CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES

HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 1

Perceptions toward Subjective Tests among Engineering Students

in Central Colleges of the Philippines

A Research Proposal
Presented to the
Faculty of Senior High School
Central Colleges of the Philippines

In partial fulfillment of
the requirements in RS11:
Practical Research 1

Albior, Sherilyn Grace C.

Atacador, Louis Marselle
Daday, Trisha Mae B.
De los Reyes, Cipriano Salvador B.
Gorra, John Mateo N.
Ignacio, Christine H.
Martinico, Kristine C.
Pacson, Lee Robins P.
Soriano, John Eric Louie Y.

December 2019
 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 2

Abstract

The abstract consists of 150 to 250 words in a single paragraph. After the

abstract on the same page and starting a new paragraph are keywords, in italics,

that will assist others in researching scholarly work related to your topic.

Remember there is no indention in this paragraph. The abstract should be

comprised of the following sentences: One to two sentence(s) covering the

general context of the research topic, one to two sentence(s) regarding the

specific research problem, one sentence regarding the research methodology,

and one to two sentences regarding the significant findings. Some instructors will

require a sentence regarding the conclusions and recommendations

Keywords: Include topic, major theories, keywords others might use to find your

work, research methods.

CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 3

Acknowledgements
 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I INTRODUCTION ………………………………………… 5
Background of the Study ………………………………………… 5
Statement of the Problem ………………………………………… 7
Significance of the Study ………………………………………… 8
Scope and Delimitations ………………………………………… 8
Definition of Terms ………………………………………… 9

II REVIEW OF RELATED ………………………………………… 10

LITERATURE
Theme 1 ………………………………………… 10
Theme 2 ………………………………………… 11
Theme 3 ………………………………………… 12
Synthesis ………………………………………… 13

III METHODOLOGY ………………………………………… 15

Research Design ………………………………………… 15
Research Locale ………………………………………… 16
Participant Selection ………………………………………… 16
Instrumentation ………………………………………… 17
Data Gathering Procedure ………………………………………… 19
Data Analysis Method ………………………………………… 20

REFERENCES …………………………………………

APPENDICES
Appendix A: Gantt Chart …………………………………………
yAppendix B: Correspondences …………………………………………
Appendix C: Profile of Interviewees …………………………………………
Appendix D: Researchers’ Bracketing …………………………………………
Appendix E: Transcripts …………………………………………
Appendix F: Proponents’ Profile …………………………………………
 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 5

Chapter One

Introduction

Background of the Study

Engineers are widely known for their great math skills such as numerical

problem solving and accurate measuring. Obviously, their field of specialty would

revolve around logic and rationality. Therefore, it is not appalling really to know

that, in fact, most of them are not known to be good writers nor are they the best

in providing an opinion-based input whenever writing essays, response papers

and the likes. As the given definition on the internet, “Engineers, as practitioners

of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test

machines, complex systems, structures and materials to fulfill functional

objectives and requirements while considering the limitations imposed by

practicality, regulation, safety and cost.” There are different majors of engineers

and the most known ones are Industrial Engineering (IE), Biomedical

Engineering, Computer Engineering (CE), Chemical Engineering, Civil

Engineering, Electrical Engineering (EE), and Mechanical Engineering (ME).

Stockwell, C. (2019, September 20). As stated by many, essay writing is far from

an engineer’s field of work. They mainly rely on critical thinking and problem-

solving abilities and these are crucial skills an engineer must possess in order for

their projects to become fruitful. Perhaps, this is the reason for their great lack in

the creative writing department. In entrance assessments, subjective tests are

 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 6

obligatory to be given in able to evaluate how deep one’s understanding towards

a concept is and to asses each of the students ability to come up with multiple

approaches and select what they deem to be most applicable to an abstract idea

because subjective test is about giving opinionated answers.

Recent studies in the field of psychology stated that flows of thoughts are

classified in a box of two types of thinking: convergent and divergent thinking.

Convergent thinking is all about rational and analytical observation as well as

logical deductive reasoning. To put it simply, this is a more practical and

organized way of thinking. On the other hand, Divergent way of thinking is a far

more creative stream of thoughts and depends more on impulse. This grants

one’s mind permission to think freely by giving itself a vast variety of ideas or

options that could be a possible answer to a problem through generation of

multiple sets of solutions, the process of trial and error would be in need until you

deem a one best applicable approach. Engineers usually follows only a one way

kind of approach when solving numerical problem, since they tend to follow only

a one step by step formula; they are considered to be a convergent thinker.

