THE DISTRACTED STUDENTS MIND:

ENHANCING THEIR FOCUS AND ATTENTION

BY:
JIN-KHENNE MENDEZ
DENJZEL ARATEA
ALEXANDER MARCHA
MICAELLA AZUCENA
ANN TANHUECO
ALESSANDRA CRUZ
YGER ANN FERRER
ARNEL BARGAN
CJ CLEMENTER
KATHRYNA SINGH

A
Manuscript
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
 of the Course Requirements for the Degree of
Basic Education Program

Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND IT’S BACKGROUND

Introduction
A bustling noise from a crowd, a sound from car engines, your favorite song playing
on the radio, a notification from your phone, a simple laughing noise, and a small
chit-chat are examples of what makes people distracted. Imagine how people
immediately look just at the sound of things that fell on the floor, there are a lot of
potential factors that can cause people to be distracted. Distractions are one of the
reasons students have poor academic performance since it disrupts their focus and
attention, which affects their minds to fully comprehend the lesson. With a lot of
distractions in our surroundings, it is hard to focus as well to keep attention to one
thing only and this is one of the most common problems among students. Other
people are even more prone to external distractions; they may find it hard to stay
focused on one task because it reminds them of another, unrelated task. Naylon
(2022). This problem of distraction been affecting students mind to focus and to
give attention that caused them poor academic performance and having a hard
time comprehending the lesson, educators must act and take attention to student’s
problems for them to have more ease and fully excel in their academic
performances since this hindrance them from reaching the dream they want.

As you know focus is very important since it is the gateway in our thinking so if our
focus is being disrupted or distracted our way of thinking is being affected too as
well our attention. It is the guidelines to our thinking which tells us what to
prioritize, without it overloading task at the time will come at you and it will slow
down you’re thinking for there is a lot of thought one at a time. It is important to
talk about distraction since it is the one who is responsible for disrupting one’s
mind. For example, you are listening to your teacher but then a classmate who sits
beside you talks to you so now your attention is being divided into two, to your
teacher and your classmate as you get distracted by your classmate talking. Think
about your brain like a router, one device connected, to the Wi-Fi and the speed of
the Mbps is still fast since there is only one device and the Wi-Fi is focused on that
one device only but when a lot of devices started to connect the Mbps of the Wi-Fi
started to slow that which means that the more who connected the slower it
function as it divided into the amount of device like our brain that if there are a lot
of thoughts and task is there the more it get slower while the lesser the thoughts
and task is the more it is faster to function as well to focus its attention to one
thing. A study in Romania shows the impact of multitasking and the effect of
distraction from the pandemic, the researchers have conducted a study through
survey, interview, and observation to compare the behavior and impact of
multitasking in these two-learning environments in their research they find that
multitasking and using digital devices were associated with distraction. As we talk
about digital devices, there are researchers who believe that technology is the
number one factor of distraction for students, as of now you will no longer see any
people holding a book while walking since everyone now is busy staring at their
phone and holding it even while walking. In a study in Saudi Arabia, results
revealed that ringing cell phones in class was the most reported electronic external
distractor for 68% of students, and 21% of them reported being extremely
distracted by this noise. Having an instructor who is difficult to understand was the
most reported external behavioral distractor for 75% of students, and 48% of them
rated this as extremely distracting. Students talking in class were the most self-
produced distractor for 72% of students; negatively impacting their concentration
and ability to learn, and 42% of them rated it as an extreme distractor. According to
the latest data, people spend 5 hours and 23 minutes on their mobile devices a day
which shows how people’s attention is being focused on using mobile devices or
how one’s focus is being switched to mobile devices instead of what must be done
or where your focus supposedly be this where Steinhorst(2018), said that “Because
distraction, at its core, is this: confusion about what matters” he believes that
distraction isn't technology. It's not a second screen. It's not social media, email,
smartphones, or anything we often associate with it. In reality, these things are
simply ways we fill the time in which we're already distracted because it’s how one
person doesn’t know how to prioritize their attention to focus on something that
must be focused on, and what Dr. Nylon said shows us that Steinhorst has a point
that with not knowing what to prioritize it will hard to stay focus in one task if they
remind them some unrelated task. Although this thought still has a lot of gaps it
does connect well and made sense for how distraction works, it is still not clear
what is the main factor of student’s distraction with a lot of possible reasons for
how people’s mind is so easy to be distracted and for even the smallest things is
enough to take someone’s attention. Seeing the world into a large piece of a sphere
will make it more difficult to fill in the gaps but seeing the world into a large piece
of a sphere will be giving a chance for students to express their self and to
understand how their minds work in a different pattern and in a similar way.

