A critique paper submitted for the requirements in advance social psychology

1. A Critique of Thesis
“Juvenile Insurrection as a Means of Expressing Teenage
Independence and Sense of Identity” by Eman Mayola FEU,
2013
(A critique submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
subject Advance Social Psychology)
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Graduate School
October 12, 2013
BATALLA, JOSHUA J.
Master in Psychology
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Hopefully this 2016

2. A. Introduction
The following is a critique of Eman Mayola Bachelor of Science
in Psychology Thesis “Juvenile Insurrection as a Means of
Expressing Teenage Independence and Sense of Identity”. I
have chosen to critique this thesis for three reasons. First ,
studying the maturity stage of adolescents is one of my
primary interest. Second Mayola’s data gathering and
presentation and methodology in a similar way to what I
expect to do in my research. I thus hope to build on his
methodology when I design my test of the hypotheses in my
research. Third. Mayola discusses his thesis in great detail he
uses both quantitave and qualitative data presentations that I
anticipate will be of use in my research.

3. B. Executive summary
Mayola has written a concise, well- structured, and thoughtful
thesis that enhances our understanding insurrecting behavior
of teenagers and their search for Identity in order to better
understand them as a unique individual. It is an important
contribution to knowledge since it is the first explicit analysis
of how parents or adults would manage their teenagers to give
them insights and educate them on the teenagers needs
The data gathering methods employed have been meticulously
chosen and applied. However, the fairly low structure to the
drawings and open ended questions make it difficult to draw
unambiguous conclusions. Seen as a whole, though the thesis
adds insights to the understanding of young developing teens
of the new generation and provides inspiration for further
research.

4. B. Statement of the Problem
B.1 Importance of the Problem
Mayola identifies a crucial problem and intends to know
what kind of defiant acts do the adolescents commit, who
they defy; parents and school authorities or even among
friends. A very crucial and very vital topic that should be
answered.
B.2 Clarity of Problem and Hypothesis Statements
The Problem stated by Mayola on how to understand and
analyze the adolescents defiant behavior is clearly expressed
and succinct. He converted this into a clear hypothesis that
adolescents coercive actions is a means of expressing teenage
independence and sense of creating identity.
Both the problem and the hypothesis are delimited and narrow
since they only address on aspect of Adolescents environment
(living in a well to do environment) and Geography (20
participants in the campus of FEU). At the same time they are
exhaustive and researchable. It is difficult to imagine other
problems or hypothesis that should have been tested at the
same time.

5. B.3 Link to Theory
The problem and hypothesis are well link to the theoretical
foundation. Mayola builds on Erik Erikson Five stage of
Development and Alfred Adler theory of personality.
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C. Objectives
Mayola research intends to know that kind of defiant acts do
the adolescents commit, who they defy; parents and school
authorities and even among friends. This is intended to know
the recurrence of these defiant behaviors and what do they
feel when they deviate from normal behavior. Mayola intends
to give answer to the following questions
What defiant acts have the adolescents experienced and
who do they defy?
Why do the adolescents engage in defiant behaviors?
How often do they engage in defiant behaviors?
How do they feel before and after defying?
D. Methodologies
The statistical section is the weakest part of the thesis. The
sample size is insufficient to support the hypothesis and is
not the structured enough to support the whole population.
The analytical discussion, however, is excellent it made us of

6. Qualitative Phenomenological method the narrative analysis
method which provide rich data about the subject in hand.
E. Sampling Techniques
Mr. Mayola made us of the convenience sampling technique. It
is obtained by using any groups who happen to be available. It
is also called accidental sampling and is utilized most of the
time by students. Because of its cost-effectiveness.
However the representative sample may not represent the
population as a whole and somehow the data would have
loopholes if used in a general sense.
F. Statistical Treatment
F.1 Instrumentation
The instruments used in this research were bond papers and
yellow papers. The bond paper was provided to the participant
for drawing a symbol the represented an act of defiance the
participants are committed or are committing. The yellow
papers provided was for the participant to explain their
drawing in detail and questions regarding the defiant they
committed, their reasons to committing the act, how often
they commit and the emotions they felt while committing and
after committing the defiant act.
The questions were instructed and written on the white board.
The questions were also instructed in Filipino for better

7. understanding the responses. Mr. Mayola conducted the study
for approximately 40 minutes. The participants were then
rewarded with a token of appreciation for participating
willingly in the study. Thematic analysis were employed to
interpret the narratives of the participants. Data from the
narrative text was classified to sub-themes according to the
pattern of the responses.
G. Findings
From the thesis conducted by Mr. Mayola it is evident that
adolescent conception of defiance is mere act of disobeying a
set of rules, lying, disrespecting and abusing the trust of
authority mostly parents several time to experience the
feeling of thrill, freedom and happiness. In the end though,
there is the feeling of regret and guilt.
As shown in the thesis, this was the way of the adolescents to
establish their Identity in the house or at school.
H. Conclusion
Mr. Mayola concluded the study that defiance among
adolescents is inevitable and this is just the normal response
of adolescents to their environment and a part of their
adaptation to adulthood.

8. The conclusion may have been so conclusive that it seems that
nothing could be planned out to overcome adolescents
defiance. Further studies should be though out on how to
proper handle the new generations.
Additional study also may be thought out on how does the
adults react on the responses of the disconcerting behavior
of the adolescents. This study may serve as a rich basis for
future studies within the bounds of this matter. Kudos for
Mr. Eman Mayola for a job well done.