Pearson, D. (2019, March 26). Exploding the myth of the scientific vs. artistic

mind.

According to Channa, M. A., Nordin, Z. S., & Abassi, A. M. (2018), most

engineers find themselves struggling to grasp the idea conveyed by a text. This

often leads them to feel immensely frustrated in their text comprehension ability.

Meaning to say, some of the engineering students chose to study the said course
 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 7

in order to avoid getting involved in language-oriented subjects or examinations.

Their experience and expertise revolves around math and science. Therefore,

explaining as to why they are not as good in language proficiency compared to

those students taking courses involving its major use.

Although, a study was conducted by a group of scientists and it revealed

that there is a gene that determines our natural ability in math and language art.

This presented the notion that comprehension and construction of meaning

behind symbols, words, and abstract concepts are instilled within humans since

birth. This means, math and language are closely correlated to one another

according to nature. The researchers have stated that the base of natural

learning of math and language follows a single symbolic processing system.

Wherein, we derive numbers, meanings, and signs behind symbols; this primary

procedure of learning is a product of the combination of both subjects. Therefore,

there is a possibility of mathematical intelligence and linguistic intelligence to

coexist together in one being.

Statement of the Problem

Objective of the Study. This study aims to understand the perceptions

toward subjective tests among engineering students in Central Colleges of the

Philippines.
 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 8

Main Research Question. Specifically, this study seeks to answer the

question, “What are the perceptions toward subjective tests among engineering

students in Central Colleges of the Philippines, S. Y. 2018-2019?”

Significance of the Study

The results of the research benefit the following:

To the future researchers – this research is helpful to the future

researchers since this can serve as a guide for their future studies and they can

use this as a reference in formulating a new study.

To the participants – this study will help the engineering students to

convey their thoughts, opinions to the people who will read the research.

To the teachers - this study will help the teachers to assess the lacking of

students and guide them.

Scope and Delimitations

Our group is conducting a research about the perceptions toward

subjective tests among engineering students in Central Colleges of the

Philippines. The research started from December 2019. The reason why we are

conducting this research is to have knowledge about perceptions toward

subjective tests among engineering students in Central Colleges of the

Philippines. We will interview different engineering students using researching

methods to acquire the data needed.

 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 9

This study will only assess the engineering students’ perceptions towards

subjective tests and will not take constriction what the participants’ status in life

was.

Definition of Terms

The following are operationally defined:

Subjective tests - It is evaluated by giving an opinion. It can be compared

with an objective test, which has right or wrong answers and so can be marked

objectively. They are more challenging and expensive to prepare, administer and

evaluate correctly but they can be more valid.

Engineering students - They are students who study engineering—

mainly apply the principles of science and mathematics to develop economical

solutions to technical problems.

 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 10

Chapter Two

Review of Related Literature

This chapter shall discuss the related literature and studies coming from both

foreign and local sources. Comprehension is one of the most important factors

that can affect the learners’ capability in acquiring different skills and perspective.

Relationship between English and Math Success

Overall language proficiency could have an effect on math success

because the medium of instruction in some institutions is English. It is also stated

by Valdes and Figueroa (1994; p. 34), knowing a language and knowing how to

use a language involves a mastery and control of a large number of independent

components and elements that interact with one another and that are affected by

the nature of the situation in which communication takes place. English success

is believed to have a correlation with some other subjects according to others

studies conducted. For example; if a student is good at math, they tend to be

successful in physics or chemistry. To put it simply, English plays a big role in

making success possible for Math-involved phenomena because being able to

coexist with apprehension helps in finding the best approach possible on

complicated problems. (Bagceci, Kutlar & Cinkara, 2014)

 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 11

Skills of Engineers

According to a survey conducted by Trends in Mathematics and Science Studies

(2007), the ones who topped in the mathematics field are countries, which

English are not their primary language. Countries like Singapore, Taiwan, Japan

and Korea, countries that are primarily non-English speakers and are located in

Asia, ranked top at the consecutive Mathematics assessments by TIMSS. They

are the ones who are good at creativity and thinking unconventionally in

answering complex questions that require further elaboration. Math curriculums

are stricter in other parts of Asia. This is why some of the countries mentioned

above produces the most engineers in terms of amount and brilliance. Numerical

excellence is essential in becoming an engineer. (Essays, UK, 2018).

