Partisanship as Perceived by the College Students of Colegio de San Juan de Letran when it

comes to their Political Beliefs and Stands.

A Thesis by
Rosalito P. Lepiten
PL3A
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Inst. John Michael E. Ramirez, MPA

Adviser

October 18, 2021

Political and Legal Studies Area

Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Manila
 Table of Contents

Abstract ……………………………………………………………….…………………………………… i
Chapter 1 Introduction …………………………………………………………….………………….......1
Statement of the problem …………………………………………………………………….….5
Objectives of the study ……………………………………………………………………….......6
Significance of the study …………………………………………………………………………7
Scope and limitations …………………………………………………………………………….8
Operationalization of terms……………………………………………………………………...9

Chapter 2 Review of Related Literature………………………………………….………………...…...12

Student’s political engagement…………………………………………………………………13
Political engagement using social media………………………………………….……………………….14
Socio-Political attitudes of the students………………………………….………………….….15
Students’ engagement in partisanship…………………………………….……………………16
Early influence partisanship………………………………………………………….……………………16
Education’s contribution to Partisanship……………………...….……………………………………….17
Current situation of partisanship in the Philippines….………………….……………………...18
Theoretical Framework ………………………………………………………………………...22

Chapter 3 Methodology ……………………………….…………………………………………………25

Research Design………………………………………………………………...……………….25
Data Collection Procedure……………………………………………………………………...26
Study Population………………………………………………………………………………...27
Data Analytical Procedure……………………………………………………………………...27
Instrument……………………………………………………………………………………….28

Chapter 4 Findings and Discussions……………………………………………………………….….…31

Source of Political Awareness………………………………………………………………….31
Social issues through social media………………………………………………………………………....31
Discussion with the members of the society………………………………………………….……..…...…34
Ways of Showing Political Activism…………………………...……………………………...36
The use of social media platforms and political discussions………………………………………………36
Chosen Programs or courses………………………………………………………………………………38
The use of voting…………………………………………………………………………………………...40
The student’s engagement to Political Partisanship……………..…………………………..41
Familiarizing politicians or political parties………………………………………………………………41
Basis of supporting political parties and politicians……………………………………………………....43
Students’ behavior on being a Partisan……………………………...……………………….45
Show of support to political party or politician……………………………………………………………45
Experience in dealing with the opposite political supporters…………………………………………...…46
The use of educational attainments in dealing Partisanship………………………………………………48

Chapter 5 Conclusion and Recommendations…………………………..…………………………..52-54

References ……………………………...................................................................................................... 56

Appendix I
Letter for the Participants……..…………………………………………………………………...……….66

Appendix II
Interview guide and Selection of the Participants…………………...……………………………………..67

Appendix III
Thematic Coding…………………………………………………………………………………………...69

Appendix IV
Instrument Validation………………………………………………………………………………………71
 i

Abstract

Political participation through support towards political parties or politicians is one of the

most vital contributions of every Filipino youth especially college students in shaping a good and

wise political arena of the state. Hence, the unity of these young generations is being triggered in

terms of their different strong political beliefs, supports, and stands towards a particular political

party or politician that made them to become critically divided and entered into partisan beliefs.

Partisanship when it comes to the different political beliefs and stands among college students is

being developed in this present time. This became an issue of the students' behavior in terms of

engaging in political discussions and debates with the other political party supporters or defenders

that made them to be critical against each other.

Through random sampling and interview with the participants, the researcher has

determined the existence of political partisanship in the students of College of Liberal Arts and

Science of Colegio de San Juan de Letran ranging from 1st year to 4th year S.Y 2021-2022. The

findings indicate that the existence and behavior of political partisanship in these students are

rooted in a long process like; awareness on the social issues concerning the government’s

efficiency, deep familiarization and high effort of own research and background checking of their

chosen politicians, and practical and wise justification when it comes to supporting the politician.

As to the current situation of Partisanship, the researcher found out that the participants have
experience of negativity in dealing with other supporters. The researcher concludes that CLAS

students are more likely to engage in Political Partisanship.

Rosalito P. Lepiten
2021
 CHAPTER 1

Introduction

More than 42% registered voters’ Filipino youth from 18 years of age and up are poised

to become influential in the Philippine democracy (Democracy Talks in Manila, 2020). These

young people’s active contributions towards politics are believed to bring democratic values to

life, leading to the overthrowing of dictatorial practices that bring negative changes to the

political arena of the state. The influence of these young generations towards shaping the state’s

politics through their strong support and endorsement is a very considerable part when endorsing

a particular candidate that could even predict its victory in winning the election. This was once

proven during the 2010 presidential election where the majority of the youths and college

students are in favor of Gibo Teodoro as the country's next president overlapping the then leading

candidate Benigno Aquino III in terms of the youth’s choices. Unfortunately, he failed to take the

seat (The Manila Times, 2010).

Among them, college students are the refined ones that could bring a wise political

awareness to the public based on their educational knowledge as well-informed ones, especially

their political awareness and stands towards the current issues of the state and government, such

as corruption, child abuse, armed conflict, government arbitration, and poverty. This is because

according to Longo & Meyer (2006), College students as refined ones have greater insights

towards current issues and into the connection between their involvement and attachment in the
community and political engagement where they can also stand in conveying democracy to the

people. Events have proven that students' choices of politicians have also proved that college
 2

students do have a wise decision in choosing their candidates that could positively influence the

political arena of the state and that can also do good for the state. This was also concluded during

the 2019 senatorial election where the opposition party known as the “Otso Diretso” have won

the hearts of many Filipino youths especially University students on the hope that the political

party could establish a new political culture, opposing the current government's unconventional

point of view toward the country's most disputable issues (“European Institute for Asian

Studies”, 2020). Unfortunately, even though they gained the majority votes of the youths, they

still have failed to win a seat in the upper house.

Not just by their choice of politicians, through their strong beliefs and devoted support,

college students may also serve as a defending army of their supported sitting politicians that

could save them from their critics and could influence the minds of the people towards a

particular issue that their chosen politicians got involved in. This is relevant in the current

administration where a group of Duterte supporters stands together opposing the critics of the

current administration where they called themselves as the “the Duterte youth” in which they

even ran and won a sit in the house of representatives as a party list representative with the

advocacy of conveying the values of patriotism to the youth through showing of a robust support

to the current administration in order to attain unity and satisfiable change as stated by their

leader Ronald Cardema during an interview with ANC back in April 9, 2019.

Collegiate students of Colegio De San Juan De Letran-Manila will be the subject for this

study. The institution itself is open to civic engagement especially in doing community service
 3

in order to symbolize the school’s doctrine “Deus, Patria, Letran'' which will be used to address

the needs of the public. In order to fulfill this doctrine, the Colegio has established an

organization that focuses on external affairs to be able to sustain the needs of the public,

especially the underprivileged. The Letran Community Volunteers (LCV) recognizes the need

for a civic organization as a medium to serve the poor and defenseless in the community.

Moreover, Asst. Prof. Grace Bernadette Tee (question thru email May 1, 2021), stated that the

Letran Community Extension Department (CED) is the lead office of the Colegio for all

extension services and community development initiatives. And with that, students immersed

themselves in fulfilling the mission of service for Deus, Patria, and Letran. These factors will be

the basis for this study especially in analyzing the civic engagement of the collegiate students of

Letran (the subject for this study) that will become a primary factor for their political

participation through being enlightened on the current issues of the state because of their civic

engagement as college students of Letran.

Furthermore, Letranites witnessed in the field how societal problems, social injustices,

and dilemmas affect those beneficiaries and finding solutions to help them become empowered

individuals through education and spirituality discussion. On other hand, the “Letran Politicvs”

and the “Letran Legal Management Society” are both students’ academic organizations that were

mainly composed of Political Science and Legal Management students which has facilitated

several seminars and events involving legal proceedings, governance, and politics such as;
 4

Voter’s education, Philippine government during pandemic, and Human rights seminar (Letran

Politicvs & Letran Management Society Facebook page). Thus, these factors may have a

positive implication on the students to engage in political and societal issues.

Though, it seems to be a positive exercise of democracy that the collegiate students of

Letran have used their political rights through posting political information and criticism towards

the government in social media. Until now, there is still an existence of fact that the students are

also active and involved in social media wars through various social media platforms such as

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. in which they used harsh words to demean the opposite

parties. Specifically for instance, the Letran Student Council Facebook page is relevant when it

comes to political discussion in which it contains political debates which sometimes use harsh

words through comments and posts of the students (LSC, Facebook Page). Thus, this is because

according to Ahmad, Alvi, & Ittefaq (2019), online media has impacted the current age since the

young generation grew effectively utilizing web-based media for data about government

happenings. They also added College students as the modern era generation uses social media to

share and discuss political content online and they actively take part in real-life political events

through being familiar with politics because of social media platforms Ahmad, Alve, & Ittefaq

(2019).

As reported from Inquirer.net (2021), the word war as portrayed in social media is most

risky in this present time, if only words can kill people through curses, the casualties will be

countless because of the harsh exchanges between the members of the two parties who are so
 5

passionately and critically against each other this is all because of their strong support towards

different political parties and politicians. This certain political behavior of the students through

social media may have a negative implication to the student’s political engagement by being a

solid partisan in this present time.

The researcher of this study primarily aims to find out if there is an existence of

partisanship among college students of Colegio de San Juan de Letrán. Apart from this, the

researcher also seeks to discover how the current situation of partisanship as perceive by the

students behave in this current situation due to the implication of Gata (2019), that in today’s

generation, if they post condemnation towards the government, they will maliciously be tagged

as an opposition party supporter, while if they post in praise for the government and they will be

branded as a supporter of extra-judicial killing (EJK) and other highly debated programs and

strategies connected to the administration being studied. The researcher wants to assess if this

particular situation of today’s generation will also have an effect on the college students of

Letran and how it will affect the current situation of partisanship through different political

beliefs, and stands of the students.

