By Rolito C. Bade, Jr., Doctor of Education Student
Centralian alumnus Prof. Dr. Reynaldo G. Segumpan shares insights on qualitative research during the School of Graduate Studies’ 75th Anniversary webinar, “From Complexity to Clarity: Demystifying Qualitative Inquiry,” held via Zoom on September 26, 2026.
Bringing clarity and methodological depth to academic research, Central Philippine University-School of Graduate Studies has successfully convened researchers, alumni, faculty members and students for a webinar titled “From Complexity to Clarity: Demystifying Qualitative Inquiry”, held last September 26, 2026, via Zoom. It was a 3rd session of the webinar series organized by the Graduate School in celebration of its 75th founding anniversary.
The webinar featured Prof. Dr. Reynaldo Gacho Segumpan, an accomplished Centralian alumnus in Master of Arts in Education, with extensive international research experience. He formerly served as the dean of the City Graduate School and currently heads the Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration Program at City University Malaysia. Opening his presentation, Dr. Segumpan encouraged the participants to intentionally embrace the rigors of qualitative research.
He shed light on various critical facets of qualitative inquiry including the methodologies, philosophical foundations, practical strategies, data analysis, trustworthiness, and the challenges and opportunities researchers may encounter. His presentation helped clarify common misconception, particularly the belief that qualitative research lacks thoroughness, instead, he emphasized that it follows systematic and transparent procedures and aiming for depth of understanding and transferability rather than statistical generalization.
He concluded by introducing his self-devised framework- the “REYNALDO” Approach- an acrostic designed to demystify qualitative inquiry. Each letter offers a reminder to researchers: R- remove the quantitative mask in you; E- entice your creative mind; Y- yearn for quality and trustworthiness; N- never say “it’s difficult” or “not doable”; A- ask for advice or help, when needed; L- learn the lingo or language of qualitative research; D- do it, give it a try and you will love qualitative research; and O- organize teams and collaborate.
The open forum served as a highlight of the webinar, giving participants the opportunity to clarify specific research approaches and methodologies, such as ethnomethodology, ethnography, autoethnography, phenomenology and case study. Dr. Segumpan gracefully cleared up confusions, affirming that qualitative work entails inherent complexities for which a researcher must be thoroughly prepared. He also reiterated the importance of understanding the study’s purpose and the epistemological perspective, as these guide the choice of an appropriate qualitative methodology.
The event formally commenced with an opening prayer led by Dr. Margen A. Java, Program Head of Master of Arts in Education and Doctor of Education in Guidance and Counseling programs. This was followed by the opening and welcoming remarks from Dr. Althea U. Denuevo, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. She emphasized the importance of graduate students being proactive and embracing research with confidence, and who never fear research, viewing it as a way of life rather than merely a course requirement. As she remarked, “At CPU SGS, learning must be engaging, and not confusing”. Dr. Bibiana Espina, Assistant Program Head of Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction then introduced the speaker.
The webinar underscored the institution’s enduring commitment to developing professional knowledge, skills, and competencies and fostering research excellence among its students and the broader academic community.