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LESSON 1 : NATURE AND INQUIRY OF RESEARCH
“cerchier” – research is coined from this word which means to seek and
“re” – to repeat.
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It is discovering truths by examining on your chosen topics.
It is a natural day-to-day activity of gathering information.
It may in the form of quantitative or qualitative.
provides us information about norms, thoughts and opinions,
scientific facts, and medical information.
engage us on how technology be seamlessly integrated into the
curriculum which educators and students like us often ask.
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3. STRUCTURED RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS.
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QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN
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is an objective, systematic, empirical investigation of observable
phenomena through the use of computational techniques.
It uses numbers in stating generalizations about a given problem
or inquiry in contrast.
It highlights the numerical analysis of data hoping that the numbers
yield unbiased results that can be generalized to some larger
population and explain a particular observation.
the research instrument used in this kind of research is in the form of
surveys and closed-ended questionnaires.
The data usually obtained from a large sample of the population
and is analyzed using statistical techniques ensuring that the
conclusions drawn from quantitative research are valid and are
representative of the population.
End goal of qualitative research is to look for meaning and a
deeper understanding of the phenomena as perceived from the
standpoint of the participants.
Quantitative aim to investigate the relationship between
variables
The main characteristics of quantitative research are:
OBJECTIVE.
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seeks accurate measurement and analysis of target concepts.
not based on mere intuitions and guesses.
Data are gathered before proposing a conclusion or solution to a problem.
explains the causes of phenomena through objective measurement and
numerical analysis.
2. CLEARLY DEFINED RESEARCH QUESTIONS.
the researchers know in advance what they are looking for.
research question is well-defined for which objective answers are
sought.
All aspects of the study are carefully designed before the data are
gathered.
It predicts and establish relationships and generalized findings.
Data are normally gathered using structured tools such as
questionnaires to collect measurable characteristics of the population
It includes the administration of tests and questionnaires,
experimentation, survey questionnaire, and the use of existing data sets.
robust instrumentation that is designed and structured to verify the
hypothesis set at the beginning of the inquiry process.
involves an intervention and manipulation of variables.
4. NUMERICAL DATA.
Data are in the form of numbers and statics, often organized and presented using
tables, charts, graphs, and figures that for large numbers of data to show trends,
relationships, and differences among variables.
5. LARGE SAMPLE SIZE.
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more reliable data analysis, a more normal population distribution curve.
requires a large sample size, depending on how the characteristics of the
population vary.
ADVANTAGE
1. It is objective. Provides numerical data--easily interpreted.
2. Quantitative research design is the most reliable and valid way of concluding
results, giving way to a new hypothesis, or to disprove it.
3. Use of statistical techniques facilitates sophisticated analyses and allows you to
comprehend a huge number of vital characteristics of data.
4. The numerical data can be analyzed quickly and easily. By employing
statistically valid random models, findings can be generalized to the population
about which information is necessary.
5. Quantitative studies are replicable. Standardized approaches allow the study to
be replicated in different areas or over time with the formulation of comparable
findings.
6. It uses robust instrumentation, which may yield results that can be generalized
to a larger population and other research settings.
7. It allows for greater accuracy data because variables are isolated, manipulated,
and rigorously controlled.
8. Results can be replicated, analyzed, and compared with similar studies due to
the use of robust instrumentation.
9. Personal bias is avoided because quantitative data arrived using established
procedures.
DISADVATAGE
1. Quantitative research requires a large number of respondents. It assumed
that the larger the sample is, the more statistically accurate the findings are.
2. It is costly. Expenses will be greater in reaching out to these people and
reproducing questionnaires.
3. Numerical data do not provide detailed accounts of the phenomenon and do
not capture accounts of human participation.
4. Much information is difficult to gather using structured research
instruments, specifically on sensitive issues like pre-marital sex, domestic violence,
among others. questionnaire do not necessarily reflect how participants truly
feel about the question being asked.
5. If not done seriously and correctly, data from the questionnaires may be
incomplete and inaccurate. Research must be on the look-out on respondents who
are just guessing in answering the instrument.