Statement Of the problem

According to Contreras (2020) in social media today, if they post in praise of President

Duterte, they will be automatically and maliciously maligned as “Dutertard or DDS”, on the

other hand, if they post criticism against the president then they are quickly be discredited as the

supporter of the opposition or member of the “Dilawans” he addresses this as “political tagging”.
 6

Hence, this particular situation of political partisanship in today’s generation may have a negative

implication to the students' current situation of engagement to partisanship. Because through

their different strong stands and beliefs towards a particular political party or politician, they

slowly engage in harsh exchanges of words that are critical and passionately against each other

using social media and they are being blindingly adherent towards the positive ideas and

accomplishments of the opposing parties. Because of this current situation of the youth, the

researcher aims to find out the behavior of the present situation of partisanship in the collegiate

students of Letran when it comes to their political beliefs and stands and, if the current situation

as stated by Contreras may have an implication the collegiate students of Letran’s idea of

Partisanship.

Specifically, the study aims to answer the following questions:

1. What are the factors that lead the Letran collegiate students to engage into partisanship?

2. What is the current situation of Letran collegiate students' when it comes to the idea of

political partisanship?

3. How do collegiate students of Letran behave on the idea of being partisan?

4. How does the current situation of partisanship affect the Letran collegiate students when

it comes to their political behavior and engagement towards the state?

 7

Objectives of the study

The primary purpose of this study is to find out if there is an existence of political

partisanship and what factors influence the students' partisanship in Colegio de San Juan de

Letran as represented by the students under the CLAS department. The researcher also seeks to

discover the behavior of CLAS students on the idea of political partisanship. This study is

guided by their different political beliefs and stands towards a political party or politician based

on the current political situation of the country today as portrayed by political partisanship.

The following are the objectives of the study:

a. Determine the factors that lead the collegiate students of Letran to engage into partisanship.

b. Explain the factors that lead the whole partisanship of Letran college students into existence.

c. Assess the effect of existing partisanship of Letran collegiate students to their political

engagement and behavior in the state as college students.

d. Verify the student’s behavior in engaging into the idea of partisanship.

Significance of the study

The significance of this study primarily focuses in addressing the current situation of

political partisanship of the collegiate students of Letran, the researcher hopes that the study will

somehow be a start of another study regarding the issue of today’s youth partisanship in order to

address the issue of Partisanship among Filipino youths and college students or the present
 8

generation as a whole. This study is similarly related to the political behavior of the students due

to being partisan in politics, especially on how they deal with today’s political discussion through

social media in arguing their different political beliefs and stands towards a particular political

party or politicians. This will somehow support the current situation of the youth as an influencer

in shaping the state’s politics.

The findings of this study will primarily benefit the collegiate students of Letran and the

rest of Filipino youths. The researcher believes that if the students of Letran and the rest of

Filipino youth or university students will be enlightened in their current situation partisanship

concerning their present political behavior in the state, then this study will serve as the youth’s

prescription in engaging in a more meaningful and purposeful political partisanship especially in

dealing with the opposite parties. As to Letran college students which is the subject for this

study, the researcher also believes that this could benefit the participants in conveying to them

how the idea of partisanship of the school exists and behaves in the present times. They will find

out through the outcomes of this study on if the current situation of partisanship results in

negative or positive. The researcher hopes that the students as refined ones and members of

Dominican institutions will somehow use their wise political engagement in dealing with

partisanship through understanding the outcomes of this study.

The study will dwell more on the student’s political behavior through the idea of

partisanship when it comes to their political beliefs and stands. This particular topic is not very

relevant to be subjected in today’s academe since political partisanship or political

 9

activism of the youths slowly became critical in this current administration. This is because of

the emergence of various political armies in social media to criticize both parties (Benagli &

Halper, 2019). The researcher hopes that this could contribute to the source information of future

studies that will be conducted by future political science students of Letran and other institutions.

Both the elderly citizens and the Filipino youths are the shapers of Philippine politics. This study

will lastly contribute to the community in portraying the political behavior of the youth that will

be represented by the collegiate students of Letran. This will convey a deeper understanding of

the youth’s importance in shaping wise politics of the state especially in terms of candidate

endorsement.

Scope and limitations

The scope of the study focuses on the political behavior of college students of Colegio de

San Juan de Letran Manila specifically on how they engaged in political partisanship and how

that partisanship exists in this present time. The collection of data will be conducted to the

collegiate students of Letran Manila ranging from 1st year college up to 4th year S/Y 2021-2022

that will represent the population. The participant will be randomly selected without basing their

chosen course but the researcher will try to majorly focus on the students taking the programs

under the Department College of Liberal Arts and Sciences specifically political science students

and legal management students since they are very prone to political involvement in relation to

their chosen course. The number of participants will not be specified as long as it is enough to

represent the school. The main source of data will be questionnaires and interviews that will be

prepared by the researcher.

 10

Operationalization of terms

The terms below are defined by the researcher according to how they were operating on

the study.

Civic engagement- states the youth and student’s participation in addressing issues in the

society. This will somehow be the primary step to enlighten the youth in engaging in politics

where they are being awakened to what are the current issues of the state especially if there is an

involvement of politics.

Deus, Pátria, Letran- portrays the doctrine of patriotism of the school with relation to being

devoted to God as a catholic school. This doctrine helps in molding the essence of nationalism

to the students of colegio by bringing them awareness on the current issues of the state.

Educational attainment- refers to the current educational degree of the participants in engaging

political movements.

Current situation of Partisanship- refers to the current situation of partisanship of today's

generation. Specifically, on how they portray the essence of being partisan in politics through

being strongly and critically divided.

Filipino youths or College students- refers to the subject or the respondents of this study in

which it is composed of 18 years of age up to 20 plus which participated and engaged in the
 11

political movement of the state on the beliefs that they are part of shaping democracy of the

state.

Negative Partisanship- the term for being critically partisan of the students in which they

became blind adherence towards dealing with the opposing party supporters that lead the whole

partisanship to be negative.

Opposition- this discusses the party or the group that is critically against the idea, beliefs, and

stands of the other party. This may also refer to the state of being opposed to the ruling party or

administration.

Partisanship- the term for being politically divided of the students in terms of their different

political stands, belief, and support towards a particular political party or politician. This also

shows an act of blatant political partisanship.

Political activism- refer to this study as an action of the students when it comes to their political

participation and awareness towards the state. This is being established through their initiatives

in posting and sharing political contents online. This is also defined as the students' way of

expressing politics through political discussion and promoting political issues.

 12

Political armies- refers to the group that are in strong support in defending a particular political

party or politicians which may save them from their critics in terms of critically criticizing those

who opposed the party or the politician.

Political awareness- this serves as the political enlightenment of the students when it comes to

analyzing the political atmosphere of the state. This is where the sensitivity of the students

towards public policy, governance, and the agendas of the sitting politicians is being formed.

Political arena- this means the particular political environment or political situation of the state.

Political engagement/behavior- refers to the political participation of the students as they

engage themselves in political movements which became a primary step to familiarize the

political arena of the state then soon entered into political partisanship.

Political Party- refers to an organization composed of two or more parties, the oppositions and

the ruling government or administration. Students however identify themselves as a supporter of

a particular party either to the administration or the opposition. This leads their strong support to

become critically partisan.

Social media wars- refers to the main battle ground of political discussions and debates towards

the current issues of the state through Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. The students can easily get
 13

access in posting criticism against the other parties which will lead into toxic debates when the

other party responds.

 CHAPTER 2

Review of Related Literature

In this chapter, the researcher presents various literatures from both foreign and local

studies, journals, and scholarly articles which will have a significant relevance regarding the

partisanship of the college students when it comes to their different political beliefs and stands.

The literature below will be used to further understand and explain the concepts of this study. It

will specifically address the students' engagement into politics by being partisans and explain the

factors that engage the students into the idea of partisanship.

Moreover, the following literature will aim to explain the questions asked by this study. It

will primarily start on the students' engagement into politics. This primary part of literature will

discuss the factors that lead the students into political activism. This is very important for this

study to be cited by the literature because this will serve as a stepping stone to the students'

awareness towards political and social issues that will soon become the roots in engaging into the

idea of partisanship due to the beliefs and stands towards political parties and politicians. Then,

the literature will also discuss the socio-political attitudes of the present college students in order

to assess how college students behave when it comes to engaging in political discussions through

political partisanship. Lastly, the works will also cite the current situation of political partisanship

of the youth and college students. This is to imply the current situation to the participant of this

study. In order to find out the existence of current partisanship of Letran collegiate through the

implications of the current situation of political partisanship in the Philippines.

 13

Student’s political engagement

Starting on the college student’s political engagement, according to Emily (2020,) high

curiosity in politics of college students primarily started on the political affairs of its local place.

Events in the national government, specifically televised speeches to the congress and

presidential address also became the roots for the students to get interested in politics. The

government’s impact on the daily lives of students, specifically traffic or public issues is also a

considerable predictor for the student’s political engagement. In all, these will influence the

students to get to know more about politics in which they also share their interests with others.

On this part, here we can understand that college students started to engage in politics because of

the student’s maturity that they could feel the government’s movement and its impact in their day

to day lives as a student.

Civic engagement through public voluntarism is a possible predictor of the college

student’s political engagement. Inside home, open family discussion regarding politics and

government can also contribute to the young people in establishing their interest in politics.

College students also tend to focus their political stances in various political issues that cause

them to be interested in supporting different political parties and different political ideologies

which can represent them and can positively do good for the society and can influence good to

the political arena of the state (Katherine and Wilson, 2004).

