by John Bambalan
A virtual research seminar with the theme of “Understanding Qualitative Research: From Transcription to Thematization” was conducted on the 16th of September with the intent of reframing the minds of the senior high school students in the way they conduct research.
Dr. Alexander S. Acosta, the resource speaker for the research webinar, spoke about how this event would help the future student-researchers of Philippine School Doha (PSD), specifically adding that the webinar was brought about so that the students would have the essentials when they conduct their own research study.
To ceremoniously start the event, Dr. Noemi F. Formaran, vice-principal of the SHS Department, introduced the students to the topic at hand. She spoke of the hardships, the benefits, and the importance of research.
“Research encourages curiosity, helps one to love learning, and prepares human beings for the future,” Formaran affirmed, disclosing that it is through research that we will one day discover the vast number of things previously unknown to mankind.
On the topic of researchers and the current pandemic, Acosta made a point of telling the students not to dwell on what is happening but instead on what they should do. Specifically, he stated that “I am not giving you a message of ‘you need to be fearful of what’s going on’ but rather, I would like you to ‘take note of what your role should be’ in this fearful scenario…“
Acosta then defined “eunoia” as a Greek word for “beautiful thinking”. Eunoia, as he says, is a way of conditioning one’s mind for conducting research. A quote by Asja Boroš (2020) which stated
“transforming darkness into light, converting fear into hope,
transmuting restlessness into creativity and artistic self-expression”
was used by Acosta to exemplify eunoia.
Moreover, Acosta reoriented the senior high school students on research, particularly about its types, codes, sampling, data analysis, and other related intricacies. While discussing, he also simultaneously gave his own insights regarding the process of conducting research studies to further deepen the understanding of the students.
Lastly, Acosta hosted a question and answer session, in which the PSDians enthusiastically cooperated. This was done in order to clarify any misunderstandings or incorrect notions the students may have had concerning the delivered seminar.
In hopes of maintaining the vision and mission of Philippine School Doha as being research-adept, the senior high school students have been refreshed in a webinar, especially about the ins and outs, dos and don’ts, and the pros and cons of conducting a research study.