Variable
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characteristic of an individual or organization that can be observed and
measure, and it can and vary among people or organizations being studied
From the root word “vary” or simply “can change”.
something that can take more than one value, and values can be words or
numbers.
entity that can take on different values.
should have at least 2 attributes otherwise, it is constant.
TYPES OF VARIABLES
Nominal Variable
MEANING
Represent categories
that cannot be ordered in
any particular way
EXAMPLE
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Biological sex
Blood type
Race
Political party
Political affiliation
Zip code
Eye color
Religion
Grade level
Satisfaction rating
Socio-economic
status
Rank
Employee’s net worth
pH level
Body Temperature
SAT score (200-500)
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dose amount
concentration
weight
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Ordinal Variable
INTERVAL VARIABLE
RATIO VARIABLE
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distance
reaction rate
flow rate
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES – those that probably cause, influence, or affect
outcomes. They are invariably called treatment, manipulated, antecedent, or
predictor variables.
Examples A study on the relationship of parental support and academic
performance of Senior High School students in Narra National High School.
PARENTAL SUPPORT is the independent variable because it influenced the
outcome or the performance of the students.
2. DEPENDENT VARIABLES – those that depend on the independent variables;
they are the outcomes or results on the
influence of the independent variable.
LESSON 3: KINDS OF VARIABLE
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numbers when there is an
absolute zero. It possesses the
properties of the interval
variable and has a clear
definition of zero.
represent categories that
can be ordered from
greatest to smallest.
have values that lie along
an evenly dispersed
range of numbers.
have variables that lie along the
evenly dispersed range of
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3. INTERVENING VARIABLE OR
MEDIATING VARIABLE – “stand between”
the independent and dependent variables, and
they show the effects of the independent
variable on the dependent variable.
4. CONTROL VARIABLE – special types of
independent variables that are measured in a
study because they potentially influence the
dependent variable. Researchers use
statistical procedures (e.g. analysis of
covariance) to control these variables. They
may be demographic or personal variables that need to be “controlled” so that the
true influence of the independent variable on the dependent can be determined. In
an experiment, it is the variable that is held constant.
Examples: CONFOUNDING VARIABLES – those that are not measured or observed in a study. They
exist but their influence cannot be directly detected in a study. In a study, “Determining the Effects of
Exposure to Different Colored Lights on the Growth of the Plant”, the control variables are the type of
plant, the amount of soil, and the amount of water given to the plants. These variables are controlled so
that the plant growth can be attributed with certainty to exposure to different colored lights.
LESSON 4: DESIGNING RESEARCH USEFULIN DAILY LIFE
• The government have some important reasons for why implementing the 4Ps, DRRM, GCQ,
and Total Lockdown. These reasons came out because of research.
• In designing research - the researcher needs to consider the usefulness of research
projects to be conducted to the community where he or she belongs, to the bigger community,
the Philippines, Asia, and the world.
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In deciding on a research topic, the researcher should see to it that the
research project would be worth the planning, execution of plans,
resources in time, manpower, and budget.
Research is closely connected with development. The results/findings
of studies also affect society and the lives of each one of us. Research
is very vital to our everyday decision making.
Examples:
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Research leads to an expansion of knowledge and discoveries of new
medical treatment and cures.
It leads to breakthroughs in agriculture such as the introduction of highyield and drought-resistant varieties.
In business, companies conduct surveys and feasibility studies to find
out the needs of the community.
LESSON 5: WRITIING A RESEARCH TITLE
Research title:
is a product of a real-world observations, dilemmas, wide reading, selective viewing,
meaningful interactions, and deep reflection.
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is the research problem inquiry in capsule form.
must clearly reflect the topic of investigation.
must be original, clear, concise, or specific.
The following are the basic questions that can be asked when writing a research title.
1. Does the title describe what the study is all about?
2. Does the title contain a high specificity level?
3. Is the title academically phrased and is not lengthy?
4. Is the title within the twelve (12) substantive word requirements of the American
Psychological Association (APA)?
c. Follow suggestions an author gives for future research at the end of an article.
d. Extend an existing explanation or theory to a new topic or setting.
e. Challenge findings or attempt to refute a relationship.
f. Specify the intervening process and consider linking relations.
