Social Development Research Center (SDRC)

(HuSoComERC)

The Center gathers together research associates by research interest groups (RIGs) namely: economics, business and finance studies; language studies; education and leadership studies; communication and other thematic areas; studies in psychology, and contemporary social issues researches (covering studies on inter-generational relations; social health; migration, urbanization, politics and policies; and environmental vulnerability, security, and sustainability. Emerging working groups (WGs) in the fields of linguistic studies and peace and conflict studies are also currently supported by the center.

Video about the Center


Objective

  • Develop rural communities become progressive and sustainable
  • Empower households especially in the rural areas
  • Support the goals of AmBisyon 2040 for a Maginhawa, Matatag at Panatag na Buhay for all Filipinos

Center Researchers

Name Designation Educational Attainment Position Title
MARIA CRISTINA P. PAMMIT Center Chief Master of Science in Agricultural Economics Education Research Assistant II
ROMMEL M. DASCIL Researcher PhD in Development Management Associate Professor I
JOHN PAUL VALLENTE CTE Research Coordinator PhD Education Research and Evaluation Assistant Professor l
RONALD CANDY LASATEN Chief for Instructional Materials Development in the University Doctor of Philosophy major in Linguistics Associate Professor IV
CHERYLL DIDI NELLIE N. OBRA Physical Therapy Department Chairman/ URERB Vice Chairperson/ Internal accreditor, internal auditor Doctor of Philosophy Development Education Professor I
LAWRENCE ECLARIN Member of the MMSU University Research Ethics and Review Board (URERB) PhD Mathematics Associate Professor II
EVA MACUGAY Graduate School Research Coordinator and Program Adviser of MAED Biology PhD Science Education Professor II
MARK LIMON Chief, Product Safety and Standards Doctor of Philosophy Assistant Professor IV
MISHAEL JOY BARRERA Chief, Technology Business Incubator Master of Arts in Economics Home Economics Instructor III
MARILOU P. LUCAS Director of Research PhD Agricultural Economics/Resource Economics Professor IV
ANGELINA ABROJENA Dean of CBEA Doctor of Philosophy (Development Management) Professor V
FREDERICK F. RODRIGO Former QA Director PhD in Development Communication Cognates—Agricultural Education and Development Management Professor I
MARLOWE U. AQUINO Director, S&T Park PhD Community Development and Social Forestry  
MARIA ELIZA S. LOPEZ Chief, Sentro ng Wika at Kultura PhD Applied Linguistics Associate Professor IV
CONSTANTE JULIAN Researcher BS Economics Science Research Analyst
SHEILA B. BAQUIRAN CBEA Research Coordinator PhD Hospitality Maagement Assistant Professor II

