reaBy Rolen L. Holme, Virgil B. Vallecera, and Merry Daisy Ree P. Versosa
ABSTRACT
Research has become part of our lives. Not only has it able to make the world all the more different and dynamic, but also dysfunctional and dangerous. But this wonderful and horrid realities are just options to a typical or cynical researcher.
For the research teachers, seeing his students submit and defend a work of words is the zenith of his endeavor. The teacher does not see more the effects and results of the paperwork but the labor of the pile.
But what happens if the work itself is fraud. Wittingly or unwittingly, will both research student and teacher commend and command credibility and honor?
Little we do know that the sacred teachings of research and intellectual inquiry has already been tainted and painted black by a business cycle that runs in the veins of some misguided research students and, worst, teachers. Yes, it is unfortunate that the business of purchasing ready-made researches has been unchecked and unbridled by research and academic authorities, which contributed to its eventual influx.
It is from this light that the researchers of this work ventured deliberately in this underground trade that petrifies not just the established norms and ethics in paperwork but ultimately the civilized society and the world, which are the ultimate beneficiaries of the effects to come. Lest we forget, the world of today was yesterday’s words.
What does a man gain by
telling a lie?
He is not believed when
he tells the truth.”
—Aristotle
______________________________________
We never see the stars
Till we can see naught but them. So with truth,
And yet if one would look down a deep well,
Even at noon, we might see those same stars.
—Philip James Bailey
CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE
Rationale
Education eludes crime, but how could it be done when in educating there is already a crime? But then, one could discern this defective reality as being experienced maybe because of poverty on the side of those who deviates norms, and survival for those who tolerate. These are just theoretical reasons yet they show looming reality. However, the commotion does not stop there because there are effects that are yet to be anticipated. The most alarming are those that are yet to be experienced.
Looking into this reality, the researchers found the existence of those individuals, who purchased ready-made researches. With that, the researchers came up with a decision of searching if that scenario really existed. After a preliminary investigation, the researchers found that there were real doers and accessories of such actions; and so the researchers were more concerned on the perceptions of purchasing ready-made researches to College Students. How will this scenario affect students? Could this action do good for the students or otherwise? These were the questions raised by the researchers to one another. However, they thought that this might be also of great range; thus, they limited their scope to the students in five colleges of
The researchers thought that the study sought to satisfy their curious but affective hope of giving the students awareness on purchasing ready-made researches. Moreover, the researchers also hoped to mobilize the concerned entities to act to eradicate if not lessen the problem. The study was investigative and sensitive.
People are very much aware of intellectual property and plagiarism. In fact, there is already a provision on the Intellectual Property Code of the
In a greater perspective, the researchers aimed to influence the legal branch of the locality at the very least to bring about a policy hindering this appalling misdemeanor. More so, the researchers, as students, wished to open the minds of students in avoiding this and to uphold the ideals of intellectual honesty.
Review of Related Literature
March and October of every year have been marked as graduation periods. They are also complemented with hectic schedules and mounting requirements. However, if one speaks of graduation, one should also speak of the required thesis or research or dissertation paper that need be made, submitted, defended, and passed in order to be ordained with the degree that one dreamt of when enrolled in a university. Researches are required as they are the tangible tickets in order to graduate. Simply put: Without the research or thesis paper, one cannot graduate.
Research, as conveyed by English and Research Mentor Dr. Joseph Sol Galleon, is the method of inquiry that seeks, examines, and assesses facts, perceptions, problems, and issues in order to end up with solutions for a better output.
However, research making is not as simple as making a 10-page written report about Shakespeare’s Hamlet or the
The researchers of this study see it fit to reevaluate how research making has made an impact towards students. More to the point, the researchers have also considered the existence of the business cycle of ready-made researches, which goes counter to the established norms and ethics expected from a research student. Because from there, come the questions on honesty and authenticity over research compliance and submission: Have they not learned their lessons about research making? Are the college students nowadays honest and authentic in their research endeavor? Are they aware of the legal and valid consequences that lie in the offing?
In this section, the researchers intend to revisit the necessary concepts that need be in the minds of a research student.