The purpose of this research is to understand student’s mind. With this research,
we plan to know the source of the problem and the possible solution for the
distraction of students. We aim to know the reason of distraction and help students
to enhance their focus and attention for good academic performance. We gather
students from Grade 10 (2022-2023 S.Y) in Olongapo City National Highschool to
answer the survey questionnaire about one’s behavior that will lead us to know if
one person is easily distracted or not, and which will scale the frequency of their
distractions as well as the reasons. Finding the difference, similarities, and the
amount of frequency will give us the answer to where to focus the solution on
enhancing their focus and attention so by solving the main problem of distraction,
the minimal reason of distraction will be eliminated as well.
 Framework of the study

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

-What is the -Data gathering -Improved
profile of the using survey academic
learners in questionnaire performance
terms of:
-Data analysis & -Intervention
a. age interpretation program
b. sex
c. curriculum

Statement Of the Problem

The study aims to identify factors affecting distractions of grade 10 students to
improve their focus and attention.

It seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of students in terms of:
a. age
b. sex
c. curriculum
2. What are the possible factors that distract students to focus and pay attention
on their studies?
3. Is there a significant relationship between the identified factors affecting the
focus and attention of learners toward their academic performance?
4. What solution may be suggested to avoid distraction and improve learners’
focus and attention?
Hypothesis
The null hypothesis tested at 0.05 significance:
There is no significant difference between the factors creating distraction of
students and their academic performance.

Scope and Delimitation

This study aims to know the cause of distractions for students and to enhance
their focus and attention among tenth-grade students in the Olongapo City
National High School. The result of this study will be used to help students
enhance their focus and attention for better academic performance.

This study will define the factors of distractions that affect the students in tenth
grade based on the result of the survey questionnaires. In Addition to that, it
wants to determine what is the main factor of distractions of students to
effectively help them to enhance their focus and attention in suitable ways and
to know what we must do to take focus. This is said to be defined into three
factors; surroundings, technology, and behaviors. With this, the study limits its
result to tenth-grade students, as factors are focused on three only which means
any private matter is no longer part of the study even if it may affect students or
caused them a distraction. Respondents do not include students from other
places, schools, or other levels (e.g., Elementary, Senior High School, Tertiary).
Moreover, the questionnaire is expected to be answered honestly by the
respondents. Any type of prejudice and bias in their self-assessment will not be
measured in this study. The study aims to measure the frequency of students’
distractions and what makes them more distracted. Its objective is to find the
main factor or the cause of the problem of why students are being distracted to
effectively help them to enhance their focus and attention as we know the main
source of the problem.

Significance of the study

With this study, we also aimed to help a different sector that is listed. We want
to give sources or information about the distraction of students in this sector
and more. Aside from that, we want to give suggested solutions and efficient,
reliable, and helpful studies to contribute to the existing literature and related
area of knowledge.

Department of Education. This research will help them understand the

causes and effects of distractions on students. It will be a guide to creating an
effective solution to at least reduce the frequency of distraction as it helps them
to understand what are the things that often distract students or the source of
distractions and how it affects each student’s academic performance. This study
will help students to minimalize their behavior to act based on the Department
of Education rules. Also, it will raise awareness among the students to know the
current situation in our society.

School Administrators. Administrators have a big role in creating a good

learning environment and understanding the challenges students face is key to
that. through this research, we hope to discover practical ideas and strategies
that administrators can use to make the school more engaging and focused.
maybe things like taking focus on students’ worries or making the cause of their
distractions lessen. By doing this, they can make our learning experience better
and help us succeed. Our research will help school administrations as they find
how to deal with the distractions of students.

