Difficulties Encountered by Grade 12 Students in Conducting Research

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Research is defined as a systematic, investigative process employed to increase or revise the current knowledge by discovering new facts. Being one of the skills needed to develop 2first century learners, it is imperative to nurture research skills among students in order for them to become competitive in the new milieu. As such, this study aimed to assess the perceptions of the student-respondents towards research and the difficulties they have in conducting it. By identifying these problems, academic leaders will be able to devise enrichment activities and supplemental materials to augment the research-related skills of the learners.

METHODS

A quantitative-descriptive method was used in this study with a validated questionnaire as a research instrument. The study made use of 197 respondents out of 389 Grade 12 students of Buhaynasapa National HighSchool, School Year 2017-2018, across tracks and strands. It was obtained through random sampling with the use of Slovin's Formula at a 5% margin of error. Before conducting the study, the researcher secured permits to authorities, then, administered the research instrument used. The researcher also consulted a statistician in treating the gathered data.

RESULTS

The overall assessment of the respondents towards their perception about research obtained the composite mean of 3.64 interpreted as strongly agree. Despite this awareness and relatively high perception, the findings revealed that they are still frequently encountering difficulties in conducting it. It is evident on the generated average composite mean of 3.40 interpreted as frequently encountered. The study also showed that stating the research problem got the highest composite mean of 3.46 interpreted as frequently encountered. Competencies related to presenting, analyzing and interpreting data, and summarizing the findings and formulating conclusions and recommendations were least rated difficulties a composite mean of 3.35 interpreted as frequently encountered.

DISCUSSIONS

The study revealed that students are greatly aware of the nature, characteristics, and importance of research but are still lacking skills and competencies essential in writing it. Specifically, competencies related to stating the research problem are the major difficulties encountered by the respondents. Once accomplished properly, proceeding competencies will be easier as revealed on the analyzed data. Therefore, enrichment activities and supplemental materials should focus on these least mastered competencies.