On Honesty and Authenticity
It has been apparent that research making, to some, is to be well prepared and anticipated. However, for those who do not have the time or ability to do it, they opt to go to the road less traveled, a smooth yet fraudulent path to take: Purchasing ready-made researches. As what the initial investigation of this research suggests, such a discreet and fraud business does exist. As a matter of fact, it has been an open secret to some. And by adhering to such paths, a researcher tend to deceive himself of what is true.
To thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
-William Shakespeare
“Lying, cheating, and deception are like dirt on the mind. No one respects or trusts a liar or a cheat. No one who lies can feel any respect for himself, for he knows that he is dishonest. Not only does a dirty face arouse the scorn of others but it also hides the real face underneath. A lie is like a dirty face, it hides the truth. When we discover the lie, our scorn is even greater than when we see a layer of dirt on someone’s face.” (“The Filipino Norms and Ethics,” Truth; pp. 39-40)
Being true to one’s work is a point that research teachers want to inculcate to their students. Actually, it brings to mind a Filipino cliché, “A single centavo is better than a stolen peso.”
Filipino ethics dictate that honesty or being true “is another form of cleanliness. It is cleanliness of the mind and is as necessary to true happiness as cleanliness of the body. A clean mind is just so easy to have as a clean body, although it is just as important—perhaps more so. Our thoughts cannot be seen; therefore, an unclean mind is not so quickly discovered as an unclean body. But when it is found out that a person’s mind is unclean, as it always is in the end, people feel a greater disgust for that unclean mind than they do for an unwashed body.” (“The Filipino Norms and Ethics,” Truth; p. 40)
Greek philosopher Aristotle reminds all students of intellectual inquiry that: “What does a man gain by telling a lie? He is not believed when he tells the truth.”
Aristotle’s mentor, Plato, also talks about honesty as to justice in his world-renowned book “The Republic” that it is injustice for a man to do what is not expected of him to do, as this does not “confirm to his nature.” It is indeed true since for a research student, he should “confirm” to being a student of intellect and reason, which is understood, that it is not his “nature” to prefer a fraudulent path by being involved in a questionable and discreet manner of researching.
Justice promotes not only equity but goodwill and harmony. If all parties accept their respective responsibilities and duties with open kindness and generosity, there will be industrial peace. (“Ethics and Filipino,” National Book Store, Inc. and Ramon B. Agapay, 1991, Volume 14, p. 154)
Choosing to have ready-made researches in order to pass a subject is a Machiavellian line of thinking; that is, “The ends justify the means.” But such, a concept is, again, against the Filipinos’ line of thinking, which talks about deep-rooted morality. Morality per se, as how Encarta Encyclopedia describes it, follows the principles of encouraging goodness and decency; giving guidance on how to behave decently and honorably
On Plagiarism
Ready-made researches, as operationally defined in this study, are research outputs coming from freelance researchers who sell it to potential buyers, more particularly research students who buy them for either convenience or lenience. It also refers to researches that had already passed the scrutiny of research panelists and inquiry; hence, a potential case of plagiarism. (“The Perceptions of College Student in
“Plagiarism is the practice of claiming or implying original authorship of (or incorporating material from) someone else's written or creative work, in whole or in part, into one's own without adequate acknowledgement. Unlike cases of forgery, in which the authenticity of the writing, document, or some other kind of object itself is in question, plagiarism is concerned with the issue of false attribution.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism)
Accordingly, Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary tells that to “plagiarize” means to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own; to use (another’s production) without crediting the source; to commit literary theft; to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plagiarize)
All of the following are considered plagiarism (http://www.piercelaw.edu/tfield/tgf.htm):
1. Turning in someone else’s work as your own
2. Copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
3. Failing to put a quotation in quotation marks
4. Giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation
5. Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit
6. Copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not
Most cases of plagiarism can be avoided, however, by citing sources. Simply acknowledging that certain material has been borrowed and providing the audience with the information necessary to find that source are usually enough to prevent plagiarism. (http://www.piercelaw.edu/tfield/tgf.htm.)
Ready-made researches then has a high risk of plagiarism as a research student would just purchase it even without proper authority from its original authors or writers, and afterward claim the research paper as his own.