Junior High School Teachers. This study aims to help junior high school
teachers in their quest to improve students' focus and attention. In today's fast-
paced world, students face numerous distractions that hinder their ability to
concentrate on their studies. The goal of this research is to explore effective
strategies and techniques that teachers can employ to enhance students' focus
and attention in the classroom. By understanding the challenges and finding
practical solutions, teachers can create a more engaging and conducive learning
environment. Ultimately, this study aims to empower teachers with the
knowledge and tools to foster better concentration and academic success among
junior high school students.

Junior High School Students. the importance of this study is to open the
minds of students and other people regarding the importance of focusing only
on one thing before doing others because they do not finish it because they are
thinking about other things and intend this study to find what is the cause
distraction. Being distracted by other things and what the effects are caused by
it and to know the ways how it can be solved and even if it cannot be solved at
least it can be alleviated and reduce the stress they carry caused by distraction.

Olongapo City National High School. With this research, Olongapo City
National High School the place where respondents are gathered, will help their
students to enhance their focus and attention for a better academic
performance. The distraction of grade 10 students will be lessened, and teachers
will know how to take action how to lessen students distraction that affects
students in Olongapo City National High School.

Definition of Terms
Academic performance - Measurable outcomes and achievements of
students in an educational setting, including grades and test scores.
Alpha level - The predetermined threshold or significance level used in
statistical hypothesis testing to determine the likelihood of obtaining a result
due to chance.
Availability of information - Refers to the degree of accessibility, existence,
and readiness of relevant data, facts, or knowledge that can be obtained and
utilized by individuals with ease, timeliness, and convenience.
Characteristic - Involves defining it in terms of observable behaviors, traits,
or qualities that can be measured or assessed.
Disrupts - The frequency at which a firm experiences unexpected events that
interrupt a smooth flow of operations.
Distraction – Refers to an external or internal stimulus or event that diverts or
interrupts a person's attention, focus, or concentration from the task or activity
at hand.
External Distraction – Factors that divert attention from a specific task or
activity.
Factors - Specific variables or conditions identified and measured to determine
their influence on an outcome or situation.
Focus - The ability to concentrate attention and mental resources on a specific
task or objective while minimizing distractions and maintaining sustained
attention.
Gadgets - An often small mechanical or electronic device with a practical use
but often thought of as a novelty.
Interference - By a person or group is their unwanted or unnecessary
involvement in something.
Implication – A statement, event, or situation, is what it implies or suggests in
the case.
Mindset – A habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how
you will interpret and respond to situations.
Media - The collection of communication tools and platforms used to store,
distribute, and transmit information, including print, broadcast, and digital
channels.
Overloading Task - A situation where the demands of a task exceed an
individual's capacity to handle them effectively and efficiently, resulting in
decreased performance and potential negative consequences.
Overthinking - An unhealthy habit that typically causes more stress by
focusing on the negative, dwelling on the past, and worrying about the future.
Perception - The process of becoming aware, interpreting, and making sense
of sensory information or stimuli received from the environment.
Scale - Measurable size, extent, or impact of a system, process, or operation.
Time management - Refers to the practice of utilizing strategies, techniques,
and tools to plan, prioritize, and allocate time efficiently and effectively to
various activities, tasks, or responsibilities. It involves setting goals, creating
schedules, managing distractions, and making optimal use of available time
resources to enhance productivity and accomplish desired outcomes.
Usage - Refers to the application, utilization, or engagement with a particular
object, resource, or system by individuals or groups, typically quantified by
measures such as frequency, duration, or intensity of use.
 Chapter 2
METHODOLOGY

RESEARCH APPROACH AND DESIGN

The strategies of inquiry used in research design are divided into three
categories, namely case studies, surveys, and naturalistic observation,
depending on the overall approach to data collection and analysis. Stangor and
Walinga (2010). A quantitative approach was followed. Burns and Groove
(1993:777) define quantitative research as a formal, objective, systematic
process to describe and test relationships and examine cause and effect
interactions among variables. The aim of the quantitative approach is to
produce objective, empirical data that can be measured and expressed in
numerical terms which is more scientific, objective, fast, focused, and acceptable
than the qualitative approach. Quantitative researchers aim to create a general
understanding of behavior and other phenomena across different settings and
populations. The speed and efficiency of the quantitative method are attractive
to many researchers. Data computing equipment makes it possible to process
and analyze data quickly, even with large sample sizes. Williams (2021).

