CASTANEDA, MARK LOUIE A.

Chapter I

The Problem and Review of Related Literature

Introduction

Freedom of expression is world known as the rights to

articulate one’s ideas, thoughts and opinion without fear from

government retaliation and censorship. Being a democratic and

republican state our government allow a maximum tolerance on

exercising this right. They exercise it from social media,

public discussions and in exchanging of ideas that may help to

make the government to become responsive and to serve social

justice to the people by expressing their needs.

Freedom of expression is not an absolute right and

subjected to certain limitations and subject one to liability

when abused, like “libel and slander” which does not covered by

constitutional protection include also the “lewd and obscene”

which is punishable by law, “fighting words” is also outside the

constitutional protection, “seditious speech” also prohibited by

law and any other speech that can cause a clear and present

danger or evil to the state.

Because of the rapid incidents of violation to the

individual right of a person due to improper use of freedom of

CASTANEDA, MARK LOUIE A.

expression. It will prompt the researcher to conduct a study

that will measure the level of awareness of the education

students of PHINMA-AU as they our future teachers, educators and

for they hold in their hands the future of next generation and

harnessing their enterprising spirit of progressive idealism and

political participation, free communication of ideas, exercising

such right morally and socially correct and promotes growth of

the individual & the nation.

Review of Related Literature

Freedom of Expression

Freedom of speech and expression (Mbaaro 2011) is one of

the most fundamental rights and freedoms and is essential in any

attempt to build a democratic, social and political order.

Speech is an expression of one self and should not be curtailed

unless in very clear circumstances which should be properly

provided for in law and not defy reason. Normal human beings

ought to be allowed to speak ,sing, write or perform other acts

of art facilitating expression and to prevent a person from

expressing a view or a belief or even an emotion is to deny

their basic dignity.

CASTANEDA, MARK LOUIE A.

Brink (2002) Hate speech employs discriminatory epithets to

insult and stigmatize others on the basis of their race, gender,

sexual orientation, or other forms of group membership. The

regulation of hate speech is deservedly controversial, in part

because debates over hate speech seem to have teased apart

libertarian and egalitarian strands within the liberal

tradition. Freedoms of expression are among our most fundamental

liberties. Offensive ideas are part of the price one must pay to

protect these constitutional rights.

Dutton (2011) how freedom can be eroded unintentionally as

various actors strategically pursue a more diverse array of

objectives. The findings reinforce the significance of concerns

over freedom of expression and connection, while acknowledging

countervailing trends and the open future of technology, policy

and practice. Freedom of expression is not an inevitable outcome

of technological innovation. It can be diminished or reinforced

by the design of technologies, policies and practices –

sometimes far removed from freedom of expression. This synthesis

points out the need to focus systematic research on this wider

ecology shaping the future of expression in the digital age.

The right to freedom of expression (jeanmonnet.org.)The

media carries out its duties as ‘watchdog’ over society.

CASTANEDA, MARK LOUIE A.

However, since this right does not have an absolute character

like violation to the confidentiality, etc.

Celik (2013) it is considered to be important to define the

concept in order to avoid unjustified limitations to freedom of

speech along with protecting the individuals and areas that are

subjected to hate speech.

Milo (2008) the law of defamation contemplates the clash of

two fundamental rights: the right to freedom of expression and

the right to reputation. Freedom of expression in this context is

the argument that free speech is integral to democracy. The

argument from democracy emphasizes that speech on matters of

public interest should receive greater protection than private

speech. And should also be reformed to reflect the importance of

dignity, and the free speech interest of the public in receiving

accurate information on matters of public interest.

Cheryl Crossno (2012)exercising the freedom of speech by

the students cannot be punished for expressing political,

religious, or educational views unless they cause a substantial

disruption or interference with the rights of others. A Student's

criticism to the teachers is not protected when it is

disrespectful, insubordinate, or disruptive at school. And also

CASTANEDA, MARK LOUIE A.

includes discriminating against any student group on the basis

of the "religious, political, philosophical, or other content"

Conceptual Framework

Freedom of Expression is an excellent model of our fragile

democracy and inalienable human right (Koltay, 2008). Speech and

Expression cover any form of oral utterances such as protest as

expression of opinion (De Leon 2014).

Mostly College students spend all day gossiping with his

fellow classmate but, are they aware that words are powerful??

