Professional Documents
Culture Documents
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
In today’s educational landscape, student retention has become a critical concern for
educational institutions. The ability to retain students not only impacts the institution’s
reputation but also plays a significant role in student’s academic success and personal
providing them with access to skills and knowledge that can change their lives and give them
However, not all students succeed in their studies and may leave university prior to
completion. Thus, student retention is highly pertinent for students and universities globally.
The motivation for the higher education sector to improve retention rates is clear.
Universities with higher rates of completion enjoy positive reputations (Aljohani, 2016),
while high attrition rates negatively impact on institutions’ financial planning through loss of
thinking skills, and social interaction, ultimately leading to improved student retention
rates. According to Social Learning Theory: Developed by Albert Bandura (1977), social
learning theory emphasizes the importance of social interaction in the learning process.
According to this theory, students learn through observing and imitating others. Group
discussions provide an opportunity for students to actively engage with their peers, share
Gingoog City Colleges-Teacher Education Program 2
knowledge, and learn from each other's perspectives. This social interaction can enhance
understanding of the subject matter, gain different perspectives, and enhance their
communication and teamwork skills. These experiences can foster a sense of belonging and
connection to the learning community, which are important factors for student retention.
Moreover, discussions are known to provide the interest, engagement, and interaction
that lectures can lack (McKeachie, 2002). Indeed, when they are well structured, discussions
can give students more than just the opportunity to express their personal opinions. They can
help students to connect with and develop new ideas, wrestle with alternative perspectives
and apply new knowledge to complex problems in collaboration with their peers.
Importantly, when group discussion is used they can promote improvements in student
skills, group and team-working skills, better final exam performance, promote to have
better retention, and satisfaction with skills developed in classes (Kustra & Potter, 2010)
The Philippines' first time in the Program for International Student Assessment
(PISA) revealed that Filipino students ranked near the bottom in science and math among 79
countries. They scored 353 points in math, which is much lower than the 489 average of the
Local exam results also showed poor performance in math. The Department of Education's
Gingoog City Colleges-Teacher Education Program 3
2019 report on the National Achievement Test (NAT) showed low proficiency levels in
science, English, and math (Gonzales, 2019). The NAT is taken by Grade 6, 10, and 12
students. Improving math education isn't just about understanding the subject better, but also
about improving students' ability to remember what they've learned. This is important for
developing children's cognitive abilities, logical thinking, independence, and memory, which
are all goals of math education. There are reports that students struggle to remember
information and basic concepts after they're initially taught. This shows a need for ways to
improve memory retention. Reports also show that students struggle to understand statistics
and probability. The findings suggest that students are not retaining skills before instruction,
which needs to be addressed to prevent poor performance in future assessments. The root
cause of misunderstandings is the retention of skills learned during instruction (Capate &
Lapinid, 2015).
This action research study seeks to investigate the effect of implementing group
Colleges Inc. There are no further studies are conducted in Gingoog City. We hypothesize
that integrating structured group discussions into the classroom setting will enhance student
Theoretical Framework
This study is anchored on the following theories namely: Astin’s (1984) Student
Involvement Theory, Bandura’s (1977) Social Learning Theory, Deutsch’s (1949) Social
Gingoog City Colleges-Teacher Education Program 4
Interdependence, Theory Tinto’s (1993) Student Integration Theory, and other studies related
to the study.
student retention. Astin's theory suggests that the greater the level of student involvement in
college, the greater their learning and personal development outcomes (Rendo, Jalomo &
faculty, and engagement in the campus community. Group discussions can contribute to
these dimensions by providing opportunities for students to actively engage with course
material, collaborate with their peers, and develop meaningful relationships with their
subject matter, gain different perspectives, and enhance their communication and teamwork
skills. These experiences can foster a sense of belonging and connection to the learning
community, which are important factors for student retention (Hoyt & Winn, 2003).
The major premise of social learning theory is that learners can improve their
knowledge and retention by observing and modeling the desired behaviors, attitudes and
reactions of others, and that human thought processes are central to understanding
personality (Schunk, 2007). To create the new behavior, learners will form an idea by
observing a reproduction of the desired behavior. Learners learn more through the
Gingoog City Colleges-Teacher Education Program 5
observation of models when they display new patterns of behavior (Schunk, 2007). Bandura
suggests that the retention of modeled information requires several cognitive activities such
as organization, rehearsal, coding, and transformation. All of these activities can help
learners store the modeled information in their memory for a long time (Schunk, 2007).