Research Projects

  • Values, Attitudes, Perceptions and Behavior
  • Language, Culture and the Arts
  • Health and Wellness
  • Education and Literacy
  • Business and Entrepreneurship
  • Law and Governance
  • Policy studies
  • Impact assessment studies
RESEARCHERS TITLE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Rosabel L. Acosta* Imelda I. Najorda Jahnese D. Asuncion Scholarships, Self-Efficacy and Success Among Ilocano Teacher Education Graduates (Completed) At the MMSU College of Teacher Education, numerous students have become recipients of scholarships and assistantships. Many have enjoyed the financial aids, thus, have been successfully employed and became contributors in the improvement of education. As Ilocanos, these chances for financial aids have become answers to the dream of every Ilocano (especially the poor) to get education. This study explored scholars’ experiences, self-efficacy, success, and commitments, and the implications of these student services to policy making and Ilocanos’ valuing of education. Additionally, this study analyzed a) the reasons for Ilocano students to apply for scholarship , b) their experiences and problems, c) their levels of success , d) their commitment after scholarship, and f) the implications of these scholarships to the Ilocano values on education and policy-making.
Rosabel L. Acosta* Imelda I. Najorda Jahnese D. Asuncion Changing Career Paths Among Teacher Education Graduates (Completed) Changing career paths by the teacher education graduates does not only happen right after graduation. It also happens during the course of their four-year degree training and even after having a number of years of teaching experiences in the field. This study analyzed and described the changing career paths of teacher education graduates and the implications of this in the educational system. Knowing data about career change or shift provided additional data for the teacher education graduates. These made the researchers interested in this graduate tracer study which is an analysis of shifting or changing in career paths among teacher education graduates in the region; to include their motivations for changing, their challenges met and the implications of such phenomenon to students, TEIs and to national educational system
Vida V. Antonio** Eva B. Macugay* Ronald Candy S. Lasaten* Ma. Eliza S. Lopez* Estrella R. Pacis* Vida V. Antonio* Carolyn G. Paguyo* Eliza T. Samson James Cesar A. Metiam Jacquelyn B. Lejano Bert A. Gamiao Jahnese D. Asuncion John Paul C. Vallente Jeanette G. Dials Melanie R. Arellano Kharen D. Vidad Rosabel L. Acosta Lilibeth G. Abrogena Edrian D. Saraos Aleli R. Martin Aris Reynold V. Cajigal Virginia J. Aurelio Romeo A. Abucay Sonny Rae I. Fernando Imelda L. Najorda Nina Christelle M. Sumintac (Project Title) Evaluating Teachers’ Competencies in Classroom Assessment: Basis for a Training on Designing Assessment Tools and Strategies (Completed)
  • Study 1: Exploring Edukasyon sa Pagpapahalaga (ESP) Teachers’ Competencies in Classroom Assessment
  • Study 2: Examining English Teachers’ Competencies in Classroom Assessment
  • Study 3: Probing Filipino Teachers’ Competencies in Classroom Assessment
  • Study 4: Analyzing Mathematics Teachers’ Competencies in Classroom Assessment
  • Study 5: Investigating Science Teachers’ Competencies in Classroom Assessment
  • Study 6: A Closer Look at Social Studies Teachers’ Competencies in Classroom Assessment
The competencies (knowledge and skills) of teachers towards classroom assessment may influence the way they conduct their classroom instruction. This study was conceptualized and implemented in order to determine and analyze teachers’ competencies in designing assessment tools and utilizing assessment strategies. By employing the descriptive research design of the survey type, this study sought to find teachers’ competencies in terms of their level of knowledge and skills in designing assessment tools and utilizing assessment strategies; to provide a list of commonly used assessment strategies by teachers, and to determine the training needs of teachers in designing assessment tools and utilizing assessment strategies.
Jahnese D. Asuncion Exploring the Paraphrasing Skills of College Freshman Students and Its Implications to Language Teaching and Learning (Completed) This study explored the paraphrasing skills of freshman students of MMSU-College of Teacher Education. It is expected that the said students already encountered and practiced paraphrasing since they underwent two research subjects in the Senior High School, which are Practical Research / Research in Daily Life 1 and 2. They also had a subject titled, English for Academic Purposes (EAPP) where academic writing is taught. The exploration and description of the paraphrasing skills of students through their written outputs revealed the students’ level of language proficiency and served as bases for determining implications on language teaching and learning in the Senior High School and Tertiary Levels.
Romelyn T. Lagura Bert A. Gamiao Jovenita A. Aragon Elementary Pupils Carbon Footprints: A Basis for School-Based Environmental Program (Completed) This study aimed to calculate the carbon footprint of all elementary pupils of MMSU-College of Teacher Education using the Philippine version of the Carbon Footprint Calculator developed by World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The results were used as bases for developing a school-based environmental program that seeks to promote awareness to pupils and to serve as a guide in the proper implementation of conserving the environment. This school-based environmental program could be the foundation in the promotion of proper waste management system in the school unit, and shall eventually be extended to communities through trainings from experts.
Jacquelyn B. Lejano Carolyn G. Paguyo Aris Reynold V. Cajigal John Paul C. Vallente Kharen D. VIdad James Cesar A. Metiam The Experiences of Women as Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) in City Jails of Ilocos Norte (Completed) The stigma of the public towards detention facilities has been increasingly horrible, and this often leads to unfavorable outlook of public towards people who are incarcerated especially for women who are discriminately seen as inferior to man. It is for this reason that this qualitative study was undertaken. More specifically, this study aimed at knowing what kind of life women inmates experience inside the jail, and what struggles and concerns these inmates experience that affect their traditional roles as mothers. Furthermore, it investigated how the participants cope with the struggles and concerns they confront while inside the jail. Ultimately, this study purports to increase the awareness and consciousness of the public towards the experiences and lives of women prisoners toward just social integration after being granted liberty.
Jacquelyn B. Lejano Vida V. Antonio Jahnese D. Asuncion Eva B. Macugay Kharen D. Vidad Imelda L. Najorda Nina Christelle M. Sumintac Development and Validation of Gender-Sensitive and Value-Enhanced IEC Materials on Disaster Risk Management (Ongoing) The study utilized the mixed-methods approach, where the quantitative inquiry for measuring the level of preparedness related to risk perception were combined with qualitative methods to explore gender roles, belief systems, and values in order to elicit the connections and disconnections between the various factors. This study generated baseline data on the Ilokano gender roles, belief systems, and values during natural risk disaster rescue and recovery as perceived by the Ilokano community folks. The MMSU-College of Teacher Education faculty shall employ the results of this study as baseline data in constructing gender-sensitive and value-enhanced information, education and communication materials in disaster risk reduction management for classroom instruction and extension purposes.
Leonardo T. Tejano Ilokano-Based Translanguaging Approach (IBTA) to Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTBMLE) (Completed) The study sought to introduce translanguaging as an approach to Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education in Ilokano speaking provinces. This objective takes the argument that multilingual speakers like Ilokanos are translanguaging. According to Garcia and Vogel (2017), translanguaging posits that rather than possessing two or more autonomous language systems, users of language select and deploy particular features from a unitary linguistic repertoire to make meaning and to negotiate particular communicative contexts. It is therefore instructive that MTB-MLE to Ilokano learners must consider translanguaging as an approach. To develop the Ilokano-Based Translanguaging Approach (IBTA, this study identified the language background of pupils in Ilokano-speaking elementary schools, described how translanguaging takes place in learners’ natural communicative practices, enumerated the role of Ilokano in the languaging/ translanguaging of Ilokano learners, and described how translanguaging can be used as an approach to MTB-MLE.
John Paul C. Vallente Eliza T. Samson Jacquelyn B. Lejano Comparative Analysis of Aligned Entrants’ and Alternative Entrants’ College Academic Performances (Completed) This study is anchored on a priority research area in program/curricular studies on higher education of the MMSU R&D Agenda, which involves transition programs or policies from K to 12 to higher education. Placing the spotlight on the gap in the CHED college admission policy for SHS graduates allowed for the understanding of who the entrants are in relation to their SHS educational profile, and how they performed academically in college during their first, critical year. This study, thus, opened up a process of self-reflection for the entrants as they were given the opportunity to realize how they situated themselves in educational conditions that may not necessarily be favorable to them. Also, they were guided on what courses are aligned to their SHS strand that will lead them toward college success. At the level of educational policy and curricular planning, the comparative analysis of the college academic performances of the aligned entrants and alternative entrants could provide significant insights on potential teaching-learning dilemmas and future disadvantageous trajectories. These information could be used as bases for recommending changes in the present CHED college admission policy for SHS graduates, or for the proposal of a bridging program specifically intended for alternative entrants.
Meejay A. Domingo Karla Auria S. Galeon Danica Hanna A. Pastor John Vincent B. Toribio Level of Readiness and Acceptance for e-Learning: The Case of MMSU