 14
Here we can discover that the engagement of college students in linking to different

political parties begins on their voluntarism in public activities and awareness on political issues

and again, this can affect their daily lives especially as students. Civic engagement is done

through voluntary community service or school community service. The students on this part of

engagement may be enlightened to what is really happening in the society especially in poor

communities in which they interact with the masses and they witnessed the situation. On the

other hand, as what the literature stated, inside home family discussion of politics is very helpful

in shaping the political awareness of the students as long as it is an open-minded discussion that

the parents will also openly listen to the sentiments of their children whoever they are supporting.

Political engagement using social media

Political engagement through modern technologies is very helpful for the student in

getting involved in political discussion. This is also one of the reasons why college students can

easily access or get involved in sharing political information especially in terms of their criticism

or support towards their choosing political parties or politicians. According to Suntein (2016), as

of today, television sources and social media platforms are the most accessible choices for the

people, especially the youths in gathering information in terms of the current issues of the states.

Citizens today are not having problems with regard to gathering political information anymore

different from the past. Through mediated political discussions, people tend to sympathize only to

those points of view they find most agreeable stands in terms of political discussions and debate

of political parties and politicians using social media (Sunstein 2016, 64).
 15
According to Maas (2018), ever since the founding of Facebook in 2004, social media

platforms have increased in various different platforms which have been also subscribed by

majority are college students and now, social media is being part of political platforms. Through

this, citizens, especially youths and college students can easily obtain information and can

quickly interact with whoever they want in an instant way. On this part, social media is the most

instant accessible way for the students to interact with each other in discussing politics. This is

significant in today's generation since social media becomes the platform in expressing their

being partisan.

The emergence of social media is the easiest way for the youth to get engaged in politics

or societal issues. This could also be the primary tool in an easy and accessible political

discussion between the opposition and the supporters of a certain political party. Sunstein (2016),

also stated that 80% of all Twitter users and 91% of all Facebook users admitted to seeing

political affairs on their news feeds. On Twitter, if the user claims to see politics, 33% of them

also post about politics in response. But for those who don’t see any politics, 0% report posting

about politics. For Facebook, 25% of those who are seeing political affairs also post about

politics. More or less, the more someone is exposed to politics on social media, the more likely

they are to post about politics.

Socio-Political attitudes of the students

According to Santos (2004), this current age of understudies has grown-up with the

benefits of being liberal to the general public as far as cultural issues like various races of

individuals, confidence convictions, sexual directions and some more. Undergrads have
 16
lessnegative conduct, more cheerful and all the more socially dynamic and dependable.

Therefore, these attitudes of the present generation are one of the factors for them to get engaged

in strong political beliefs and stand towards a particular political party and politician. It also

influences the college students to engage in identifying themselves as a member of different

political parties that cause them to become partisan from the other. Reyes (2001), likewise

noticed that the current undergrads are sure, objective arranged, autonomous, and idealistic, free,

and objective situated. Today’s students also have mastery in computers and different modern

technologies which they can use in political engagement. They are known to be the multimedia

generation. Here we can discover that the students' political beliefs and stands towards a

particular political party or politician has a goal and it is part of their attitudes as described by the

literature.

Cabo (2018), cited through R.A. 8040 that Filipino youths and college students with ages

ranging from 15 to 30 years old are considered by the Philippine government as a “critical period

in a person’s growth and development from the onset of adolescence towards the peak of mature,

self-reliant and responsible adulthood”. She also stated that at these ages, as mandated by the

national law they can join the national youth council which will benefit the youth to implement

socio-civic and community development activities that are supported by the government. Here,

the Philippine government particularly its society recognized such age as a legal person in

participating political activities of the state. This could be my basis on how youth, particularly at

such age has slowly engaged into political involvement which was legally considered by the

Philippine government by basing on its attitudes and adolescents.

 17
Students’ partisanship

Early influence partisanship

Political partisanship is all about the division of the individuals due to their different

stands and support towards a political party or a certain politician in which they member

themselves in. According to Dalton (2015), there are two fundamental reasons why political

partisanship has been developed in the past. Firt, partisan politics, like other individual feelings,

represents early life learning and the person's social circumstances. Many young children

establish basic partisan relations at a young age, often during early school years, according to

studies of young kids. Kids develop party allegiances before they recognize what the party labels

mean, a phase that is identical to the formation of many other social categories, such as faith or

class. These beginning political affiliations serve as a framework for future political thinking

(which often reinforces early partisan biases). Last, parents play a critical role in the socialization

of these ideals in developed democracies. Within secure party structures, study that contrasts the

party identifications of parents and their children consistently finds increased rates of partisan

approval. Since party affiliations are established when parents are the dominating power in a

child's life, parents are effective in transmitting their partisan politics to their children. Since

political debate often contains some partisan material, parents frequently expose their children to

partisan cues. As a result, a child will quickly reduce his or her parents' political preferences from

their responses to television news and comments made during family discussions.
 18
Education’s contribution to Partisanship

According to Woessner K & Woessner M. (2008), the education setting has a contribution

to the students Partisanship. Through the professor's political orientation, they believed that it

helps shape the students' political learning and interest in politics. They also consider both the

direct effects of partisan difference on education and indirect effects. They also concluded that in

their analysis, students believe that their professors are to be a political ally and report more

learning, higher levels of effort, and greater interest in the subject than those who believe their

professor to be a political foe.

Current situation of partisanship in the Philippines

Partisanship in this present time is rampant in the Philippines. According to Kimiko

(2019), this is because the current administration is attached to highly controversial issues and

programs that lead its supporters and opposition to get engaged into high political debate and

discussions. He also added that the political partisanship among two parties continues to widen

when more issues remain to be unresolved. In this case, he stated that criticizing the government

today will automatically brand you as a supporter of the opposition party, on the other hand praise

the government and you will maliciously get judged as the supporter of the current

administration.

In his commentary article entitled “When Free Speech Hinders Free Speech”, Aquino

(2021), also stated that in today’s social media if you post a compliment for President Duterte,
 19
you are directly tagged as “Dutertard or DDS” a diehard supporter of the President. If you post

criticism against his governance, then you will also be immediately tagged as the supporter of the

opposition known as “Dilawan”. He also added that this becomes critical through the use of harsh

words and critical toxic response only to demean each other. This particular situation of today’s

partisanship has a negative implication towards the student’s political engagement because they

strongly became critical of each other. In addition, America (2017), stated that in the Philippines

contentions in online media are extreme and individual. It is the landmark for affront, illogic,

defame, brutal words, and spread of untruths.

Moreover, according to Contreras (2020), there is a case of blinding adherence in today's

partisanship a few groups reproachful of political worshipful admiration have held the utilization

of both "DDS" and ''dilawan to apply to the individuals who are aimlessly faithful to the

President or indiscriminately incredulous of him, separately. He likewise added that both the

"DDS" and the "Dilawans", in being specialists of visually impaired worshipful admiration, are to

be disapproved of as the unfortunate other. As an explanation to this according to Maas (2018),

rivalry in political parties has powered a partisan conflict since it raises the political stakes for

each political strategy issue. More than that, constituents and allies of the political parties will

stay faithful to that particular political party that they rather decide to change their situation on a

strategy issue than switch to another party.

These particular situations of partisanship in today’s generation may have an implication

to the collegiate students of Colegio de San Juan de Letran. Not just by generalizing the whole of

the Letran college students through the situation above, but the Colegio for instance has a
 20
facebook page in which it contains or posts related to the current events of the Philippines in

terms of celebrating Women’s month, Laborday, Mental health and many more. Through these,

the students can share their sentiments towards the posted state related events by commenting on

it.

Synthesis

As stated by the related literature and studies, political partisanship of the college

students primarily started on their engagements towards the state. This varies in three different

ways such as the student’s personal political engagement through the government’s impact on

their daily lives as students, the civic engagement in which through public voluntarism they

directly interact with the masses and able to witness the real situation of the society, and lastly

the modern social media platforms in which they can easily gather political information and

interact with other people in political discussion through the use of social media. These ways

of political engagement are the primary step of the students to get linked into different

political parties and politicians through being enlightened about politics due to their

engagement to society.

The socio-political attitudes of the students are also a considerable reason why the

students have strong political beliefs and stands. The literature above presents that today's

generation of college students are optimistic, self-confident, independent, and goal oriented.

They are also openly minded to societal issues. They have less-cynical behavior, more hopeful
 21
and more socially active and responsible. Their nature as in adolescence, self-reliant and

responsible is believed to be their contribution for socio-civic and community development.

A part of the related literature also determines how partisanship of the youth developed in

the past times. According to the literature, there are two fundamental reasons for the students to

develop basic partisanship during childhood. The first is, children develop basic partisan when

they get in touch with party loyalties through their exposure to an environment that is similar to

social identities such as religion or class. Second and last is the parents influence on the child,

parents transmit their party loyalties to their children through being dominant in influencing their

children at a very young age. This is important for further understanding of the concept of this

study specially to determine the behavior of the present situation of partisanship starting from its

development. This will serve as an implication to the college students of Letran which are the

participants.

Furthermore, the literature also presents the present political partisanship in the

Philippines when it comes to its behavior in social media. Social media today became the main

battleground for political discussions, specifically debates. Both of the parties are so critical of

each other that they even used an exchange of harsh words to demean each other. It became a

hindering factor to freedom of speech when a particular person posts against or supports the

government that will be maliciously tagged as an opposition or supporter of the current

administration. Because of being critical against each other, both of the parties have also become

blindingly adherent in terms of recognizing the positive accomplishments between the two
 22
parties. This particular situation of partisanship in today’s generation will be used by the

researcher as an implication to the collegiate students of Letran. This serves as the primary basis

of determining the current behavior of partisanship of Letran collegiate students in order to find

out if they also imply this kind of behavior of partisanship.

