Shane Tamil

ASSESSMENT OF THE SKIN A complete health assessment goes from head to toe. However, the procedure may vary according to the individual's age, the severity of the illness, the preferences of the nurse, and the priorities and procedures of the service provider. The objectives of the physical health examination are to obtain baseline data on the client's functional abilities, complete, confirm, or refute the data obtained in the nursing history, obtain data that will help the nurse to establish nursing diagnoses, and to plan the client's care, evaluating the physiological results in health care and, consequently, the process of the client's health problem. One of the parts of the body that is assessed during health assessment is the skin. The skin is the largest organ in the body. The skin and its derivatives (hair, nails, and sebaceous and sweat glands) make up the integumentary system. Among the main functions of the skin is protection. This protects the body from external factors such as bacteria, chemicals, and temperature. The skin, a constantly changing dynamic organ, comprises three main layers: epidermis, dermis, and sub-cutis or subcutaneous tissue, each of which is made up of several sub-layers. The appendages of the skin, such as follicles and sebaceous and sweat glands, also play various roles in its overall function. The epidermis is the upper layer of the skin, located just above the dermis. The cells that compose it are created in the deepest part of the epidermis and are filled with keratin until they reach the outside. Its thickness varies depending on the location. Thus, the palms of the hands and feet have thicker layers to protect them more. The dermis is the inner layer of the two main layers of the skin. The dermis has connective tissue, blood vessels, oil and sweat glands, nerves, hair follicles, and other structures. The skin assessment indicates the general physical state of the patient, based on careful inspection and palpation of the skin, as well as documentation of their findings. This includes an assessment of the color, humidity, texture, temperature, mobility, and stiffness of the skin and possible injuries. The skin is inspected for overall color and pigmentation, vascularity, or chafing, and discoloration. The most common areas to assess color are those with less pigmentation, such as the sclera, conjunctiva, nail beds, lips, and oral mucosa. Other factors can alter skin color, such as activity, emotions, cigarette smoke, edema, and respiratory, kidney, cardiovascular, and liver disorders. The color, size, distribution, location, and configuration should be recorded when finding skin lesions. The temperature is best palpated with the back of the hands. We must take into account that the skin's temperature increases when blood flow increases in the dermis. Also, through palpation, turgor and elasticity are assessed. Skin allergy tests are used to identify the product responsible for diseases of allergic origin; these are the ones that trigger allergy crises when they come into contact with the body. The assessment of skin and its general status through accurate analysis increases our knowledge about our skin. We can determine the path best suited for the individual through this assessment and, therefore, get the best results. ASSESSMENT OF THE HAIR A complete health assessment goes from head to toe. However, the procedure may vary according to the individual's age, the severity of the illness, the preferences of the nurse, and the priorities and procedures of the service provider. The objectives of the physical health examination are to obtain baseline data on the client's functional abilities, complete, confirm, or refute the data obtained in the nursing history, obtain data that will help the nurse to establish nursing diagnoses, and to plan the client's care, evaluating the physiological results in health care and, consequently, the process of the client's health problem. Hair is one of the structures in our body that is assessed during the health assessment. The hair is a filamentary structure implanted in a cavity of the epidermis called the hair follicle. Each of the hairs consists of a root located in a hair follicle and a stem that projects upward above the surface of the epidermis. The root is enlarged at its base. Each human hair has the structural shape of a plant, with root and stem. The stem is the visible part and the invisible part, below the skin, is the root, which comprises a follicle inserted in a bulb. This bulb is the means of nutrition of the follicle. The hair follicle is the generator of stem cells that make hair grow, and it is one of the most dynamic and active parts of the body. This follicle is also fed with sebum produced by the sebaceous glands, located on its sides, which gives the hair elasticity and flexibility. Hair assessment consists of observing the scalp's surface and identifying signs related to diseases that can affect the scalp and hair. The normal hair is neither too dry nor too oily. The amount of sebum is, in fact, in balance and thus naturally protects the hair. The normal hair is quite soft to the touch and easily unravels. Overall, it's easy to style, shiny, and not very electric. Hair is considered one of the essential attachments of the skin since it covers it almost entirely. It has multiple functions, among which are protection against external elements, dispersion of products from the sebaceous glands, sensitive functions, as well as those of psychosocial importance. Although in humans, the thermoregulation function has been lost in the case of the scalp, it does have a protective function, insulation from heat and cooling, and protecting the scalp's skin from the effects of ultraviolet light. ASSESSMENT OF THE NAILS A complete health assessment goes from head to toe. However, the procedure may vary according to the individual's age, the severity of the illness, the preferences of the nurse, and the priorities and procedures of the service provider. The objectives of the physical health examination are to obtain baseline data on the client's functional abilities, complete, confirm, or refute the data obtained in the nursing history, obtain data that will help the nurse to establish nursing diagnoses, and to plan the client's care, to evaluate the physiological results in health care