The type of design chosen in this research is descriptive survey design.

McCombes (2022) Descriptive research aims to describe a population, situation,
or phenomenon accurately and systematically. It can answer what, where, when,
and how questions, but not why questions. A descriptive research design can use
a wide variety of research methods to investigate one or more variables. In this
study, the information was collected through a self-administered questionnaire
distributed personally to the subjects by the researcher. As we chose a
descriptive survey design, we selected a descriptive survey too where it provides
an accurate portrayal or account of the characteristics, for example, behavior,
opinions, abilities, beliefs, and knowledge of a particular individual, situation,
or group. This design is chosen to meet the objectives of the study, to find the
answer or solution we have been looking for through one-person behaviors.
With descriptive design and a quantitative approach, we will be able to seek the
answer more quickly and without hassle.
RESEARCH SETTING
Olongapo City National High School is one of the biggest schools in Olongapo
City. It has an average population of 5,530 students. It is in the Central part of
Olongapo City along Rizal Avenue, corner 14th Street, East Tapinac When
Congressman Ramon Magsaysay worked for the approval of Republic Act 4645
converting Olongapo into a chartered city on June 1, 1966, the school was
renamed Olongapo City High School. The school is a contributor to the
popularity of the SMBA because of the work volunteerism performed by the
students and the men and women behind this school. The time when Filipinos
were at the height of rehabilitation from World War II. It used to be the school
where American and Amer-Asian children study when the US Naval Base was in
existence until November 1992. For some time, it was called JK Jackson High
School in honor of US Reservation Commander, Captain JK Jackson who
during the time. the municipality and Olongapo High School were officially
turned over to the provincial government in 1959.students designed to develop
individual learning inclinations and interests, discover talent in journalism, and
creative arts, learn foreign languages, and stress discipline in the field of sports
as well as physical sciences. It also opens its doors to non-conventional
education.

RESPONDENTS
The study will involve tenth-grade students from the Olongapo City National
High School as the target respondents. It is important to clarify the sample size
and our target which is grade 10 students who will answer the survey is 80
students. The Basic Education Program (BEP)aims to produce more
functionally literate students by empowering them with life skills and promoting
more ideal teachers that will perform collaborative teaching and transcending
knowledge in a non-authoritative way of instructing. It has reduced the number
of subjects from an average of eight to five, focusing on Filipino, English,
Science, and Math, which is seen to prepare students for global competitiveness.
It intends to align with the goals and principles of the BEP, contributing to the
understanding of factors affecting student distractions and providing insights
for improving students' focus and attention within the context of the
streamlined curriculum By selecting participants through a random sampling
technique, clarifying inclusion criteria, obtaining informed consent, ensuring
confidentiality and anonymity, and considering an appropriate sample size, the
study can enhance the validity and representativeness of its findings. We want
to know the main factor of grade 10 learners as we surveyed them to

DATA COLLECTION
Data collection of instrument
Survey questions are a set of specific questions that we use in surveys to get
information from people. We use surveys in different areas like research, market
analysis, and social studies. The main job of survey questions is to collect data
by asking people about their opinions, experiences, behaviors, or characteristics.
They have a structured format with choices for answers, which helps researchers
collect data in a standardized way and find patterns and trends. Survey
questions help researchers understand what people think, how they feel, and
what they like, so they can learn important things and make good decisions
based on the survey results.

