Chapter 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter include the researcher design, population and sampling

technique, research venue, materials and equipment, subject of the study, data

gathering procedure, trials and revisions, research instrument as well as the

statistical treatment of data.

Research Design

The descriptive method and experimental method of research was used

in the study to present the determination of the standard quality and level of

acceptability of automatic watering system for plants.

The descriptive research is one in which quantitative or qualitative data

are collected in order to draw conclusions that allow to describe a phenomenon.

Descriptive studies combine elements of qualitative research, they take the

observation, which allows to determine the physical characteristics of the

phenomenon. For their part, quantitative research takes the survey, which

provides statistics on the object. This research model is used when little

information on the phenomenon is handled. For this reason, descriptive

research is usually a preliminary work to expository research, since the

knowledge of the properties of a particular phenomenon allows to explain other

related issues (Pierce 2017).

On the other hand, Gleeson (2018) stated that research design aren’t

necessaries exciting. Explaining the meaning of the term can get boring fast.
But for real excitement, and sometimes disastrous sequences, take a look at

what happen when a research experiment is designed badly or ignores ethical

limits.

Respondent of the study

The thirty (30) respondents involve in the study was composed of ten

(10) Grade 12 (learners), ten (10) (teachers) and ten (agriculturist) are

randomly selected from the district of Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Evaluation sheets are

administered to rate the acceptability of the automatic watering system for

plants in terms of usefulness, functionality and appearance.

Sampling Technique

The sample is determine through the use of Purposive Sampling

Technique. The researchers use this type of sampling technique as the nature

of the study required to cater particular group of respondents.

Purposive sampling, also known as judgmental, selective, or subjective

sampling, is a form of non-probability sampling in which researchers rely on

their own judgment when choosing members of the population to participate in

their study. This sampling method requires researchers to have prior

knowledge about the purpose of their studies so that they can properly choose

and approach eligible participants. This type of sampling can be very useful in

situation when they want to access a particular subset of people, as all

participants of a study are selected because they fit a particular profile (Foley

2018).
Research Materials

The following are the materials, tools and equipment used in the

production of automatic watering system for plants.

Table 1. Materials, Tools and Equipment used in the study.

A. Materials Functions
Arduino This material will be used to set a command
or program to the system.
GSM module The GSM module used to send a notification
(Global System for Mobile) to the owner.
LCD The LCD display is used to show the
(Liquid Crystal Display) important information while the system is
working.
Moisture sensor This sensor will be used to sense the moisture
of the soil.
Relay This device used to automatically on and off
the water pump.
Ultrasonic sensor Used to measure the water level of water
storage.
Mini water pump Used to distribute water to the plants.
B. Tools
Drill Used to create holes to the PCB.
Soldering iron Used to solder the materials and component
to the PCB board.
C. Equipment
Power supply Power supply are used to temporarily power
the project/product while in the testing
process.

Research Locale

This research entitled automatic watering system for plants as

alternative ways to water the plants in terms of keeping the plants moisture,

focus on testing the quality and acceptability of automatic watering system. The

production of automatic watering system is conducted in Sitio Huwaran,

Barangay Pagsawitan Sta.Cruz Laguna. Manual testing on the quality of

automatic watering system and determining the acceptability through survey is

conducted after making the automatic watering system in the area of Sta. Cruz

Laguna to know the varies sight of mechatronics learners, parents and

agriculturist about constructing of automatic watering system for plants.

Research Procedure

The following are the procedure in making and testing the automatic

watering system.

A. Product Appearance

While gathering and preparing all the materials needed in constructing

automatic watering system for plants, researchers’ create a 3d design to

visualize the possible outcome of the product.

B. Gathering Materials

The materials in making the automatic watering system were gathered

through ordering in online shop. The materials takes nearly 2 week to arrive,

due the product are came from National Capital Region (NCR).

C. PCB Lay out

The layout of the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) are construct to connect

the materials and components. Researchers’ use an online app to design the

layout and after that, print it using laser printer.

D. Etching

After doing the PCB layout, researchers etch the PCB with the use of

ferric chloride to remove the unnecessary copper in the PCB.

E. Soldering

Next is soldering the materials into the printed circuit board (PCB), by

using the soldering iron and soldering lead to joint the components to the PCB.

This process is important for the connectivity of each materials and

components to the circuit and properly fix to the PCB.

F. Assembly

This process is

G. Programming

At last, the command for the system, researchers’ used the C++

programming language, which is easy to construct a code and just a little skills

in programming is enough to program. Researchers, have to create a code to

process the signal from the moisture sensor. It will convert the signal into a

command and tell the relay module to turn on the mini water pump, if the

moisture is low and turn off the pump, when the sensor sense enough water

(moistures) from the soil.

at the same time the system also send a notification to the owner, that the

plants are being water (moisture) and also indicate the water level of the water

storage.
Production Time Frame Plan

The table below presented the time frame for production of automatic

watering system for plants starting from collection of the materials until the

product was evaluated through survey.

In the production of automatic watering system for plants, the

researchers spent for One (1) month and Two (2) days. Two (2) weeks were

spent in gathering materials. Two (2) days for the layout of Printed Circuit Board

(PCB). One (1) day for etching the PCB to remove the unwanted copper. Two

(2) days for the soldering the components to the pcb. Two (2) days for the

Assembly . One (1) week for the programming the system, one (1) week for the

manual testing and around one (1) week in conducting survey.

Table 3. Production Time Frame Plan

Steps Time Frame Product

Gathering of the 2 weeks Arduino, GSM module, LCD, Moisture

materials Sensor, Relay, Ultrasonic sensor and
Water pump.
PCB Layout 2 day Layout in PCB.

Etching 1 day PCB board with the lay out.

Soldering 2 days PCB with the materials and

components are inplace.
Assembly 2 days Finnish Product are put together in
the plastic crates.
Program 2 week Command for the system.

Manual Testing 1 week Result of manual testing.

Survey 1 week Ratings of the respondents.

Production Cost of Automatic Watering System for Plants.

The table below showed the production cost of construction of automatic

watering system for plants.

Table 4. Production Cost of Automatic Watering System for Plants.

Materials Quantity Unit Price Total Cost
(Pesos) (Pesos)
Arduino 1 ₱450 ₱450

GSM module 1 ₱600 ₱600

LCD 1 ₱230 ₱230

Moisture Sensor 1 ₱250 ₱250

PCB 1 ₱13 ₱13

Relay module 1 ₱120 ₱120

Ultrasonic sensor 1 ₱100 ₱100

Mini Water pump 1 ₱300 ₱300

Total ₱2,063

As shown in the table 4, researchers total cost was two thousand and

sixty-three (₱2,063) only. The arduino cost four hundred fifty only. GSM module

cost six hundred (₱600) only. The LCD cost two hundred thirty (₱230) only.

The PCB cost thirteen (₱13) only. The Relay module cost one hundred twenty

(₱120) only. The moisture sensor cost one hundred (₱100) and the mini water

pump cost three hundred (₱300) only. The additional materials used in

constructing automatic watering system for plants were provided by the

researchers.
Manual Testing Procedure

Manual testing of automatic watering system for plants was done to

measure the