and, consequently, the process of the client's health problem. Our nails are one of the structures in our body that are assessed during the health assessment. The nail is a convex skin structure located on the dorsal face of the final part of the phalanges of the feet and hands. The skin surface that covers the nails is called the nail bed. On the sides and at the nail's root is a skin fold known as the nail rim. The edge found at birth is called the root or matrix of the nail, and the narrow strip of the skin fold that ends at the base of the nail is called the eponychium, although most people know it as a cuticle. The part opposite the root, where the nail body ends, is the part that we usually cut or file. In case of not cutting them, the nails can reach a considerable length and will be annoying. The growth rate of nails varies from person to person. The average growth is 0.1mm / day; that is, it takes 6 to 8 months for our fingernails to grow back completely, four times faster than our toenails grow. All this depends on factors such as age, the season of the year, the amount of calcium, and hereditary factors. As we all know, nails are semi-transparent, the pink color is due to the tissue underneath, which is made up of blood vessels. The closer we get to the root, the color becomes whitish and is shaped like a halfmoon, known as a lunula. In terms of their composition, nails are formed mainly by hardened dead cells that contain keratin, a fibrous protein that our body produces naturally. Looking at our nails from time to time is more important than we think since their appearance is a true indicator of health, and their examination has been used as a diagnostic tool for various diseases. Like skin, fingernails say a lot about your health. Beau's lines are depressions across the nail. They can occur after disease, nail injury, eczema around the nail, cancer chemotherapy, and not getting enough nutrition. Onychomycosis, also called nail fungus or ringworm of the nails, is an infection of the toenails. It is not a bothersome disease, but it can become chronic if it is not treated in time. Paronychia is an infection of the skin around a fingernail or toenail. The affected area may become swollen, red, and painful, and a pus-filled blister may form on it. Brittle or brittle nails are often the normal result of aging. They can also be due to certain diseases and conditions. Dotted lesions of the nail correspond to the presence of small depressions on the surface of the nail. Sometimes the nail is also crumbling. The nail can loosen and sometimes come off. These lesions are associated with psoriasis and alopecia areata. Ridges are small, raised lines that develop along or above and below the nail. One way to assess the nails is by using the capillary blanch test. Pressure is applied to the nail bed on which it turns white, indicating that the blood has been forced out of the tissue under the nail, which is called blanching. Once that the tissue has grown pale, the pressure is removed. The nails of the hands and feet protect the tissues of the fingers, for it is so important to stay strong and healthy. In addition to nourishing the nails from the inside through a healthy diet, it is vital that we also take care of them from the outside, not mistreat them, and hydrate them frequently. It is impossible to hide our hands and, in addition, we know that they say a lot about our personality. We almost always pay attention to its state to get a particular impression on people if we think about it. That is why it is so important to take care of our nails, something that goes beyond aesthetics. ASSESSMENT OF THE HEAD, FACE, AND SKULL A complete health assessment goes from head to toe, however, the procedure may vary according to the individual's age, the severity of the illness, the preferences of the nurse, and the priorities and procedures of the service provider. The objectives of the physical health examination are to obtain baseline data on the client's functional abilities, complete, confirm, or refute the data obtained in the nursing history, obtain data that will help the nurse to establish nursing diagnoses, and to plan the client's care, to evaluate the physiological results in health care and, consequently, the process of the client's health problem. The head and skull are some of the structures in our body that are assessed during the health assessment. The head is the upper part of the body of the human being and superior or anterior of many animals. In it are located several of the most essential organs of the senses and the nervous centers. The head contains the brain, mouth, and various sensory organs related to vision, smell, hearing, and taste. The skull, also called a bony head, is the set of bones that make up the skeleton of the head, formed by the bones of the face and the skull. The bones of the skull fulfill the function of surrounding and protecting the brain and the sensory organs of the human being and containing the chewing apparatus. It is made up of 28 bones, of which the jaw is the only mobile bone. As its name implies, the facial skeleton forms the face of the bony structure of the head. The 14 bones of the facial skeleton form the entrance to the respiratory and digestive tracts. The edema palpebral is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the eyelid's inner surface, causing swelling that prevents or hinders the complete opening of the eye itself. Hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid, occurs when the thyroid gland produces more thyroid hormones than our body needs. ASSESSMENT OF THE NECK A complete health assessment goes from head to toe, however, the procedure may vary according to the individual's age, the severity of the illness, the preferences of the nurse, and the priorities and procedures of the service provider. The objectives of the physical health examination are to obtain baseline data on the client's functional abilities, complete, confirm, or refute the data obtained in the nursing history, obtain data that will help the nurse to establish nursing diagnoses, and to plan the client's care, to evaluate the physiological results in health care and, consequently, the process of the client's health problem. The neck is one of the structures in our body that is assessed during the health assessment. The neck is the