CHAPTER III

Research Design and Process

This chapter presents the research methodologies used in the study. This

research includes the research design and the statistical treatment.

Research Design

Research is a process of searching logically and systematically the new and

useful information on a particular topic. Research is done with the aid of study,

experiment, observation, analysis, comparison and reasoning. (S. Rajasekar, 2013). Ary

et al 2006 states that “Experimental research design is to enable researcher to estimate

the effect of an experimental treatment”. The researchers chose to conduct the study

using experimental methods in order to determine the validity of conclusions that can be

drawn from the study. This research employs a qualitative method. This research

design is efficient in this study because it’s more effective in acquiring the desired

output. Qualitative data source for the study includes library research, data gathering,

and analysis and laboratory experiment. Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-

depth understanding of the microbial degradation of petroleum hydrocarbon

contaminants.

An experimental usually involves two groups of subject, an experimental group

and a comparison group, although it is possible to conduct an experiment with one

group. This study uses pre-experimental design in the form of one- group Pretest-

Posttest design using quantitative approach. In Pre-test and Post-test group the
observation do two times, before giving treatment called Pre-test and after giving

treatment called Post-test.

This study is classified as experimental design because it is little or no control of

extraneous variable. In the one-group Pretest-Posttest design, a single group is

measured or observed not only after being exposed to a treatment.

Data Gathering Procedure

The researcher will conduct an experiment wherein they will compare two

samples. Both samples will contain equal amount of petroleum hydrocarbons and to

determine the reaction of microbial degradation, one container will contain

pseudomonads. This certain bacteria is the most effective bacteria capable in utilizing

hydrocarbons as carbon and energy sources and producing biosurfactants which will be

acquired in soil, water, and plants. Through observation the researcher will gather

information and compare the treated sample with the untreated sample.

Statistical Treatment

The data gathered was treated by using statistical tools dealing with the ways on

how the respondents evaluate the overall benefits and disadvantage of using microbial

degradation for petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants.

The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) is used to determine whether there

are any statistically significant differences between the means of two or more

independent (unrelated) groups (although you tend to only see it used when there are a

minimum of three, rather than two groups).