, he said Filipino cybersecurity experts are being lured abroad by companies offering more money, better working conditions and relocation packages.

Practitioners in the Philippines can expect a monthly salary of between 40,000 and 90,000 pesos ($690-$1,560) – up to six-times the minimum wage, Cipriano told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

But he said the Philippines was still losing cybersecurity talent to US companies with offshore offices in Manila, or companies in Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East that offer more competitive salaries.

Globally, the shortage of cybersecurity professionals reached a record last year, with some 4 million vacancies around the world, according to cybersecurity nonprofit ISC2, with the gap growing fastest in developing countries.

‘Enormously expensive’

While part of the problem is migration from the Philippines, a major global exporter of labor, domestic shortages are also linked to inadequate training opportunities and policies to boost recruitment at a national level, experts say.

The need for cybersecurity professionals “is not well communicated to the different parts of the country”, said Angel Redoble, founder of the Philippine Institute of Cyber Security Professionals, a nonprofit pushing for a secure Philippine cyberspace.

Filipinos can study cybersecurity in only a handful of private universities with high tuition fees, and are often encouraged to pursue certifications for specific training and courses for 15,000 to 20,000 pesos.

Such barriers led 27-year-old former teacher Jaevik Madayag to abandon his plans of working in the field.

“Cybersecurity certifications are enormously expensive for Filipinos and having a certification doesn’t guarantee that you could enter that workforce,” he said.

With cybersecurity threats and data breaches on the rise, the government is taking steps to boost recruitment.

In January, it launched a new set of cybersecurity standards that schools and training centres can use for their programme curriculum.

Under the new national cybersecurity strategy, there are plans for more specialist degrees and programmes to upskill or retrain existing professionals.

Fostering accessible career progress will be vital, said Madayag, who now does IT support for a leading global tech company.

“Cybersecurity is a niche job in the IT industry,” he said. “You have to go through many paths and prerequisites and cannot jump ahead to practice.” – Rappler.com

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Tech brain drain fuels Philippines' cybersecurity skills gap

Asia philippines.

Hacking and digital intrusions are increasing in the Philippines and Southeast Asia

Manila: Nurses, engineers, doctors - now cybersecurity experts. As the Philippines counts the cost of brain drain, a surge in malicious cyber activity has highlighted the country's digital security skills gap.

U.S. cybersecurity firm Resecurity reported a 325% jump in hacking and other digital intrusions targeting the Philippines during the first quarter of 2024 amid rising tensions with China, largely over disputed territory in the South China Sea.

Get exclusive content with Gulf News WhatsApp channel

That prompted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to launch a cybersecurity strategy to beef up the nation's cyber defences to combat attacks and digital crimes. Its military said last year it would create a cyber command.

But industry analysts say such plans could struggle due to big shortages of skilled "cyber warriors" in the Philippines, which is estimated to need tens of thousands of digital security professionals.

Whether targeting ordinary people, journalists or activists, online threats from doxxing to domain blocking and digital surveillance are rising in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations, highlighting a lack of resources and expertise to fight them, experts say.

"What the government doesn't recognise is we're having a brain drain not only in the healthcare sector but also in cybersecurity," said JM Cipriano, a cybersecurity professional who has worked for a multinational company in the Philippines.

Despite a higher salary than other careers in IT, he said Filipino cybersecurity experts are being lured abroad by companies offering more money, better working conditions and relocation packages.

Practitioners in the Philippines can expect a monthly salary of between 40,000 and 90,000 pesos ($690-$1,560) - up to six-times the minimum wage, Cipriano told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

But he said the Philippines was still losing cybersecurity talent to U.S. companies with offshore offices in Manila, or companies in Singapore, the United Kingdom and the Middle East that offer more competitive salaries.

Globally, the shortage of cybersecurity professionals reached a record last year, with some 4 million vacancies around the world, according to cybersecurity nonprofit ISC2, with the gap growing fastest in developing countries.

'Enormously expensive'

While part of the problem is migration from the Philippines, a major global exporter of labour, domestic shortages are also linked to inadequate training opportunities and policies to boost recruitment at a national level, experts say.

The need for cybersecurity professionals "is not well communicated to the different parts of the country", said Angel Redoble, founder of the Philippine Institute of Cyber Security Professionals, a nonprofit pushing for a secure Philippine cyberspace.

Filipinos can study cybersecurity in only a handful of private universities with high tuition fees, and are often encouraged to pursue certifications for specific training and courses for 15,000 to 20,000 pesos.

Such barriers led 27-year-old former teacher Jaevik Madayag to abandon his plans of working in the field.

"Cybersecurity certifications are enormously expensive for Filipinos and having a certification doesn't guarantee that you could enter that workforce," he said.

With cybersecurity threats and data breaches on the rise, the government is taking steps to boost recruitment.

In January, it launched a new set of cybersecurity standards that schools and training centres can use for their programme curriculum.

Under the new national cybersecurity strategy, there are plans for more specialist degrees and programmes to upskill or retrain existing professionals.