region of the body between the head and the thorax. It's a point transition between the head, thorax, and upper limbs. It is the way of passage of vascular, visceral, and nervous elements. Its upper limit is a plane that passes through the lower edge of the mandible, the tip of the mastoid process, and occipital line, and its lower limit is another plane that passes through the superior border of the sternum, clavicle, and seventh cervical vertebra. It is divided into two regions which are suprahyoid and infrahyoid. The neck contains the esophagus, trachea, and larynx, as well as glands. The spinal cord is the only bone structure that passes through the neck, so the area is quite vulnerable. The evaluation of lymph is a diagnostic technique that uses trackable agents to identify the spread of cancer cells to the lymph nodes that drain the affected tissue. Once the sentinel nodes are identified, they are removed and submitted for histological review. Examinations or tests of the thyroid are used to check whether the thyroid is functioning normally. They are also used to diagnose and help find the cause of thyroid diseases, including hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. REACTION PAPER about Psychological Theories in Nursing After conducting a thorough reading, I learned that Erikson's psychosocial development theory is made up of eight distinct stages, each with two possible outcomes. In his view, each stage's successful completion leads to a healthy personality and successful interactions with others. Failure to complete one stage can lead to a reduced ability to meet the other stages, and thus a less healthy personality and less sense of personal identity. Despite that, Erikson stated that this can still be successfully resolved in the future. Erikson's psychosocial theory is focused on the social development of children. That led me to conclude that that is how they cope with others and how this result affects their personality. This evaluation is divided into eight cycles or stages of development, from prenatal to adulthood. Erikson emphasized the understanding of the 'I' as an intense force, as an organizing capacity of the person, capable of reconciling the syntactic and dystonic forces and solving the crises derived from each person's genetic, cultural, and historical context. I believe that Erikson's psychosocial development theory is essential in nursing because it describes the relationship between the client's emotional needs and the social environment. Its focus is the successful resolution of developmental conflicts through 8 stages of development. As nurses, we can then understand different types of clients in the various stages of life. Piaget's theory is the most complex and developed on the cognitive process from what I have read. Basically, it tells us that children go through several stages to develop their intelligence and their ability to relate to their environment. Piaget realized that children at that age do not absorb information passively but rather learn it from what they see, touch, hear, and observe from other people and came to the conclusion that all human beings go through these phases to develop their cognitive process. Piaget conceives the stages of the evolutionary stages as stable sensations that are transformed into new synchronicities after a short period of time. It determines that intelligence is not receptive since it consists of integrating objects or things into mental schemes. I am very well aware that child-centered care has been a topic of discussion in nursing since then and has brought with it the importance of addressing the pediatric population's needs. In the age of the Internet and communication technologies, it is essential to recognize that young people under the age of 18 are individuals capable of searching, evaluating, and using health information. In this sense, as nurses who advocate health, Piaget's theory can help us develop relationships between cognition, education, and self-care, which, when adequately developed in childhood, allows children and adolescents to become active agents of their health. I learned from reading Kohlberg's theory that Moral development is a process of interest and importance both in psychology and educational theories. For Kohlberg, there are three levels and six stages through which one must reach full moral development. He created this moral dilemma to test people's reasoning process to solve moral dilemmas and reveal their thinking on ethical issues. During the pre-conventional, the child's sense of morality is controlled externally, and authority figures, such as parents or teachers, come to the rules. Children judge their actions based on their consequences. At the conventional level, a man's sense of morality is connected to personal and social relationships. Children still accept their authority figures' rules but now believe that it is necessary to guarantee positive relationships and social order. At the post-conventional level, the sense of morality is defined in terms of more abstract principles and values. The individual now believes that some laws are unfair and can be changed or eliminated. Throughout understanding Kohlberg's theory, I concluded that morality is defined as recognizing the distinction between good from evil or between what is good or not, respect and obedience to the appropriate rules of conduct, the mental disposition or behavior that produces good results. This theory is also essential in nursing because, as nurses, there will be situations that involve making moral decisions, and we will tend to make a decision based on the fulfillment of social expectations following the duties and laws accepted in the social system. All in all, theories of human development such as psychosexual, psychosocial, cognitive, & moral development are various psychological approaches that try to explain man's development according to his behavior and personality characteristics. They are also called developmental psychological theories. No development theory is broad enough to explain all the aspects involved in the human being's constitution. Some give more importance to the individual's internal factors, and others consider that the environment and society are determining factors in the development of the human being. As I mentioned earlier, all theories are