This study was conceptualized due to the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since educational institutions are shifting to the online set-up, it would be beneficial to know the readiness level of the students

Participants were 2,035 university students who completed a restricted online survey. As regards the profile of the respondents: 1) 85% of the students live in urban areas, 2) 49.73% are generally academically excellent; 3) 62.36% belong to the ‘poor’ class; 4) 60.35% of them spend Php 501.00 to Php 2, 000 a month; 5) the respondents are visual learners, and 6) mobile phones through mobile data are commonly used to connect online. Meanwhile, regarding the students' experiences for e-learning, the study found that the mVLE is the commonly used platform of the students and that financial difficulty due to internet data expenses and internet connectivity issues remain to be the common problem for e-learning. As regards students’ readiness for e-learning, it was found that the students are generally ready for e-learning as they exhibit readiness in three of five areas of e-learning readiness (computer self-efficacy, self-directed learning, and learning motivations). However, the students have low mean score ratings for learner control and online communication self-efficacy which reflects their unpreparedness to express their ideas and direct their learning online.

For the students’ level of acceptance for e-learning, the data showed that the students do not accept all constructs of acceptability such as performance expectancy, attitude, image, social influence, and compatibility. Additionally, students mildly experience signs of anxiety when they get to think about the threats and risks of the health crisis. The different items for anxiety have gained average to low scores.

