Chapter 2

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter covers the method of research, the respondents, the data gathering instruments, the data
gathering procedures and the data analysis.

Planning Strategy

A twenty-item test was prepared to analyse the students’ competency with fractions. This test
was developed using questions devised by the researches. The test was a pencil and paper instrument in
which calculators and cell phones were not allowed to be used. Students were encouraged to show all of
their works. The questions were designed to test concept knowledge and computational fluency and
were divided into four categories: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of fraction. All
questions on the test were pre-requisite for developing a concrete rational number concept.

The Respondents

In this study, the respondents were 43 grade 9 high school students of the ASU Laboratory
High School, S. Y. 2017 2018. A total of 9 (nine) students were taken as sample or subject who got low
results in the given pre-test.

The Data Gathering Instruments

The data-gathering instrument used in this study was the pencil and paper test which contained
20 questions (5 for addition, 5 for subtraction, 5 for multiplication and 5 for division) devised by the
researchers. The respondents were asked to answer the test within an allotted time of 45 minutes.

The Data Gathering Procedure

The administration of the pencil and paper test was done after the request to conduct the
study had been approved by Dr. Edna I. Gonzales and the co-researcher, the pre-service Teacher Jane
N. Nival. The test was given to the respondents. The students were asked to answer the pencil and
paper test without using the calculator and cell phones. The researchers observed the respondents
while answering the test to prohibit cheating. After answering it, the researchers checked the papers,
totalled the scores of the students and determine their level of difficulty for each operation, identifies
which among the four operations involving fractions do students got low results and after knowing
such, the researchers determined the usual error that students commit for every operation. The
answer of the students in each item were analysed to determine if they commit error in (1)
identifying the LCD or error in reducing to lowest term, (2) error in the operation used and (3) error in
changing mixed numbers in improper fractions.

Data Analysis

The data were analysed using the total and frequency counts. In the presentation, analysis
and interpretation of the data on errors encountered by Grade 9 High School Students, the descriptive
measures were employed.