vital in nursing because they guide professional practice since they offer a perspective, point of view, or a way of thinking about dealing with various clients. The psychological development theories allow us to understand and pay attention to how someone grows and develops throughout childhood to adulthood in different areas, such as social, emotional, and cognitive. For you, what is service? Our hands do so much for us. They can perform various functions like touching, grasping, feeling, holding, manipulating, and many more extremely delicate and precise activities. Most importantly, our hands enable us to help and provide service to others. Service is the condition of giving or providing support or assistance to someone through tangible or intangible means. Likewise, service is also known as the favor done to someone without expecting something in return. Practicing service habits is an intuitive task. It has a lot to do with who we are, what we were taught, and what was really valuable in our family and environment. Those habits are based on the valuation we give to people, on our levels of tolerance, solidarity, support, empathy, and of course, the innate desire to cause happiness and help other people around us. Helping people, providing support, cooperating with organizations, etc., are good acts that improve the overall quality of life. Beyond being a good action, these steps directly and immediately benefit the person who performs them. A word of encouragement to a person who feels lonely or sad, a prepared meal, a smile, as well as financial support to a person in need can change the perspective of anyone's life; and without looking for it, this action might help the person in need as well as the person who provide service. When someone volunteers with the genuine and sincere aim of helping others out of pleasure and with the pure intention of giving without expecting anything in return, a feeling of satisfaction rises that rapidly nourishes and enriches. Personal capacities are improved, and sensitivity is refined, achieving that finally everyone benefits. To sum it up, I believe that God does not give us our hands just to use them for our personal needs. There is something attached to each of our arms called hands, which we must use to help and benefit other people. Volunteering and service bring memories, personal stories, inspiration, and such, but most of all, it brings happiness and satisfaction that we cannot find in other things. Task: Write an essay with at least 200 words on "Self-Analysis on Excellence". Look into yourselves and recall how you view and practice excellence in your Grade School, High School and your first ten weeks in college in terms of being a student; son/daughter; friend; and citizen/netizen. Share your plans in becoming an exemplar of excellence. If we talk about the definition of excellence in general, we would have to say that excellence is a virtue, a talent that is worked on every day, giving the maximum in terms of quality and going beyond the ordinary norms. This is also a goal for the standard of performance, close to becoming a great person. Nowadays, when we refer to academic excellence, we refer to the high-quality standards that educational institutions apply in academic and international settings. This is also raising the intellectual potential of each student, who can set goals. However, in my case, excellence has other definitions. Growing up, my parents instilled in me the idea that being the best is not what matters but doing your best is. As a student, I try to exert my maximum effort on all my undertakings from grade school until now that I am already in college. I am the type of student who does not settle for less but always goes with maximum excellence. Luckily, these efforts often lead to achievements, but there are also times that my best was not enough, which is fine for me. Nevertheless, as I have taught, I always try to do my best and be extra in everything I do. It is not about pleasing anyone, it is not an obligation, but it is about me to grow, learn, and generate a positive impact in my life or generate added value. This is not just about my role as a student but also as a family, friend, and citizen. I do not need to be a perfect son, a perfect family member, a perfect friend, or a perfect citizen because those do not exist in the first place. I realized that I just need to do my best to be a good son, friend, and citizen. Hopefully, I can be an epitome and an excellent example of excellence. For this to happen, I plan to continue integrating excellence in all of my undertakings. As an excellent human being, I will try to influence others and always seek the good for myself and those around me. Excellence is knowing how to love, being loved, and always seeing other people's qualities, constantly seeking their well-being. Moreover, I will also be excellent by learning how to communicate peace to others, take advantage of opportunity points, and transform difficulties into positive actions, but not to do what they can do for themselves. As an excellent human being, I must know how to protect without suffocating, learn how to guide w ithout imposing, and know how to motivate others to develop. I will establish a strong mental attitude and a thought inclined to solve any problem. In other words, I will build my potentials without wasting time looking for excuses or reasons to show that something cannot be done. The only way for me to turn my potential wealth into reality is through intense and quality work. Every individual who becomes aware of what he feels, thinks, does, wishes, and says, who has become aware of himself and his surroundings, has realized what matters most. With that, I must have a solid self-concept and strong self-esteem. For all of this to happen, I will remember what my parents always told me – "do your best." As the saying goes, no one who has given the best of himself has regretted it.. Utilization of Predatory Pricing in Small-Scale Rice Business Resulting to Sales Jhon Anthony M. Aldave1, Abdul Rahman D. Busara1, Jennifer P. Gernale1, Cassandra Lavern P. Ingreso1, Trisha Mae A. Pambrita1, Mave Rick M. Rance1, Shane Steven Harold G. Tamil1, and Kianna Alzina V. Diocales1 Senior High School Department - ABM Strand, Emilio Aguinaldo College, City of Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines 1 -- Abstract— The business world is a battle of survival, so in order for a business to take a long stay in the market, they apply different strategies in order for them to aggrandize in the market. One of those strategies that was utilized since 1900s is the predatory pricing. This is a type of penetration pricing strategy wherein a firm brings its product at its lowest price with the goal to get rid of the competition. The goal of this study is to find out if applying predatory pricing will increase the sales of a business. Employing a quasi-experimental design, the participants was assigned as the experimental group that consists of thirty (30) small-scale rice business owners operating in the vicinity of Dasmarinas, Cavite. With the use of face validated create-yourown questionnaires that underwent Fleiss KAPPA reliability test( K = 0.45 – moderate agreement), the data that is crucial on the findings of this study was obtained and analyzed thoroughly to find out if utilizing predatory pricing will boost the profit gains of small-scale rice business. Results showed that there is a significant difference between the pre-test scores (Mean=3.35; SD=0.26) and the post-test scores (Mean=3.60;SD=0.22) of the experimental group, t(30)=4.348, p=0.008. Hence, there is a significance gained in the scores of experimental group after the intervention was given. The sales of the participants significantly increased after utilizing the predatory pricing. Thereafter, the findings of this study indicates that utilizing predatory pricing could enhance the sales performance of small-scale rice businesses. Index Terms— Business, Market Competition, Penetration Marketing Strategy, Predatory Pricing, Sales Performance I. INTRODUCTION People immerse themselves in operating a business for several reasons. Gaining satisfaction from the field of interest, benefiting others, and making money are some to mention. Among those three, according to a survey conducted by Cox Business, an American service company, to earn money is the vastest influence of why people start a business. As a result, they employ various business strategies expecting to have higher income in return. The business world is a battle of survival, so for a business to take a long run in the market, different strategies were utilized. Predatory pricing is an example of penetration pricing strategies that were introduced since the 1900s to maximize one’s business profit. According to the statement of Krueger (2014), an American economist, this is evident when a business brings its product at its lowest possible price to attract consumers. It was said by economists and studies before that this is irrational. However, Kenton (2017), an economist and publisher points out that short-term consumer benefits and the difficulty of proving the intent to create a market monopoly complicate the prosecutions for predatory pricing. This study investigated how the sales of small-scale rice businesses were affected after utilizing the predatory pricing strategy. At the end of this study, the researchers inferred significant data that is beneficial to both the business owners and consumers. A. Significance of the Study The findings of this study provide deeper insights on how predatory pricing affects the sales of small-scale rice business. Thus, the results of this study will be of great benefit to the: 1) Business Owners. - The results will provide them research-based information about predatory pricing, and how can this affect the sales of their business. Moreover, they can use this on their future business decisions. 2) Consumers. - This study will provide them knowledge on the benefits or effects of predatory pricing. This could also help them to know the presence of predatory pricing practices in the market. 3) Emilio Aguinaldo College. - This institution will benefit by making this study as one of the references in promoting sustainable responsibility to the students of their respective field. 4) Future Researchers. - This research can be a useful reference for the researchers who would plan to make any related study precisely the effects and benefits underlying the business practices related to competitions. B. Objectives of the Study This part of the research explains the objectives of the researchers in conducting this study. Without these objectives, the researchers will be aimless on doing their research. Furthermore, the absence of objectives will lead to the lack of replicable scientific findings. With that said, the main purpose of this study is to find out the effect of utilizing a predatory pricing strategy on the sales of small-scale rice business. Specifically, there are three particular objectives that the researchers sought to answer at the end of this study. First, the researchers aim to know the mean score of the experimental group before and after the intervention. Subsequently, it aims to find out if there is any significant difference in the experimental group before and after the intervention. Last, to know if there is any significant difference in the post-test of the experimental group after the intervention. Those mentioned above are the objectives of this study that guided the researchers on establishing accurate findings and information. C. Review of Related Studies and Literature 1. Predatory Pricing as Monopolistic Strategy: Predatory pricing was defined by the Federal Trade Commission (2010) as a pricing strategy that occurs when a company drastically reduces its price to make it hard for its competitors to remain in the market. In the article authored by Kenton (2017), an American economist, he stated that doing predatory pricing is illegitimate to the anti-trust law, wherein it reduces the price of products to eradicate the competition in the markets and makes it more vulnerable to monopoly. As a result, the monopoly of existing producers can lead to lower prices and temporary losses that can disrupt the operation of a new company. According to Pettinger (2017), a sociology professor at the University of Warwick, existing monopolies can bring significant profits in financing the price war, while new enterprises are more vulnerable to financing. Some accusations are hard to take legal action because of the arguments that predatory pricing is part of normal competition. The law of competition seeks marketing power that enables a business to increase product price above its competitors. The Federal Trade Commission (2008) stated that pricing the products less than the prices of your competitors is very common and it does not violate antitrust law, unless it is proven that it’s a strategy to bring its competitors out of business. However, Bernabe (2019), the Philippine competition commissioner, stated that to acknowledge this, there are so many variables that need to be considered by the authority. 