The significance of studying the AES in the country

"I do not doubt that the automated elections systems are going to be part of our future.  And therefore, it is incumbent not just on the election officials but on everyone involved in the elections (including voters and candidates) to learn as much as they can from the many problems attendant to the May 10 election experience and its aftermath."

-- SOLITA MONSOD, Get Real column at the PDI, June 5, 2010

Getting back on track after two months of hibernation

Two months and two days had passed since I had my proposal defense.

I can't believe I haven't started writing the manuscript.

I'm having trouble following the suggestions because what I really planned to do and what I see as significant was conducting a case research on the day of the automated election itself.

The proclamation of the President-elect is set on Wednesday, June 30, and I'm still here. I still haven't moved forward.

Somebody told me I should not wait for more time. I gotta finish what I need to do.

So here I am, trying to get back on track...

Some guidelines when VERB TENSE in research writing seems confusing

Sometimes, writing a research can make us wonder, "What tense of verb should I use in Chapter 2?" Then, when you reach the ANALYSIS part, the question of verb tense surfaces again.

This article, WRITING ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH: Verb Tense , can help a lot when we are faced with verb-tense questions in writing our own research.

EBSCOhost: Five Misunderstandings About Case-Study Research

EBSCOhost: Five Misunderstandings About Case-Study Research

Some points raised during the oral presentation:

1. Did I consider the legal implication of being actually at the precincts observing how election is being conducted? You need clearance and approval from COMELEC officials to do this kind of method.

2. How can I be at so many precincts at the same time? If I would stay only in one precinct, the result might be too narrow to have significance.

3. Would your effort in conducting such a study matter to the COMELEC officials? Would the possible result of your study can actually change the conduct of election system in the city?

4. Will the result of your study be useful, if it only covers Angeles City, or you observe only one precinct?

5. What would the poll watcher say if they know that you are there to observe, when you don't represent any candidate?

6. If you ask for the help of research assistants who would be observing during the election day, the result would still be more accurate if you, as the researcher, were actually the one who conducted the observation.

7. FGD, in general, may be used to verify information gathered from the respondents.

8. FGD is easier said than done. It's very hard to gather people who don't even know each other, or who don't even know you as the researcher.

9. Giving your study geographic depth could give it more significance.

Recommendations/Suggestions from the Panel

The suggestions/recommendations from the Dissertation Writing Proposal Committee:


1. Wider geographic scope. Instead of focusing on Angeles City, it would be better to focus on a regional scope. Region III or Central Luzon coverage can make the study more significant, esp. it's a dissertation.

2. Limit the study in terms of methods and problems. For example, instead of gathering data from BEIs, voters, COMELEC officers, etc., I may just limit the study to voters only from Region III.

3. Make it a combination of quantitative and qualitative approach. Qualitative tools, e.g. FGD, may just be utilized to verify information from the respondents which would be gathered thru questionnaires.

4. May still include pre-election, election, and post-election aspects but the length of the questionnaire should be considered. If it's too long, respondents might not answer accurately, or they may lose interest in answering.

5. The voter-respondents should have actually voted, and the records showing they actually did so must be obtained from COMELEC.

6. No need to conduct the study on the day of election, but floating of questionnaires must be done immediately after election day to maximize respondents' recall.

7. New title suggested:

THE CONDUCT OF THE AUTOMATED ELECTION
SYSTEM IN CENTRAL LUZON: An Assessment

Done with my proposal defense :-)

I'm done with my proposal defense!

I was scheduled to present my research proposal at 4 pm, but it started I think an hour earlier. I arrived at the graduate school office at 2 pm, then I went out just a bit. When I came back, I was asked to set the laptop and a few minutes after, the presentation started.

Actually, I was thinking of giving myself some time to practice before the presentation. I didn't know I would be presenting right away. But still, I thought the presentation went well.

I really would like to conduct qualitative study, but maybe this isn't the time for it.

Philippine Election 2010 Proposal

Dissertation Proposal set on April 24

April 24, 2010
4-5 p.m.
PS 112

Committee Membership:

Chair: Dr. Pepito M. Galang
Members:
Dr. Rosario G. Fudotan
Dr. Manuelita G. Valencia
Dr. Chere' C. Yturralde
Adviser:
Dr. Joseph Alexander B. Pangilinan

[This is it!]

Random thoughts

I have a big problem. I easily get sleepy at night. Most of the nights I really don't want to sleep cause I want to write. I feel guilty when I sleep then realize in the morning I haven't finished my manuscript.

