EXTENDING SHELF LIFE VIA GUAVA EXTRACT

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

A quantitative approach was followed, defined as a formal, objective, and

systematic process, to describe and test relationships and examine the cause and

effect interactions among the variables. Under this approach, an experimental

research design was followed in conducting the research study, which aims to

investigate the causal relationships between one variable and another. More

specifically, the relationship between the Guava leaves extract, which is the

independent variable, and the shelf life of apples which is the dependent variable,

is the one being evaluated by the researchers. Furthermore, other variables such

as the apples, or the experimental variable, and the environment, being the control

variable, are taken into consideration to ensure the accuracy of the results that the

researchers are about to obtain in the experiment.

Research Setting

The study will be conducted inside a laboratory. The laboratory is the most

appropriate setting for this study because of its sterile environment that will not

interfere with the results of the study, and the clean surroundings will not be a

hindrance in the process of conducting the study.

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Procedures

For the procedures, the researchers will be having two set ups for

experimentation, set up A and set up B. The researcher to test if it really prolongs

the shelf life, which is the dependent variable, of apples, which is the experimental

variable, will use the guava leaves extract, which is deemed as the independent

variable of the study. In set up A, the apple will be applied with the guava leaves

extract, while set up B is the setup that does not receive such treatment. By having

these two set ups, the researchers will be able to know if the guava leaves extract

has a significant effect in prolonging the shelf life of apple particularly in set up A,

which is applied with guava leaves extract. The control variable, for both set ups

is the sterile environment where the experiment will be held to ensure that external

factors will not interfere with the results of the experiment thereby avoiding

discrepancy and inaccuracy.

• Apple will be

A applied with the

guava leaves extract

• Doesn't receive

B such treatment

Fig 2: Research Procedure

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Materials/Instruments

The materials to be used are two sterilized containers and the guava

extract. The table below represents the different physical properties that the

researchers will have observed on the Guava Leaves Extract.

Evaluation:

PHYSICAL
1 2 3 4
PROPERTIES

Extremely Extremely
EFFECTIVITY* Inferior Effective
Inferior Effective

Extremely Extremely
SCENT Unpleasant Pleasant
Unpleasant Pleasant

COLOR Darker Dark Light Lighter

Extremely Extremely
VISCOSITY Fluid Viscous
Fluid Viscous

*Effectivity in Preventing Manifestation of Microbes

Statistical Treatment

The researchers will use the following statistical treatment to process the data.

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1. Spearman rank correlation. The Spearman rank correlation test does not

carry any assumptions about the distribution of the data and is the

appropriate correlation analysis when the variables are measured on a

scale that is at least ordinal. The following formula is used to calculate the

Spearman rank correlation:

ρ= Spearman rank correlation

di= the difference between the ranks of corresponding variables

n= number of observations