The Struggles and its Effect in Studying Pre-Calculus of Grade 11 Science,

Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Strand of the Senior High School

students at La Consolacion College Manila in their Academic Performance
Background of the Study

Students are facing struggles in their studies. One of the

factors why students struggle in various field of study is they
are having a hard time in analyzing at the area of Mathematics.
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, Mathematics is
the science of numbers, quantities and shaped and the
relations, also Mathematics is a complex study of numbers.
According to Jo Baler, for many students, math class is the
“subject of nightmares”. This subject can give a huge amount
of problem to other students. Some are pressured because
they can’t anticipate learning in this area. This can cause
pressure to the students, especially to those students that have
difficulty on solving or understanding easy or complex
Mathematics equations.
Statement of the Problem
The main problem of this research study is to determine
the struggles of Grade 11 STEM students and its effects to
their Academic Performance in studying Pre-Calculus.
1. What are the demographic profile of the grade 11
students under Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics strand at La Consolacion College Manila in
terms of :
1.1 Age
1.2 Gender
2. What are the effect in their Academic Performance of the
grade 11 STEM students at La Consolacion College
Manila?
3. What is the level of awareness in studying Pre-Calculus
at La Consolacion College Manila.?
Hypothesis

Null Hypothesis
There are no struggles and effects in the Academic
Performance of Grade 11 STEM students in
studying Pre-Calculus at La Consolacion College
Manila.

Alternative Hypothesis
There are struggles and effects in the Academic
Performance of Grade 11 STEM students in
studying Pre-Calculus at La Consolacion College
Manila.
Scope and Limitation
This study was only limited to the opinions of the
grade 11.STEM students. The researcher chose
(22) students form the Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics strand.
Responses of the students were kept confidential.
Data gathering employed the questionnaire when
the researcher/researchers admit the limitation of
the bias.
This study focus on determining the effects of
studying Pre-Calculus in their Academic
Performance.
 
CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELATED
LITERATURE

According to Jo Boaler “For many students, math class is the subject of

nightmares. Many who enthusiastically show off their counting skills in pre-
school years later consider math class the most loathed hour of the school day.
The problem, according to a Stanford education professor, is a matter of
mindset. “All children are different in their mathematical thinking, strengths and
interests,” a professor of mathematics education at Stanford Graduate School
of Education. Boaler has studied how students learn math, to identify why so
many students end up hating or fearing math, and, too often, underachieve.
She has followed thousands of students through middle and high schools to
ascertain exactly how they learn and what are the most effective ways they
reach their potential. In her new book, Mathematical Mindsets, Boaler
describes how society has traditionally valued one type of math learner – one
who can memorize well and calculate fast – as opposed to others who have
the same potential but may be deeper, slower and more creative. The book
offers research evidence and resources for teachers and parents to help
children learn math well, in the classroom and at home.
 
According to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE, 2005), there is a great
need for recruitment and retention of students in fields requiring mathematics.
Researchers report that entry-level calculus is the stumbling block for most
engineering students (Habre&Abboud, 2006; Judson &Nishimori, 2005; Moore,
2005; Subramanian, Cates &Gutarts, 2008). Because first semester calculus
has a high failure rate (Subramanian et al., 2008), it is critical for both teachers
and researchers to identify indicators for success in entry-level calculus to
better advise students. The ongoing need to better understand the challenges
that students face in general calculus courses is well documented (Bressoud,
2009). First semester calculus courses have high failure rates and therefore
serve as a barrier for many students interested in STEM career trajectories
(Burton, 1989; Ferrini-Mundi &Grahm, 1991; Habre&Abboud, 2006; Judson
&Nishimori, 2005; Subramanian et al., 2008). To highlight this widespread
problem, Moore (2005) designates calculus as the gatekeeper course for
engineering majors in much the same way that algebra is regarded as a
gatekeeper course in secondary education, and Burton (1989) notes that
college calculus is unforgiving in that it depends heavily and directly upon the
student’s actual skills from high school mathematics courses.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Conceptual Framework

PRE-CALCULUS

Students

Awareness

The conceptual framework of this research study shows the

interconnected variable to know the possible effects in their
Academic profile.
CONCEPTUAL
PARADIGM

Independent Variable:
Level of Awareness

Intervening Variable:
Pre-Calculus

Dependent Variable:
Effects

The conceptual paradigm aim to determine the Level of awareness of the

grade 11 STEM students of La Consolacion College Manila. .Independent
variable which is the level of awareness while the dependent variable that can
cause change in the study.
CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH DESIGN

In conformance with the objectives of the research study

entitled “Struggles and its Effects in Studying Pre-Calculus
of Grade 11 Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics Strand of the Senior High School Students at
La Consolacion College Manila in their Academic
Performances” which is to determine how the students
having their hard time in studying Pre-Calculus of Grade
11 students under the Science, Engineering, Technology
and Mathematics strand. This study is focused on the
effect to their Academic Performances in studying Pre-
Calculus to the Grade 11 STEM students at La
Consolacion College Manila. In addition, the way it affect
the Grade 11 STEM students will be discussed in this
research study.
 PARTICIPANTS
The questions given from the Research
study was answered by the grade 11
students sections St. Clare, St. Alypius,
St. John and St. Lawrence under the
strand of Science Technology
Engineering and Mathematics. The
research question comes from the
students of Grade 12- Bl. Stephen.
SAMPLING TECHNIQUE

  The type of sampling technique we

used for this research study is simple
random technique.

