EXPLORING THE ACADEMIC STRUGGLES OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN

MATHEMATICS

CHAPTER 1
 THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Mathematics is an essential component of human reasoning and mind, and it's

necessary for attempts to comprehend the outside world and ourselves. Moreover,

logical reasoning and mental rigor are encouraged by mathematics, which also offers an

efficient means of fostering mental discipline. Additionally, comprehension of the

material in other academic subjects—likes physics, social studies, and even music and

art—depends heavily on one's ability to calculate.

Furthermore, mathematics is used in many other sectors and disciplines; that is,

issues in science, engineering, and economics are solved using mathematical ideas

and techniques. In contrast to the previously described mathematical literacy, the

intricacy of those problems frequently necessitates quite extensive mathematical

concepts and methods (for instance, comprehending complex numbers is a necessity to

learning many topics in electronics).

For the most part, adults and children alike have little understanding of math.

This is due to the fact that secondary and high school math education grows

increasingly abstract, in contrast to preschool arithmetic, which emphasizes practical

problem solving, observing patterns, identifying forms in the environment, and learning

to count. It frequently emphasizes memorization and solving book equations (think

arithmetic and times tables). This can turn off children and lead them to feel that math

isn't necessary for everyday life. In addition to this, certain pupils find it challenging to
draw connections between and within different mathematics experiences. A learner

might find it difficult to understand, for example, the relationship between numbers and

the quantities they represent. Mathematical abilities might not be grounded in any

significant or pertinent way if this kind of relationship is not formed. This makes them

more difficult to remember and use in novel contexts.

Nevertheless, we can reason more clearly and analytically when we use math.

The capacity for critical thought about our surroundings is referred to as analytical

thinking. Our capacity for logical problem-solving is known as reasoning. Because they

enable us to solve issues and find answers, analytical and reasoning abilities are

crucial. Though it might seem absurd to believe that solving the train problem above can

assist you in solving a problem in your life, the techniques you employ to formulate the

issue, determine its known and unknowns, and take action to resolve it can be a very

valuable approach that you can apply to other issues in life. Lastly, having a solid

understanding of math can help you balance your budget by ensuring that your

expenses are less than your available funds. For instance, maintaining a bank account

takes arithmetic in order to deduct balances, which is an essential skill.

This research study's primary goal is to investigate the causes of the senior high

school students' mathematical difficulties.

Statement of the Problem

This study aimed in finding out the cause of struggles of the senior high school

GAS students in Mathematics. It intends to specifically answer the following questions;

1. How would the Respondents be described in terms of:

1.1 Age; and

1.2 Sex

2. What are the difficulties that students encounter in mathematics?

2.1 Solving

2.2 Analyzing; and

2.3 Language Difficulties

3. What are the factors affecting the mathematical performance of students?

3.1 Math anxiety

3.2 Motivation; and

3.3 Parental Influence

4. What are the reasons why senior high school students find it difficult to

understand mathematics?

4.1 Attention difficulties

4.2 Lack of practice; and

4.3 Poor understanding

5. What are the recommendations of researchers for students to better

understand mathematics?
Scope and Delimitation of the study

The present studies described the Academic Struggles of Senior High School

Students in Mathematics and were conducted during the school year 2023-2024. The

respondents of the study were the 97 GAS learners complete enumeration was applied,

and determined by stratified random sampling. Questionnaires were distributed to the

57 respondents.

Significance of the study

This was conducted with the aim to provide crucial information and knowledge

regarding the Academic Struggles of Senior High School GAS Students in Mathematics,

as well as the related sites needed for the expected importance to the individuals as

follows;

Learners: The findings of the study may help the GAS students to provide logical

thinking, develops problem-solving skills, and lays foundation for a career in numerous

industries.

Future Researchers: This study may base on to future reference about struggles in

mathematics.

Definition of terms

SHS- this refers to the students who will be the respondents in this research paper.

GAS students- this refers to the students who will participate in this research paper.

Struggles- this refers to the challenges encountered by students.

