Causes of Poor Academics Performance in Science in Grade – 11 Specialists S.Y.

2016 - 2017

RESEARCH PAPER

PRESENTED TO:

RONALYN M. PUPA

ENGLISH TEACHER

AND

THE FACULTY OF MARCELO I. CABRERA VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SUBJECTS

PRACTICAL RESEARCH I

RESEARCHERS:

PRINCE MYLE VISCA

ZUZEINE FRANCISCO

MAY ANN BELTRAN

AYOM TONAW

GENELYN MARIN
 Chapter I

Introduction:

“The highest level of performance came to people who are centered, creative,
intuitive and reflective people who know to see a problem as an opportunity.” (Deepak
Chopra). The students nowadays have poor performance in their academics subject
especially in education. Education is a fundamental human right as well as a catalyst for
economic growth and human development (Okumu et.al. 2008). Education is valued
because it contributes to the national development through the provision of an
appropriate human resource that helps to stimulate productivity and eliminate hunger,
poverty, disease and ignorance (Republic of Kenya, 2005)

Learning performance talks about how do the students is accomplishing his/her

duties, responsibilities and studies. There are some factors that determine the status
and the rate of students learning performance is what you have shown you can do in a
certain subject. Ability is a talent, skills or proficiency in a particular area. It is what you
can do, given ideal circumstance. You can think of it as being internal and hidden until
you show what can do with your performance.

Poor academic performance can be caused by a variety of factors, very few of

which have to do with a moral or intellectual failing on the part of the student. Often, a
combination of internal and external factors influence a student’s academic performance
getting to the root of these causes can increase academic performance dramatically.

Some external factors that can affect academic performance include the class in
which the student is doing poorly and stressful situation that have nothing to do with the
class. If the student is preoccupied by troubles at home or with friends, she may not be
able to devote the necessary time and effort to the class. On the other hand, if the
student is not feeling challenge in the class or does not have the necessary background
knowledge, she/may suffer academically. Students who do not have the necessary
knowledge may need to go back to study the subject at an earlier level, while students
who are not feeling challenged may do better if they are moved forward to more
advanced level. Finally, very bright students who naturally excel in school without
having to study may perform poorly in classes that demand more from them because
they do not have the necessary study skills to get ahead.

Poor academic performance according to Aremu and Sokan (2003) is a

performance that is adjudged by the examinee/test and some other significant that
shows as falling below an expected standard. Also Asikhia (2010) described poor
academic performance of the individual or candidate in a learning situation as one
which a candidate fails to attain a set standard of performance in a given evaluation
exercise such as a test, an examination or series of continuous assessments. A
candidate who scores below the standard is regarded as showing poor academic
performance in school. Some people blame students and others blame the government
while, others blame the teachers on this matter. Aremu (2000) stresses that academic
failure is not only frustrating to the students and the parents, its effect are equally grave
on the society in terms of death of manpower in all spheres of the economy and politics.
Education of secondary school level is supported to be the base and the foundation
towards higher knowledge in tertiary institutions. It is an investment and an instrument
that can be used to achieve a more rapid economic, social, political, technological,
scientific, and cultural development in the country.

Some factor that can affect student’s academic performance include parental
support, socio – economic states, the location of the school, class diversity and school
admissions processes. Research has shown that a student’s level of physical activity
may also have an effect on performance due to the benefits of exercise on executive
functioning. Poverty can have a large impact on student performance. The parents of
poor children may not be around as much to help them with their schoolwork, and there
are also issues like stress, behavioral problems, health concerns and delays in cognitive
development that can result from such a background.

Another factor that impact on student performances is the diversity of the class.
For example, students with special needs may not integrate will into classrooms with
other students whose first language isn’t English can have a hard time for the following
along with schoolwork.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to answer the following questions.

1.) Why did you get lowest grade in Science?

2.) How will you improve your performance in Science?

Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study will be focus on the Poor Academic Performance of the Grade – 11
students in section Specialist in Marcelo I. Cabrera Vocational High School at San
Aquilino, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro.