On Intellectual Property
Can words and ideas really be stolen? The answer is a loud and solid yes. Aside from plagiarism, there also exists the concept of intellectual property. The expression of original ideas is considered intellectual property, and is protected by copyright laws, just like original inventions. Almost all forms of expression fall under copyright protection as long as they are recorded in some way (such as a book or a computer file).
Intellectually or artistically, people have the right to prevent the unlawful use or sale of their creations, just the same as holders of physical property, such as cars, buildings, and stores. As opposed to makers of tangible goods, people whose work is essentially intangible like research papers and scholarly works face more troubles in making a living if their claim to their creations is not honored.
Now, is the
“The State recognizes that an effective intellectual and industrial property system is vital to the development of domestic and creative activity, xxx It shall protect and secure the exclusive rights of scientists, inventors, artists and other gifted citizens to their intellectual property and creations, particularly when beneficial to the people, for such periods as provided in this Act.
“The use of intellectual property bears a social function. To this end, the State shall promote the diffusion of knowledge and information for the promotion of national development and progress and the common good.
“It is also the policy of the State to streamline administrative procedures of registering patents, trademarks and copyright, to liberalize the registration on the transfer of technology, and to enhance the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the
Furthermore, RA 8293 grants both economic and moral rights to the original authors of scholarly works. Notably, the law gives prime concern to the moral rights of the authors in Section 193 of the law. To wit;
“SEC. 193. Scope of Moral Rights
The author of a work shall, independently of the economic rights in Section 177 or the grant of an assignment or license with respect to such right, have the right:
“193.1. To require that the authorship of the works be attributed to him, in particular, the right that his name, as far as practicable, be indicated in a prominent way on the copies, and in connection with the public use of his work;
“193.2. To make any alterations of his work prior to, or to withhold it from publication;
“193.3. To object to any distortion, mutilation or other modification of, or other derogatory action in relation to, his work which would be prejudicial to his honor or reputation; and
“193.4. To restrain the use of his name with respect to any work not of his own creation or in a distorted version of his work. (Sec. 34, P.D. No. 49)” (http://ipophil.gov.ph/IPCode/IPCodeMain.htm) (See Appendix D of this study for further reference of RA 8293; p. 79)
Considering that ready-made researches are at the center of the fraudulent business transaction between freelance researchers who got hold of the scholarly work either with or without consent from the original author, the fact remains that there has been an illegal transfer of ownership over the paper. The law then provides reasonable penalties for the ones who sold and purchased such scholarly work. To wit;
“SEC. 217. Criminal Penalties
“217.1. Any person infringing any right secured by provisions of Part IV of this Act or aiding or abetting such infringement shall be guilty of a crime punishable by:
“(a) Imprisonment of one (1) year to three (3) years plus a fine ranging from Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000) to One hundred fifty thousand pesos (P150,000) for the first offense.
“(b) Imprisonment of three (3) years and one (1) day to six (6) years plus a fine ranging from One hundred fifty thousand pesos (P150,000) to Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000) for the second offense.
“(c) Imprisonment of six (6) years and one (1) day to nine (9) years plus a fine ranging from Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000) to One million five hundred thousand pesos (P1,500,000) for the third and subsequent offenses.
“(d) In all cases, subsidiary imprisonment in cases of insolvency.
“217.2. In determining the number of years of imprisonment and the amount of fine, the court shall consider the value of the infringing materials that the defendant has produced or manufactured and the damage that the copyright owner has suffered by reason of the infringement.
“217.3. Any person who at the time when copyright subsists in a work has in his possession an article which he knows, or ought to know, to be an infringing copy of the work for the purpose of:
“(a) Selling, letting for hire, or by way of trade offering or exposing for sale, or hire, the article;
“(b) Distributing the article for purpose of trade, or for any other purpose to an extent that will prejudice the rights of the copyright owner in the work; or
“(c) Trade exhibit of the article in public, shall be guilty of an offense and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment and fine as above mentioned. (Sec. 29, P.D. No. 49a)” (http://ipophil.gov.ph/IPCode/IPCodeMain.htm) (See Appendix D of this study for further reference of RA 8293; p. 79)
According to Thomas G. Field Jr. in his casebook entitled “Introduction to Intellectual Property,” many people think of plagiarism as copying another’s work, or borrowing someone else’s original ideas. But terms like “copying “and “borrowing” can disguise the seriousness of the offense.