Talk over ideas with others.
a. Ask people who are knowledgeable about the topic for questions about it that they
have thought of.
b. Seek out those who hold opinions that differ from yours on the topic and discuss
possible research questions with them. 6
Apply to a specific context.
a. Focus the topic on a specific historical period or time period. b. Narrow the topic to a
specific society or geographic unit.
c. Consider which subgroups or categories of people/units are involved and whether
there are differences among them.
Define the aim or desired outcome of the study.
a. Will the research question be for an exploratory, explanatory, or descriptive study?
b. Will the study involve applied or basic research?
LESSON 6: DESCRIBING THE BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH
• PURPOSE - help the researcher to prove the relevance of his or her research question and to further
develop his or her thesis.
The background of the study includes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A review of the area being researched
current information surrounding the issue
Previous studies on the issue
relevant history of the issue
effectively set forth the history and background information on the problem.
In writing a background of the study these are some suggested things to be done.
1. Conduct a primary research at the beginning stages of formulating a thesis when many issues are
unclear.
2. Read the information and develop a research question of thesis statement that will guide your
research.
3. Write a thesis statement or research question.
Note: The 12 substantive word requirement of APA means that only the keywords are counted.
4. Complete your research using your thesis statement and research question as your guide.
Example:
5. Create five separate sections that cover the key issues, major findings and controversies surrounding
your thesis as well as sections that provide an evaluation and conclusion.
“Reading Comprehension and the Ability of Freshmen Students in Solving Word
Problems”
There are only 8 substantive words in the title.
NOT INCLUDED: prepositions & connector
Examine the literature. Published articles are an excellent source of ideas for research
questions. They are usually at an appropriate level of specificity and suggest research
questions that focus on the following:
a. Replicate a previous research project exactly or with slight variations.
b. Explore unexpected findings discovered in previous research.
6. Conclude by identifying and further study what needs to be done in the area or provide possible
solutions to the issue that haven’t been considered before.
7. Revise and edit your background of the study
LESSON 7: STATING RESEARCH QUESTION
Research is an opportunity for us to ask questions about almost everything.
Chinese proverb:
“He who asks a question remains a fool for five minutes; He who does not ask remains
a fool forever.”
Therefore, research gives us the chance to learn as much as we can through the research
question.
REASEARCH QUESTION
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The specific or sub question
specify the scope and the method in collecting and analyzing data, & give you the
right direction in your research.
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formulated give focus to the research as well as guide the appropriateness of the
decisions the researcher made
A quantitative research problem can generate a set of research questions or sub-problems that fall
under any of these types of research questions:
TYPE OF RESEARCH
QUESTION
Descriptive research
questions
Relation questions
DEFINITION
kind, qualifications, and
categories of the subjects or
participants
nature and manner of
connection between or among
variables
EXAMPLE
What is the profile of the
respondents in terms of age,
gender, average family income,
and distance of their house
from school?
What is the profile of the
respondents in terms of age,
gender, average family income,
and distance of their house
from school?
What is the impact of social
media to the academic
performance of students?
Causal questions
reasons behind the effects of
the independent variable on the
dependent variable
What is the relationship
between the time spent in
studying and the grades of
students?
Is there a significant difference
with the scores of the
respondents during the pretest
and posttest?
There are two approaches to quantitative research questions
1.
Inductive approach – focus on description of things to prove. Central to this
approach are specific details to prove the validity of a certain theory or concept .
Observation
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A low-cost airline flight is delayed
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Dogs A and B have fleas
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Elephants depend on water to exist
Seeking patterns
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Another 20 flights from low-cost airlines are delayed
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All observed dogs have fleas
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All observed animals depend on water to exist
Developing a theory or general (preliminary) conclusion
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Low cost airlines always have delays
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All dogs have fleas
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All biological life depends on water to exist
2.
Deductive approach – goes from bigger ideas such as theories or concepts to
smaller ideas.
