Capacity Building Training Series Culminates in Mati City, Davao Oriental

“We have to compete – with ourselves.”
This was the reality met by faculty researchers, as depicted by Davao Oriental State University (DORSU) Vice President for Planning and Finance Roy M. Padilla as he opened the final session in SDRC’s nationwide Capacity Building Training Series held on May 26. Noting that the contribution of the school’s Research Division contributed much toward its elevation to state university status, he acknowledged that most studies were conducted in the area of applied sciences, while those in the social sciences were lacking. Thus the engagement with DLSU-SDRC was a first step toward resolving the situation.
The whole-day training, entitled “Numbers and Text: What do they mean in Qualitative and Quantitative Data Analysis?”, was conducted by SDRC Director Melvin Jabar and Research Fellow Homer Yabut. During the morning session, Dr. Jabar introduced the concept of qualitative research by emphasizing its focus on the understanding and interpreting of data, thus resulting in meaning-making. He then discussed qualitative research approaches and methods before illustrating the benefits of using the NVivo software package, particularly when doing a review of literature.
The afternoon program, on the other hand, was devoted to quantitative research, which Dr. Yabut explained “let numbers talk.” He demonstrated how it could be used to “send messages” and measure research subjects through the use of indicators. He reminded participants of the knowledge they already possessed about quantitative research by walking them through a review of research design and approaches before discussing the use of research surveys and data treatment. Participants were also introduced to Jamovi statistical software as an alternative to SPSS and SAS.
The SDRC Capacity Building Training was organized with the help of DORSU’s Gender Research and Resource Center and the offices under the University’s Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Extension. Most significantly, the training was also held during festivities for DORSU’s second founding anniversary, which celebrated the theme “Navigating Challenges with Collective Resilience.”