“It is not always easy to tell the truth. Sometimes we are tempted to lie in order to escape punishment. But when we tell the truth instead, and suffer the punishment, we discover that we gain more than we lose. xxx When we do something wrong, admitting it and taking the punishment is very much like taking a bath which washes the mind clean, showing others the pure mind underneath.” (“The Filipino Norms and Ethics,” Truth; p. 41)
Dr. Honey Carandang, noted psychologist, speaks about truth telling as a way of healing. She notes that the Filipinos are traumatized and retraumatized because lying has become a way of living for many. Society has become an effective tool for misleading the truth.
In the long run, the researchers intend not to let the culprits come out in the open and admit their wrongdoings. The researchers only hope to enliven the moral fiber in every research student and, ultimately, the whole research community.
We never see the stars
Till we can see naught but them. So with truth.
And yet if one would look down a deep well,
Even at noon, we might see those same stars.
—Philip James Bailey
Statement of the Problem
This study aimed to determine the perceptions of College students in
Furthermore, this study hoped to answer the following specific problems;
1. What are the profiles of the student-respondents in terms of:
1.1. age;
1.2. gender;
1.3. civil status;
1.4. educational background;
1.5. school; and
1.6. year level?
2. What are the modus operandis of freelance researchers who sell researches?
3. What are the perceptions of respondents toward research making and ready-made researchers?
3.1 What is the significance or relevance of research making to student
researchers?
3.2 What are the factors that would lead students to purchase ready-made
researches?
4. What are the remedies or solutions that would prevent students from adhering to ready-made researches?
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
There is no impact implied from the college students in
Aside from that, the academic institutions and government agencies are able to detect and apprehend intellectual property violators; hence, if a college student prefers to have a ready-made research, he cannot find or locate a research hot spot. Moreover, the problem about ready-made researches does not exist at all.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study is important to the following personas:
Research Students. This study gives insights on ready-made researches to students. Such is very essential since as researchers, proper ethics and intellectual honesty should be on the top of their priorities as they venture in the world of problems.
Professional Research Teachers. With this study, the members of the research community would be armed and ready against the possibilities and reasons some students think when they prefer ready-made researches. In a certain way, teachers or professional researchers can evaluate their strengths and weaknesses as conveyor of knowledge to those potential student-purchasers of ready-made works.
Research Panelists. This research is essential to them as they are the ones who approve or reject research works. Not only must they look into the details of the research, but they must dig deeper on the authenticity and veracity of the different researches presented to them. As they are the final say of this realm of intellectual inquiry, this research would give insights on the usual agenda of students who purchase ready-made researches and on the usual modus operandis of the freelance researches.
Research Directors. As a research head, he will be aware through the results of this research work of what are his possible loopholes in research administration, education, and management toward research teachers, who presupposes the students’ research strengths and weaknesses.
School Academic Directors. This research will definitely contribute to the enhancement and realignment of academic strategies and approaches toward research development.
School Heads. With this research endeavor, school heads or presidents will be aware of where lapses in implementing a school culture of excellence take place.
Intellectual Property Rights Law-Enforcement Agencies. This research is beneficial to them as they will be aware of the nature of the business behind the purchasing of possible plagiarized researches.
METHODOLOGY
This study made use of the following methods in obtaining the necessary data to come up with plausible and reasonable conclusion in terms of the perceptions of college students to the business of purchasing ready-made researches.
Methods Used. The research employed quantitative-qualitative data to come up with solutions.
The researchers decided to have the survey method in gathering the collective information from five groups of respondents from the
The research also heeded to the qualitative method to qualify and present results of the discreet interviews with freelance researchers. Interviews were done in order to appropriate the necessary descriptive definitions and opinions. Each researcher was tasked to approach the mentioned respondents and ask their views regarding the business of ready-made researches.
Research Respondents. The research had two sets of respondents, namely student researchers and freelance researchers.
Enrolled 10 college students each from the five universities located in
Freelance researchers were those researchers who ran the business of purchasing ready-made researches. They were strategically located within range of the five universities mentioned. Their location and identity, however, were held confidential. Only the essential data were extracted from the research interviews.