On the other hand, not only does one need mathematical skills, engineers

and aspiring engineers must possess communication skills as well. In order for

them to convey their ideas effectively and with confidence either orally or writing.

They also need to possess active listening ability and reply. In their work field,

they will most likely be assigned to work with a team. As the engineer of the

team, they must be able to express their plans and ideas clearly yet must be

open to listen to the critiques and opinions of other.

 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 12

Subjective Test vs. Objective Test

English is considered to be the official secondary language of the

Filipinos. From pre-school, English is taught to students until they graduate

college. The medium of instruction on examinations are commonly written in the

English language. Learning materials at schools like textbooks are usually written

in English, with few exceptions like books that are for Filipino subjects and/or

history subjects. Mathematics subject also use the English language. English is

one of our core languages in fundamental learning. Its purpose is to prepare us

for working overseas and coping up with the phenomena happening across the

globe.

Although, we can say that Mathematics has its own distinct grammar since it

follows its own convention of writing and reading equations and formulas.

Though commonly English language is used for worded problems and equations

written in sentences, Mathematics is considered language neutral because any

mathematicians around the world regardless of their native language can read

mathematical equations and formulas. Mathematics can also be taught in a less

complicated language, in one’s mother tongue, and students who have difficulty

in learning or deciphering formulas through English language can further

apprehend with what a formula means. (Essays, UK, 2018).

 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 13

Synthesis

Being able to understand the English language has correlation with the

ability to answer questions that uses English as its medium of instruction

(Bagceci, Kutlar & Cinkara, 2014). Which contradicts another study, wherein it

says that most engineers have difficulty in formulating opinions because they

lack skills in able to comprehend questions when it is written in English.

Especially because, in the mathematics area, it has its own language like

symbols of “+” which is addition that does not need further explanation using the

English language. However, that does not mean that someone who is good at

math cannot be good in English and vice-versa. Because there is really no left-

brained or right-brained persons only, there is a specific study that says that that

the biological base of learning math and language is a single symbolic

processing system—the fundamental procedure by which we learn to decode

letters, numbers, and signs, and to derive meaning from these symbols. Wherein,

we need to learn how to comprehend the English language in order to grasp how

to solve complex mathematical problems (Channa, Nordin, Abassi, 2018).

Investigations were also conducted regarding the relationship between language

skills and academic success. Other researchers pointed out that having

difficulties fully grasping the contents and concepts of the course given in the

target language, which is English, seems to be one of the most serious problems

that students face in their particular course of study. This might be due to their

weaknesses in general English, which may have a drastic impact on their

 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 14

academic success (Maleki & Zangani, 2007). However, based on the studies of

the Single Symbolic Processing System a notion emerge which made the

possibility of math and language — mainly English — to coexist with one another

to strengthen.
 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 15

Chapter Three

Methodology

This chapter presents the study’s methodology, where it is split into six

different units. The Research Design, Research Locale, Participant Selection,

Instrumentation, Data Gathering Procedure and Data Analysis Method. This

research used phenomenological design to know the perceptions towards

subjective tests among engineering students in CCP.

Research Design

In this study, the researchers used Descriptive Qualitative

Phenomenological Research Design. The mentioned study research design was

used to understand certain phenomenon that affect or have an impact in one’s

state of mind. The participants, which are the engineering students in Central

Colleges of the Philippines, will give their insights toward subjective test through

descriptive qualitative phenomenological research design.

The objective of the study is to determine the different experiences of the

participants’ as well as their strategies regarding subjective tests. This study aims

to determine the profile of the respondents, which could aid in determining the

researchers’ qualification for the study.

The researchers will use Descriptive Qualitative Phenomenological

Research Design in order to attain the objectives of the study listed above and to
 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 16

evaluate the viewpoint of engineering students and distinguish their perceptions.

Since the researchers document the perceptions of the engineering students, this

approach will help them to find the answers in the problems they seek to find.