In order to make more sense of the data gathered, the relationships of the variables involved were determined: 1) the level of online readiness of the students has a strong association with their level of acceptance; 2) the profile of the respondents have no associations with the level of readiness, level of acceptance, and level of anxiety of the students; and 3) the level of anxiety has no associations with the student's level of readiness and level of acceptance for e-learning of the students. Based on the data gathered, the following conclusions were drawn: 1) students experience difficulty when learning online; 2) they are not ready fully to learn online; 3) they have not accepted fully the new learning modality; 4) the levels of readiness and acceptance affect one another; 5) the students’ level of anxiety does not affect their level of readiness and acceptance; and 6) their profile does not affect their level of anxiety, level of readiness, and level of acceptance for e-learning.

Jay Pee Ilacas, Mishael Joy Barrera, Orlino Mandac, Lorelei Corpuz Customer Satisfaction of the Northern Foods Corporation (NFC) This study aimed to assess the performance of Northern Foods Corporation (NFC), a GOCC, vis-à-vis its declared objectives of quality performance along: efficiency and effectivity of staff and organization; quality of products and services; effectiveness of trainings and workshops; handling complaints and records keeping; ease of information and communication; facilities; and sources of information. The results showed that for five (5) consecutive years now, the Northern Foods Corporation (NFC) has delivered exceptional quality services to its valued tomato contract growing farmers and institutional buyers. Though farmer-cooperators are generally satisfied with the implementation of the Contract Growing System (CGS) of NFC, policies to further improve the farmer-enterprise relationship are needed in order to enhance small farmer’s participation in contract growing schemes in the country as studies have shown that contract farmers have relatively higher net farm income per hectare than noncontract farmers.
Marilou Lucas, Lorma Valera, Herson Coloma, Errol John Valdez, Mishael Joy Barrera, Sheena Lidora, and Tess Pablo Development of Value-Added Products for Native Chicken in Ilocos Norte This study aims to develop value-added products of native chicken and determine its feasibility as an enterprise. Native chicken lechon and pickled native eggs were developed following good manufacturing practices. The microbial analysis of the pickled eggs turned negative hence, safe for consumption. There is a distinct Ilokano taste of the native chicken lechon. Based on the acceptability analysis, both products were Like Very Much. Optimization of the products are being done and there is potential for commercialization by potential entrepreneurs. The target market of the two value-added products are the restaurants where customers usually look for different and unique dishes offered and those who are health conscious.
Marilou P. Lucas, Errol John V. Valdez, Jerson S. Coloma, Ivy Florence B. Calamaan, Arnelie G. Laquidan, Grace Cobardo, Rijia B. Quanguey Supply Chain of Native Chicken in Region I The supply chain of native chicken in the region is characterized as simple. Native chicken production remained as backyard activity of a farm household. Most of the time, the raisers of native chicken are also the market sellers, hence, there is no standard pricing and measurement of native chicken in the market which encourages unfair marketing practices.
Sheena Marie Joy P. Lidora, Marilou P Lucas, Jerson S. Coloma, Mishael Joy Barrera, Ivy Florence B. Calamaan, Venus Guevara and Angeline Fabro Marketing Analysis of Native Chicken in Region I In Region 1, three marketing channels of native chicken were observed which involve raisers, market sellers (resellers and assembler/traders), institutional buyers, and consumers (households and fellow farmers). Native chickens are sold either in per head or per weight basis. At the raiser’s level, the price of native chicken across the provinces ranges from Php110 to Php200 kg-1 and Php80 to Php550 per head while at the market seller’s level, Php150 to Php300 kg-1 and Php120 to Php475 per head. Overall, when compared with the price offered by the raisers, the price of native chicken from market sellers is relatively higher because there are marketing costs that are incurred when products are moved from the farm/farmer’s house to the final market.
Bella Gervacio, Joan Rarogal, Armie Sabugo, Epifania Agustin, Jeffrey de Vera, Benica Briones, Gerry Galvez, Victor Sanidad, Emmanuel Carlos Technology Transfer and Partnership with Private Sector Towards Sustainable Production of Bolinao Chicken The project involves the establishment of nucleus and multiplier farms using the technologies developed for the sustainability of supply of Bolinao chicken in selected local government units in the four provinces of Ilocos Region. The demonstration farms showcase the economic viability Bolinao chicken and further creation of a more profitable enterprise for this commodity.