Sampling Technique. The researchers used cluster-random sampling as technique in gathering data.
The student respondents were subjects of the cluster-random sampling. Ten research students from each of the five mentioned schools composed a group. They were randomly chosen as cluster and surveyed using common questionnaires.
Research Environment. The researchers gathered data from the academic confines of
As for the freelance researchers who sold ready-made researches, the researches opt not to disclose their exact location but for certain, they were located near or in front of two of the five schools mentioned. Apparently, their location were not discreet, as a matter of fact, they even made public their research endeavor.
Instrument Used. This study made use of a survey questionnaire addressed to student respondents.
The questionnaire contained three sections pertaining to:
1. profile of respondents;
2. relevance/significance of research towards the respondents; and
3. possibilities of purchasing ready-made researches.
Treatment of the Data. The researchers used a simple percentage to quantify the data gathered.
P = F / N X 100
Where:
P =is for percentage
F =is for frequency of respondents taking the option
N =is for total number of respondents
100 =is for constant value that acts as multiplier to arrive to the percentage
DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE
Before the research began, the researchers had a preliminary investigation in order to authenticate their assumption that ready-made researches were made available by freelance researchers to student researchers. After they proved that the assumption was valid, that sensitive data was at hand, and that freelance researchers were located within reach of universities, the researchers then conceptualized a research questionnaire for both the research students while a thorough one-on-one interview for the freelance researchers.
When the research questionnaire was done, the researchers divided themselves into two groups to accommodate time and effort and to hasten the data-gathering from the five universities in
After which, the researchers went out to interview freelance researchers who sold researches after awhile they put two and two together to collate the data gathered from the survey conducted to research students. The researchers also had a group discussion of the data gathered from the freelance researchers.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
The researchers defined the following terms operationally:
Ready-made Research. It pertains to research outputs coming from freelance researchers who sell it to potential buyers, more particularly research students who buy them for either convenience or lenience. It also refers to researches that had already passed the scrutiny of research panelists and inquiry; hence, a potential case of plagiarism. A ready-made research can either be Stocked or Customized.
Freelance Researcher. Individual who sells ready-made researches to potential buyers.
Potential Buyer. Individual who purchases ready-made researches in fulfillment of their respective course requirements, in this case, research students.
Professional Researchers. They teach or convey the basic principles in the conduct of intellectual inquiry or research-making, in this case, research teachers and authorities.
Researchers. It onerously refers to the researchers of this research paper dubbed, “The Perceptions of College Students in
Hot Spot. It refers to an area of transaction of ready-made researches.
Plagiarism. The use of intellectual property, in this case, research works, without the prior consent or due recognition from and to the original or primary authors.
CHAPTER II
DATA AND RESULTS
In this chapter dwell the presentation, analysis, and interpretation of gathered data. This research attended to both quantitative and qualitative approaches in research in order to pass the comprehensive and complex taste of the reader and to effectively validate or reject the researchers’ assumptions of the queries raised in the Statement of the Problem and Research Hypothesis.
This chapter is divided in two sections. The first discloses the data and results of the research interviews between the researchers and the freelance researchers. While the second is on the research survey, which is consequently divided into three sub-sections: Profile of the respondents; the relevance and significance of research making to students; and the possibilities and perceptions towards purchasing ready-made researches.
This chapter is descriptive in the earlier part and tabular in the later.
Data on Research Interviews
This section presents the data and results of the researchers’ initial investigation as well as the discreet interviews between the potential and target freelance researchers. The mode of this section is descriptive and narrative.
Initial Investigation. Before the actual research began, the researchers first validated the purported underground business of purchasing ready-made researches. The researchers had an initial investigation to make sure that what they wanted to research had a face and was existing; and in order not to waste time and effort over an unestablished research issue. In the initial investigation, the researchers conversationally asked a number of professional researchers (teachers) as well as former research students of different courses.