Mathematics- this refers to the subject the students are struggling with.
 CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

The studies and literature listed in this chapter discussed a variety of, theories,

works, generalizations, as well as the results of relevant research on Academic

Struggles of Senior High School GAS Students in Mathematics. That will helped the

study by providing data that were relevant and similar to what was already being

investigated.

Related Literature

Learning mathematics is not easy when you are not taught by the basic

foundations of it. It is fun and engaging subject, but the students fail to recognize its

beauty and importance in their lives. The students perceived that mathematics is difficult

because they are not willing to learn and to love the subject.

Since mathematics is seen as a challenging subject, adolescents despise it. A lot

of issues and challenges arise in learning mathematics as a result of their negative

image of the topic, which also affects their self-efficacy and attitude toward it. Pupils

struggle with problem-solving techniques, formula recall, learning and comprehending

the material, and answering questions Gafoor et al. (2015).

In addition, it has already been demonstrated that combining the perspectives of

cognitive and social learning with the idea of learning as a specific kind of

communication with others and with oneself can bring together the once disparate fields
of research. It currently expands this method to encompass effect research. Emotional

hue of utterances is a metaphor used in this article to depict emotional expressions,

which are viewed as a component of communicational activity. Consequently, the study

of emotions is based on particular kinds of

discourse analysis. It provide an empirical example to illustrate our basic assumption

that learning can be understood as an interaction between the activities of

mathematizing (talking about mathematical objects) and identifying (talking about

participants of the discourse). The example shows a small group of seventh graders

struggling with a novel fractional mathematical problem. As will be seen, math classes

may become a space of intense identification, distinguished by its strong emotional

colors. In this instance, leadership in speech is at the center of this intensely emotional

identification exercise. The process of identifying can keep a student from seizing what

looks to be an especially good learning opportunity, as this one case seems to indicate

Sfard et al. (2015).

Moreover, pupils' problem-solving activities that result in fruitful struggle are the

main focus, along with any potential benefits for the pupils. Using the dynamic software

program GeoGebra, twenty-four students, ages sixteen to seventeen, collaborated in

pairs to find a solution to a linear function problem. Hiebert and Grouws’ (2007, Second

Handbook of Research on Mathematics Teaching and Learning, Vol. 1) was utilized to

examine data obtained from recorded conversations, computer activities, and post-

interviews. The notion of productive struggles and Schoenfeld's (1985) framework for

mathematical problem solving (ERIC) are discussed in 404. According to the study,
every student erred in terms of their existing knowledge and how they created their new

information Granberg (2016).

Related Studies

Foreign

This study of Hema et al. (2017) “Mathematics Learning Difficulties for School

Students: Problem and Strategies” learning disabilities include kids with math disorders,

math learning difficulties rarely lead to a student being sent for testing as dyscalculia.

Math learning disabilities specifically include dyscalculia. Students who struggle with

arithmetic may find it challenging to use symbols or functions that are necessary for

success in the subject or to understand concepts connected to numbers. Mathematical

proficiency is often affected by this prevalent learning problem. That isn't limited to their

academic experience, though. Difficulties in day-to-day living may arise from the

challenges. Good news! Schoolchildren can develop the math skills they require with a

range of assistance and tactics. When a student struggles with arithmetic or doesn't

achieve grade-level expectations, they are typically detected between the third and fifth

grade—much later than when reading difficulties are detected—and are then directed to

special education services or other remedial programs. When special education and

remedial teachers identify these pupils, they typically discover that their basic idea and

skill development is one to two years behind that of their peers. The primary goals of

this study are to discuss ways for lowering mathematical difficulties and the challenges

that school students face when learning mathematics. Pupils suffering from dyscalculia
also struggle with mathematical processes, such remembering arithmetic information.

Although they may understand the reasoning behind arithmetic, they are unsure of

when or how to use what they know to solve math problems.