= 22

= 5.5 or 6
RESEARCH INSTRUMENT
The researchers of the Grade 12 students under Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics of La
Consolacion College Manila. Conducted a questionnaire
type of instrument. This served as a content of the respond
of the respondents toward the question that we provided.
This instrument also identified the effects in their Academic
Performance in studying Pre-Calculus. The possible effects
are low grades, loss of self- confidence and loss of interest
to the subject. Inside the instrument is the demographic
profile of the respondents in forms of name (optional), age
and sex. It is followed by the level of awareness that is
answerable by ranking which is 4- strongly satisfied, 3-
satisfied , 2-not satisfied, 1- strongly not satisfied
DATA GATHERING TECHNIQUE
Step 1: Asking for Permission / Authorization
The researchers asked their permission to the
facilitators of La Consolacion College Manila when
they conduct their research inside the school
Step 2: Preparing the Research Instruments
The researcher prepared a set of questions that
given to the respondents, Grade 11 STEM
students of La Consolacion College Manila. After
the authorizing the permission for the research
study, it was conducted in the class of Grade 12-
Bl.Stephen.
Step 3: Accumulation of Research Instrument
The questionnaire was distributed to the students of
Grade 11 STEM students specifically St. Clare, St.
Alypius, St. John and St. Lawrence In question number 1
the researcher used frequency percentage in
determining the possible effects, While in the second and
third question they used a weighted mean average.
Step 4: Data Analysis
After the accumulation of data, graphical representations
was provided such as graphs and tables to discuss and
present the quantity of students who struggles in
studying Pre- Calculus and to know the effects in their
Academic performance of Grade 11 STEM Senior High
School students at La Consolacion College Manila.
METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS
The
   researcher used an inductive type to analyze the
gathered data. We began in specific ideas, and gathered
into general information. The data gathered from the
respondents served as the proof of the truthfulness and
validity of the research study’s problem that students
struggling in studying Pre-Calculus and how are they
affected in their academic performance of preferred
students from Grade 11 under the Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics strand of La Consolacion
College Manila.
 
 
 
CHAPTER 4
DATA PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION
The table represents the Grade 11 STEM students in
terms of their Demographic profile:
Age

Age Frequency Percentage

16 8 36.36%

17 10 45.45%

18 4Table No. 1.1 Age 18.18%

The table and graph represent their demographic profile:

Sex

Sex Frequency Percentage

Male 12 54.54%

Female 10 45.45%
Table 1.2 Gender
The table represent the possible effects in studying
Pre-Calculus.

  F P

Low Grades 8 36.36%

Loss self 7 31.81%

Confidence

Loss Interest in 7 31.81%

the subject
The table represent the students having hard time in
analyzing Pre-Calculus.

Question 2.1

Legend Frequency  

4 – Strongly Satisfied 8 32

3 – Satisfied 12 36

2 – Not Satisfied 2 4

1 –Strongly Not 0 0

Satisfied

Table 2.1
The table represent the students who agreed that Pre-
Calculus can affect their Academic Performance.

Question 2.2

Legend Frequency  

4 – Strongly Satisfied 8 32

3 – satisfied 9 27

2 – Not Satisfied 5 10

1 – Strongly Not Satisfied Table 2.1 0 0

CHAPTER 5
 SUMMARY,
CONCLUSION, AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
 SUMMARY
This Chapter presented the summary of the study, the conclusion drawn for findings and
recommendation regarding the study entitled “Struggles in studying Pre-Calculus of Grade 11
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics strand of Senior High School students of
La Consolacion College Manila and its effects to their Academic Performance”
This study aims to determine to know the possible effects on why the students having their
struggles in studying Pre- Calculus and if Pre-Calculus can affect their Academic
Performance
This study sought to answer the following:
 What are the demographic profile of the grade 11 students under Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics strand at La Consolacion college Manila in terms of
Age
Gender
  
 What is the effect in their Academic Performance of the grade 11 STEM students at La
Consolacion College Manila What are the effects in Academic Performance behavior of
Grade 11 STEM students in studying Pre-Calculus at La Consolacion College Manila?
 What is the level of awareness in studying Pre-Calculus at La Consolacion College
Manila.?
 CONCLUSION
The researcher conclude that the students from
grade 11 under Science Technology Engineering and
Mathematics strand are having hard time in analyzing
the Pre- Calculus area. The possible effects are
having low grades, loss of self-confidence and loss of
interest to the subject. For those student who has
struggles in coping with this subject, the researcher
suggested that every student should had enough time
in analyze the given problem, and each student must
manage their time when they are studying this
subject.
 RECOMMENDATION
This study is highly recommended for the
future researcher who will seek and dig deeply
about the struggles in studying Pre-calculus
and its effects in their Academic Performance
of the grade 11 students under Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
strand of La Consolacion College Manila. Also
to know them on how they will cope up in this
subject. The researcher will recommend this as
their guideline in doing this kind of study.