Significance of the Study

This study would be great help to the following:

Teachers: most be found out that the problems of poor working conditions to the
teachers result in higher absenteeism, reduced levels of effort, and lower effectiveness
in the classroom, low morale, and reduced job satisfaction where acceptance of
responsibility. Teachers have been shown to have an important influence on students’
academic achievement.

Students: We must inform the student in this situation we need to study hard and to
improve their academic performance especially in school.

Parents: We must inform the parents who guide their children in their study and to avoid
the poor academic performance.
 The home environment also affects the academic performance of students.
Educated parents can provide such an environment that suit best for academic success
of their children. The school authorities can provide counseling and guidance to parents
for creating positive home environment for improvement in student’s quality of work

Other Researchers: We must know that the education is very important to us especially
in our society.

Conceptual Framework

IV DV

Causes of Poor Academics Level of Students Performance

Performance in Science

The causes of poor academics in science of Grade 11 – Specialists over a given

of time may be influenced by the level of students performance, directly or indirectly
either by increasing or decreasing of the number of the students who have their low
grades that can cause poor academic performance in science of Grade – 11
Specialists. This conceptualization shows the complexity of factors affecting students’
academic performance in science of Grade 11 – Specialists.

Theoretical Framework

Achievement Goal Theory Just as self-determination is important to student motivation,

so are students’ goals. Both sets of characteristics help to explain the reasons why
students engage (or fail to engage) in school-related tasks. According to achievement
goal theory (Ames, 1992; Harackiewicz, Barron, Pintrich, Elliot, & Thrash, 2002), it is not
only the strength but also the nature of students’ academic goals that influence their
approaches to learning opportunities and their consequent learning and achievement .
Definition of Terms:

Academic Performance – this refers to the ability to study and remember facts, being
able to study effectively and see how facts fit together and form larger patterns of
knowledge, and being able to think for yourself in relation to facts and being able to
communicate your knowledge verbally or down on paper.

Effective Learning – This refer to student’s being available, focused and committed to
undertake learning willingly.

Effective School – this refer to a school whose educators are responsible for producing
acceptable results, by putting emphasis on instructional leadership, focus on vision and
mission, school safety and orderliness, communicating high expectations for success,
monitoring of student progress, home-school relations, and creating an opportunity to
learn for each student .

Effective Learning – This refers to helping students to learn by providing adequate

context and content, and involving the learners in the process of responding to
questions, summarizing findings and discussions and research and report on
unanswered questions.
 Chapter II: Review of Related Literature and Studies

This chapter aims to fully discuss the related literature and studies found
in book, articles, magazine, and even in the online sources about the causes of poor
academic performance.

Related Literature

Foreign

As cited by Monroe (1923) he emphasized the questions which teachers

ask during class periods constitute a concrete expression of the educational objectives
which they are day by day ----- for their students. The questions of the final
examinations should, therefore, be representatives of the types of educational
objectives set in the different school subjects. The emphasis upon memory and some of
the simpler types suggests a need for a modification in emphasis in most of the school
subject. The emphasis upon a memory and some of the simpler types suggests a need
for a modification un emphasis in most of the school subject. Frequently all questions
are considered as belonging to one of two groups “thought question” or memory
questions. Such a definite classification is not, however always possible. The character
of the mental process involved in answering depends upon the person replying as well
as upon the form of the question asked. Those questions calling for definite facts or
almost certain to be based upon memory; in the other hand, those requiring
classification, evaluation, contrast etc. are likely to demand thought on the part of the
most student. If however, such classification or evaluation have been made in a
previous class exercise some students may easily remember the answer and, in such a
case. A thought question for one student becomes a memory question for another.
(Monroe, 1923)