 23
Theoretical Framework

The study is anchored on the political theory of parties and partisanship by Muirhead and

Rosenblum (2020). In their theory, they mentioned that political parties are the creator of

democracy but modern democracy in terms of strong political partisanship or polarization put

democracy at risk. This is because both of the two parties are so critical opposing each other that

they always demean each other’s stands and beliefs towards particular political parties that the

other party is supporting. They also added that in critical political partisanship, the role of the two

parties as oppositions to each other is not just a true hearted opposition but a conspiracy against

the public good. Because according to them, being an opposition is not just about remaining

against the ruling party, hence it also must share its recommendation on their views in order to

gain good for the state. They also concluded that political partisanship today is fueled by

self-interest, insufficient information, partisan bias, and even distortion of dark money. “Because

of the epistemic chasm as important as partisanship which is created by the citizens, making it

hard to disagree as well as impossible to settle.” (Muirhead & Rosenblum 2019).

The researcher believes that this particular theory is applicable to this study in terms of

the current situation of Partisanship. As stated above, political partisanship in the Philippines

today has now become critical due to the implication that posting in social media whether it is

against or in support for the government will only lead them to be maliciously tagged as an

opposition or a supporter of the current administration (Gata 2019). The theory above addressed

this as a risk to democracy because there is a presence that the parties are critical against each
 24
other that they will immediately tag those who post something towards the government, as a

supporter or an opposition of the government.

The present partisanship in the Philippines has also become blindingly adherent in terms

of being a loyal opposition that does not compromise with the other party instead they remain

critics and do not recognize the positive ideas or accomplishments of the other parties (Contreras

2020). The theory above also addresses this as critical political partisanship, because the role of

the opposition on this part is not just a loyal opposition but a conspiracy against the public good.

In relation to the subject of this study, the researcher will first determine the presence of

partisanship of college students of Colegio de San Juan de Letrán. Through the current political

partisanship in the Philippines as presented above, the researcher will first find out if these

situations have an implication to the idea of their partisanship. Then the researcher will determine

the assumptions and the prepositions of the theory to the subjects of the study in order to find out

if this situation of partisanship as determined by the theory is the current behavior and existence

of partisanship as perceived by Letran college students.

 25
Paradigm

The paradigm above explains the outline of the theory of Muirhead and Rosenblum

(2020) entitled “the political theory of parties and Partisanship”. It started from the political

engagement of the student as the input. Then it will proceed to the process on how the students

engaged into the idea of partisanship. Lastly, the output serves as the findings on the current

situation of partisanship and how it affects democracy as stated by the theory.

 26

CHAPTER 3

Methodology

In this chapter, the researcher discusses the research design of this study, the data

collection procedure, the study of population, the data analytical procedure, and the instrument

used for the data collection of the study. The research design is a descriptive research design in

order to descriptively gather information and data to prove for the study. Simple random sampling

will be used in order to equalize the participants. The participants are the collegiate students of

Letran ranging from 1st year college to 4th year S.Y 2021-2022.

Research Design

In this study, the researcher uses a descriptive qualitative research design. It focuses more

on the students’ present behavior in politics when it comes to dealing with the other parties by

being a partisan. It also collected the different existing evidence and facts that are crucial to

prove for this study such as news articles and commentaries regarding political partisanship.

Through descriptive qualitative research design, the researcher was able to gather the information

and data that are essential for this study. The researcher will also be able to explain and evaluate

the different data that was gathered for this study.

Through a qualitative research design, the researcher will also further understand the

different concepts, opinions, and experiences of the participants in relation to their political

involvement as college students when being partisans. Furthermore, the researcher will use a

phenomenological research method in order to virtually collect data through interviews directly
from the participants and ask for their experiences in engaging partisanship. The interview will

be asked by questions regarding their political beliefs and stands as college students that are not

really as personal to avoid intimidation of the participants with regards to their educational

attainment and awareness in politics.

Data Collection Procedure

In order to collect data and information, the researcher based the study on the simple

random sampling technique to equally gather the information needed from the participants. The

participants will be referred by the fellow classmates or friends of the researcher in which the

chosen programs or courses are in the field of politics such as political science students and legal

management students. These two courses will be the primary target as the participants of the

study. Then, the rest of the participants will not be determined according to their chosen

programs. Due to the current situation of the covid-19 pandemic that limited the opportunity to

personally gather the resources and information and the physical interview with the participants,

the researcher will only use online social media platforms such as google meet, messenger, email

etc. in order to virtually interview the participants. In relation to this, the participants were

randomly chosen and the number of participants to be interviewed will not be specified as long

as it represents the school. Questions asked during the interview will not be so personal to avoid

intimidation of the respondents.

 28
Study Population

The primary participants in this study are the college students of Colegio de San Juan de

Letran is located in Intramuros Manila ranging from 1st year college up to 4th year S.Y

2021-2022. The participants that will be subjected for the study are within the scope years of the

current administration to determine how their partisanship behaves in this present time and how

it came to exist. Specifically, during the tenure years of President Duterte since 2016 until the

present year. The primary participants are randomly selected without basing their chosen college

program or course. But the researcher will try to focus on those students whose programs are in

the field of College of Liberal Arts and Sciences particularly political science students and legal

management students since they are prone to be engaged in political involvement in relation to

their program especially in terms of seminars and immersions that are closely related to public

exposure and political discussion. The number of participants will not be specified as long as it is

enough to represent the school.

Data Analytical Procedure

The data gathered through journals, related studies, commentaries, and scholarly articles

will serve as an implication to determine how the collegiate students of Letran engage and behave

in the idea of partisanship. Then the interview of the participants will also determine how the

students themselves engage in the behavior of political partisanship. Through the data gathered,

the researcher was able to identify the factors that pushed students of Colegio de San Juan de

Letran to engage in political partisanship most especially in their day-to-day life. The researcher

was also able to interpret correctly the information gathered to complete the research.
The data gathered for this research will be used for future studies and because of this, the

researcher was also able to cite different related studies, theories and concepts that support the

research.

Instrument

In interviewing the participants, the researcher will use different social media platforms

such as google meet, messenger, Facebook, and other platforms that could help the researcher to

get contact with the participants. The researcher will first use an interview guide to identify the

selected participants specifically if they are college students of Letran. There will also be some

primary questions pertaining to how such students are active in terms of political engagement

whether using social media or in physical political discussion. The questions that will be asked

during the interview will be relevant to the research questions and related literature which can be

helpful to the researcher to be more organized in getting information from the participants. The

questions will first be discussed to the participants during the initial interview in order to find out

if the questions being asked could make the participants uncomfortable or intimidating. The

researcher will also first ask the consent of the participants before recording the interview in

accordance with R.A 10173 – Data Privacy Act of 2012. The researcher will also jot down some

important points during the interview. Lastly, there will also be an opening and closing statement

during the interview.

 30

Good day to you Sir/Ma’am. I am Rosalito P. Lepiten. You can call me Dong. I am from the

College of Liberal Arts and Science studying Political Science. I am currently working on my

thesis entitled: The Evolution of Partisanship as Perceived by the College Students of Colegio de

San Juan de Letran When it comes to their Political Beliefs and Stands. I would like to thank you

for your participation in this interview.

This particular interview will be used for studying the existence and behavior of partisanship

as perceived by the collegiate students of Letran. Your participation in this study shall be very

helpful in exploring the behavior of college students of Letran when it comes to engaging in the

idea of partisanship.

Before we start, I would like to ask for your consent. If you are willing to take part in this

study, I will also ask for your consent if you are willing that this interview will be recorded. This

activity will take an hour on the average. Do you have any questions or concerns?

I. Questions regarding the student’s engagement to Partisanship

1. Can you tell me how familiar you are with today's politics?

2. As a college student how do you show your political engagement?

 3. Can you describe today’s politicians? What can you say about the political parties we
have in the country?

4. How will you engage yourself in familiarizing todays’ political parties or politicians?

5. What factors will lead you to supporting a political party or a politician?

II. Questions regarding the student’s present situation in the idea of Partisanship

6. Are you a supporter of a political party or politician? If yes, 7. How well do you know
them? (Continue with 8A). If the answer is no, continue with 8B

8A. How will you share your stands and beliefs to others when it comes to supporting such
political parties or politicians?
9A. How do you show your support to a particular political party?
10A. What are your experiences in terms of having debates and political discussion with the
other political party supporters?
11A. How do you deal with other political party supporters?
12A. How will you convince your friends, your classmates and relatives to support your political
party or politicians?
13A. How will you use the lessons you have learned as a college student, to the political
discussion with the other political party supporters or during the debate?

8B. How will you analyze the stands and beliefs of others being shared to you towards the
political party or politician they are supporting?
9B. How will you show your cause when you have decided to support a political party or
politician?
10B. Have you experienced listening to debates and political discussion? What is your take on
their views and opinions?
11B. How would you deal with a people expressing their views about their supported political
party or politician?
 32
12B. How will the others convince you to show the same support to their political party or
politician?
13B. How will you use the lessons you have learned as a college student, to the political
discussion with the other political party supporters or during the debate?

Again, thank you so much for your cooperation. Finally, before we end this interview, is there

anything else you feel I should know about your experience? I already have the accounts needed

for my study. Thank you very much for your time and active participation.
 CHAPTER 4

Findings and Discussion

In this chapter, the researcher presents the findings and the discussion of the data being

gathered through conducted online interviews with the use of online platforms such as Google

Meet and Messenger. The participants interviewed in this study are the college students whose

courses are under the Department of College of Liberal Arts and Science (CLAS). The

researcher has interviewed a total of 30 participants from different courses of CLAS students, 10

from Political Science, 10 from legal management, 4 from Communication, 2 from

Broadcasting, 2 from Journalism, 1 from advertising, and 1 from psychology. The aim of the

researcher for the interview is to determine the existence of political partisanship among CLAS

program students and to find out how they behave on the inkling of being partisan.