Fostering accessible career progress will be vital, said Madayag, who now does IT support for a leading global tech company.

"Cybersecurity is a niche job in the IT industry," he said.

"You have to go through many paths and prerequisites and cannot jump ahead to practice."

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Primary Market Research: Everything You Need to Know

P rimary market research supports businesses in gaining first-hand insights and information, which isn't already available about the market in which they operate. 

This supports decision-making and the growth of the business. Understanding your customers is key to business success, and primary market research is the most effective way to gain these insights. 

This guide will explore what is primary market research, the essentials of primary market research, its distinct advantages, methods and practical steps for conducting your own research.

Dive in to make informed decisions that drive growth.

What is Primary Market Research?

Primary market research is data that you gather from various techniques and sources, but it's all for a specific research purpose.

It involves the collection of new data and information that isn't already available for the business, typically conducted for a number of purposes including: identifying customer needs, identifying gaps in the market, reducing risk, and ultimately making better decisions.

The significance of primary market research lies in its ability to provide tailored insights and direct feedback from the target audience, which are essential for informed decision-making and strategic planning.

By engaging directly with the market, businesses can ensure that their decisions are based on up-to-date and relevant information, making their actions more effective and their strategies more aligned with consumer demands.

Importance of Primary Market Research

Primary market research offers the ability to design quantitative and qualitative questions tailored precisely to your needs.

It allows businesses to gather unique data, which can serve as a competitive edge and influence key strategic decisions. As highlighted, the main benefit is that it's research that is very focused on a particular research objective and it tends to be pretty up-to-date because the research data is gathered for that specific research objective.

This tailored and current data helps businesses minimize risks and make more informed decisions that are crucial for their growth and adaptation in a competitive market.

Primary vs. Secondary Market Research

Primary market research involves collecting data that has not been previously gathered, providing fresh insights directly tailored to the company's specific needs.

Secondary market research, on the other hand, involves utilizing data that was originally collected by others and already exists. For example, looking at industry sales and financial reports would be considered a secondary source.

The choice between these depends on the needs and resources of the business.

Primary research is vital when fresh, specific insights are needed, and secondary research is useful for broad, initial understandings, often at a lower cost and effort.

Before conducting primary research, you might want to see what secondary research is available to determine if the investment in primary research is justified.

Methods of Primary Market Research

Primary market research encompasses 5 main methods:

Surveys, whether conducted online or offline, are a popular method for gathering feedback. It's crucial to use a mixture of open and closed questions aimed at collecting information to ensure a comprehensive understanding. One effective strategy is making personality quizzes , which can be particularly engaging and insightful.

Best practices include keeping surveys concise to maintain participant engagement and ensuring a balanced number of questions to avoid respondent fatigue while still gathering sufficient data for analysis.

Focus Groups

Focus groups involve organizing five to ten people in a room, asking them questions about your product or a prospective product for the future. The benefits of this method include gaining deep insights through discussion and interaction, which can be more nuanced than those obtained via surveys.

However, the limitations include the potential for groupthink influencing individual opinions and the higher cost and logistical complexity of organizing these sessions.

In-Depth Interviews (IDIs)

In-depth interviews are one-on-one sessions that allow for a thorough exploration of individual opinions and experiences. Techniques for conducting effective IDIs include preparing a guide with open-ended questions to encourage detailed responses and actively listening to capture nuanced insights.

These interviews are invaluable for gathering detailed data but require skilled interviewers to manage the conversation and extract pertinent information.

Intercept Surveys

Intercept surveys are typically conducted in public places where researchers directly approach people to solicit immediate feedback on specific topics.

These are useful for collecting quick, on-the-spot impressions but can be challenging to implement due to the need for immediate participant engagement and the potential for bias in the responses collected in such a rushed environment.

In-Home Usage Tests (IHUTs)

IHUTs involve providing a product to consumers to use in their own homes, gathering authentic feedback on its usage in a real-world setting. Steps for conducting IHUTs include selecting appropriate participants, providing clear instructions for usage, and collecting feedback systematically.

This method offers the advantage of observing how a product is used in daily life, providing insights that can significantly enhance product development.

Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting Primary Market Research

Conducting effective primary market research involves several crucial steps, each designed to ensure that the data collected is both relevant and actionable.

Step 1: Define Objectives

The first step is to set clear, actionable goals which involve identifying what you want to achieve with the research. Objectives should be specific and directly related to the business challenges or opportunities you are addressing. This clarity ensures that the subsequent steps in the research process are aligned and focused on delivering the necessary insights.

Step 2: Choose the Right Method

Selecting the appropriate research method is crucial and should be based on the objectives you have set. For instance, if detailed, qualitative insights are needed, focus groups or in-depth interviews might be the best approach. Conversely, for broader quantitative data, surveys might be more appropriate. Each method has its strengths and should be chosen to best meet the research objectives.

Step 3: Design and Prepare

This stage involves developing questions and selecting participants. The design of the questions is critical as they must be structured to elicit clear, meaningful answers that directly address the research objectives. Selecting the right participants is equally important to ensure that the data collected is representative of the broader target audience.