According to Galiher (2006) and Darling (2005), used GPA to measure the student
performance, the main focus in student performance for the particular semester. Some
other researchers used test results or previous year result since they are studying
performance for the specific subject or year (Hijazi and Naqvi, 2006 and Hake, 1998).
Many researchers have discussed the different factors that affect the student academic
performance in their research. There are two types of factors that affect the student’s
performance. These are the internal and external classroom factors and these factors
strongly affect the student’s performance. Internal classroom factors strongly affect the
student’s performance. Internal classroom factors include student’s competence in
English, class schedules, class size, English text books, class test results, learning
facilities, homework, environment of the class, complexity of the course material,
teacher’s role in the class, technology used in the class and exams systems. External
classroom factors include extracurricular activities, family problems, work and financial,
social and other problems. Research studies shows that student’s performance
depends on many factors such as learning facilities, gender and age differences, etc.
that can affect student performance (Hansen, Joe B., 2000). Harb 2 nd El – Shaarawi
(2006) found that the most important factor with positive effect on students’ performance
is Parental Involvement.

Local

According to Theobouncin the topic that we research is all about the

FACTORS AFFECTING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.

The study intends to assess difference in the performance of students at

school and university levels and estimates the change in perception of students about
contribution of family, teachers, and self – efforts in academic achievements. Primary
data was collected through a structured questionnaire from final year students of
engineering departments of universities of Lahore. The statistics are computed by
comparing grades and perceptions of contributing factors of sampled students.

The study finds significant difference between university and school levels
regarding performance of students. Drastic change in the perception of students about
the share of family, teachers, and self – efforts in performance is also observed.

There are two main objectives of this report; first to estimate the change in
the performance of students at two distinct levels; school and university, second to
assess the change in the perception of students about role of contributing factors in
their academic achievements.

Before the initiation of the survey, a focus group of students of engineering

departments of different universities was conducted to assess the most significant
factors. In focus group, students identified the following factors, which had a significant
effect on their academic achievements.

1. Family support (moral 2nd economic)

2. Teachers (teacher’s skill, qualification guidance, and etc.)
3. Students self-profile (self – efficacy commitment level, self-discipline, life
objectives and etc.

Literature provides a number of reports, which have successfully

developed an association between performance of students and role of different
factors. The most common factors are family, teacher, school environment, and
personal profile of the students. (According to Diaz, 2003, Gianzero, 1999; Hijaz
and Naqvi, 2006)

Related Studies

Foreign

According to David Larry King (2013) the concepts of academic failure.

Poor academic performance is the performance that falls below a desired
standard. It is more subjective than academic failure. Owing to the fact that a
desired standard could be interpreted in different ways, poor academic
performance is therefore any performance that falls, this falls below adequate,
appropriate, wish or wanted standard. Poor academic performance can ---- from
zero to 100 and there a pass mark could be poor performance depending on the
standard desired. For existence, a teacher sets a very simple test and majority of
the students pass every well may be scoring 90% any student that score 95 or
80% in the same test is said to have failed and this failure in the context is poor
performance. On the other hand, if the pass mark is 40%, a candidate who
scores 30% is said to have failed, whereas in the former instance, 80% is also
deemed to be poor performance. Failure in relative terms is not necessarily poor
performance. If a teacher set a test and most of the students score 39% or less
failure in this test may not be poor performance.

According to Galiher, student performance has motivation, and reported a

nonlinear effect of attendance on learning. That is a few absences do not lead to
poor grades but excessive absenteeism does educational services are often not
tangible and transformation of knowledge, life skills and behavior modifications of
learners (Tsinidon, Gerogiannis, and Fitsilis, 2010) So there is no commonly
agreed upon definition of quality that is applied to education field. The definition
of quality of education varies from culture to culture (Michael, 1998). The
environment and the personal characteristics of learners play an important role in
their academic success. The school personnel, members of the families and
communities provide help and support to students for the quality of their
academic performance. This social assistance has a crucial role for the
accomplishment of performance goals of students at school (Goddard, 2003).
Besides the social structure, parent’s involvement in their child’s education
increases the rate of academic success of their child (Furstenberg and Hughes,
1995). Education encounter in modern times, challenges in all aspects of social,
economic and cultural life, the most important of which are over – population.
Over knowledge, education development and the change of teacher’s role, the
spread of illiteracy, lack of staff and the technological development and mass
media.