Before interviewing the participants, the researcher has first determined how active the

participants are in engaging to the idea of being a partisan in politics. Social media is the primary

instrument of the researcher on measuring how the participants are being active when it comes to

showing support to their chosen politician through the use of social media, especially facebook.

The researcher found out that most of the participants were very active in sharing and posting

political contents in their social media accounts especially with regards to their chosen

politicians. The researcher also found out that the participants tended to promote their chosen

politician through posting and sharing, while on the other hand, the participants also posted

memes and criticism against their hated politicians. This becomes the primary basis of the

researcher in selecting the participants suitable for the phenomenological study.

 34

The discussions of the data being gathered are organized in four themes. The first theme

is all about the students’ source of political awareness, this is to determine the fluence of the

students in getting political information which they believe to be the first sign for their political

engagement. Second, is about the student’s engagement in politics on the way of showing their

political activism towards the state. The third theme shows the students engagement in political

partisanship, and lastly, is about the students’ behavior on being politically partisan.

Source of Political Awareness

Social issues through social media

According to Lim (2019), political awareness through being conscious of different social

issues using social media has shaped the students' awareness in politics. This is because these

social and political issues have an impact on their daily lives especially when it comes to the

government’s efficiency. Intyaswati (n.d) also stated that the students' absorption of social issues

using social media whether, it is deliberately or incidentally done through scrolling online, can

cause political and social awareness for them. Furthermore, using this platform for political

awareness of the students doesn’t only make them active online, hence it strengthens their stock

of knowledge that can be used during offline discussions (Nam, 2012). Through this, according

to (Quintelier & Vissers 2008), the students get engaged into political participation especially

through comments, posts, and reaction because they are being updated to social and political

issues with the help of social media. In total, social media today becomes a considerable part of

shaping the student’s political awareness due to their expertise on using these platforms, and the
socio-political contents posted in this platform. This idea is presented by informants’ numbers

24, 13, 10, 4, and 29.

‘Through social media, I became fully aware, especially the systematic errors in our
government. I am also aware of the corruption and abuse of power of our public officials.
Especially, I am also aware of the exploitation of government in our human rights’ (i24)

Some students also stated that through the government’s poor response to the COVID-19

pandemic, they became very eager in learning social issues from social media especially when it

comes to the government’s implementation of strict policies regarding pandemic that affect their

lives as citizens. According to Zhao et al., (2020), during the pandemic, people mostly relied on

social media as their primary source of information regarding the updates on the pandemic and

the government’s response. Notably, this offers the users, especially the Filipino youth a critical

analysis on why the government cannot effectively combat the pandemic that is brutally affecting

the lives of many Filipinos. This leads the students to keep themselves updated on the

happenings of the pandemic concerning the administration’s response that developed their

political awareness.

‘I keep myself updated by checking the news concerning social issues and politicians’
decisions regarding the pandemic. And that keeps me aware of politics, especially its relation
with the COVID-19 pandemic and the poor response of the government.’ (i13)

‘I am familiar with the way that I can see the right and wrongful acts of our governments,
especially their response to the current pandemic and their concerns about society, especially the
 36
indigenous people. For me, my familiarity with politics relies on how I can criticize them on a
factual basis. And this is because through the help of social media’ (i10)

However, according to Steenkamp & Hyde-Clarke (2014), because of the issue of

authenticity and fake news, along with being a bent partisan, some social media users also

expressed their concerns in using social media as the main source for political information.

Shachaf & Hara (2020) also added that, online applications such as Facebook disseminates

wrong information because of trolls that are paid to spread fake news and fake political

supporters and critics. This is why some of the participants put doubts on using social media for

their political awareness.

‘Well, I am slightly familiar with today’s politics. Actually, I don’t mostly rely on social
media and televised news. Because of the issue of its authenticity, especially the biases, I just do
my own research in order to find out the fact behind social issues concerning politics because I
don’t hundred percent trust social media nowadays.’ (i4)

‘Frankly speaking, I don’t trust social media nowadays. I am very concerned about the
rampant fake news, the biases and the wrongful information it brings towards me. That’s why
although I incidentally absorbed some information there, still I don’t prefer them as my main
source. ‘(i29)

Taking into account that the political awareness of the students primarily emerged from their

awareness on social issues (Lim, 2019). As to the participants, their main source for social and

political information is social media. Hence, through social media they said, they were able to

daily update themselves on the current issues of the state especially when it comes to the
government’s efficiency that has a huge impact on their daily lives as students and as citizens of

the state.

Discussion with the members of the society

According to Levinsen & Yndigegn (2015) youth claim that political discussion with

their families, friends, and classmates also gives them awareness on politics. Because their

political socialization with their families and friends can be viewed as a movement in which it

develops certain fundamentals of political awareness especially if the youth has more to say

about their stands during the discussion. However, as claimed by the participants they do

experience political awareness during discussion with their friends and families. Furthermore,

(Jung et al., 2011) also added that youth who are eager to know more about social and political

issues during the discussion want to get educated through expressing their thoughts about the

subject being discussed. That is why the students on this part considered having discussion with

their families and friends as their way of having political awareness. This concept is presented by

informants’ number 3, 27, 5, and 20.

‘My own way of having familiarity in politics is through discussions with my families and
friends. We always talk about how efficient the government is here in our local place. It responds
to the covid-19 pandemic, especially the implementation of health protocols and ayudas. Well,
personally for me it’s very helpful, because I can say that I am not the only one aware in terms of
political issues in our home.’ (i3)

‘For me, I always considered that political discussion with my family is the main source
for my political awareness. During eating time, we always talked at the dinner table on how
effective the response of our mayor is in handling the pandemic here in our city. We always have
 38
disagreements, especially that I am not a supporter of our mayor which contradicts the beliefs of
my mother. But, still it’s helpful for me tho’. (i27)

However, some students also admitted that they do not engage intentionally in political

discussions, they only volunteer sometimes during conversation with their family and friends as

their way to be informed in politics. According to Gundelach & Levinsen (2011), it is the nature

of a young person to get conscious of everything. However, as their minds continue to get

mature, they also get engaged in participating in political discussion especially in social issues

that further leads them to get confused in learning the political affairs in their local state and

election voting. In his study, Gil de Zuniga (2017) addresses this as ‘incidental exposure to

politics’ because although the person is not willing to take part in a long political discussion, the

way that he interrupted the discussion by expressing his obscured thoughts on certain political

topics leaves him with knowledge that develop his political awareness.

‘Well, I don’t know, but I think political discussion with my families and friends helps me
to be familiar with politics. During dinner time, we always talk about political personalities
especially those that are running for 2022 elections. Yeah, I think we also talk about social issues
concerning politics.’ (i5)

Sometimes, I used to listen to political discussions of my classmates during face-to-face

class back then. Yes, I do participate in sharing my own views in politics to them. Especially my
favorite politicians and political parties. However, I do not seek such information regarding
politics’ (i20).
 According to Quintelier (2011), although political discussion with families and friends

can establish political awareness to the students, this cannot also be considered as a fruitful

discussion. He argued that there should be a presence of disagreements and misunderstanding to

further sharpen their political awareness. Levinsen & Yndigegn (2015) also added that a student

must also be open to be educated during the discussion for him to attain an informative

awareness in political issues. Students’ engagement in political discussion just to be aware of

politics should be also equipped with willingness in order to attain knowledge while developing

its political awareness through discussion with their families and friends. Through this, the

student does not only obtain information from the simple discussion, hence they also may

develop their deep knowledge in politics through open their willingness in having political

discussion with the members of the society.

Ways of showing Political Activism

The Use of Social Media Platforms and Political Discussions

According to Thorson et al., (2019), social issues posted in social media facilitates the

students to get aware in exposing socio-political contents like rights discrimination, governments

abuse of power, and many more. Through seeing these posts on social media, young people were

able to put their basic political rights into the spotlight, not just because they used the right to

freedom of information, but also freedom of speech and expression through the use of social

media (Pinkus, 2021). However, as to the participants, they claimed that they expressed their

political activism through the use of social media platforms through commenting, posting, liking,

and sharing political issues specifically in Facebook and Twitter. This particular behavior will
 40
also push the students to go online, and social movements like online petition signing, trending

political hashtags of the day can be an example of online protest to address a certain political

issue. (e.g., freelon et al., 2016, 2018; Jackson & Foucault Welles, 2015, 2016). This concept is

presented by informants’ numbers 2, 7, 6, and 23.

‘Me as a political science student, I express my political activism in 2 ways. First, using
social media platforms such as Facebook, especially Twitter, I get engaged in political
movements in the way that I can react, comment, share and post about political issues, especially
the program implemented by a particular politician. Second, as a member of the student
organization in our school “the Lance” I was able to show my writing skills through writing
articles concerning political issues.’ (i2).

‘As a college student and a millennial, I do my political activism using social media.
Sometimes, I do experience having political discussions there. For me, social media today is the
most doable way to criticize politicians. Yes, sometimes I also prefer political discussions with
my friends, but I avoid doing it with my parents to prevent personal conflict’ (i7).

However, some of the participants expressed their concerns in using social media for their

political activism, that's why they considered political discussions as their second way of

showing political activism. This is because some students are aware that there is an issue of

social media’s authenticity especially when it comes to rampant fake news that's why they

avoided using this platform for their political engagement to avoid being manipulated (Kiesa et

al., 2018). For the other participants, they considered that political discussions in terms of

sharing their collective political opinions and political views towards a certain political issue is a

way of showing political activism. In explaining this, Revil (2021) stated that political discussion
doesn’t only give political awareness to a person hence, the connectivity of political conversation

in the way of sharing one's ideas and opinions can activate the people’s minds in engaging to

political movements such as voicing out their sentiments to the public. Weiss (2020), also stated

that there are strongly held views when a student engages in political discussion, that is why

there is a presence of strong misunderstanding and disagreements that critically developed the

students' awareness in politics that will put them into action.