The importance of this research is to understand the different perceptions

of engineering students. This study will be helpful to the future researchers and

studies that concerns perceptions towards subjective tests.

Research Locale

The study was conducted in Central Colleges of the Philippines during the

midterm of the second semester of school year 2019-2020, since the chosen

respondents are students from the engineering department These students of the

said course — whom specialize in math — often struggle with subjective tests for

mathematical intelligence and linguistic intelligence usually contradicts each

other.

Participant Selection

Also known as, Purposive Sampling enables researchers to determine

the purpose of their study by collecting samples. Samples are eligible

respondents chosen by the researchers themselves. These participants must first

reach the conditions or criteria set — possessing qualities or characteristics

needed for the study to be credible. In addition, samples are small variables that
 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 17

represent a population as a whole. Each individual is selected based on the

researchers’ assessment in a non-probability sampling method.

The researchers have included information about the respondent and it is

optional with the choice of the interviewee if he/she will be answering

anonymously. The researchers have considered private and confidential

information that they have gotten from respondents. The researchers should be

honest with their respondents and give them assurance of keeping the

confidential information given by the respondents are to be promised to full

protection.

The respondents, for them to be qualified to participate in the interview,

they must satisfy the given criteria. First, they should be an enrolled student of

the Central Colleges of the Philippines. Second, they must be under the course

of engineering. Lastly, they should have encountered any form of subjective test

in their time of being an engineering student.

Instrumentation

The researchers used a semi-structured interview in order to gather the

needed data for their overall insight of subjective tests. The questions asked

were drawn out based on the information given by the participants. In the

preparation of the instrument, the researchers based it on how the manner of the

participants is on the semi-structured interview. Open-minded options were

provided to avoid the limitation of the possible answers. Preferences for the said
 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 18

instrument are highly based on a) its relevance to the topic itself; b) avoid

multiple similar answers and; c) to avoid the excessive use of time. In the end, it

encourages participants to express their views in the issue on hand.

In addition, the consultant and professor validated the instrument used

before practised in the study. In addition, the researchers also used physical

instruments and gadgets in able to log the gathered information from the

interview. The main instruments used were the sound and video recorder. By

doing so, the researchers were able to gather accurate and precise answers

recorded all-throughout the interview. The recorders were also useful for

recording the unwritten responses from the interviewees. However, the

researchers also used pen and paper in times when they were unable to use

technological gadgets during some of the interviews. The paper also served as a

back up storage of responses if ever errors occurred to avoid any data loss or

redaction.

Potential Questions

 What is your perception towards subjective tests?

 Do you find difficulty in giving opinions? If so, how and why do you find it

difficult?

 Do you prefer multiple choice tests or essay tests?

Data Gathering Procedure

 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 19

The researchers have chosen oral interview or in other words one-on-one.

The researchers have chosen oral interview because the researcher believes

that it would help to collect accurate and precise information. In addition, there is

nothing to be afraid by interviewees for there are no wrong answers.

Furthermore, the researchers accepted all answers since it depend on their own

perceptions.

The first thing to do before conducting the whole study the researchers

have to seek permission through an approval letter to be given to the Senior High

School Head so that the interviewing process could commence. Once given

approval, the researchers must look for participants that could help the study.

Respondents are given a choice to either participate or refuse to answer and

those who refuse would be respected since they have the right to do so. While to

those respondents that accept to answer the researchers must promise to give

security and confidentiality to the information provided by the interviewee. The

researchers should question the interviewees and give brief explanation. Any

answer is acceptable to fault since answers are based on their own perceptions.

The researchers shall give follow-up questions when necessary, depending on

the given answer by the respondent.

Data Analysis Method

 CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILIPPINES
HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION 20

The conducted research went through the Thematic Analysis (TA)

processes. Wherein the first step was to familiarize the data given by the

respondents then the data was transcribed and grouped according to relevance.

Next, the data would be thoroughly analyzed and decoded for a pattern meaning

to be found. With each of the essential meaning table they will be defined and

named correspondingly. Afterwards, a final analysis is provided to give

conclusion.

The researchers promise to remove any biases and would only rely to the

data collected. Every given answer will be recorded and analyzed with no

exclusions. Every respondent to participate will be given protection and

confidentiality; no answer should leak and would stay anonymous unless the

interviewee gave us permission to do so.