What can I do to skip sleeping without feeling dizzy?

I really need to finish the manuscript asap. Election can't wait. I also don't want to extend the burden of thinking about this dissertation. I'm excited to present my research to the panel. But I really want this work to be my best. I can't settle for anything less cause it's my own paper.

One more thing, I realized that the more I read about the upcoming election, the more fearful I become. I have been reading a lot of related studies and literature, both local and foreign and it seems like the automated election this May is not gonna succeed. Nakakatakot isipin kung ano ang pwedeng mangyari. The more I learn, the more I feel afraid of what could possibly happen.
But when I talk to the Election Officer here naman, it seems like everything's ok and that all will turn out right.

The plethora of studies and literature on election and automated election makes me confused and it makes writing Chapter 2 harder than I thought it was. Daming info, hirap isulat.

But tonight will be another night for me to keep writing. If I won't finish by tomorrow, it shall be DONE by Monday.

Chapter 1: THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Chapter 1 of Election 2010

What to do, what to do, what else to do

1. Finish Chapter 2: April 13
2. Inquire or apply as poll watcher for any party. I'll try Blueboy's camp first. This I hope to do before the end of next week.
3. Finish Chapter 3: April 11
4. File my application for dissertation proposal. Signatories include Dr. David (Univ. Registrar), Accounting Department, Ma'am Chere (PA Program Chair), and Ma'am Belle Panlilio (Dean, Graduate School).
5. Contact Sir Galang and ask him if he would want to be my adviser.
6. Be an observer at the Final Orientation of the Support Staff: April 26, 8-10 a.m., Angeles Elem. School, Gabaldon Building
7. Be an observer at the Final Orientation of the Board of Election Inspectors : April 27, 8a.m. -12 noon, Angeles Elem. School, Gabaldon Building

Thinking about the research design

I've been thinking about my research methods and research tools.
Till now, I still have questions on how exactly I plan to conduct the study.
But here's what I scribbled while thinking and rethinking about my research design.

Research Method:

CASE STUDY

Data Collection Methods:

1. INTERVIEWS (Informant Interview, Narrative Int., and Focus-Group Interview)

2. OBSERVATIONS (Observer as participant, complete participant, participant as observer)

OTHER SOURCES OF DATA:

1. Official documents from COMELEC , e.g. resolutions

2. Power Point slides from COMELEC-Angeles City

3. Newspaper reports on the conduct of election

Redesigning the paradigm while waiting for the VP

I'm at the PS library at the moment. Been here since 12 noon. I finished Chapter 1 early this morning and went to school to discuss it with Sir Nick. I had the copy printed and went to Sir Nick's office at the main campus. However, I found out that he's having class at the moment, until 2 p.m. I need to wait for him then. While waiting, I have been contemplating on the first chapter that I am supposed to show Sir Nick. I'm changing my mind about the paradigm. I have designed a new paradigm for my study -- I did so just now, while waiting in the library.

I also asked the graduate school office for an application form for a dissertation proposal defense. I have to process the form, and wait for the schedule of the proposal defense which will depend on the availability of panelists. The adviser for PA, Ma'am Chere, would decide on the date of the defense.

I also realized I have to be strict with my own writing schedule. I actually failed to write during the holy week, as I told myself I would, because I spent a considerable amount of time with my kids. Of course, it was fine to spend my holidays with them; however, I feel so stressed knowing that I didn't stick to my own plan.

Helpful article about the strengths and limitations of a case research

I came across this very helpful article from Tomorrow's Professor Blog. The article highlights the fact that case studies have more advantages than drawbacks.

This article can help in enriching Chapter 3 of my own research. Here's the link.

Election and Getting a Degree

Of all the people with three kids and already in her 30s, ako lang yata ang hindi pa nakaranas bumoto. And the irony of it is that my proposed dissertation is a CASE STUDY of the FIRST AUTOMATED NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTION. As a case study, I shall be focusing on Angeles City only.

I find it interesting to make an assessment and case research on the Automated Election System in the Philippines.

Sir Nick already approved my problem but I still have to show him the first 3 chapters on Saturday. My goodness, I don't have any idea, actually, how I will finish 3 chapters in such a very limited time.

But if it's just writing that has to be done, walang problema, I guess. Mahirap lang talagang simulan, but once I started with it, it's gonna be less difficult, I hope.

On this blog I shall be talking about my journey in getting this post-graduate degree: Ph. D. in Public Administration.