Local

According to our research, the topic that we put in the local literature is
THE EFFECT OF THE STUDY HABITS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF
STUDENTS IN KPTM-KL

The extent of student’s learning in academic may be determined by the

grades that a student earns for a period of learning has been done. It is believed
that a grade is a primary factor that indicates of such learning. If a student earns
high grades it is concluded that they may also have learned a lot while low
grades indicate lesser learning.

However, many experiences and studies found out that there are also
several factors that would affect the grades. Not a single factor can be definitely
pointed out as predicting grades. It has been interplay of so many factors gender,
study habits, age, year level, parent’s educational attainment, social status,
number of siblings, birth, order and etc. In fact, almost all of existing
environmental and personal factors are a variable of academic performance.

However, at this point in time, the researchers would like to investigate the
possible relationship of study habits and the factors affecting it to the academic
achievement of under graduate education students of KPTM-KL. The
investigation on this area thus becomes a real and compelling motivation for the
researchers to conduct this study.
 Chapter III

Research Methodology

This chapter presents research design, respondents of the study, population

sampling procedure, research instrument/data gathering procedures, and analysis of
narrative data used in the study.

Research Design

Qualitative Descriptive method was employed in this study to determine the

causes of poor Academic performance in Science of Grade – 11 students in Specialists.

Survey research is a method of collecting information by asking questions.

Sometimes interviews are done face to face with people at home, in school, at work.
That’s why the research uses the survey method to obtain more data and information.

Respondents of the Study

The respondents of this study were the five (5) selected students in Grade
– 11 Specialists of Marcelo I. Cabrera Vocational High School. The five (5) selected
students are those who have their poor academic performance in Science.

Population Sample and Sampling Procedures

The researcher make use of purposive sampling wherein the causes of

poor academic performance in Science of Grade – 11 Specialists a compromised the
respondents of this study.

Data Gathering Instrument

The researcher utilized a self-structure interview and observations the five

(5) selected students in Grade – 11 Specialists, who have their poor academic
performance in Science.
 Data Gathering Procedure

Equipped with infinite perseverance, the researchers tried they best to read
thoroughly any paper, article or study related to their research problem. From numerous
findings of the others studies ad researchers from internet, as well as the valuable
assistance and suggestions sought from our adviser, they formulated an interview which
was used as the main instruments in gathering data.

Analysis of Narrative Data

The data gathered were collected, presented and analyzed using

descriptive of narrative data. These were used to determine the respondent in terms of
their profile, the extent of the availability of the student of Grade – 11 Specialists in
Marcelo I. Cabrera Vocational High School.

Chapter IV

Presentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of Data

This chapter presents the analysis and interpretation of the

gathered data among the students of Grade 11 – Specialist in Marcelo I. Cabrera
Vocational High School through an interview.

1. Why did you get lowest grade in Science?

 Student A: I got the lowest grade in science, because I’m not doing
my activities, absent minded/mental blocked, I don’t know the answer when my teacher
ask me a question, bullying, I’m not participate in my group mates and during exam, I
have no time to review my science.

Student B: I got the lowest grade in Science, because I’m always

absent, I’m not doing activities in classroom, I don’t understand what the lesson teach of
our teacher, I’m not doing activities my assignment and projects, I don’t know what I’m
doing during science time, I’m not participate in my group mates, I’m absent minded, I’m
suffering from family problem, friends and financial problem.

Student C: I got the lowest grade in Science because I have no

activities, assignments and projects, family problem, financial problem, always absent
because I’ll take care of my niece, and also, I did not review my science notes that’s
why I get the lowest grade.

Student D: I get the lowest grade in science because I’m always

absent. I have no assignments, projects, activities and exams. I’m not participate in my
group mates, I always absent minded when my teacher ask me a question on our topic,
I’m shy and I have a family problem and financial problem.

Student E: I get the lowest grade in science because I have no

assignments, projects, activities, and exam, I’m not participate in my group mates, I
suffer from bullying, I’m always absent because of my work because I want to support
may family.

The respondents answer showed that the causes of their lowest

grade in science are always absent, they not doing their homework, activities, projects,
financial needs and family problem.