Another study by Sayster et al. (2020) “Student’s Productive Struggles in

Mathematics Learning” students' productive difficulties during the simplification of

rational algebraic expressions in a high school mathematics classroom, using a preset

framework on students' productive struggles. underpinned by the anthropological theory

of didactics, which centers on the idea of a "praxeology"—a term that describes the

study of human behavior and is based on the idea that people act with purpose, such as

simplifying algebraic expressions with ratios.

Local

This study of Bernardo et al. (2018) “Contrasting Profiles of Low-Performing

Mathematics Students in Public and Private Schools in the Philippines: Insights from

Machine Learning” the 2018 Mathematics Program for International Student

Assessment (PISA), Filipino pupils did not perform well; over 50% of them received

scores below the lowest competency level. Comparing public school students to their

private school counterparts, the former group also did worse. Using PISA data from a

nationally representative sample of 15-year-old Filipino students, we used machine

learning approaches, specifically binary classification methods, to model the variables

that best identified the better performing students (Levels 1 to 6) vs. the poor performing

students (below Level 1). We examined information from both public and private school
pupils. After a number of binary classification techniques were used, the Random Forest

classifier proved to be the most effective model for both private and public school

groups. For the groups attending public and private schools, the ten variables that had

the most effects on the model were determined. Both the private and public school

approaches placed equal emphasis on five characteristics. Finding the underachievers

in each type of school, however, required taking into account additional unique factors

related to students' motives, families, and educational experiences. Regarding the

social and social cognitive experiences of children in connection to the different

socioeconomic situations seen in public and private schools, the results are presented.

A study of Bacong et al. (2023) “The High School Student’s Struggles and

Challenges in Mathematics: A Qualitative Inquiry” individual needs mathematics to lead

a better life. It holds a unique place in the curriculum of education. It is a well-known

fact, though, that the majority of students find mathematics difficult. This study looked at

the difficulties and barriers that high school students face when learning mathematics.

This study used the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), which is based on

the Modified Van Kaam Approach made popular by Moustakas, to gather meaningful

data on the difficulties and obstacles that high school pupils face when learning

mathematics. Purposive sampling was used to select the study's topic, and all of the

participants meet the requirements for inclusion in the research. In the interview, ten

high school students from Manuela Pañares Memorial National High School and

Bartolome took part. Prior to implementing further measures to improve kids' math

learning, it is imperative to analyze the causes. Students answered open-ended survey

questions regarding the reasons behind their learning difficulties. The investigation
examined cognitive, affective, and environmental elements that influence learning

mathematics difficulties and obstacles. Students often struggle with remembering

material from prior sessions, forgetting things fast, and struggling to understand

mathematical concepts when learning mathematics. It has been noted that pupils who

find mathematics to be exceedingly challenging give up on the subject more quickly

than those who find it easy. The findings also demonstrated that in order to motivate

students to work hard in mathematics class, teachers need to know how important it is

to make the topic entertaining. The outcome is given in light of the viewpoints and

instructional strategies of the pupils.

 CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY

This chapter describes the research strategy, the data sources, including the

study site and the target population, the instrumentation and data collection methods,

and the data processing tools.

Research Design

This study utilized the descriptive correlation method of research with the use of

a survey questionnaire as the data gathering instrument in line with the GAS students

Grade 11 and 12. The profile, struggles of the GAS students of Ronar Academia de

Gerona Inc. in mathematics will be determined.

Accurate and methodical description of a population, circumstance, or

phenomena is the goal of descriptive research. Questions regarding what, where, when,

and how can be resolved. The investigation of one or more variables can be done using

a wide range of research techniques in a descriptive study design.

Moreover, a correlational study design, variables were examined for associations

without any of the variables being under the researcher’s direct control or manipulation.

When two or more variables were correlated, it shows the intensity and direction of their

link. A correlation may go either way in terms of its direction. This word refers to a non-

experimental design where the researcher gathers data on two or more variables to see

if they are connected, that is, if they consistently vary in the same or opposite directions.
When two variables change in the same direction, there is a positive correlation; for

example, when weight grows, so does height. As coffee consumption rises, fatigue

declines, indicating a negative association between the variables.