Start with an existing theory and create a problem statement
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Low cost airlines always have delays
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All dogs have fleas
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All biological life depends on water to exist
Formulate a falsifiable hypothesis, based on existing theory
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If passengers fly with a low cost airline, then they will always experience delays
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All pet dogs in my apartment building have fleas
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All land mammals depend on water to exist
Collect data to test the hypothesis
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Collect flight data of low-cost airlines
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Test all dogs in the building for fleas
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Study all land mammal species to see if they depend on water
Analyze and test the data
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5 out of 100 flights of low-cost airlines are not delayed
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10 out of 20 dogs didn’t have fleas
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All land mammal species depend on water
Decide whether you can reject the null hypothesis
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5 out of 100 flights of low-cost airlines are not delayed = reject hypothesis
10 out of 20 dogs didn’t have fleas = reject hypothesis
All land mammal species depend on water = support hypothesis
LESSON 8: INDICATING SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The scope and delimitation of the study
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sets boundaries and parameters of the problem inquiry and narrows down the scope
of the inquiry.
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SCOPE - the domain of your research-what is in the domain, and what is not.
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need to make as clear as possible of what you will be studying and what factors are
within the accepted range of your study.
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two elements of a research paper or thesis.
Scope of a study
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explains the extent to which the research area will be explored in the work and
specifies the parameters within which the study will be operating.
EXAMPLE: let us say a researcher wants to study the impact of mobile phones on the
behavior patterns of elementary school children. However, it is not possible for the researcher
to cover every aspect of the topic. So, the scope will have to be narrowed down to a certain
section of the target population. In this case, the scope might be narrowed down to a group of
50 children in grades 3-5 of one specific school. Their behavior patterns in school may have
been observed for a duration of 6 months. These would form the delimitations of the study.
Delimitations
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characteristics that limit the scope and describe the boundaries of the study, such as
the sample size, geographical location or setting in which the study takes place,
population traits, etc.
Guidelines in writing the scope and delimitation The scope and delimitations should include
the following:
1. A brief statement of the
general purpose of the study.
Investigate the level of effectiveness of the use of modules in
Statistics and Probability
Determine the relationship of cellphone ownership and
academic performance of students
Find out the factors that affect the high drop-out rate
2. The subject matter and topics
studied and discussed.
Use of modules in Statistics and Probability
Frequency of cellphone use for school-related work and
playing mobile games
Financial problem, distance of the school, students’ interest in
schooling, bullying, family problem
3. The locale of the study, where
the data were gathered or the
entity to which the data belong.
Senior High schools in the Division of Palawan
4. The population or universe
from which the respondents
were selected. This must be
large enough to generalizations
significant
Senior High School students
5. The period of the study. This
is the time, either months or
years, during which the data
were gathered.
School year 2019-2020
Brooke’s Point Senior High School Centers
North Brooke’s Point
Grade 11 students
Junior High School students
3rd and 4th quarter of School Year 2019-2020
LESSON 9: PRESENING THE WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE
PROBLEM
Statement of the Problem
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concise description of the issues that need to be addressed by the researcher.
There should be a general statement of the whole problem followed by the specific
questions or sub problems into which the general problem is broken up.
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researcher’s guide during the research process.
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It is the verbalization and articulation as well as the analysis of the question in which
the researcher wants the research to answer.
Guidelines in formulating the general problem and the specific sub problems or specific
questions:
1. The general statement of the problem and the specific sub problems or questions should be
formulated first before conducting the research.
2. It is customary to state the specific problems in the interrogative form. Hence, sub problems
are called specific questions.
3. Each specific question must be clear and unequivocal, that is, it has only one meaning. It
must not have dual meaning.
4. Each specific question is researchable apart from the other questions, that is, answers to
each specific question can be found even without considering the other questions.
5. Each specific question must be based upon known facts and phenomena. Besides, data
from such known facts and phenomena must be accessible to make the specific question
researchable.
6. Answers to each specific can be interpreted apart from the answers to their specific
questions.
7. Answers to each specific question must contribute to the development of the whole
research problem or topic.