2. How will you improve your performance in Science?

Student A: I will improve my performance in science by doing my

assignment, project and activities, I’m always participate in my group mates, I will
answer the question if my teacher ask me a question. And also I will review my notes in
science to make my grades high.

Student B: I will improve my performance in science by doing my

assignment, project and activities, I’m always participate in my group mates, I will
always raise my hand if I know the answer. I will not try to absent every day. I will do my
homework, activities, and project that can give me a high grade in science.

C: I will improve my performance in science in making activities,

projects and assignments, I’ll promise to myself I’m will not absent in one week or thrice
a day, I will active in group activities, and I will raise my hand if I know the answer, and
also I will review my pointers to make a high score in exam.

Student D: I will improve my performance in Science in making

activities, assignment and projects, I will not absent that can cause my lower grades in
science, I will participate in group mates, and I will raise my hand when my teacher ask
me a question.

Student E: I will improve my performance in science, by doing the

task of my teacher; I will do my activities, projects and assignments. I’ll promise to
myself that I will not absent in a class to make my grades higher. I will participate in
group activities to gain more knowledge and also I want to review my pointers to make a
high score in exam.

The respondents answer revealed that the most of them will

improve their performance in science by doing the task of their teacher, doing activities,
projects and assignments then they will participate in their class to gain more
knowledge and to improve their performance in science and other subject.
 Chapter V

Summary of Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations

This chapter discusses salient findings of this study, conclusions

and recommendations derived from the analysis of data in the preceding chapter.

Summary of Findings

Based on the narrative data gathered through interview the

following are the significant findings of this study:

1. Students who got lowest grade in science are due to the following reasons:
always absent, they didn’t do their activities, projects, and assignments, they
don’t participated in their group activities. Some respondents said that family
problems, financial problems and absent minded/mental blocked, they are the
other causes but among those reasons the most crucial was they don’t
understand the topic and when they activities they don’t know what to do.
2. They improved their performance in science by doing their activities,
assignments, projects, and they are always present in the class, they always
participated in class discussion. And they did their best to improve their grades in
science. They always get ready if the teacher asked them a question about the
topic and they answered it actively. They always think positive and be focused on
the subject that they got lowest grade like science.

Who do you think person can help you to fully improve your performance? Why?
3. Respondents told that can helped them to fully improve their performance in
science, first the respondents itself. They need to strive harder their studies in
order to get a high grade, their family guidance and advice, and the influence of
group of friends and especially their teachers.

Conclusions:
 1. Most of the respondents got lowest grade in science because of absenteeism
and not doing their activities and projects.
2. Most of the respondents improved their performance in science by doing they
projects, activities and assignments, then there are always present in the class
participated in the discussion actively.
3. Most of the respondents improved their performance through the help of the
following persons, especially their family, friends, and teacher. To improve their
grades in science.

Recommendations

 The teachers should conduct remedial classes for those students who
are failed in science.
 The students should that got lower grade in science should study hard
and do their task that given by teacher.
The students should participate in their class.
The parents should know their children what they doing in the class.
 The teacher must use learning tools like PowerPoint, visual aids to
keep the interest of the student.
 Acknowledgement

This study was accomplished by the researchers with the help of those individuals who
gave their supports in many ways.

To our parents, we acknowledge their support, loved encouragement for us to this

research study well.

To our Research 1 adviser, Mrs. Ronalyn Pupa, thank you for the moral support and
advices and also for the opportunity to make a research paper.
To the selected students of Grade 11 – Specialist of Marcelo I. Cabrera Vocational High
School, which are the respondents of the study, thank you for the cooperation.

To our practice teacher in Practical Research 1, Ms., thank you for the support and for
sharing her knowledge in making this research paper.

To our adviser, Mrs. Welmie Joy Dela Torre, thank for the moral support,
encouragement and advices that he has given to us.

We want to express our appreciation and gratitude to our friends and classmates who
gave their support, time, effort, and encouragement to make this possible, we want to
extend our genuine thanks to all of you.

Above all, to God, our heavenly father who made all things, thank you for the
knowledge, wisdom and strength that He has given to us to make everything and this
research study be possible.
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