2. The Roots of Predatory Pricing in the Philippines: Predatory pricing has been traced back in the Philippines since 1980’s. With regards on that statement, various businesses applied this pricing strategy to their business with the attempt to gain higher sales. The Philippine competition chairman, Arsenio Balisacan (2010) firmly stated that bigness or prominence of a business is not prohibited by the law. What is prohibited by the law is having a few, usually 2 to 5 dominant players manipulating the market. Moreover, it is also prohibited when they abuse that dominance by raising prices unnecessarily or preventing their potential competitors from coming into the market by buying them prematurely or killing them by lowering prices below cost, which can not be proven on the concept of predatory pricing. In the Philippines, various cases of predatory pricing has emerged, a sign that predatory pricing is existing in the market. On 2018, the Grab Holdings Incorporated, a transport company, faced a legal lawsuit because of price surge, but immediately dumped by the court because of its irrationality. Reports of predatory pricing was also reported among businesses in utility and gasoline sector. 3. Applying Business Competition Practices for Higher Sales: Business competition is a rivalry between firms to win revenue. As mentioned by Menderez (2014), to gain higher sales, the firms take risk to apply predatory pricing to their business operation. Moreover, Lobell (2019), an associate professor at Stanford University, stated that people start a business with solely the goal to make money, thus they apply different business competition practices with the aim to improve or to increase their sales. Businessmen likely look for ways to enter the market so that their product becomes more well-known. Thus, they use penetration strategies aiming to attract buyers by offering lower prices on goods and services than competitors. In these cases, firms may be willing to sacrifice profit margins in order to focus on competitive pricing. Although it is a good strategy to a business, this can still make a business fail, if it is not able to undergo the recoupment stage. As what Scott (2014), a business enthusiast stated, a good rule of thumb to remember when pricing products is that consumers would not purchase a product if the price is too high, but the business would not be able to cover expenses if they price it too low. II. MATERIALS AND METHODS A. Study Design Research design is often defined as a framework of methods and techniques employed by a researcher to integrate the components of research in a reasonably logical manner. As a result, the research problem will be efficiently handled. With that said, the researchers utilized quantitative type of research where numerical data are subjected to statistical methods. The researchers employed a quasi-experimental design under quantitative research, wherein the pretest and post-test scores of the participants determined the effect of utilizing predatory pricing in the sales of small scale rice businesses. Here intact group was present, and it does not use experimental manipulation. B. Sampling Technique Sampling technique is a method of selecting from a small but represented cross-section of the population where the researchers will collect data that will be analyzed. In determining the sample size used in this study, the researchers applied the rule of thumb which is performed in heuristics. For the researchers to come up with their participants, they used a non-probability sampling technique which is the Snowball Technique. Snowball sampling is a sampling technique where existing participants refer other participants among their acquaintances who are willing to apply or already applying predatory pricing on their small-scale rice business. C. Instrumentation Research instrument refers to the means or tools used to measure data and variables supporting the research data collection process. Following that statement, the researchers used a create-your-own survey questionnaire as the primary tool for collecting the data needed for their study. Fleiss KAPPA Reliability Test was used to determine the reliability of the questionnaire, and content validity was used to determine its validity. The researchers tested the reliability of the questionnaires to ensure that they will acquire reliable and accurate findings. The researchers used a Likert scale survey type of questionnaire to measure the extent to which the participants agree or disagree with a particular question or statement. These survey questionnaires attempt to collect information useful for testing the hypothesis and decision making of the researchers. D. Data Analysis Data analysis procedure explains how the researchers examined and interpreted the data they have gathered from the participants. The results of the surveys were tallied and analyzed to obtain raw data and convert it into information useful for decision-making of the researchers. The statistical method that was used on a parameter of thirty (30) participants is multiple regression to determine the strength of the relationship between one dependent variable and a series of independent variables. Data are collected and analyzed to answer questions, test hypotheses, and prove or disprove theories. E. Data Gathering Procedure On gathering the data needed, the researchers conducted a survey to the small-scale rice business owners in the locality of Dasmarinas, Cavite. Before the researchers go to the testing proper, they first informed the potential participants about their participation in the study. Using the informed consent, they ask for approval of the potential participants to participate in the study. Upon approval, the researchers gave the pre-test to the participants. After that, they collected the pre-test and informed