8. Summing up the answers to all the specific questions will give a complete development of
the entire study.
9. The number of specific questions should be enough to cover the development of the whole
research problem or study.
10. Generally, there should be a general statement of the problem and then this should be
broken up into as many subproblems or specific questions as necessary.
LESSON 10: THE RESEARCH’S CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK,
DEFINITION OF TERMS AND HYPOTHESIS
The Conceptual Framework
✓ It is defined as an analytical tool that explains the main concepts to be studied or
investigated in one’s research.
✓ It offers the foundation and fundamental basis of the entire research.
✓ It is like a blueprint, a master plan, or a recipe that provides an outline of the plan on how
the research is to be conducted.
✓ It is a graphic or visual form of the different variables of the study and the alleged
relationship among these variables although, not all conceptual frameworks have to include a
diagram or graphic.
✓ It is used in research to plan possible sequence of action or to present an ideal method to
an idea or thought.
✓ The literature review is the logical basis of the conceptual framework
The conceptual framework aims to:
➢ Explain ideas and suggest associations among the ideas in a study;
➢ Provide an outline for interpreting the findings of the study, since conceptual framework
defines the scope and the limitations of the study;
➢ Explain observations; and
➢ Encourage the formulation of useful and practical theories.
Supposed that the formulated Statement of the Problem based on the background
information are as follows:
1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents
2. What is the level of the respondents’ financial literacy;
3. What are the factors affecting the respondents’ finances; and
4. Is there a significant relationship between the level of financial literacy of the
selected professionals and the factors affecting one’s finances?
The sample conceptual framework presented above can also be presented in a narrative way as:
The conceptual framework presents that research variables:
respondents’ demographic profile, level of financial literacy, and
factors affecting respondents’ finances. It also shows that factors
affecting respondents’ finances have something to do with their
financial literacy level.
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that conceptual framework is an excellent visual summary of the study as it helps the
reader to easily identify the research variables and the presumed relationships
amongst it.
It is therefore important to carefully write the research questions, identify the
variables of the study, and craft the conceptual framework well to correctly identify
the method or the procedures to be used in the study.
LESSON 11: THE WRITTEN LITERATURE REVIEW
Review of Related Literature
✓ “written works collectively, especially, that enduring importance, exhibiting creative
imagination and artistic skill which are written in a particular period, language and subject
(Funk and Wagnalls Dictionary 1976 as cited in Calmorin)
✓ It is a written summary of journal articles, books, and other documents that describes the
past and current state of information on the topic of your research study.
✓ Is composed of discussions of facts and principles to which the present study is related. For
instance, if the present study deals with drug addiction, literature to be reviewed or surveyed
should be composed of materials that deal with drug addiction.
✓ A type of academic writing that provides an overview of specific topic.
✓ Critically analyzes the relationship among different scholarly work and the current work.
✓ It can be written as a stand-alone paper or as part of a paper.
✓ studies, inquiries, or investigation either published or unpublished already conducted to
which the present proposed study related or has some bearing or similarity.
✓ They are usually unpublished materials such as manuscript, theses, and dissertation.
Goals of Literature Review
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To demonstrate familiarity with a body of knowledge and establish credibility.
To show the path of prior research and how current project is linked to it.
To integrate and summarize what is known in the area
To learn from others and stimulate new idea. 5
To justify your choice of research question, theoretical or conceptual framework, and
method
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To establish the importance of the topic
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To provide background information needed to understand the study;
Rules for writing a literature review:
1. Define the topic and audience.
2. Search and re-search the literature.
3. Take notes while reading.
4. Choose the type of review you wish to write
5. Keep the review focused, but make if of broad interest.
6. Be critical and consistent.
7. Find a logical structure 8. Make use of feedback.
9. Include your own relevant research.
10. Be up-to-date in your review of related studies.
What, Where and How to Find Information
✓ It is necessary that you list down all the important variables which you need in your study
and any theories which you think can generate your hypothesis/es and those that can explain
the relationship among your variables.
✓ After the variables are determined, the relationship between them posited and either a
preliminary hypothesis or investigative question stated, you continue your search for
information related to your problem being studied.
