Research Critique no.

Gaspar, E. (2014). Level of implementation of mother tongue-based multilingual

education program and learning achievement of pupils in capoocan district. Naval State
University: Naval, Biliran.
The purpose of the study was clearly and concisely stated and was sufficiently
delimitated to be amenable to investigations. It was clear that this study aimed to find out
the level of implementation of Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education and the
learning achievement of the pupils in Capoocan District during the second quarter of the
school year 2013-2014. Specifically, the study sought to find out the socio-demographic
profile of the Grades I-II teachers implementing the MTB-MLE program in Capoocan
District, the school heads’ and teachers’ perceptions on the level of expectation of the
MTB-MLE, the level of learning achievement of the pupils in the MTB-MLE, and the
significant relationship among these variables. Since it sought to find out these pieces of
information, I can say that this study has sufficient practical value as what the researcher
had laid out in his paper—that this study would not only be beneficial for the school heads
and the teachers, but also for the pupils and their parents.
To convey to the reader what knowledge and ideas have already been established, the
researcher sufficiently presented the legal bases, researches, and case studies on the
use of mother tongue, which bears a significant effect on the total learning process and
brings about the preservation of our cultural heritage. In addition, the researcher likewise
properly cited primary literatures and adequately used secondary sources which
significantly contributed to the general understanding of the importance of mother tongue-
based instruction in the Philippine educational system. On the other hand, the
researcher’s inclusion of what the SIL Philippines remarkably noted: that “the languages
of instruction in the Philippine schools are foreign and incomprehensible to more than 70
percent of Philippine students” is I think a concrete manifestation that the researcher
critically evaluated previous findings and studies. With all the literatures cited which are
very much related to the study because they stressed the implementation of mother
tongue based-language instruction in some parts of the country, together with the multi-
assumptions postulated by different academicians namely Ritcher, Butzkamm and
Winter’s about language theories, they therefore served as the strong anchorage of this
study.
The researcher submitted two testable hypotheses. The first hypothesis was that there is
no significant relationship between the socio-demographic profile of Grades I-II teachers
implementing the MTB-MLE and the level of learning achievement of the pupils in
Capoocan District. The second hypothesis claimed that there is no significant relationship
between the level of implementation of the MTB-MLE and the level of learning
achievement of the pupils in Capoocan District. Since the researcher submitted two null
hypotheses, the researcher therefore took the default position that there is no relationship
between the measured variables. Moreover, to establish a common understanding in the
reporting of this study, several terms used throughout this paper have been defined
conceptually and operationally.
Furthermore, this study utilized a descriptive-correlational design, used a researcher-
made survey questionnaire as the main instrument thoughtfully crafted to gather the
needed data, and followed a systematic and appropriate procedure in data gathering
which started off with the researcher asking permission from the Schools Division
Superintendent in Leyte Division and ended with the researcher reviewing the retrieved
questionnaire to look for any possible unfilled entries or missed responses. I believe the
researcher used a valid method for researching specific subjects and a precursor to a
more quantitative study.
With regards to the respondents of the study, the researcher did not clearly state
the sampling techniques that she used in her study. It was only stated in the study that
Grade I-II teachers implementing the MTB-MLE program were the respondents of the
study. I presume the total population were used, however I am not also certain if they
were chosen in a volunteer basis or not. Within the sample, there were actually points
that the researcher should have considered as they would have aided in the data analysis,
particularly when looking for possible interactions and/or relationships between the
variables of the study. For instance, within the population, 1(2.0) of the teachers was
male, while 49 (98.0) were female. I believe that a larger sample with regard to all
categories would have helped in finding interactions in between two variables, specifically
in this case, the possible interactions between gender and the level of learning
achievement of the pupils, and gender and the teacher’s perceptions on the level of
implementation of the MTB-MLE.
In terms of the instruments used by the researcher, the researcher just utilized a
self-made survey questionnaire. It was not also reported in the study if the instruments
used, given the fact that it is a self-made survey questionnaire, were first validated by
three reading experts and had underwent pilot testing. I believe these procedures are
necessary to ensure the validity and reliability of the instruments.
To analyze the data collected, descriptive statistics such as mean, percentage,
and frequency counts were used to describe the variables and then, the data were also
subjected to the Pearson moment coefficient of correlation to find out any significant
relationships among the research variables. These I believe are appropriate statistical
tools to be used in this type of study. Since appropriate statistical tools were used, this
paved the way for the comprehensive discussion of the results of the study.
After a thorough analysis of the results based on the findings gathered, the
researcher substantially drew conclusions and shared recommendations that were
categorically anchored on the conclusions made. Lastly, the researcher suggested for the
replication of her study in broader scope and larger sample so as to get the real qualitative
and quantitative impact of the outcomes of the program.
 In a nut shell, the research was indeed beneficial for the implementation of the
MTB-MLE program. This would likewise help expand the landscape of knowledge related
to MTB-MLE program.