Predictors of the Performance and the Difficulties in Physics among Senior Students in Mindanao State University-External Studies: A Proposed Intervention Program

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the level performance and difficulties encountered by students in solving problems in high school physics and the factors related to these performance and difficulties. The student-respondents were the 300 secondary fourth year students chosen randomly from the MSU Community High School and the 16 Physics Teachers of all these schools during the School Year 2002-2003. A Descriptive-correlation design was used in this study with used of four (4) sets of structural questionnaires prepared by the researcher. Another instrument used was the teacher-made physics performance test. This was tried out to thirty senior high school students who were not included as respondents in MSU-Marantao Community High School. Richard-Kuderson (KR-20) formula was utilized to compute for the reliability coefficient of the instrument, which was found out that the instrument was reliable and valid (078).The Standardized Habits and Attitudes Test was used to determine the study habits of the student-respondents and the validated mathematics readiness test to measure mathematical readiness of the students. Stattisitacl computations were done on the computer STATISTIX 3.1 version package. Based on data analysis results revealed that 1) majority of the student-respondents were females, 16 years old, with parents’ monthly income between P5,000.00 to P9,000.00 , with low average ratings on study habits, very ready on the fourth fundamental operations. 2) Majority of the Physics teachers are BS/BSE graduates with specialization in Science, were perceived by students to have good knowledge about Physics, have taught between 5-10 years. 3) Students found Physics as moderately difficult and their performance is categorized as average. 4) There is very low correlation between the predictor variables and performance in Physics, with only 12% of the predictor variables significant to students’ difficulties and performance in Physics. For these results, it is recommended that teachers must improve their methods and techniques in teaching physics to make it more interesting and appealing to the students. They should motivate students to learn more by relating physics concepts to practical situations and learner’s experience. They should also check students’ solutions to the problem sets and see to it that students develop the cognitive skills as the exercises are done. They should also give exercises and activities related to the topic that would make students enjoy the subject.