✓ Check the population you want to include in your study.
✓ Know how to write citations where you can include the author, the title, the publisher and
the date of publication, the volume number, the page number, information about the study
and the findings. You should be able to distinguish the editorial styles of formats of the
following: The Modern Language Association (MLA) and the APA style of the American
Psychological Association.
3. Materials must be relevant to the study.
4. Coherence principle must be observed in writing literature review.
CITATION STYLE GUIDE
Reference is an important part of research paper. It must be consistent and easy to read
across different papers. Referencing is a method used to demonstrate to the readers that you
have conducted a thorough and appropriate literature search, and reading.
1. APA (AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION). It is an author/date-based style.
This means emphasis is placed on the author and the date of a piece of work to uniquely
identify it.
2. MLA (MODERN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION). It is most often applied by the arts and
humanities, particularly in the USA. It is arguably the most well used of all the citation style.
3. HARVARD. It is similar to APA. Where APA is primarily used in the USA, Harvard
referencing is the most well used referencing style in the UK and Australia, and is encourage
for use with the humanities.
4. VANCOUVER. The Vancouver system is mainly used in medical and scientific paper.
5. CHICAGO AND TURABIAN. These are two separate styles but are very similar like
Harvard and APA. These are widely used for history and economics.
✓ Review and synthesize those findings that support or reject your hypothesis or research
question.
✓ Use on-line computers for searching and retrieval of information.
✓ Synthesize the reviewed literature.
TYPES OF LITERATURE REVIEW
1. ARGUMENTATIVE REVIEW. This form examines literature selectively in order to support
or refute an argument, deeply embedded assumption, or philosophical problem already
established in the literature. The purpose is to develop a body of literature that establishes
opposite perspective.
2. INTEGRATIVE REVIEW. This is considered a form of research that reviews, critiques and
synthesizes representative literature on a topic in an integrated way such that frameworks and
perspectives on the topic are generated.
3. HISTORICAL REVIEW. This is to systematically examine past events to give an account
of what has happened in the past.
4. METHODOLOGICAL REVIEW. Reviewing methods of analysis provides a framework of
understanding at different level, how researchers draw upon a wide variety of knowledge
ranging from conceptual level to practical documents.
5. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW. This is to attain conclusion regarding the chosen topic.
6. THEORETICAL REVIEW. This is to examine the body of theory that has accumulated in
regard to an issue, concept, theory and phenomena
CHARACTERISTICS OF MATERIALS CITED
REFERENCING SOURCES
Sarno (2010) enumerated the different characteristics of the literature and studies to be cited
in the present study:
1. The materials must be as recent as possible, maybe 10 years back
2. Materials must be objective and unbiased as possible
Systematically showing what information or ideas you are quoting or paraphrasing from
another author’s works and where they come from. It is appropriately is important for as stated
below:
1. Adds authority to your work by supporting it with previous research.
2. Demonstrate reading and understanding of relevant literature.
3. Enables the reader to track down the original sources to check its quality
4. Ensures that you write in an ethical manner by giving credit to the original authors (Demster
& Hanna, 2016)
HOW WILL THE REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE BE PRESENTED?
1.
2.
3.
CHRONOLOGICAL APPROACH.
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The literature is presented according to time they were written, following the
time-sequence pattern.
FINDING OR THEME APPROACH.
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Literature of similar findings or themes are grouped together.
COUNTRY APPROACH.
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Literature is classified by country or into specific country like the Philippines,
or into foreign countries.
ORGANIZING A LITERATURE REVIEW
A successful literature review should have three parts that break down in the following way:
A. INTRODUCTION
1. Defines and identifies the topic and establishes the reason for the literature review.
2. Points to general trends in what has been published about the topic.
3. Explains the criteria used in analyzing and comparing articles.
B. BODY OF THE REVIEW
1.
Groups articles into thematic clusters, or subtopics. Clusters may be grouped
together chronologically, thematically, or methodologically (see below for more on
this).
2. Proceeds in a logical order from cluster to cluster.
3. Emphasizes the main findings or arguments of the articles in the student’s own
words. Keeps quotations from sources to an absolute minimum.
