SHARESEARCH: Creating a CoP Thru Sharing of Expertise on Students' Research Work

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

This action research funded by the Basic Education Research Fund (BERF) was conducted at the Sta. Lutgarda National High School -Senior High School Practical Research classes. As the students were advised to conduct studies about their communities, their limited knowledge of the community issues was a critical concern that could result to difficultly in pursuing their researches. Thus, an intervention program, Sharesearch, that sought the assistance of experts in the field, was implemented.

METHODS

This descriptive/qualitative method of research had for its primary respondents/ participants the Grade 12 students. The project was implemented to provide them with support along the subject / topic of their choice by collaborating with community experts.The baseline data of the student-researchers' level of confidence on their skills in conducting the research was used prior to the implementation of the program. The attitude change, or the lack of it, among participants to the project was evaluated; and lastly, the difference in the level of confidence of the students before and after the implementation of the project was viewed and tested statistically to see if such difference poses any significance.

RESULTS

The confidence level of the respondents along the given parameters: following the research process and working on their research topic before and after the implementation, were gauged. Significant mean difference of 1.698 was noted on the confidence level on working on their chosen topic; while the mean difference on following the research process was 1.088, not significant.

Other concerns not directly connected to the process like the respondents confidence on their language proficiency and the time allotted for the project were also noted.

DISCUSSIONS

The results showed the significance of the help provided by the partners in the field; proving that collaboration with the other stakeholders should be made as the knowledge of the concepts on the research process was not the cause of the apprehension in startingthe research but the actual unfamiliarity with the subject chosen.