Scaling behavior refers to how students' performance and progress change over
time. It helps us identify patterns and trends in their learning. By studying
scaling behavior, we can customize teaching methods and curriculum to meet
students' needs at different stages of their education. It also allows us to
pinpoint factors that impact student achievement, such as teaching methods or
the learning environment. Understanding scaling behavior helps us provide
targeted support for struggling students and nurture the talents of high-
achieving students, ensuring a more effective and inclusive education system.

We use scaling questions as a method to know their behavior and to know the
main factor of why students get distracted. We use survey questionnaires
because, surveys are commonly used for data collection due to their
standardization, enabling comparison and analysis. They gather quantitative
data that can be easily quantified and interpreted. Surveys efficiently reach
many participants, offering diverse perspectives. Anonymity and confidentiality
promote honest responses, enhancing data accuracy. Surveys are cost-effective
and time-efficient due to their structured format. Depending on the sampling
technique, survey results can be generalizable to larger populations. Overall,
surveys provide a practical and efficient method for collecting quantitative data
from a diverse population, facilitating standardized analysis and insights.

DATA COLLECTION OF PROCEDURE

We started by creating a survey questionnaire. We ask each section for
permission if can hand out some survey questionnaire to answer and
we personally handed the questionnaire to Grade 10 (BEP) students in
Olongapo City National High School (OCNHS).

The questionnaire contains scaling,

it measures how much people agree or disagree. there are 20 questions we asked
by using Quantitative results. By scaling their answers, we can arrange all the
answers based on their frequency.

Distracted students often struggle with concentration due to noises, technology,

and surroundings. These distractions can impact academic performance, as
students may focus on unimportant tasks or trends. Technology, such as cell
phones and laptops, can also influence students' behavior, leading to issues like
tardiness, skipping class, and lack of participation. Addressing this factor can
improve students' academic performance.

Based on the results of the survey questionnaire of grade 10 (BEP) students,

surroundings, technology, and behavior. These are the 3 factors why students
get distracted. After one day of giving the survey questionnaire to each section
of the OCNHS students, we started collecting the responses of students and
began to analyze the survey answer.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
The researchers will apply the principle of ethical considerations developed by
Bryman and Belle (2007) we will explain the research and obtain informed
consent from the participants. We will make sure that their identity is safe and
respect the privacy and confidentiality of the students or participants. We will
ensure the protection of the students or participants from any potential harm.
We will ensure that there are no biases and give them equal opportunities and
access to resources that may help them overcome distractions and succeed
academically. The approval of the research in Olongapo city national high
school is ensured as well as transparency and honesty we will ensure that this
research has no hidden agenda and conduct it with the honesty and trust of the
students or participants. We will respect the time and education of the students
and have a responsibility and ensure that their time in the classroom is
maximized for educational purposes. We will ensure equity and fairness and
give them equal learning opportunities and support system to mitigate these
challenges as well as the balancing use of technology and ensure that technology
is used for educational purposes and minimizing its potential to distract the
students we will ensure the teacher-student relationship is healthy to make a
positive learning environment. This conducting of research requires expertise
and diligence, as well as honesty and integrity. The subjects were informed of
their 45 rights to Voluntarily consent or to decline to participate, and to
withdraw their participation at a time without being punished or penalized. We
will ensure that the original sources have been credited and there is no
plagiarism in the research and there are no false data or misrepresenting results
in the research report.

Data Analysis
After the data was collected it was organized and analyzed. For the analysis of
scaling questions, a computer software program by Microsoft called Excell was
used. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics. A descriptive statistic is
a summary statistic that quantitatively describes or summarizes features from a
collection of information, while descriptive statistics is the process of using and
analyzing those statistics. A frequency table is drawn and from these, the data
was presented in pie diagrams and bar graphs. The scaling question result is
identified through the frequency of the response to what question is most likely
answered in 5 to 1. It is analyzed by seeing the similarities and differences
between the respondents who answer the survey questionnaire, we analyzed it
through quantitative content analysis with the aim of quantifying the emerging
characteristics and concepts. With the help of Excell which can be used in
calculating, accounting, charting, calendars and schedules, seating Charts, etc.,
analyzing the data of the research has been easier and faster to do with Excel.