C. CONCLUSION
1.
2.
3.
Summarizes the major themes that emerged in the review and identifies areas of
controversy in the literature.
Pinpoints strengths and weaknesses among the articles (innovative methods used,
gaps in research, problems with theoretical frameworks, etc.).
Concludes by formulating questions that need further research within the topic, and
provides some insight into the relationship between that topic and the larger field of
study or discipline.
Literature Review: Relational Words and Phrases
The entire point of writing a literature review is to synthesize, or write about the relationships
between, the articles you are using, defining the connection between them, and explaining
how they come together to represent a body of knowledge on a subject. The following words
and phrases are useful because they express specific types of relationships between ideas.
SEVEN HILLS SEVEN HILLS AWAY by: Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzalez
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(aka) N. V. M.
well-known Filipino instructor and novelist who also wrote short tales and
essays.
Throughout his long and successful career, he has garnered numerous
awards. In 1997,
near the end of his life, he was named a National Artist of the Philippines for
Literature
CHARACTERS
Don Luis Lim is a character who exemplifies the complexities and challenges of Filipino
society in the early 20th century. He is a wealthy landowner and a prominent character in the
town, with tremendous influence and power. His role in the story emphasizes the social and
economic differences that existed in the Philippines at the time. Gonzalez examines themes of
class, power, and social transformation through Don Luis Lim, demonstrating how individual
acts and societal systems connect to shape the characters' lives and the trajectory of the story
Rosario is a prominent character who has a big impact on the story's progress. She is
portrayed as a beautiful and determined lady, whose decisions and actions reflect the
complexity of personal aspirations and cultural expectations. Rosario's relationship with the
protagonist, as well as her interactions with other significant characters, provide much of the
story's emotional and thematic material. Her character serves as a focal point for examining
issues such as love, social status, and individual aspirations in the context of Filipino culture.
Tony Gonzalez is the story's main character. His character is crucial to the plot because the
story revolves around his experiences and personal development. Tony is shown as a young,
ambitious man navigating Filipino society and his own goals. His journey explores themes of
identity, cultural legacy, and the search for self-discovery. Gonzalez addresses the problems
and accomplishments of people attempting to balance their personal ambitions with their
society obligations through Tony.
APPROACH
Historical criticism/approach-Considerig in the 1940s setting, just before the start of World
War II, the story shows the social heirarchy and economic conditions of different families taht
differ in race.
Marxist criticism/ approach-depicts how the power dynamics between wealthy family and
tenant farmers have different levels of power, and the novel portrays about the broad social
and economic structure of Filipino society.
Feminist criticism/approach-Rosario and her relationship with Tony, focusing on how
societal expectations and family honor affect her choices and her powers as a woman
PLOT
*Setting:* In a rural Philippine town during the late 1930s to early 1940s, just before World
War II.
*Conflict:* Tony and Rosario's forbidden love challenges the rigid social divides, with Don
Luis opposing their relationship and arranging a marriage for Rosario
*Rising Action:* As the couple struggles to keep their love hidden, a confrontation with Don
Luis leads to a tragic, ambiguous event that escalates tensions
*Climax:* The tragedy deepens the rift between the Lim and Gonzalez families, turning Tony
and Rosario's love into a symbol of broader societal issues
*Falling Action:* Both families grapple with the aftermath, with Don Luis becoming distant
and Tony facing the harsh reality of unfulfilled dreams.
*Conclusion:* The novel ends with the families forever changed, beginning to move forward
while accepting the lasting impact of their experiences
POINT OF VIEW
written in first person since the narrative is conveyed through the protagonist's eyes as he
reflects on his experiences and observations
REFLECTION
The story "Seven Hills Away" delves deeply into Filipino society, focusing on family dynamics
and societal expectations. It digs into the challenges of people from various social
backgrounds, illustrating how tragic occurrences affect relationships and societal
expectations. The story reflects cultural beliefs, traditions, and tensions, emphasizing themes
of perseverance, honor, sacrifice, and love in the face of adversity