Politics means something to me personally, whenever we have bonding with my friends or

classmates, I always take the opportunity to insert political discussion with them. This became
very helpful for me because I was able to give them my insights regarding my knowledge in
politics or especially in political issues.’ (i6)

‘As a political science student, for me my political activism begins in our discussion in
class. It has been the focus of us since the start of the class, especially the issue concerning the
ideologies and moral values of the politician. Not just during class, sometimes we also talked
about political issues and how to handle it, especially in forming petitions. That’s why I keep
myself updated on the happenings of politics because it is compulsory to us as polsci students.’
(i23)

In their study, Brosius & Weinman (1996) stated, that political discussion is a traditional

way of showing political activism because this was already existed a long time ago back when

people used to discuss politics in public places such as cafeterias and salons in which it threatens

the curiosity of the person to engage in political movements. While for (Mcleod, Scheufele, &

Moy, 2020), in these modern ages social media is the most doable way for the people especially
 42
for the youths in showing their political activism towards the state on the way of online protests

and criticism.

Chosen programs or courses

According to Boyte (2004), because of the students' education based on their chosen

program, college students today are starting to critically think and politically act because they

know that their courses can make social change to the state. As to the participants, they claimed

that their chosen program in college also leads them to develop and show their political activism.

According to them, as practitioners of their chosen courses, their educational attainment has

contributed a lot in molding their own way of showing political activism as college students.

Thus, this is because according to Kiesa et., al (2018), that today’s generation of college students

can already feel the responsibilities of their chosen courses towards the society that is why they

use this to make social change through political activism. This concept is presented by

informants’ numbers 23, 25, 28, and 9.

Writing is powerful and as Communication students, we are often tasked to produce

paperwork, infographics, videos, advocacy campaigns, and the like. With these tasks, we
maximize it by integrating pressing socio-political issues because we believe that it is one of our
vital roles as aspiring media practitioners.’ (i23)

‘As a student taking up the course of Psychology, my friends and I took part in a simple
discussion about what is currently happening in our country with regard to the government. We
try to address and converse about political or government issues when we are conversing about
random things, and we share our thoughts, which also turns out that we have similar
perspectives’ (i25)

‘As a journalism student, I mostly show it through actively promoting the ideals of
democracy through organization projects, other than that I spread necessary information that
would lead to critical thinking through sharing alternative media outputs.’ (i28)

‘Well, as political science, political activism is not new for me. Because I myself have
already engaged in several protests and rallies in relation to my chosen course. This is my
primary basis in showing my own political activism and I do hope that my classmates would also
do the same as students studying politics’ (i9)

According to (Campbell & and Horowitz 2016) education in college is very advantageous

in learning social concerns because it exposes the students to have awareness in social issues and

encourages them to exercise basic political rights through being enlightened of their value as

young citizens of the state. Longgo (2004) also added that hundreds of college students have

always been participating in mapping civic aspects on schools and universities, they facilitate the

hosting of the programs regarding public issues and mobilizing social change in the nation. This

is because the quality of education in their chosen courses gives them the opportunity not just to

meaningfully engage in political matters using their chosen programs, but to wisely use their

educational attainment in engaging in political activism (Hylland, 2013).

The use of voting

According to Bali, et al., (2020) when it comes to political activism, voting is the most

important form of political participation because it allows every citizen’s vote to be counted in
 44
electing political candidates. However, because of the popularity of the incoming 2022 local and

national elections, the participants illustrated that voting is also their most effective way in

showing their political activism. According to them, as presently registered voters, they are now

starting to familiarize politicians for the incoming 2022 election. Attasi (2020) stated that it is

very important for the young people to exercise their right to vote because not just about the

matter of their population in the state, hence their skills and awareness in analyzing suitable and

good politicians or candidates can contribute good for the state. (Kiesa et al 2018) also added that

the majority of the students believed that voting is the most effective vehicle in addressing public

issues and it is their great opportunity to show that they are the shaper of social change. Voting as

part of political participation of the young people is the best way for them to show that they

participate in democratic process as a modern shaper of the society (Condon & Holleque, 2019).

This concept is presented by informants’ numbers 4, 5, and 6.

‘Well, I think as a registered voter I can show my political activism not just on voting.
Hence, I believed that in critically analyzing the person that I am going to vote for with high
qualifications that I need will determine my political activism in the state. Lastly for me, the most
effective political activism that I have experienced is the online petition signing’ (i4)

‘…. Especially as a registered voter, as of now I am still familiarizing with the politicians
that I am going to vote for in the 2022 election. I think this part of political participation will
help me to show my activeness in political aspect especially that I exercise my right to vote as a
citizen of the state’. (i5)

‘Well, as 19 years old and as an officially and legally registered voter, for me voting in
the incoming 2022 election will be my first sign to show my political activism. I am very excited
to vote for my chosen politician. I am planning to avoid voting for the trapos as well.’ (i6)
 Taking into account that the participants, especially the presently registered voters, are

excited to use their right to vote in the upcoming 2022 election. They also proudly considered

this as their best way to show political activism during the election day. The use of voting for the

participants is considered by them as the highlight for their political activism because through

this, they can freely use their political rights on the upcoming 2022 national and local elections.

The student’s engagement to Political Partisanship

Familiarizing politicians or political parties

According to Tucker (1997) young people especially the college students always

familiarize politicians or political leaders before supporting them, it's because they are interested

in what makes these people put into power, and their primary basis for this are the records of

these political figures. In engaging to the idea of political partisanship, the participants asserted

the importance of familiarizing politicians or candidates before supporting. According to them,

through the use of social media and internet sites, they were able to critically analyze and even

study their chosen politicians or candidates. Bentley & Oakley (1999) also stated that young

people’s interest in politics also leads to their interest in politicians for they wanted to know more

on how certain politicians behave in politics and in their time of leadership. In their study, (White

et. al., n.d) stressed out that young people’s strong knowledge and familiarity with their chosen

politician have helped them to become wise political supporters This concept is presented by

informants’ numbers 1, 4, 8, 6, and 12.

 46
‘I have my own style of familiarizing political figures; typically, social media has always
been my way of getting familiar with them. I follow their accounts on twitter, Facebook, and I
also watched their interviews on YouTube and news. Yes, I think it’s my own research.’ (i1)

‘My basis in familiarizing politicians and political parties is background checking. I do

check their track records, platforms especially their plans for the country that is suitable for me
as citizen of this state’. (i4)

‘Well, I’m going to admit it, my basis of supporting politicians is; first his advertisements
on tv’s, his campaign propagandas, his accomplishments, his advocacy, his records, his attitudes,
and lastly his political party. Because it's very important that you must determine how clean his
political party is in order for him not to become a puppet he won. Especially if he’s surrounded
by oligarchs. (i8)

Nonetheless, other participants also claimed that exposure to their organization whether

inside or outside the academy have helped them to boost their familiarization of politicians. This

is because through the facilitated programs of their organization in events like webinars, talks,

and seminars that gives them opportunity to have conversations with the guest on the

question-and-answer segment of the event. According to (Kiesa et al., 2018), being a member of

different organizations especially in the aspect of academe, is an opportunity for political buildup

of the students. Because the organization may also implement seminars and talks that give the

students opportunities in having direct conversation with the politicians. Through the

question-and-answer portion of the event, the students will be able to speak and interact with

elected officials or politicians that would pay more attention to the young people, (Edwin, 2012).
 ‘Well, for me I think that being a member of different organizations outside and inside
Letran have helped me to become very familiar with politicians. Because we attend various
webinars and talks especially when the guests are the politicians and we ask questions regarding
social issues.’ (i6)

“For me, as a member of an outside organization, it really helps me to know more about
the politicians that I am about to support because we organized meetings with them. Besides, my
father as a politician also influenced me to get engaged in knowing political figures.’ (i12)

Taking into account that, in supporting politicians the participants started to critically

familiarize themselves with the candidates or the politician in order for them to engage into the

idea of being a partisan. Moreover, the students also expressed the importance of organizations

whether inside or outside the academy in which the events it facilitated have helped them to

personally familiarize and interact with the politicians. Through being a member of an

organization that facilitates different seminars regarding politics and social issues, they were able

to interact with the guest and speakers which mostly are experts and public servants.

Basis of supporting politicians

In this study, the participants stressed out their basis when it comes to supporting a

politician as their very act on being a partisan on politics as determined by this research.

According to Williner (1984), through being enlightened with the social issues concerning the

poor function and the bad record of the politician, especially the abuse of powers, young people

tend to correct the mistakes of the adults on the way that now demand a candidate with good

records and high degree of education. The participants in this concept have laid out their
 48
qualifications as their basis of supporting a politician. This idea is presented by informants’

numbers 8, 15, 1, 11, and 12.

‘Well, as a legal management student, my basis in supporting a politician is, if we have

the same beliefs especially concerning the legality of their response. I personally get in touch
with those politicians having the same beliefs that I have.’ (i8)

‘For me it’s easy, if a particular politician possesses the qualification that I am looking
for, especially our similar views on a particular issue, then I will support him. (i15)

For others, they demand a higher level of qualification when it comes to the basis of

supporting a politician like the platforms, track record, the profile, the attitudes, and their

ideology. It is natural according to Conger and Kanungo (1987) because young people today

demand clean leaders that attain the following characteristics; with better charisma, same vision

with them, veracity and worth trusting for. By studying these qualifications with the help of

social media, students were able to get in touch with the politicians by checking their records and

backgrounds, their timelines, and their educational attainments (Allen, 2018)). Montiel (n.d),

also stated that in Philippine politics, especially during elections, candidates always prefer to use

personalistic culture through being devoted on their platforms; this is how they attract the voters,

especially the young people back then. She also stated that young people do not get used to this

style anymore, instead in the present time, they prefer a politician that is devoted to a platform

not just during the campaign, but all throughout his/her political lifetime especially its

advocacies before entering politics.