It can manipulate and influence other people and it can also

harm others if it will not use properly. Our constitution

guarantees a free speech to the government to serve as a critic

or to counter check the works of government. Expressing

sentiments is also allowed to address the dissatisfaction to the

action of the government. But saying an offensive word to other

individual is not okay and can be subjected to a liability. And

to determined how the awareness of individual affects the abuse

of freedom of speech.

The determination of the level of awareness of AU students

can be possibly gained through student direct participation in

accomplishing as a data gathering instrument, a questionnaire

CASTANEDA, MARK LOUIE A.

type of gathering data. This was deciphered through statistical

treatment including computation of computed mean.

Figure 1.0 illustrated the conceptual framework of the study.

Inputs are consisting of respondents’ personal data which

includes age, gender and monthly family income and the list of

statements about the freedom of expression and its limitation as

provided by our 1987 Philippine Constitution. The data gathered

was assessed and interpreted through statistical treatment such

as computation of weighted mean and T-test.

Input Output

Process
Demographic The result
Profile of of the
Respondents Gathered data study
through recommends
1. Age questionnaire were for the
2. C
Gender assessed, evaluated responsible
3. Monthly and interpreted use of
Family through statistical Freedom of
Income? treatment. expression

Figure 1.0
Paradigm of Study
CASTANEDA, MARK LOUIE A.

Definition of Terms

For clearer understanding of the terms used, these were

their meanings.

Freedom of Speech. AS used in this study, refers to the

right to freely utter and publish whatever one pleases without

previous restraint and subsequent punishment or sanction and to

be protected any against responsibility for so doing as long as

it does not to violate law, or injure someone’s character,

reputation, or business.

Slander. As use in this study, it is a defamation that is

oral or spoken. It is a false statement made about a person

shared with least one other person’s reputation or standing in

the community

Libel. As used in this study, means which the untrue

statement about a person that is published and read by third

party and result an injury to a person’s reputation.

Clear and present danger rule. As used in this study, it is

an abridgement of liberty can be justified only where there is

substantial danger that the speech will likely lead to an evil

and the government has a right to prevent.

CASTANEDA, MARK LOUIE A.

Sedition. As used in this study, it is a speech hat

encouraging a revolution against the legitimate Authority and

considered as a violation to the public peace.

Youth. AS used in this study, refers to the third year

education students who are enrolled at PHINMA- Araullo

University on the school year 2017.

Statement of the Problem;

This study evaluated the awareness of students of PHINMA

Araullo University to the freedom of expression and its

limitations. Specifically, the researcher aimed to address the

following research questions:

1. How may the profile of respondents be described in terms of

the following:

1.1 Age

1.2 Gender

1.3 Monthly family income?

2. How may the knowledge of the students be described in terms

of:

2.1 Regulation of state on free speech

2.2 Responsible exercise of freedom of expression

CASTANEDA, MARK LOUIE A.

3. The relationship on the awareness of freedom of expression

on the abuse of freedom of speech.

4. Is there a significant difference in the level of awareness

of the students when grouped according to age, gender, and

monthly family income?

Hypothesis

1. There is no significant relationship on the awareness of

freedom of expression on the abuse of freedom of speech.

Significance of the Study

The study aims to promote the fundamental right of

individual to express their opinion and ideas to others and to

the Government. And it will be beneficial to the following:

Citizen. The people will able to voice out their thoughts

and aspirations so they become active participant in different

political happenings like public discussions, recall ,

elections, referendum , plebiscite as well the development of

the country.
CASTANEDA, MARK LOUIE A.

Government. In order recognized the problems and to figure

out the necessary actions to provide the needs of the people and

to determine the hatred of the people about its administration.

Youth. To develop their intellectual ability and become

part to scrutinize the policies and plans of the government and

to become conscious what are the limitation in the freedom of

expression and to prevent to commit these youth a slanderous or

libelous discourse to others. And become responsible in

exercising such right.

Nation. If a man is free to communicate his ideas to other

and to discuss the issues on its community, Nation will become

productive, maintaining the balance of power to the government

and prevent the abuse of the government officials on power.

Proper knowledge of everyone about the limitations of freedom of

speech, individual right of others is also being protected and

safeguard the dignity and reputation of every person then growth

of nation will be ensured.

