Returning the Favor

2 - The Game

"There are varieties of methods employed to conduct a research study. We have the general concepts of whether the research will be qualitative or quantitative. Can anybody tell me what a quantitative research is?"

The room grew quiet and nobody dared to speak. No hands were raised and I could clearly see the frown on Miss Legaspi's forehead grow deep.

"Anybody?" She stood up straighter and higher than her 4 feet and 10 inches length. She looked at each of my classmates. I could see some of them squirming. "Anybody from the class?"

I slowly raised my hands, knowing that it is my signal. "Ma'am?"

Miss Legaspi blew a big gust of air and sharply turned to me. Her piercing eyes grew more intense but I chose to ignore it, confident that I am not the cause of it. "Yes, Santiago?"

"Quantitative research is a method that emphasizes objective measurements and the statistical, mathematical, or numerical analysis of data collected through polls, questionnaires, and surveys, or by manipulating pre-existing statistical data using computational techniques." I answered without a pause.

I took a chance of looking around the room and I could see a change in the class' atmosphere.

Here we go again.

"Thank you, Andrea," Miss Legaspi smiled warmly at me. But I know it is just a preamble of what is to follow. "Pero ano sa iba? Parati nalang ba tayong ganito? Has any of you studied the hand outs I gave out last meeting!"

The lashing continued more after that. The bell rang without a progress from the definition of quantitative research.

I blew out a tired breath and put a big exclamation mark on the first page of my hand outs knowing for sure that we will have a quiz about them tomorrow.

I don't know who to blame. My classmates who show a little interest in research or Miss Legaspi for her strict method. Okay naman kami sa ibang subjects pero pagdating sa research ay para kaming mga tuod na ang tahi-tahimik habang may klase.

But I personally love research. I don't care who is teaching the subject. I may be studying in a provincial high school with facilities you cannot be proud of and with financial support that is not so good but I can't stop myself from hoping that someday I will have a research study and an invention that will be of great use for the world.

Our batch is the first STE Class of the school. We are the pioneers. That's our tag. We would spend extra hours in learning subjects that are not taught in regular classes.

One of those subjects is research. Unluckily though, most of my classmates are not enthusiastic about it. Added to the fact that we have a strict and unforgiving teacher.

I understand Miss Jennilyn Legaspi, though. She seems to be doing her best to reach our level of understanding but research is research. Unless you love reading and writing, you won't enjoy doing it.

"Drey! Hey, saan punta mo?" Andrew blocked my path. "Sandwich?"

He handed me two pieces of sandwich na agad ko ding tinanggap. Paborito ko kasi ito so sino pa ba ako para tumanggi?

"Salamat," I smiled sweetly at him and continued walking. He stepped sideways and fell in pace with me. "Sa library. I-checheck ko lang ang references natin. Tsaka pinapatawag daw ako ni Ma'am Mercado."

"Ikaw na naman papaayusin ng mga libro? Nakuuu! Bakit kasi ang bait-bait mo eh!"

"Hindi ah. Part time ko maging assistant librarian. At least, libre na ang bayad sa miscellaneous ko dahil kay Ma'am M," I pointedly answered.