The social interdependence theory is relevant when each individual’s goals are
accomplished under the influence of the actions of others (Johnson & Johnson, 2005). This
perspective holds that students help each other learn because they care about the group and
its members, and come to derive self-identity benefits from group membership (Slavin,
strategies, generation of new ideas and solutions, transfer of what is learned within one
learn, and positive attitudes toward learning and school (Johnson & Johnson, 2008).
Vincent Tinto's theory is widely recognized in the field of student retention, and it
student persistence. In the context of group discussions, Tinto's theory highlights the role of
social integration. Group discussions provide opportunities for students to interact with their
peers, exchange ideas, and build relationships. Through these interactions, students can
develop a sense of belonging and connection to the learning community, which can
positively impact their retention (Smith, 2002). It's important to note that Tinto's theory is not
Gingoog City Colleges-Teacher Education Program 6
Conceptual Framework
Improved
Level of Students’ Group
Students’
Retention Discussion
Retention
Figure 1.
This study generally seeks to assess the current students’ retention rates among Grade
10th students and identify areas for improvement. Specifically, it tries to answer the
following questions;
2. Is there a significant difference between the previous students’ retention to the current?
Students – The study directly benefits Grade 10 students by providing them with an
aims to improve their academic performance, engagement, and motivation, ultimately leading
benefit from the study’s findings and recommendations to enhance their retention strategies
and improve overall student outcomes. The study provides evidence-based insights that can
Teachers -The study offers valuable insights and practical recommendations for
educators at Gingoog City Colleges Inc. on how to effectively integrate group discussion
activities into their teaching practices. Educators can benefit from the findings to create a
more interactive and collaborative learning environment that promotes student retention and
academic success.
Parents – Parents and guardians of Grade 10 students will benefit from the study as it
aims to improve student retention rates. The findings can assure them that their children are
success.
Gingoog City Colleges-Teacher Education Program 8
student retention and the effectiveness of group discussion activities. It can serve as a
foundation for future research and action in the field of education, particularly in exploring
The study focuses specifically on Grade 10 students at Gingoog City Colleges Inc.
The research aims to investigate the effectiveness of group discussion activities on student
The study is conducted within the context of Gingoog City Colleges Inc. The findings
and recommendations are tailored to the institutional setting and may not be directly
The study focuses on a specific sample size of Grade 10 students at Gingoog City
Definition of Terms
This section provides following terms operationally defined for a better understanding
of the study:
decision-making.
Grade 10 Students- Refers to students in the tenth grade or the final year of
Gingoog City Colleges. Inc- It is the school where the study will be conducted.
Level – In this study, it assesses the students’ retention between the previous and the
current.
Gingoog City Colleges-Teacher Education Program 10
Long-term Memory – It is the storage of memories that tend to be stable and can last
for a long time. In this study, help learners store their knowledge for long time.
Motivation – He or she internal drive or desire that energizes and directs students’
Promote – It entails flexibility for learners who struggle to grasp concepts. In this
Retention – An ability to retain things in the minds of the students. It is one of the
CHAPTER 2
This chapter presents a review of related literature and studies. It discusses major
insights and substance to further support the present problem being studied. Foreign and local
studies give a more extensive view of the research problems under investigation.
studies exploring the effects of collaborative learning on high school student retention. Their
research synthesized findings from various contexts and educational systems, providing a
systematic review examines the effects of grade retention on student outcomes. It explores
the potential impact of retention strategies on student retention rates and academic
performance.
Williams, E. K., & Brown, A. J. (2019), Brown focused on the dynamics of teacher-
student collaboration in North American high schools. Their study employed surveys,
Schmidt, L. G., & Müller, J. R. (2020), conducted a comparative study across European high
Gingoog City Colleges-Teacher Education Program 12
schools to examine the effects of digital collaboration on student retention. Utilizing surveys
and academic performance data, the research highlighted variations in the use and impact of
Empirical Studies Applying Causal Inference” – This literature review examines the effects
of grade retention policies on student outcomes. It analyzes empirical studies applying causal
According to the study by Anderson, C. L., & Walker, B. M (2021), Titled: "Long-
surveys, and community engagement metrics, the study demonstrated how collaborative
efforts between schools and local communities contribute to a positive learning environment
Tanaka, Y., & Kim, S. H. (2022), conducted a longitudinal study in Asian high
and retention. The research utilized surveys, academic records analysis, and follow-up
Collaborative learning helps learners to share their understanding and learning experiences
Gingoog City Colleges-Teacher Education Program 13
and helps to promote their learning performance as well as for both groups and individuals.