the participants to expect them back after 3 days. After 3 days, the participants came back to survey again, but with different set of questionnaires which is the post-test. F. Ethical Considerations Just like any other study, ethics is an integral aspect of this research, especially that it involves interacting with business entities. Although all researchers are well-intentioned, the possibility to carelessly harm the participants in an unintended way is still present, which is why the researchers evaluate the potential danger that may occur. Using one of the ethical considerations, the researchers provided an informed consent form (ICF), which informs the participants of the nature of the research and its purpose, the risks, and benefits, in a full disclosure, also informing that they have their free will or rights to disagree or agree in being a part of the study. Moreover, it is inevitable for our respondents not to doubt and not to have trust issues on giving their personal and private information, especially that the focus of this study is on the sales performance of a certain business. With that said, the researchers make sure to maintain privacy and confidentiality to protect the participants from potential harm including psychological harm such as embarrassment or distress, and social harm such as loss of employment or damage to one‘s financial standing. Considering this ethical consideration is important, especially that this study is highly subjected to invasion of privacy or a breach of confidentiality. III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A. Presentation of Data This chapter presents gathered data in tabular presentation, analysis and interpretation followed by the discussion of research findings based on the results of the statistical treatment applied. Data is organized in sequential order based on the statement of the problem. TABLE I REGRESSION STATISTICS FOR THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP Groups Mean Pretest 3.35 Post-Test 3.60 Interpretation Significant SD 0.26 0.22 n df t 30 29 -4.348 30 Decision Do Not Reject Ha What is shown in Table 1 are the results obtained in the experimental group using the regression statistics. It can be observed from the table that the pre-test scores of the experimental group showed a mean of 3.35. On the other hand, the post-test scores showed a mean of 3.60. It is noticeable that the mean of the pre-test group had significantly increased in the mean of the post-test. The reason why the mean had increased is that during the pre-test, participants still have no idea about the intervention which is predatory pricing. On the contrary, the mean scores had increased on the post-test when the researchers already introduced the predatory pricing. Increase in the mean score prove that the participants already had knowledge on the intervention. Firms aim to discover what customers are willing to pay for a product or a service, and by doing so, they can determine the optimal price point to maximize profit, revenue, or market share. They also aim to know how they can increase revenues and profit margin by increasing or decreasing prices. Firms apply different pricing strategies with solely the goal to earn huge sales. With that said, firms are willing to apply penetration strategies and some firms are not conscious that they are already applying a certain pricing strategy. With the variance in the mean above, it can be concluded that making the participants aware of the utilized intervention can affect their perception regarding the predatory pricing. TABLE II REGRESSION STATISTICS FOR THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP Groups Mean Pretest 3.35 Post-Test 3.60 Interpretation Significant SD 0.26 0.22 n df t 30 29 -4.348 30 Decision Do Not Reject Ha Table 2 shows the result obtained in the experimental group by using the regression statistics. As observed from the table, the pre-test scores of the experimental group got 3.35 mean, while the post-test scores showed a mean of 3.60. During the pre-test, the researchers find out the current state of pricing of the participants. On post-test, researchers already introduced the intervention to the participant, which is predatory pricing. Since participants had no idea what is predatory pricing during the pre-test, the mean score was low. On the other hand, participants already knew the intervention during the post-test, so a gradual increase in the mean score was notable. Standard deviation (SD) was obtained by getting the square-root (√) of the variance. The regression statistics revealed that there is a significant difference between the pretest and post-test scores of the experimental group before and after the intervention, p = 0.008 < 0.05. Because of that, the decision falls in not rejecting the alternative hypothesis. The findings seem to be true when Maguire (2017) stated that one of the most significant benefits of applying penetration strategies is that it can help a company increase its overall sales volume. Lower prices can lead to higher sales volume, which allows businesses to boost their overall market share (Wainana and Oloko, 2016). In this study, the researchers utilized predatory pricing and it had remarkably improved the sales of small-scale rice businesses. Since there is a significant difference in the experimental group, it indicates that predatory pricing affected the sales of smallscale rice businesses. TABLE III REGRESSION STATISTICS FOR THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP Groups Mean Pretest 3.35 Post-Test 3.60 Interpretation Significant SD 0.26 0.22 n df t 30 29 -4.348 30 Decision Do Not Reject Ha On the third table, it will just focus on the results of the post-test. Before conducting the post-test, the researchers brief the participants regarding the intervention which is the predatory pricing. It was explained that predatory pricing is a type of penetration pricing strategy wherein a business offers its products at lower price than its competitors. Based on the answers of the participants on the pretest, they agreed to try utilizing predatory pricing in their business. With that said, the participants lower the price of their rice products to find out if their sales will increase or decrease through utilizing the predatory pricing. By judging the result of the post-test, majority