CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Western Mindanao State University is well known in producing excellent

graduate’s at all educational levels with a very high standard of education. Since

then, individual decision on taking up academic track depends on what they are

inclined with and taking Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

strand is a platform of preparation in taking up courses related to this field. It was

known that different conflicts arrives with any strand most specially in STEM

track, a specific problem that is obviously occurring is the perception and

performance relationship.

Being part of this institution, it is evident that most of the students give

negative impression to mathematics (Burton, M. 2012) but with adherence to the

DepEd Senior High School curriculum, Pre-calculus subject is an academic

requirement for STEM Senior High School students. For students to be able to

pass this core subject they must obtain a grade of 75 and in order for them to

attain a recognition to conclude that they have a better performance in this subject

they must attain an average grade of 90 to 100. Beyond this grades, students have

various ideas and perceptions in the subject Pre-calculus and it is still in the

reality that most of the students have difficulties in learning principles of

Mathematics and so with this subject.

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Perception is how we see things, our assessment or real otherwise. Force,

D. (2015). Perception of the students are their best ally to arrive in a concrete

decision for their own and for the betterment of the outcome. Belonging to STEM

strand is an advantage when one intends to pursue a degree that is within the

STEM track reliability in different ways for advancement related to science,

technology, engineering and mathematics. Perceptions present in an environment

that can really affect ones perception towards a subject, thus directly affecting

one’s ability to work. Building up this study will help students to be aware about

the tendency of perception affects performance directly.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

This study is conducted to determine how Perception greatly affects the

Performance particularly in the subject Pre-Calculus on Senior High School

Grade 11 STEM students.

Specifically to answer the following questions:

1. Does having a positive perception leads to the increase of Grade?

2. What is the percentage of the population of Grade 11 student has negative

or low perception in subject Pre-calculus

3. Are Senior High School students Perceptions greatly affects their decision

and performance in terms of grade in the subject Pre-Calculus?

4. Does the perception of the students differ in two different quarters?

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1.3 Objectives of the Study

The study aims to:

1. Determine the number of students with high, neutral and low perceptions

percentage towards subject Pre-calculus within the sample population

2. Determine the significant difference of student’s perception in different

quarters.

3. Determine the relationship of Perception of students in the subject Pre-

Calculus in terms of grades

4. Determine if Grade 11 students reach the better standard of academic

performance in Pre-calculus

1.4 Hypotheses

The hypothesis between levels of perception of students toward subject

Pre-Calculus Performance are:

 Ho: There is no significant difference between students 1st grading

perception and 2nd grading perception of Grade 11 students in subject Pre-

Calculus

 H1: There is a significant difference between students 1 st grading

perception and 2nd grading perception of Grade 11 students in subject Pre-

Calculus
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 Ho: There is no significant relationship between Perception and Grade of

Grade 11 student in subject Pre-Calculus

 H1: There is significant relationship between Perception and Grade of

Grade 11 students in subject Pre-Calculus

 Ho: Pre-calculus grade = 90

 H1: Pre-calculus grade ≠ 90

1.5 Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The respondents of this study will be Senior High School Grade 11

students of Western Mindanao State University and limited only to the enrolled

students under the academic track Science Technology Engineering and

Mathematics strand belonging to the College of Science and Mathematics and

College of Engineering and Technology. Moreover, on the conduct of the survey

proper, a formal consent will be asked from the respondents and the whole of the

survey will be exercised only during the availability and given time of the

respondents and the researchers. In order for the researchers to determine the

relationship of the two variable (Grade and Perception), gathered data’s will be

tabulated.
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`1.6 Significance of the Study

The results of this study will rebound to the benefit of this institution the

Western Mindanao State University, most especially to the future Senior High

School students who will take up the Pre-calculus subject under the STEM strand.

This study then investigate the relationship, of perception of the students towards

the subject Pre-calculus. Furthermore, the researchers may aim to provide

recommendation for the future study from the conducted research in order to add

up to the reliability of the study on how perception influencing Performance in the

subject Pre-Calculus which will be determined during the process of the study.

The participants will be benefited in such a way that the results of this study by

using it as a guide upon taking their CSM and CET courses in the future since

they will be subjected again into the lectures of Pre-calculus.