Thirty participants attended the training on Sampling Process and Qualitative and Quantitative Data Analysis on November 18-20, 2015 at the Bulwagang Juan Luna, University of the Philippines Baguio.

The training aimed to enhance the research capabilities of researchers in the Cordillera region on two important aspects of research—the sampling process and data analysis for quantitative and qualitative researches.

Five resource persons from reputable institutions  facilitated the learning: (a) Prof. Fatima Castillo on the principles of qualitative data analysis; (b) Dr. Erlinda Palaganas on the data analysis process from data organization, management and analysis; (c) Ms Marian Sanchez on the use of Nvivo for organizing and analyzing qualitative data; (d) Dr. John Domantay on the stages of the sampling process particularly in determining the sampling size using the OpenEpi, a free soft ware commonly used on health research; and (e) Ms. Liezl Astudillo on quantitative research analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).

Nvivo is a qualitative research tool intended to help users organize and analyze non-numerical or unstructured data.  The software allows users to classify, sort and arrange information, examine relationships in the data.  The SPSS, on the other hand, is more of a quantitative research tool with several capabilities in describing, exploring, and predicting data.  But both tools can be used as part of the triangulation process.  This means that in order for a research finding to be reliable, generalizable, and useful, there should be more than two research strategies be employed. 

The three-day training has left the participants clamoring for more, this time on  advanced module courses so as to enable them come up with outputs expected of them to prepare as a result of the training.  

The training was conducted by the Capability Committee composed of Dr. Erlinda Palaganas (Chairperson of the committee representing the University of the Philippines Baguio), Dr. John Anthony Domantay (Saint Louis University), Ms. Ruth Tingda (Cordillera Career Development College), Rex Bate (Department of Health), Ms. Mary Rose Catapang (Benguet State University),  Ms. Marilou Saong (University of Baguio), and Ms. Judith Odanee Magwilang (University of the Cordilleras).