Step 4: Collect Data

Data collection can be performed using a variety of techniques and tools depending on the chosen method. Whether through online surveys, face-to-face interviews, or observational studies, it's vital to collect data in a manner that minimizes bias and maximizes response rates and the quality of information received.

Step 5: Analyze Data

Once data is collected, it needs to be analyzed to extract meaningful insights. This can involve statistical analysis for quantitative data or content analysis for qualitative data. The aim is to interpret the data in a way that provides clear answers to the research questions posed at the outset.

Step 6: Report and Apply Findings

The final step in conducting primary market research is effectively reporting and applying the findings. This involves presenting findings and integrating them into business strategy. It's crucial to prepare reports that are both comprehensive and understandable, ensuring that key insights are accessible to all relevant stakeholders.

These findings should then be used to inform strategic decisions, such as entering new markets, adjusting marketing strategies, or improving products and services. Successfully applying research findings can lead to significant competitive advantages and better alignment with consumer needs and market trends.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Primary Market Research

Primary market research provides several significant advantages. One of the most crucial is data ownership, which gives businesses exclusive access to information that competitors cannot easily acquire.

This data is not only relevant but also extremely targeted, allowing businesses to gain deep insights into specific consumer behaviors and preferences. The targeted approach of primary research ensures that the data collected is directly applicable to the specific research objectives, leading to more effective decision-making and strategy development.

As noted, this method provides businesses with the ability to design questions tailored precisely to your needs, which in turn enhances the relevance and applicability of the research findings.

Disadvantages

Despite its many benefits, primary market research also comes with significant disadvantages, primarily related to its cost, time consumption, and the intensive resources required.

Conducting this type of research is often seriously time-consuming and involves considerable expense, not only in terms of financial outlay but also the human resources needed to design, execute, and analyze the research.

This method often requires a considerable investment in both staffing and technology, especially when handling large data sets or conducting detailed qualitative research.

Furthermore, the risk of research bias and the potential for non-representative sampling can further complicate the process, requiring additional controls and oversight to ensure validity and reliability of the research outcomes.

Best Practices for Primary Market Research

To maximize the effectiveness of primary market research, it's essential to follow several best practices. First, ensure that the research objectives are clearly defined and aligned with the strategic goals of the business.

This alignment helps in designing focused and relevant research tools and methodologies. Additionally, choosing the right sample size and demographic is crucial for obtaining representative and unbiased data. It's also important to use a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods to capture a broad spectrum of insights.

A common pitfall to avoid is the lack of thorough preparation, which can lead to poorly designed research that does not fully address the research questions. Also, avoid leading questions in surveys and interviews, which can introduce bias and affect the integrity of the data.

Ensuring respondent anonymity and confidentiality can improve the quality and honesty of the feedback received. Lastly, regularly review and adapt research methods to keep up with changes in the market and technology, thereby maintaining the relevance and accuracy of the data collected.

When to Hire a Primary Market Research Vendor

Outsourcing primary market research can be beneficial in several situations, particularly when the in-house team lacks the necessary expertise or resources to conduct comprehensive research.

Hiring a vendor is also advisable when the research requires extensive geographic reach or specialized knowledge that only professionals might possess.

When choosing a reliable vendor, it is crucial to assess their expertise and experience in your specific industry. Look for vendors with a proven track record of conducting effective research and those who can provide detailed case studies or references.

It's also important to evaluate the transparency of their research process and ensure they adhere to ethical standards and data protection laws.

Lastly, clear communication about goals, expectations, and research methodologies is essential to ensure that the vendor's approach aligns with your business needs and objectives

Business Applications of Primary Market Research

Primary market research is utilized across various industries to enhance product development, marketing strategies, and customer service.

In product development, businesses use primary research to test and trial new products or services before they are launched onto the market. This allows them to gather feedback and make necessary adjustments, reducing the risk of market failure.

For example, in the food industry, test marketing is often conducted in smaller geographical areas to gauge consumer response before a nationwide rollout.

In marketing, primary research helps companies understand consumer behavior and preferences, enabling them to tailor their advertising and promotional strategies.

The automotive industry provides a notable example, as seen with Chrysler Plymouth in the 1950s, which used focus groups to understand buyer preferences, leading to targeted advertising that significantly boosted sales.

Customer service also benefits greatly from primary research. Companies like Sky use surveys post-interaction to assess customer satisfaction and areas for improvement.

These insights help businesses refine their service offerings and enhance customer experience, ultimately contributing to customer retention and loyalty.

Primary market research is indispensable for businesses seeking to understand their market deeply and make informed decisions.

It provides targeted, up-to-date information that can significantly impact product development, marketing strategies, and customer service. By employing best practices and choosing the right methods, companies can avoid common pitfalls and maximize the effectiveness of their research efforts.

Ultimately, the thoughtful implementation of primary market research is crucial for maintaining competitive advantage and achieving sustainable growth.

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