Problem Solving Skills and Academic Performance of Grade 7

Students in Mathematics

_________________

A Thesis Proposal

Presented to

The Committee of Oral Examiners

J.H. CERILLES STATE COLLEGE

DUMINGAG CAMPUS

Dumingag, Zamboanga Del Sur

________________

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Secondary Education

Major in Mathematics

________________

by

Frelyn P. Balasa
January, 2021
 Problem Solving Skills and Academic Performance of Grade 7

Students in Mathematics

Background of the Study

Nowadays, many students were reported to face

difficulties in mathematics particularly in mathematics

problem solving (Tay Lay Heong 2005; Tarzimah 2005; Mohd

Johan 2002; Zalina 2005; Lim See Kiat 1995). They were

reported to face difficulties in making the accurate

perceptions and interpretations, memorizing and retrieving

facts, giving concentrations and using their logic thinking

(Zahara et al. 2009; Tarzimah 2005; Ismail 2009; Anderson

and Lyxell 2007; Bryant 2006). Students frequently don’t

appreciate mathematics or somehow they don’t prefer it and

thought of this subject didn’t exist that’s why this subject

is what they feared the foremost. But, not all of the

categories in mathematics made them difficult to grasp.

Problem-solving could be a category in Mathematics during

which every student can pander to. A category that the

student cannot avoid.

In Grade 7, solving worded problems or problem-solving

is as challenging in some parts. It is a decision-making

process which involves goal-oriented studies that require

the recognition of the nature of the problem, the creation

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of a strategy and the implementation of the strategy (Hayes,

1989). It may vary in several quite problems as a routine-

problems and a non-routine problems. Routine-problems in

mathematics involves using a minimum of one in every of the

four arithmetic operations to resolve problems that are

practical in nature. It’s a sort of problem-solving that the

students’ usually want to do. The non-routine-problems are

mostly concerned in developing the mathematical reasoning

power and fostering the understanding that mathematics may

be a creative endeavor. This problem-solving concerns

indirectly.

At the first stage of being a high-schooler most likely

have difficulties in Problem Solving. This study aims to

work out the academic performance of the Grade 7 students in

problem solving by conducting a routine and non-routine

problem solving questions and study the factors that may

affect how the students learn the subject.

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Statement of the Problem

The study aims at determining the problem solving

skills and academic performance of Grade 7 students in

mathematics.

Specifically, this study will answer the following

questions:

1. What is the profile of the student respondents in terms

of:

1.1 age

1.2 gender

1.3 grade

2. What is the level of the students’ problem solving

skills in terms of:

2.1 routine-problems

2.2 non-routine-problems

3. What are the factors that affect the students’

performance in mathematics?

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Significance of the Study

The result of the study will merit the following:

Teacher. This study is beneficial to the teacher’s to

make various strategies in order to develop the student’s

problem solving skills.

Students. This study is beneficial to the student to

help them improve their problem solving skills.

Future Researcher. This study is beneficial to the

future researcher as a tool or basis for their future

research.

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Scope and Delimitations

This study focuses on the problem solving skills in

relation with the academic performance of the students. This

will be conducted at the population of Grade 7 students of

Dumingag National High School located at Lower Landing,

Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur.

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