Research Study

Ethics Informed Consent Form

University of the Immaculate Conception  ·  Region XII

Informed Consent Form for
THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF TEACHER WORKLOAD ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRINCIPAL SUPPORT AND TEACHER JOB SATISFACTION IN REGION XII: AN EXPLANATORY SEQUENTIAL DESIGN

Name of the Researcher: ROSSELLE C. NARAL
Institution: UNIVERSITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Introduction

You are invited to participate in a research study conducted by ROSSELLE C. NARAL, PhD Educational Leadership student, at the University of the Immaculate Conception, because you meet the specific inclusion criteria for this study. You have been identified as a participant based on your status as a licensed public secondary school teacher in Region XII holding a regular and permanent position. Furthermore, your selection is based on your professional experience of at least one year in your current station.

Your participation is completely voluntary. Please read the information below, and ask questions about anything you do not understand, before deciding whether to participate. Please take as much time as you need to read the consent form. You may also decide to discuss participation with your family or friends.

If you decide to participate, you will be asked to sign this form (electronically agree). You will be given a copy of this form.

Purpose of the Study

The primary purpose of this study is to determine the mediating effect of teacher workload on the relationship between principal support and teacher job satisfaction among public secondary school teachers in Region XII. We aim to understand how the support of school leadership and your workload directly and indirectly impact your satisfaction as a teacher.

By participating in this research, you are contributing to a deeper understanding of the factors that influence educator well-being and professional satisfaction. This study seeks to move beyond mere statistics to capture the essence of your professional reality, highlighting how administrative guidance, workload management, and individual satisfaction converge in your daily experience. Your involvement is essential in identifying the specific aspects of leadership support and workload that most meaningfully shape teacher job satisfaction.

Ultimately, the goal is to provide a comprehensive explanation of how these variables interact. While the study begins with an analysis of broad trends, its true value lies in exploring your unique perspectives and experiences. By sharing your insights, you help ensure that the study's findings are not just theoretically sound but are also practically relevant to the needs and professional growth of teachers across the region.

Study Procedures

If you volunteer to participate in this qualitative phase, the following procedures will be implemented to ensure your convenience and the integrity of the narrative data.

Selected participants will be invited to share deeper insights into their experiences. If you participate in an In-Depth Interview (IDI), the session will last approximately 30 to 45 minutes, while a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) will take about 60 to 90 minutes. These sessions can be conducted either online via a secure video conferencing platform or on-campus at a private facility, depending on your preference. To ensure minimal disruption to your professional duties, you may choose the most convenient time and place for the session.

Before the start of any interview or focus group discussion, the researcher will explicitly ask for your permission to audio record the session. Consent for recording will be secured through a specific checkbox in the supplemental consent form or via a recorded verbal affirmation at the beginning of the meeting. You have the right to decline recording and still participate, or to request that the recording be paused at any time during the conversation.

Potential Risks and Discomforts

The topic of this study is not sensitive in nature. However, the researcher acknowledges that you may experience minor psychological or emotional discomfort, or perhaps physical fatigue, when reflecting on your professional experiences or answering the interview questions. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, you may opt not to answer specific items, or you may withdraw as a participant from the study entirely.

Once the specific schedule for the interview or focus group is identified, please be informed that you are encouraged to take breaks as needed during the session to ensure your comfort. The researcher values your participation and will place your welfare as the highest priority throughout the duration of the study.

Potential Benefits

This study has the potential to provide meaningful benefits at both the individual and societal levels. For teachers, it highlights the importance of principal support and manageable workload as key drivers of job satisfaction and professional well-being. Teachers who receive appropriate support will be better equipped to thrive in their careers and serve their students effectively.

For school leaders and administrators, the findings will serve as a guide in developing strategies that enhance teacher support and workload management. At the policy and societal level, the study will inform the development of policies and programs that foster sustainable teacher welfare and professional satisfaction, supporting more equitable working conditions for educators across Region XII.

Data Privacy and Confidentiality

The study strictly ensures the privacy and confidentiality of your information in accordance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012. Your identity and responses will be treated with the highest respect and safeguarded through anonymization. All identifiable information will remain confidential, and the researcher will resist the release of any information regarding your participation to individuals not connected with the study.

Access to your raw data will be strictly limited. Only the researcher will have primary access, though the research adviser may review the data for academic validation, and the Research Ethics Committee (UIC-REC) may be granted access if the study is selected for an ethics audit. Audio recordings will be stored in an encrypted password-protected folder accessible only to the researcher. Once the recordings are transcribed and verified, the original audio files will be deleted to further protect your privacy.

All research data will be securely stored for a period of five years. After this duration, all physical documents will be shredded, and digital files will be permanently deleted using secure erasure software. Your data will not be reused for another study without obtaining separate, explicit consent from you.

Voluntariness and Right to Withdraw

Your participation is voluntary. Your refusal to participate will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. You may withdraw your consent at any time and discontinue participation without penalty. You are not waiving any legal claims, rights, or remedies because of your participation in this research study.

Reimbursement and Compensation

As a token of sincere gratitude for your time and the valuable insights you provide, you will be given a reasonable incentive in the form of refreshment or token upon the completion of your participation.

Investigator's Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns about the research, please feel free to contact the researcher, ROSSELLE C. NARAL, at the University of the Immaculate Conception, Bonifacio Street, Davao City. You may also contact the UIC Research Ethics Committee at 227-4860 or 2061 local 211.

Interview Guide

In-Depth Interview & Focus Group Discussion

For Participants in Region XII  ·  The Mediating Effect of Teacher Workload on the Relationship between Principal Support and Teacher Job Satisfaction in Region XII

Part I — Preliminaries

Part II — Introduction

Before we proceed with our discussion, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your willingness to participate in this study. Your time, cooperation, and the expertise you bring as an educator in Region XII are invaluable to the success of this research. As the researcher, I am committed to being a mindful and active listener throughout our session. I may ask clarifying questions to ensure I fully capture the depth of your experiences and perspectives.

The purpose of this interview is to gather qualitative insights that will help explain the quantitative findings obtained during the first phase of my research study titled, "The Mediating Effect of Teacher Workload on the Relationship between Principal Support and Teacher Job Satisfaction in Region XII: An Explanatory Sequential Design."

This interview will take approximately 30 to 45 minutes of your time. Please be assured that all information you provide will be treated with strict confidentiality. Your identity and responses will be safeguarded and will be used solely for academic purposes in compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

During this session, I will present key areas based on the initial quantitative results of the study. You will be asked general, open-ended questions, followed by a few follow-up or probing questions. Feel free to share your honest thoughts and real-life experiences. To ensure the accuracy of the data collected, this session will be audio-recorded with your permission.

Before we begin, do you have any questions or is there anything you would like to clarify about the process, the consent form, or the study? You can send a message via: Facebook Messenger

Part III — Interview Proper

📝 Instructions: For each question, please type your answer in the text box or record an audio response using your microphone (maximum 5 minutes per answer). Text responses must be at least 20 words or 3 complete sentences — audio recordings are accepted as-is.
🙏 Thank you very much for your time, effort, and cooperation in this study.
If you wish to receive a copy of the recording of this session, please inform the researcher via Facebook Messenger.

Please note: This is not a payment for your responses. It is strictly a token of appreciation and gratitude for the time you have spent aiding this research.