FICS Student Papers

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https://repository.upou.edu.ph/handle/20.500.13073/11
Research outputs by graduate students and selected Capstone Project Reports by undergraduate students of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies.

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 10
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    All Kinds of Blue: Exploring the Emotional Effect of Lucy's Blue Album on Selected Filipino Fans' Mental Well-Being
    ( 2024) Bacud, Francelle Joanne C.
    The pandemic has led to increased reports of depression and anxiety worldwide. While research on the emotional and well-being benefits of pop music is gradually increasing and evolving, there remains a gap in understanding the effects of foreign music on an individual's well-being and multimedia experiences. This study specifically analyses the effects of BLUE, an album by the Korean band LUCY, on the mental well-being of their Filipino fanbase. Using a qualitative approach, interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with eleven (11) adult Filipino fans. The data collected were analysed through the frameworks of the Social Cognitive and Behavioral Theory as well as the Reception Theory. The study's findings indicate that the album has a positive effect on the fanbase, providing comfort through its ability to uplift, release, reflect, relax, distract, and excite individuals. This suggests that foreign music, including the dynamics of K-Pop or K-Band fandom culture, can serve as a healthy coping mechanism for mood regulation and enhance positive experiences through multimedia art. The study concludes that BLUE is seen as a valuable tool for mental support within the fandom. It is recommended that future research explore the dependent variables and examine similarities and differences among various audience types.
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    Clickstream Mosaic: A Mixed-Methods Study of Photo Dumping's Impact on Laguna College Students' Communication, Lifestyle, and Self-Discovery
    ( 2024) Aguilar, Krystalle Gennise C.
    The popularity of photo/video dumps has captured the attention of many social media users, particularly during the peak of the pandemic wherein in-person interactions were limited or strictly prohibited in order to safeguard everyone's health and well-being. This mode of virtual engagement allowed individuals in the digital sphere to share their moments, memories, and experiences through a curated collection of photos and videos or a combination of both digital mediums. However, there’s an existing debate whether this form of online interaction prioritizes an idealized perception of oneself to follow a trend or gain some public attention. Others argue that its essence lies in authentic and genuine sharing of personal experiences transparently and in an enjoyable manner. Notably, this trend has resonated notably with the Gen Z demographic, particularly among college students, including those in the Filipino college community. As these students navigate post-pandemic challenges with the return to face-to-face learning nvironments, they face a unique set of hurdles and adjustments. The researcher's objective was to explore the influence of photo/video dumps on the lifestyle and self-discovery of college Instagram users, with a focus on students in Laguna, Philippines. Employing a Convergent Parallel design, combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods, the study aimed to comprehend user engagement, communication, and behavior related to photo/video dumps. A total of 100 eligible respondents were surveyed, and from these, 10 respondents were selected for Online Interview and Observation to delve deeper into the research. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency distribution and percentages. Transcriptions were also made to further understand the data obtained from the Online Interview and Observation phase.
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    A Narrative Inquiry into the Meaning of Smoking among Farmworkers in Southern Philippines
    (Southeastern Philippines Journal of Research and Development, 2024-09-14) Malinda, Reymark P. ; Flor, Benjamina Paula G.
    Cigarette smoking is recognized as a global health threat. By the same token, it remains highly prevalent in low and middle-income families like farmworkers, despite efforts by the government and private health agencies to prevent smoking. Thus, this study explored the meaning of smoking among farmworkers and how the meanings reproduced their tenets while living in a farming community. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that qualitatively investigated the smoking phenomenon among farmworkers in a rural area in Southern Philippines— a topic that has not been treated in much detail in the literature. The research framework used in this work is the socio-cultural tradition (SCT) of communication theory, which theorizes communication as the (re)production of the social order. Using narrative inquiry, the study delved into the seven narratives of farmworker participants about the meaning of smoking. Individual open interviews were conducted among the participants to elicit stories relative to their experience with smoking. The data were analyzed through re-storying and narrative thematic analysis, yielding five themes constituting their meaning of smoking that reproduced a new social order. Results showed that smoking is (1) a parent and peer influence, (2) a means to manage negative feelings and emotions, (3) a thought-provoker and organizer, (4) a culture among friends, and (5) an integral part of life. All these meanings consequently formed and reinforced a new social order, seemingly an indestructible barrier to smoking cessation. Anchored on SCT, it can be surmised that farmworkers’ tenets, while living in their community, were reproduced by these meanings of smoking that governed their lives.
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    A Digital Platform for the Documentation and Exploration of Drag Culture and Artistry in the Philippines
    ( 2025) Bacanes, John Victor R.
    Makulay: A Digital Platform Prototype for the Documentation and Exploration of Drag Culture and Artistry in the Philippines is a project addressing the need for structured, inclusive, and accessible digital spaces for Filipino drag. Filipino drag remains underdocumented even though drag has gained visibility through popular culture and media. To address this gap, Makulay is designed as a digital platform that functions as a cultural archive, educational resource, and community hub dedicated to preserving and amplifying drag artistry in the Philippines. As informed by Queer Theory, Performance Theory, and the Queer Speculative Design for Cultural Empowerment (QSDCE) framework, this study employs a User-Centered Design (UCD) methodology. These perspectives guide both the conceptual grounding and design process, hence it ensures that the platform is inclusive, responsive, and culturally empowering. With that, the prototype integrates features such as drag artist profiles, an interactive historical timeline, a drag culture dictionary, a multimedia repository, and virtual interactive community hub. The data collection involved in this study were interviews, surveys, and user evaluations, which were analyzed thematically to identify user needs and challenges. Findings highlight four recurring themes: the urgency of archiving drag culture, the demand for representation and visibility, structural challenges faced by drag communities, and the potential of digital platforms to provide spaces of preservation, education, and empowerment. By situating Filipino drag within a digital framework, Makulay contributes to cultural preservation, queer representation, and multimedia design practices. The project demonstrates the role of digital platforms in legitimizing drag artistry and sustaining community engagement.
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    Deceptive by Design: An Interactive Website Exploring, Simulating, and Discussing Dark Patterns
    ( 2025) Hilario, Adrian Colin C.
    Dark patterns are deceptive user interface and user experience techniques that affect consumers into making choices that they usually wouldn't make, and those choices benefit the corporation or developers of the service at the cost of the consumer. This concern has been on the rise in digital platforms, and studies have shown that these practices are effective in influencing consumers. As such, this has led the European Union and the Federal Trade Commission to create legislation to prevent dark patterns from affecting their citizens. At the moment, there is a lack of legislation that protects Filipinos from these deceptive tactics, aside from legislation, there is also a lack of awareness regarding dark patterns in the Philippines. This study seeks to bring awareness to dark patterns through an interactive website that simulates, explains, and provides examples to showcase this problem, and provides an opportunity for individuals to become aware of the presence of dark patterns without being in harm's way. Furthermore, a survey was conducted in order to determine the effectiveness of the website and to see if individuals become aware of dark patterns, and whether they agree that there should be legislation in the country to protect citizens from dark patterns? In the survey where twenty respondents participated, it was found that prior to interacting with the website, there was a significant lack of awareness of the concept of dark patterns, and yet all believed that at one point they faced a situation wherein they felt pressured by a website or program to make a choice they didn't intend to make. After interacting with the website, the majority of the respondents became aware of dark patterns and believe that there is a need for legislation and for corporations to also be fined for the presence of dark patterns on their platforms. Lastly, all participants of the survey said that they are now more confident in future encounters with dark patterns.