Professional researchers were asked if they had known of underground or discreet individuals or freelance researchers who sold ready-made research papers to potential buyers, particularly students. Unsurprisingly, they had confirmed its existence; however, they opted not to disclose the specific location of the transaction, except the transaction’s target areas. As to the target areas, the researchers observed that they were near academic institutions in the Metro Cebu downtown area:
1. Along
2. Along
3. Along
The professional researchers also cannot disclose nor confirm if they had known former research students who were caught using, presenting, and defending a ready-made research. The professional researchers said that that they could not confirm since not only was the researching and the research fraud in nature, making the potential buyers either prepared or unprepared for the oral defense; but also since human nature dictated that no brave soul would be honest enough to admit that they utilized a ready-made research, which was very probable in essence.
The initial investigation also extracted data from potential buyers, particularly former students. It appeared that the discreet transaction was an open secret. However, neither a specific location nor a target area of transaction, they cannot confirm nor estimate. Furthermore, they assumed that good target locations would be internet cafes since research papers nowadays are computerized in nature.
Referring to human nature on fearless revelation in purchasing ready-made research, the former students, however, were in concert with the professional researchers that no brave soul would have the guts to spit the truth.
Actual Investigation. The researchers’ interviews were discreet. Since given the sensitivity of the research, the researchers opted not to reveal to the target freelance researchers that they were conducting a research about ready-made researches.
On one hand, given that the researchers will not disclose the real intention, the target freelance researcher is free, well-versed, and confident in sharing the salient data about the discreet transaction. On the other, the researchers assumed that if they do reveal their real agenda, there is high probability that they will not be entertained or they can only gather half-baked and fabricated data.
As what the results of the initial investigation suggested, there were three target areas of transaction: Along the streets of Sanciangko,
Along
In the first research hot spot, the researchers asked for the details of the transaction. The attendants of the internet café asked whether the researchers were only to encode, thinking that the researchers had had a research paper already. The researchers then told the attendants that they do not have any that was why they asked for help from a freelance researcher. However, the internet café’s known freelance researcher was not around. Then the attendants asked the researchers as to what the topic of the research would be so the freelance researcher would be aware and be able to begin. And to not prolong the conversation, the attendants asked the researchers to leave a contact number just in case the freelance researcher would returned. Since the target freelance researcher was not there, the researchers proceeded to another hot spot.
In the second research hot spot, the researchers were awed that the internet café even advertised the transaction on a conspicuous and vocal section of the café: The door. The researchers went in and confirmed that the transaction existed. Good enough, the two freelance researchers were there. And since there was a direct contact with the freelance researcher, here were the gathered data:
Price Tags
1. P1,500.00 was the price of a stocked research. The price was inclusive of encoding and printing.
2. P25.00 per page was the price of a customized research, wherein a potential buyer gives a research topic while the freelance researcher does the research process from conceptualization, formulation of questionnaires, data gathering, presentation, etc. The price was also inclusive of encoding and printing.
Potential Buyers
Potential buyers come from near and distant universities, with the hot spot’s location as starting reference point.
1. Near or within 300-meter range:
2. Distant or beyond 300-meter range:
Research Topics in Store
The freelance researchers claimed that they had a wide-range of topics that served a wide-range of academic courses. However, they could not allow a potential buyer to scan, survey, or choose specific topics or ready-made researches in store; unless, the potential buyer already decided to purchase a ready-made research.
Furnishing/Research Timeframes
1. Given a potential buyer decided to purchase a stocked research, the freelance researchers could produce it after two (2) days.
2. As for a customized research, the freelance researchers could produce it within one (1) week.
Others
1. The freelance researchers also happened to be a fixer, who fabricated school assessments, grade slips, transcripts of records (TORs), birth certificates, and government documents.
Along
Along
Price Tags
1. P20.00 per page was the price of a stocked research
2. P40.00 per page was the price of a customized research
Potential Buyers
Potential buyers came from near and distant universities, with the hot spot’s location as starting reference point.
1. Near or within 300-meter range:
2. Distant or beyond 300-meter range:
Aside from that, since every graduation period requires students to have theses or research papers, they have 10 buyers per day on the average.
Research Topics in Store
The attendant claimed that they had a wide-range of topics that served a wide-range of academic courses.