The lack of collaboration among students leads to poor academic achievement, low
perceptions of greater social support, and low self-esteem (Uwizeyimana et al., 2018).
teamwork, more retention, and promotes students to be more engaged in the learning process
and transfer of knowledge (Nkechinyere et al., 2018). Collaborative learning has been used to
promote learning achievement and encourage socialization and positive interaction among
students. It creates an environment for students that increases their academic performance as
they learn social skills and enhances the active participation of students (Eskay, Obiyo, &
Obidoa, 2012).
likelihood of knowledge acquisition and transfer (Treagust, 2007). Research has shown that
al., 2007). Group discussion also provides opportunities for inquiry-based learning, which
has been shown to increase long-term knowledge retention (Akinbobola & Afolabi, 2009).
methods on high school student retention in urban public schools in the Philippines. The
retention rates.
on student retention in urban high schools. Utilizing surveys, classroom observations, and
academic records, the study examined how collaborative approaches enhance student
Philippine high schools. The research employed a qualitative approach, including interviews
with students and teachers, classroom observations, and analysis of academic performance.
integrating digital collaboration tools in high school classrooms on student retention. The
research, spanning multiple academic years, utilized surveys, academic performance analysis,
CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter presents the methods and procedure that will be use in conducting the
study. It includes the research design, research locale, the respondents, sampling procedure,
data gathering procedure, research instrument, scoring procedure, and statistical treatment of
data.
Research Design
This study utilizes the action research design specifically comparative design.
According to Lewin (1890 – 1947), action research is also defined as comparative research
on the condition and effects of various forms or fields in educational studies that employs a
spiral step which comprises a circle of planning, action and fact-finding about the outcomes
of the action. This provides assistance to the students’ retention through the application of
group discussion. The comparative survey is designed to test the possible difference between
two groups of phenomena (Calmorin & Calmorin, 2007). Its main objective is to analyze
whether the degree of differences is significant or just due to sampling or distribution error.
Gingoog City Colleges-Teacher Education Program 16
Research Locale
This study was conducted at one private school in Gingoog City, a school that abides
by the core values abbreviated as HAIL (humility, accountability, integrity, and loyalty).
Considered as one of the leading private schools in the city with a respectable track record of
student performance and achievement. The school offers both basic and tertiary educational
levels. Most students enrolled come from low to mid-income families, relatively more on
government-funded scholarships and financial aid. With over half a century of operations, the
school has gained popularity among the locals and in neighboring municipalities because of
Sampling Design
The researcher will use the purposive sampling technique. One section in Grade 10
was used as respondents. Their assessments and appraisals are often not depictive of their
that can inform policy and intervention strategies to promote better student retention rates.
The respondents of the study will be the grade 10 students of one of the secondary
private schools in Gingoog City for the school year 2023-2024. Grade 10 Talisay. This grade
level was chosen because this is considered to be the transition period from junior to senior
Gingoog City Colleges-Teacher Education Program 17
high school. Table 1 presents the number of Grade 10 students chosen as respondents to the
study.
Research Instrument
The instrument that the researcher used in this study is composed of one part. The
researcher used an adopted and modified questionnaire based on the principles of group
discussion learning as outlined by Barkley, E. F., Cross, K. P., & Major, C. H. (2014). Group
discussion learning techniques: A handbook for college faculty. John Wiley & Sons.
For the reliability of the research instrument, the questionnaire was pilot-tested on a
similar group of forty respondents in the same grade level in the same school. After
conducting the pilot test, Cronbach's Alpha will be computed. A desired result of .825
and .818 was attained and considered the instrument as reliable. Furthermore, it was
validated and calculated with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
An endorsement letter was secured from the Dean of Graduate School asking
permission to conduct this study. A letter of request was prepared by the researcher and
addressed to all concerned, such as the high school principal who is overall in charge of the
school, the High School Registrar who keeps the information of all enrolled students, the
principal who is the charge of the students, the teachers who play a major role in the
development of the students’ retention, the parents who are responsible for their children’s
growth, and the students who were the main subjects of the study.
students. The main data-gathering tool was the questionnaire. The questionnaire was duly
respondents. Afterward, data collected from the said processes shall be tabulated and
provided them with clear instructions on how to answer. The test questionnaire had 1 part.
