Bahala na: An experimental study

• Main Authors: Lara, Derrick T., Li, Joseph K., Pineda, Earl Vincent M.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1998
• Subjects: Filipinos, Values; Expression; De La Salle University > College students; Procrastination; Personality and culture
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/7671
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study seeks to find if there is a significant difference in the perception of De La Salle University college students given the conditions of bahala na and procrastination. Significant differences are hypothesized to be determined through the perception of the characteristics of the person and situation across the varied procrastination stories. A semantic differential questionnaire was constructed to measure the perceived characteristics of the stimulus person in a procrastination situation. Convenience sampling was used to gather a total of 36 subjects treated in a repeated measures design to find out if bahala na response will affect student's perception. The subjects were asked to answer 3 sets of questionnaire with stimulus situation characterizing three variations of bahala na namely: (a) the procrastination only, (6) procrastination with positive bahala na, and (c) procrastination with negative bahala na. Complete counterbalancing was employed to balance any sequence effect. A focus group discussion was conducted to determine the participant's perceptions in relation to the characteristics in the three procrastination stories. The results of data gathered were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. A post hoc test with repeated measures was further used to see which among the three variation of bahala na had a significant difference in each characteristic. Significant difference found in time management, focus, determination, fear and anxiety, responsibility and motivation characteristics were supported. The theory of Lagmay about bipolarity of bahala na was empirically validated. Positive bahala na was found to be a mindset when procrastination occurs. Focus and motivation characteristics have no significant difference in procrastination therefore perceived as similar to negative bahala na. Procrastination was perceived more negative compared to positive bahala na in time management, focus, fear and anxiety.