of the participants said that their sales had increased and some remained the same. Because utilizing predatory pricing turned out that it affects the sales of small-scale rice businesses, the decision falls in not rejecting the alternative hypothesis. As mentioned by Mendrez (2014), to gain higher sales, the firms take risk to apply predatory pricing to their business operation. People start a business with solely the goal to make money (Lobell, 2019), thus they apply different business competition practices with the aim to improve or to increase their sales. The result of the intervention somehow contradicts the ideas during 19th century that predatory pricing is not a profitable business strategy. In the year 2015, it was said by the U.S. Supreme Court that it is not a violation of the law if a business sets prices below its own costs for reasons other than having a specific strategy to eliminate competitors. In the business world, it is a battle of survival. In order for a business to take a long stay, different techniques and strategies must be employed. Penetration pricing strategies may be a promising way for that to happen, but everything is good only if it’s with moderation. TABLE IV REGRESSION STATISTICS Regression Statistics Multiple R R Square Adjusted R Square Standard Error Observations - Table 4 shows the regression statistics used in interpreting the results of this study. Regression statistics is a statistical method utilized in financing, accounting, investing, and other business disciplines that seeks to find out the strength of the relationship between one dependent variable and series of independent variables (Beers, 2019). The researchers employ the linear type of regression. Linear regression employ one independent variable to further elucidate or predict the outcome of the dependent variable Y. B. Conclusion Based on the results collected after treating the data the following conclusions were drawn: ● The result of the mean comparison of the pretest and post-test scores of the experimental group shows that utilizing predatory pricing can significantly increase the sales of smallscale rice businesses and following a specific pricing standard results to low sales performance. ● The result of the regression statistics revealed that there is a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores of the experimental group before and after the intervention. Because of that, the decision falls in not rejecting the alternative hypothesis. That concludes penetration pricing strategies are not irrational competition practice, rather it helps the business owners to gain higher sales. ● The result of the post-test showed that majority of the participants had their sales increased and some remained the same. Utilizing predatory pricing turned out that it affects the sales of small-scale rice businesses positively. In the business world, it is a battle of survival. In order for a business to take a long stay, different techniques and strategies must be employed. Penetration pricing strategies may be a promising way for that to happen, but everything is good only if it’s with moderation. C. Recommendation 1. Business Owners: Penetration pricing strategy has significantly improved the sales of small-scale rice business and as such, the researcher recommends that other businesses should also try to employ this particular strategy. This is due to the fact that most customers like lowly priced commodities and discounts as they make the purchase. This encourages them and attract them to be patrons and regular customers to the said firm or business. However, it is not guaranteed that applying this would raise your profit as there are also inside factors that could affect your sales performance aside from the pricing strategy being utilized. Moreover, such this strategy is emphasizing on the pricing being set low, the quality of goods and services are not supposed to be compromised. 2. Economists and Business Practitioners: The researchers would like to recommend this study to economists and business practitioners for a wider scope of research. Since this study is just feasible in a short period of time, applying penetration pricing strategies in longer period of time and applying it on other type of business is a good way to fill up the research gaps. In that way, it is possible to take out the negative connotation that wraps on the idea of predatory pricing. 3. Future Researchers: The researchers recommend this study to the future researchers as their guideline in pursuance of their further knowledge and research about this kind of topic. It would be better if they will use another statistical technique, add other variables that could be related to the topic, and conduct the study in a new environment different from where the researchers have conducted this study. There are still more penetration pricing strategies available like buy one, take one and charm pricing . Finding out what is the best pricing strategy that can be used by businessmen can be soon beneficial not just to the business owners and consumers, but to the whole country as well. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT First and foremost, we would like to offer our sincerest gratitude to our research paper adviser, Ms. Kianna Diocales, for her overall support throughout the time that we made our research paper. We weren’t able to finish our study if not because of the tips and pieces of advice that she imparted to us. To our family, thank you for your endless and unparalleled love and support while we do this study. Your simple gestures served as our strength and inspiration upon completing this research. We also like to give gratitude to the small-scale rice business owners who served as our respondents in this study that helped us in gathering data that will support our research. And lastly, we fully give thanks to Our Almighty God for giving us knowledge, strength, patience, and hope to finish this study, and for being always there if we need help and guide every time we work. We would like to tell those every single person that without their help, we can’t finish this study. Thank you to all these people for being part of doing our research paper. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] REFERENCES Anderman, S. (N.D.). 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