Scoring Procedure
After the distribution and retrieval of the questionnaire from the respondents, the data
was tabulated, collated, and analyzed using a t-test for comparisons of two independent
groups or to determine if they are significantly different from each other. The t-test generates
a t-value, which is then compared to a critical value based on the chosen significance level
(e.g. 0.05), if the calculated t-value exceeds the critical value, it suggests that there is a
statement that outlines the results of the t-test, including the calculated t-value, degrees of
For the Effectiveness of Collaborative Learning scale ranging from 1 (strongly agree)
to 4 (strongly disagree).
For assessing the level of students' retention, a scale ranging from 1 (strongly agree)
to 4 (strongly disagree).
Statistical Treatment
The data gathered was collated, integrated, analyzed, and interpreted using the
After these steps, the researcher then analyzed the result of the survey to decide
REFERENCES
Akinbobola, A.O. & Afolabi, F. (2009). Constructivist practices through guided discovery
approach: The effect on students’ cognitive achievement in Nigeria senior secondary
school physics. Bulgarian Journal of Science and Educational Policy, 3(2), 233-252.
Anderson, T. (2003). Getting the mix right again: an updated and theoretical rationale for
interaction. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 4(2), 9-
14.
Aquino, I. (2019). Classroom Collaborative Learning Approach: The Students Stand Point.
International Journal of Advanced Research in Management and Social Sciences,
ISSN: 2278-6236.
Dewiyanti, S., Brand-Gruwel, S., Jochems, W., & Broers, N.J. (2007). Students’ experience
with collaborative learning in asynchronous computer-supported collaborative learning
environments. Computers in Human Behavior, 23(1), 496-514.
Eskay, M., Obiyo, N., & Obidoa, M. (2012). Use of Peer Tutoring, Cooperative Learning,
and Collaborative Learning: Implications for Reducing Anti-social Behavior of
Schooling Adolescents. 11, 932–945.
Johnson, D.W., & Johnson, F. (2008). Joining together: Group theory and group skills (10th
ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Gingoog City Colleges-Teacher Education Program 22
Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. T. (2009). An educational psychology success story: Social
interdependence theory and cooperative learning. Educational Researcher, 38, 36-379.
Johnson, D. W., Johnson, R. T., & Smith, K. A. (1998). Cooperative learning returns to
college: What evidence is there that is works? Change, 30, 26–35.
Reyes, A. M (2009) Cooperative versus competitive efforts and problem solving. Review
of Educational Research, 65, 129-143.
Santos, R.A (2022). Cooperative learning and literacy. Journal of Research on Educational
Effectiveness, 6(4), 339-360.
Schmidt, K. L., et al. 2021). Society to cell: How child poverty gets “under the skin” to
influence child development and lifelong health Developmental Review, 61, Article
100983. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2021.100983
Schunk, D. H. (2007). Learning theories an educational perspective (6th ed.). Boston, MA:
Pearson Education Inc.
Springer, L., Stanne, M. E., & Donovan, S. S. (1999). Effects of small-group learning on
undergraduates in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology: A meta-
analysis. Review of Educational Research, 69(1), 21-51
Uwizeyimana, D., et al. (2018). The impact of teaching approaches on effective physics
learning: An investigation conducted in secondary schools in Rusizi District, Rwanda.
Rwandan Journal of Education, 4(2), 4–14
Wendt, J. (2013). The Effect of Online Collaborative Learning on Middle School Student
Science Literacy and Sense of Community. Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA.
Gingoog City Colleges-Teacher Education Program 24
QUESTIONNAIRE
Name (Optional):
Instructions:
Please indicate the extent of your agreement or disagreement on the following
indicators using the provided scale.
Indicators 4 3 2 1
Strongly Agree Disagree Strongly
Agree Disagree
I believe that collaborative learning has
improved my understanding of the course
material.
I believe that the effectiveness of collaborative
learning should be recognized more in our
curriculum.
I think that collaborative learning activities
have been more enjoyable than traditional
lectures.
I believe that collaborative learning has
prepared me for real-world situations where
teamwork is required.
I feel that collaborative learning has helped me
Gingoog City Colleges-Teacher Education Program 25
Part II. 10-item. Modified Survey Questionnaire assessing the level of student retention
(L., Stanne, M. E., & Donovan, S. S, 1999).
Instructions:
Please indicate the extent of your agreement or disagreement on the following
indicators using the provided scale.
Indicators 4 3 2 1
Strongly Agree Disagree Strongly
Agree Disagree
I feel confident in my ability to remember
information from previous lessons.
I can easily recall the main points of the lesson
I’ve learned.
I can recall key concepts or facts from the
beginning of the semester.
I engage in active learning strategies, such as
summarizing information or teaching it to
someone else.
Gingoog City Colleges-Teacher Education Program 26