The attendant showed a two (2)-inch thick envelope composed of about 20-30 stocked researches. As to the researchers’ observation, there was a huge (2 by 1 by 2 feet) box full of those envelopes. A box could fit in about seven (7) of those envelopes. So, there were about 140-210 researches in store to choose. However, the attendant said that there were actually about 500 or more of those stocked researches. He even said he could no longer count the standing number of the stocked researches.
Quality of the Research
As to the form, the researchers observed that the stocked researches were all typewritten, not computerized. Of which, it suggested that the ready-made researches were either made at a time when the freelance researchers did not have a computer set years back or the freelance researchers preferred to type-write. The potential buyer still had to computerize the ready-made research.
Moreover, the form of the research itself suggested that the freelance researcher was keen of the standards in research making. However, the researchers had observed that the ready-made researches had grammatical errors.
Furnishing/Research Timeframes
1. Given a potential buyer decided to purchase a stocked research, the freelance researchers could produce it upon purchase. However, the potential buyer still had to computerize the ready-made research.
2. As for a customized research, the freelance researchers could produce it within one (1) week.
3. As for a rushed customized research, the freelance researchers could produce it within three (3) days.
Others
The researchers had observed that all the 90 stocked researches initially presented had one common name. The name, however, was not written under the “Submitted/Presented by:” portion of the research paper, but under the “Presented to…” This alarmingly suggested that the freelance researcher was actually a teacher who was presented by his students with those researches.
Data on Research survey
This section pertains to the data and results of the researchers’ survey. Ten enrolled students each from the
As earlier stipulated, there were 10 respondents per school; hence, in the presentation of the profile per school, only the frequency of the answers would be shown. In such a manner, the percentage of the answers was no longer needed in the presentation of results. However, in the presentation of the overall results, the percentage would be presented.
Profile. This sub-section pertains to the respondents’ age, gender, civil status, educational background, school, and year level. This adheres to the basic information of the respondents per school and of the overall respondents. The results relate to the respondents’ level of perception toward research making and ready-made researches.
On Age. The researchers gathered the age profile of the respondents as this would reflect the varied level of perceptions of students toward research making and on the concept of ready-made researches.
Age of Respondents per School
As shown, CNU respondents had a strong hold in the age bracket 15-19. Both SWU and UC respondents had a split with seven (7) and three (3) respondents who were within the age brackets 20-29 and 15-19, respectively. Eight (8) or majority of the UP respondents belonged to ages 20-29 while only two (2) of them were still within ages 15-19. Lastly, enough to become majority, six (6) of the UV respondents belonged to ages 20-29 while four (4) were within the 15-19 age bracket.
Overall, all of the CNU respondents were within ages 15-19 while majority of the SWU, UC, UP, and UV respondents belonged to the age bracket 20-29. No respondent, however, was within the brackets 30-39, 40-49, and 50-up.
Table 1
Age of Respondents
| Age Bracket | Total Frequency (F) | Percentage (%) |
| 50-up | 0 | - |
| 40-49 | 0 | - |
| 30-39 | 0 | - |
| 20-29 | 24 | 48% |
| 15-19 | 26 | 52% |
| Total | 50 | 100% |
Table 1 shows that 26 or 52% of the respondents were between 15-19 years old and 24 or 48% of the respondents were between 20-29 years old. No respondent reached the age brackets 30-39, 40-49, and 50-up, which suggested that all of the respondents were regular college students.
On Gender. Gender of the respondents was another essential factor in the study that helped the researchers determine which dominates the sample population. This would also suggest the difference of perception of a male or female respondent towards research making and purchasing of ready-made researches.
Gender of Respondents per School
Figure 9 shows, on one hand, that a majority of eight (8) respondents each from CNU, UP, and UV were males while only two (2) were females. On the other, SWU and UC were in concert with their respondents at seven (7) males and three (3) females.
Overall, the sample populations from CNU, SWU, UC, UP, and UV were male-dominated while the females were at the lesser end at two (2) or three (3) respondents.
Table 2
Gender of Respondents
| Gender | Total Frequency (F) | Percentage (%) |
| Male | 38 | 76% |
| Female | 12 | 24% |
| Total | 50 | 100% |
Table 2 shows that among the 50 respondents, 38 of which or 76% were males and 12 of which or 24% were females.
Overall, the research sample population was male-dominated while the females were at the lesser end.
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