Scope and Delimitation

The respondents are the third year education students of

PHINMA Araullo University on the school year 2017. The

researcher utilized the use of questionnaire-checklist type of

gathering data. The researcher was asked to mark the survey

forms that were distributed by the researcher during class time

CASTANEDA, MARK LOUIE A.

with the permission to the professor/instructor in charge

therein.

The researcher used frequency distributions, percentage.

The gathered data were analyzed after checklist were finally

tailed.
CASTANEDA, MARK LOUIE A.

CHAPTER II

Method

Research Design

The proposed study shall apply is the Descriptive method of

research utilized questionnaire - checklist in the study. To

further understand the descriptive method, its aim is to

summarized sample, rather than the use of data to learn about

the population that the sample data is thought to represent, and

it is not developed on the basis of probability theory. (Dodge,

2003)

The principal aim in employing descriptive research is to

describe the nature of situation as it exists at the time of the

study and to explore causes of the particular phenomena.

Therefore, the study involved the gathering of information of

respondents such as age, gender, monthly family income, and the

level of awareness on freedom of Expression through the use and

distribution of questionnaires.

Respondents

The respondents or the participants of the study were the 3SED-

EN or the 100% of the 35 Education Students who enrolled in

CASTANEDA, MARK LOUIE A.

second semester of school year 2017 -2018 in PHINMA – Araullo

University in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.

Instrumentation

The Instruments to gather data are the following:

1. Information checklist. This part instrument consists of

respondent’s information were significant data about the

respondents’ age, gender, and monthly family income drawn

from.

2. Level of Awareness on Freedom of Expression and its

limitations Checklist. The Checklist consists of _____

different statement about the basic facts about limitations

of freedom of expressions, to use as instrument to assess

the relationship of the awareness of student in the abuse

of freedom of expression.

The respondents were presented 3 options to select

from specific response which includes the following:

1 – Not Aware

2 – Aware

3 - Very Aware
CASTANEDA, MARK LOUIE A.

To arrive at a verbal description of each item in the

awareness in the limitations of freedom of expressions, the

followed:

1.0 – 1.6 – Not Aware

1.7 – 2.3 - Aware

2.4 – 3.0 – Very Aware

3. List of abuse on Freedom of Expression Checklist. The

Checklist consists of _____ different statement about the

basic actions prohibited by our statutes regarding the

abuse of free speech or situations that is not covered by

our constitutional protection, is use as instrument to

assess the relationship of the awareness of student in the

abuse of freedom of expression.

The respondents were presented 3 options to select

from specific response which includes the following:

1 – Not Aware

2 – Aware

3 - Very Aware
CASTANEDA, MARK LOUIE A.

To arrive at a verbal description of each of the items, the

numerical guide followed in the earlier checklist was

utilized.

Administration of Instrument

The Researcher may personally ask a permission from the

Dean of the College of Education in PHINMA – Araullo University

for the administration of the instruments, talked personally to

the dean to explain the significance of the Research and asked

for the schedule and number of Education Students enrolled in

the second semester of school year 2017 – 2018. In addition, the

researcher also discussed the objectives of the research to the

respondents as well as the influence of political campaign

advertisements listed in questionnaires.

Procedure of Analysis

After the questionnaires were answered, the profile of the

respondents was taken according to age, gender, and monthly

family income. To be able to get the description of the profile

of the respondents, the data coming from each item mentioned

were placed in a tabular from with indicated frequency as well

as percentage.
CASTANEDA, MARK LOUIE A.

The formulas used in the study were:

1. Percentage. To determine the amount of responses to the

questionnaires

2. Weighted Mean. The weighted mean scores for each item in

the questionnaires will be determined.

The weighted mean is similar to the arithmetic mean (the

most common type of average), where instead of each data

points contributing equally to the final average some data

points contributing equally to the final average some data

points contribute more than others. The Notion of the

weighted mean plays a role on descriptive statistics and

also occurs in a more general from in several other areas

of mathematics (Wikipedia.org)

3. The following limits were used to categorize the responses

of students of PHINMA – Araullo University on the

checklist:

Limits Category

85 – 100 Very high

69 – 84 High

53 – 68 Average

37 – 52 Low

20 – 36 Very low
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4. The Pearson r. A moment of correlation formula was adopted

to establish a significant relationship between the level

of awareness of student on the freedom of expressions and

to the abuse of freedom of speech.