 ‘For me, I really adore those politicians that have strong desire in fulfilling their
Platforms. I want a politician whose very grounded on his or her platforms’. (i1)

‘Me, I always look at how they stand on their ideology, especially his promises during the
election campaign. Of course, I do my own checking of his background, especially the
controversial issues that he was tagged in.’ (i11)

‘I prefer monitoring the politician that I am going to support. I always start it from
during their entry to politics based on their timeline and experience in office. I also feel pity
when they admit their downsides and shortcomings, those are my basis in supporting them.’
(i12)

In this study, based on the participants, they stressed out that they supported a politician

through laying out their basis. However, they also admitted that they avoided supporting political

parties to prevent being criticized by others. The laying out of qualifications as the basis of

supporting politicians has led the students to become a strong partisan person. This is because of

their demand for high qualifications and their own research in choosing politicians which, for

them, are factually suitable for the office.

Students’ Behavior on Being a Partisan

Show of support to politician

The participants in this study illustrated how they show their support towards their

chosen politician on the way of being a partisan. As to the participants, there are many ways for

them to show support towards their chosen leaders or candidates. These ways include, the use of

social media in promoting them, campaigning for them and lastly promoting politicians through
 50
political discussions. According to Newton (2006), young people's support towards a politician is

a considerable part of predicting his victory, because the expertise of these young generations

with regards to social media will popularize the politician and gain the attention of the voters

through social media promotions. Stier et al., (2019) also added that the students' support

towards politicians is strong and devoted. Politicians therefore, won’t have to spend money and

campaign machinery for these young people. This is beneficial to politicians, said Deblase

(2007), because although college students do not have enough resources in campaigning

financially, hence what is most important is that their voices as youth be heard by the public in

terms of promoting politicians. This concept is presented by informants’ numbers 10, 1, 23, and

24.

‘For me, as a millennial, the best way to show support to my chosen politician is the use
of social media. I always do my share of posts relating to my chosen politician, especially its
projects and laws that he passed. Sometimes, I do political debates there as long as I can
promote my chosen politician, yeah I do trash talks too.’ (i10)

‘Well, I express my support to a politician through discussing him or her to my

classmates, families, and friends. I always lay them the accomplishments and the good record of
my supported politician’. (i1)

‘…If I have a chance to talk to someone and share my views about supporting a candidate, I may
do it so they will understand.’ Yes, I also share my support on him on social media like sharing
and posting good information about him’. (i23)

‘I usually share my stands and beliefs with other people in giving credits to a politician
or political parties, primarily through my Social Media accounts.’ (i24)
 The participants also admitted that they do not support political parties although they

supported politicians who were members of that party. This is because they wanted to avoid

being criticized by other political party supporters. Accordingly, today’s youths are less likely to

support political parties and are not willing to be tied to party loyalty even if they are a diehard

supporter of a certain politician. This is due to the reason that they will be tagged to certain

issues that were tagged with the party (Dalto, 2009). Students on this site are aware of the

toxicity on social media when it comes to being criticized as a supporter of a political party. That

is why they avoided supporting political parties and focused only on their supported politicians

when it comes to being a partisan.

Experience in dealing with the opposite political supporters

In this study, the participants stressed their negative experiences when it comes to

engaging political partisanship through dealing with other political supporters. As to the

participants, they have experienced insults, threats, harsh words, and even get bullied by other

adherently blinded political supporters. Thus, according to Mill (2020), this is ordinary in this

present world of social media because although citizens use democratic values in engaging to

this matter, still the arrival of social media have deteriorated the essence of professional debates

and political discussion because paid trolls are rampant in social media today. Mutz and Young

(2011), also stated that the rise of social media also brings change of negativity to the aspect of

political discussion where it causes risks in terms of the authenticity of the people who take part

in political discussion and debates there because of the rampant trolls, that is why students must

be wise in using this platform for political discussion. This idea is presented by informant’s

numbers 1, 10, 27 and 24.

 52

‘My experience in engaging social media is very bad, people in there are so close minded

in terms of political discussion regarding their supporter political party and mine. We do not

agree on things, it’s very toxic when using social media in political debate because they use

every single harsh word to demean you and even poses threats’ (i1)

‘I experience threats, bad words, personalan. Especially when I tried to discuss my

support for certain politicians, they immediately tagged me as dilawan. There, I conclude, that
engaging political debate in social media was a bad idea’. (i10)

‘When I am debating or having a political discussion with other political party

supporters: I have experienced being trolled by other supporters; I also have an experience of
threat; and finally, I have experience coercion by several people that are collaborating to switch
my allegiance’. (i24)

For the other, engaging political debates in social media wasn't a good idea, you cannot

easily win an argument because most of the people there are already diehard partisan and

blindingly adherent in showing their support towards their politician. However, in explaining

this, according to Suciu (2020), paid trolls don't only serve as political warriors of politicians.

Hence, through their spreading of misinformation and fake news they also can manipulate the

political beliefs of a supporter that would turn into a blindingly adherent type of political

supporter that doesn't compromise with other political supporters.

‘…I didn’t try to persuade her na magbago ang stand niya, but I did my best to give her the

evidence. It’s up to her to decide. It’s up to her. But then again, the usual, it didn’t go well

because she’s really blinded na.’ (i27)

As to the results, the negative experiences of the participants when dealing with the other

political supporters are mainly caused by paid trolls that don't only serve as political warriors but

can even manipulate a person’s political beliefs to become a blindingly adherent type of political

supporter.

The use of Educational Attainment in dealing partisanship

In this study, the participants have stressed out the importance of their educational

attainments as college students when it comes to dealing to the idea of partisanship. The

participants have claimed that they took that great opportunity to use their educational attainment

in relation to their chosen course when engaging with the idea of being partisans in politics.

Their knowledge based on their chosen course, have helped them to educate the opposite

political supporters. In further explaining this, according to Mayer (2011), education’s influence

on the knowledge of students have helped them to develop their cognitive skills and their

analyses of political information. Kien (2011) also added that, whatever course or program that a

college student chose as long as it relates to the studies of laws, society, and politics, this will

strongly cultivate the political interest of the student, and will develop the acquisition of the

students’ knowledge in politics especially if it’s in co-relate with social issues that is connected

to their quality of education. This will foster the political attitudes of the students in using

political rights that will lead to educating those ignorant in political issues. In addition, students
 54
with educational attainment were more likely to take revenge on the abusive governments

through voting and canvassing uneducated voters to avoid voting them again (Kien, 2011). This

idea is presented by informants’ numbers 27, 18, 23, 28 and 26.

‘Of all the lessons I’ve learned, studying political science, one that I always remember is
to use the mindset of being a rational student. When engaging into a discourse especially in
political debates, intellectual debate and not merely a debate. As a political science student, it’s
crucial that we need to be rational in dealing with opposite political supporters. Because if you
don’t, it will only make the situation worse. It’s also a good idea that even though we know more
about politics, still we should be open to hear their opinions and views. Be open and be rational,
but educate them for as long as you can.’ (i27)

‘As a third-year legal management student, I’ll use it as a credible source. I will deal with
them by imposing laws with its legality during our discussion especially if the politician is
tagged on illegal issues. Also, I would explain my opinions detail by detail with enough
supporting statements to avoid confusion on the part of the opposing party.’ (i18)

‘As a communication student, I should know that debate is not only about being good at
speaking but being great at standing your ground. I will not impulsively enter a debate on
today’s politics without doing further research, especially on the latest news for I want to
strengthen my stance with facts. (i23)

‘As a student studying the course of Journalism, I would use critical thinking and a
non-invasive nor loud manner of encouraging people to vote for the politician I want. 'I then
would use facts as my anchor of my decisions and simply share that information.’ (i28)

According to Drummond (2015), political affairs inside the school’s premises such as

classroom election and student council is a big build-up of developing the student’s political
partisan values. Students who take part in student councils can benefit when it comes to personal

and professional advantages, they will be exposed to various opportunities, especially a glimpse

of politics through school political parties. As to the participant, educational attainment or the

chosen courses doesn’t only contribute to him developing knowledge to engage political

partisanship hence, his experience in terms of his exposure to politics through political affairs in

the school have developed his idea on how to behave on the idea of political partisanship.

‘I have been involved in a political party and student elections. And what I’ve learned is
that when your political party makes a stand on something, it doesn’t mean that you need to
agree on it. Favoring one side should not be a consensus but should be one’s choice. To assess
yourself in terms of politics is knowing that you care and you have free will. Making a stand is
very important. No one should be neutral. But our political views should not be misleading and
impassive, but are rather relevant, affirmative and not biased.’ (i26)

Taking into account that the participants used their educational background in dealing

with political partisanship, this becomes an important part for them to be strong and reasonable

partisans when engaging in political debates and discussion that could give a chance to educate

other political party supporters through the use of their chosen program in college. The quality of

education that they have learned from their chosen courses and their current educational

attainment equipped them to become reasonable and knowledgeable, able to face the

partisanship in politics. Through this, the student will be sufficient and educated enough to

engage and wisely behave on the idea of being a partisan because of the knowledge, the

experience, and the quality of education that they obtained from their chosen course in college.
 56
Chapter 5

Conclusion and Recommendation

Conclusion

Students' main source of political awareness is rooted from their awareness in social

issues concerning the government’s efficiency. Their main platform of absorbing social issues

mostly came from social media and discussion with their friends, classmates, and families about

the social issues both in their local place and in the national. After this, students started to engage

in political activism, in expressing their views and opinion towards social issues that they are

familiar with. However, they show political activism in three ways: through voting, using social

media for political purposes, and through their chosen courses. Moreover, their political activism

has also led them to become a supporter of a particular politician in which the students firstly

familiarized their chosen politician and then showed them some support using social media and

political discussions. Furthermore, on their behavior of political partisanship, the results conclude

that the students have experienced a vivid negativity from their opposite supporters through being

blindingly adherent during engaging in political debates and discussions using social media.

