Filipino Indigeneous Methods

 Refers to the various approaches used in generating research data.

 Based on Filipino culture and conducted in Philippine Setting
 Provides an alternative approach to the more positivistic way of doing
research especially among indigenous or culture groups
 In applying the indigenous methods, you have to take a “cross-indigenous”
perspective in order to better understand the culture being studied. The use
of local language would be necessary in order to capture the subjects’
meanings and get a fuller understanding of the situation

Why FIM?
- Because western methods do not fit the Philippine Culture. For instance,
the concepts of family, time and distance significantly differ from how
these are defined in the West.

Research Scales Using FIM

- Starting from unobtrusive to obstrusive, and on to participatory methods

Unobtrusive methods
- do not adulterate the reseatch situation. Observing the community in
in situ, minus your presence

Obstrusive methods
o Interacting with the subjects through interview. Allowing direct
intrusion in the subjects’ day-to-day living.

Participatory methods
o actively implicate you in the community’s affairs
The Two Sets of Research Scales
1. The Iskala ng Mananaliksik, or Research Scales
2. The Iskala ng Patutunguhan ng Mananaliksik at Kalahok, or the
researcher-subject scales

Mga Iskala ng Mananaliksik (Research Scales)

Unobtrusive Methods
1. Pakapa-kapa (Playing it by ear) – the initial stage where you grope
for some data to construct a profile of the individual, or group or
community. You conduct your observations from a distance.
2. Pagmamasid (Close Observation) – involves some sort of
surveillance or social investigation where you do not go directly to
the community. Similar to Pakapa-kapa stage in which you utilize
data from other sources
3. Pakikiramdam ( Shared Sensitivities) – another unobstrusive
method to get data regarding the problems, concerns and issues
obtaining in the community, and how the subject feels about these.

Obstrusive Methods
1. Pakikipagkuwentuhan (Chatting) – you engage the subject-
informant to gain their trust.
2. Pakikinig (listening) – paired or coupled with
Pakikipagkuwentuhan. This method requires you to listen closely
to the informants’ stories
3. Patanong-tanong (asking questions) – showcases your
interviewing skills. Free-flowing and conversational in style to
make informants comfortable

Participatory Methods
1. Pagsubok (testing/trying out or taking part) – you take the
initiative to more actively interact with the subject-informants.
Taking part in their activities, such as rituals, social affairs,
religious events, etc.
2. Pagdalaw-dalaw (repeated visits) – you conduct casual, but
repeated, visits to the community. You cultivate a relationship
with the subject-informants
3. Pagsubaybay – this method subsumes pakikialam, pakikilahok and
pakikisangkot. You become involved in the community’s affairs
and, at the same time, take part by facilitating these activities.
Mga Iskala ng Patutunguhan ng Mananaliksik at Kalahok
(Researcher-subject relationship Scales)

1. Pakikitungo, Pakikibagay, Pakikisama at Pakikiisa (Chatting,

Adapting to, Going along with) – interralated stages of trying to
gain trust and confidence of the informant-subjects
2. Pakikilahok at Pakikisangkot (Participating) – you heavily involve
yourself in the community’s undertakings
3. Pakikipagpalagayang-loob (Being comfortable with) – you and the
informant-subjects have reached the highest level of your
relationship.