Lastly, the results conclude that educational attainments for college students are essential in

engaging to the idea of political partisanship.

When it comes to the participants of this study, the researcher concludes that the courses

under the department College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are very relevant in political studies

especially the courses like Political Science, Legal Management, Broadcasting, Communication,
and Journalism. These courses are very applicable in studying politics and society. Because based

on the observation during the interview, students under this department are well informed about

political and social issues and able to give developed reasons during their answers to the

interview. The researcher also concludes that students under this department have an experience

on political matters especially in leadership skills based on their exposure to political affairs

under their department. Furthermore, the researcher also concludes that the participant’s avoided

supporting political parties because they find this so distrustful and will only tag them to an issue

that the political party is involved in.

When it comes to the use of social media, the researcher concludes that this is the most

important source for political information both for the students in this present time. However,

based on the result of the study, the researcher also concludes that negativity of using social

media especially in political discussion is rampant in social media due to the issue of its

authenticity that the students are concerned when using this platform. Political partisanship is an

effective way in showing democracy towards the state especially if it was established by the

college students. Because based on this study, college students' use of political partisanship

doesn’t only come from their simple beliefs towards the politician, or based on what they see on

them during election campaigns. Hence, it was being determined to process by their own research

like, checking the background of the politicians, basing from factual information, and was

established through their critical analysis of their learnings from the academe.

As a political science student equipped with critical analysis, based on the result of this

study, the researcher concludes that political partisanship can contribute a lot when it comes
 58
expansion of social and political education of the students, social mobility, and the growing

reliance of the students when it comes to absorbing information from social media as their

preferred primary source for political and social information. Lastly, as a political science student

that has studied the “public sphere” concept of Jürgen Habermas regarding the importance of

political opinions of the people of the state, the researcher concludes that the idea of today’s

political partisanship emerged from the liberal and philosophical thoughts of the young people.

They may not be thinkers like Hobbes, Locke, and Kant but as young generations in the world of

enlightenment and as students’ practitioners of their courses, the political opinions and views of

these students on the idea of partisanship were notably egalitarian, rational and are important in

shaping the public sphere.

Recommendations

The researcher primarily recommends that when engaging to the idea of political

partisanship, students should do the fact checking, background checking, and the track records of

the politicians or the issue that they are going to discuss with other political supporters because

this will help their partisan behavior to become wise and sufficient in engaging to the idea of

political partisanship. In addition, with the help of factual basis they can successfully win an

argument or can manage to educate opposite and blindingly adherent political believers or

supporters.

As to the result of the study, educational attainment and a glimpse of political affairs and

experiences in college are a considerable part in sharpening the student’s political attitude. The
researcher however strongly recommends all college students especially those courses under the

field of College of Liberal Arts and Science to not mess with the opportunities offered in this

particular department. Because this will help them to become a citizen or a college student that is

ready for a relevant role in the political and social world.

The researcher also recommends that the students must be prudent in selecting politicians

to support. They should be vigilant in familiarizing these politicians because this is not only the

matter of winning an argument on being a partisan, instead their chosen politicians will also

reflect on their behavior and it will only affect their political stands and beliefs as supporters of

the politicians. Lastly, the researcher also recommends that if a student plans to engage in politics,

the student should start to expose himself to political affairs in his/her school like listening and

attending political and legal webinars, talks, seminars, and even participate in student council

affairs. Students must enjoy these advantages using their college life. In order for them to become

a wise partisan in engaging to the idea of political partisanship and having experience on political

matters.
 60
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 Appendix I

Letter for the Participants

Dear Ma’am/Sir

Good day,

Allow me to introduce myself. I am Rosalito P. Lepiten a fourth-year college student at Colegio

de San Juan de Letran pursuing the degree of Bachelor of Arts Major in Political Science. I am
currently working on my thesis entitled: Partisanship as Perceived by the College Students of
Colegio de San Juan de Letran When it comes to their Political Beliefs and Stands.

I am writing to humbly request for your participation based on your experiences in political
engagement as a college student as my participant in this study. I have prepared a questionnaire
that would ask you to respond to a series of questions and statements regarding political
engagement. The questions that will be asked to you will dwell more on your experience in
political engagement and your awareness in politics as college students. Your participation in this
study shall be very helpful in exploring the behavior of college students of Letran when it comes
to engaging in the idea of partisanship in Politics.

Lastly, I also want to stress out that your participation in this study is voluntary and rest assured
that your identity and personal and confidential information are protected.
If you have any question about the study or if you want to know more, please feel free to contact
me by email Rosalito.lepiten@letran.edu.ph or by cell phone 09057021448 for TM and
09682984422 for Smart.

Sincerely,
Rosalito P. Lepiten

Inst. John Michael Ramirez

Thesis adviser
 68
Appendix II

Interview Guide

Demographic Profile

Name:
Age:
Gender:
Current Grade:
Program/Course:

I. Questions regarding the student’s engagement to Partisanship

7. Can you tell me how familiar you are with today's politics?

8. As a college student how do you show your political engagement?

9. Can you describe today’s politicians? What can you say about the political parties we
have in the country?

10. How will you engage yourself in familiarizing todays’ political parties or politicians?

11. What factors will lead you to supporting a political party or a politician?

II. Questions regarding the student’s present situation in the idea of

Partisanship
12. Are you a supporter of a political party or politician? If yes, 7. How well do you know
them? (Continue with 8A). If the answer is no, continue with 8B

8A. How will you share your stands and beliefs to others when it comes to supporting such
political parties or politicians?
9A. How do you show your support to a particular political party?
10A. What are your experiences in terms of having debates and political discussion with the
other political party supporters?
11A. How do you deal with other political party supporters?
12A. How will you convince your friends, your classmates and relatives to support your political
party or politicians?
13A. How will you use the lessons you have learned as a college student, to the political
discussion with the other political party supporters or during the debate?

8B. How will you analyze the stands and beliefs of others being shared to you towards the
political party or politician they are supporting?
9B. How will you show your cause when you have decided to support a political party or
politician?
10B. Have you experienced listening to debates and political discussion? What is your take on
their views and opinions?
11B. How would you deal with a people expressing their views about their supported political
party or politician?
12B. How will the others convince you to show the same support to their political party or
politician?
13B. How will you use the lessons you have learned as a college student, to the political
discussion with the other political party supporters or during the debate?

Selection of the Participants

Through phenomenological research design, the researcher selected the participants who

had an experience in engaging political partisanship. The researcher first observed the certain

phenomena of political partisanship in college students of Letran under the CLAS department.

The primary basis of selecting the participants is their active participation when posting

socio-political contents that strongly portray political partisanship through the use of social

media and political discussions. The researcher first observed the possible participants that are

active in sharing and posting criticism or support towards politicians or political parties.

Furthermore, some of the participants were also referred to by the fellow participants. This was

very helpful for the researcher to achieve the targeted 30 number of participants of the study. The

researcher first asked if the referred participants are active in political partisanship through
 70
posting socio-political contents whether in support or criticisms against the politicians or

political parties.

The researcher’s criteria in selecting the 30 participants is based on their active

engagement in political partisanship. The primary basis to this, is the observation of the

researcher on the students behavior on being a politically partisan when it comes to sharing and

posting political contents whether it is in support or against to the politicians or political parties.

Majority of the interviewed participants are the students taking up courses Political Science and

Legal Management. The researcher has interviewed a total of 20 participants which 10 from each

of these two courses. This was very beneficial for the study because the two courses are very

exposed when it comes to political and legal studies that contributed a lot in determining the

factors that lead the students to engage on the idea of political partisanship. Lastly, the 10

participants were randomly selected from the other courses under the CLAS department.
 Appendix III

Thematic coding

In making out the themes, the researcher analyzed the results through thematic coding.

The researcher used a google spreadsheet table in analyzing the data. The spreadsheet was

divided into 8 columns composed of the following; the General Objectives, Specific research

objectives, Variables, interview Questions, Responses, Analytic codes, Categories, and Themes.

In the first column, the researcher laid out the General objectives of the study that will primarily

determine the main focus of the study regarding the students' engagement to political

partisanship. In the second column, the researcher has determined the specific objectives of the

study, this pertains to the outcomes of the general objectives, specifically on what are the factors

that lead the participants to engage in partisan politics and how they behave in political

partisanship. The third column was the variable of the study. This was the subject that needs to be

discussed and needs to be connected to the participants' responses during the interview. The

variable in this study pertains to the phenomenal behavior of the students in political partisanship,

that the researcher wanted to measure in the study.

The fifth to ninth part of the table columns were all about the interviews and the responses

of the participants. In the fifth column, the researcher put out the questions asked during the

interview with the participants. The interview questions were also organized based on what

specific objectives and variables it belongs to in order to specify the answers of the participants.

The sixth column is the responses of the participants which have been taken notes by the

researcher during the interview. In order to shortly determine the responses of the participants, in
 72
the seventh column, the researcher used analytic codes to shorten the responses. This helps the

researcher to arrange the responses in an analytic way of coding based on the participants'

responses. The analytic codes were categorized by the researcher in order to determine the

majority answers of the participants that will establish the theme of the results. Then lastly, the

researcher came up with the theme in which the main concept was established by the responses of

the participants through coding and categorizing the results of the conducted interview.
 Appendix IV

Instrument Validation