A correlation is a relationship between two variables, according to Cherry (2020)

researchers can described the findings using a numerical value called the correlation

coefficient. The strength and direction of a correlation might be either positive or

negative. No correlation may exist at times. A correlation study could find a positive link,

a negative correlation, or none at all. A number called the correlation coefficient can be

used by researchers to display the findings.

Additionally, correlation coefficient is a statistical analytic tool used to assess the

degree and direction of a relationship between two variables. Or, we could say that

correlation analysis, when utilized in research, enables us to quantify the impact of

changes in one variable on those of other variables. A positive correlation indicates that

the value of the second variable increases as the value of the first variable rises. When

there is a negative correlation, the second variable’s value falls as the first variable’s

value increases. In the absence of any correlation, the two variables are unrelated.

Locale of the Study

This study conducted in of Ronar Academia de Gerona Inc. It was established on

January 01, 2005. A school in the province of Tarlac, III – Central Luzon, in the

municipality of Gerona.
 Tarlac derived from the word "Malatarlak" for the talahib plant, which was

Hispanized. In 1874, it became the final province in the Central Luzon region to be

established by the Spanish. Tarlac was one of the initial eight provinces to take up arms

against Spain during the Philippine Revolution of 1896. In March 1899, when Emilio

Aguinaldo left Malolos, Bulacan, as the new capital, it was chosen as the location of the

first Philippine Republic. The seat was shifted to Nueva Ecija in an effort by Aguinaldo

to evade the pursuing Americans, but this only lasted for a month.

Furthermore, The Dominican Missionaries in the Philippines began to spread the

Catholic faith throughout the entire archipelago in 1704, and this marks the beginning of

the history of the Municipality of Gerona.

As a matter of fact, small woodland known to the Pangasinans as “Barug,” which

translates to “little forest” or “Pugo” in Ilocano, was the site of the settlement. The fact

that the Pangasinense outnumbered the Ilocanos is thought to be the reason why Barug

was chosen as the name for the community. Also, the name Barug was formally

changed to Gerona in 1765 in honor of the Spanish Governor-General Narciso Claveria,

who was born in Girona, Spain. Gerona was one of the towns that were incorporated

into the new Province of Tarlac in 1873 by the Spanish Central Government.

This famous place is selected for this undertaking knowing that the efficiency of

the said study would help the researcher find out the relationship of the above

mentioned variables in terms of profile of the students; difficulties that students

encounter in mathematics; factors affecting the mathematical performance of students;

reasons why senior high school students find it difficult to understand mathematics; the

recommendations of researchers for students to better understand mathematics.

Respondents and Sampling of the Study

This study included the 57 GAS students Grade 11 and 12 of school year 2023-

2024 of Ronar Academia de Gerona Incorporated, in School Division of Tarlac

Province. The student researchers discovered that the population size is too vast to

conduct study on upon finishing analysis or investigation on a set of entities with

comparable features. An analyst may choose a smaller subset of the population in order

to adopt a more workable strategy and save time and money. A sample size is the

name given to the small group of people that is used to represent the total population.

The stratified random sampling method is one of several techniques that can be used to

choose a sample from a population.

Lastly, to determine the sample size of the respondents, the Stratified random sampling

formula was used.

(Sample size/population size) x stratum size

Where:

Sample size: 57

Population: 97
 Table 1
Distribution of Respondents

Grade Level Population Sample

Grade 11 62 30

Grade 12 35 27

Total 97 57

According to McCombes (2022) a population is divided into smaller subgroups

known as strata as part of a sampling technique called stratified random sampling.

During stratified random sampling, also known as stratification, groups of people are

divided into groups based on shared traits or characteristics, such as level of education

or income. Numerous studies on population demographics and life expectancy are

among the many uses and advantages of stratified random sampling. The terms

proportionate random sampling and quota random sampling are also used to describe

stratified random sampling.

There are 62 General Academic Strand students in Grade 11 and 35 in Grade

12, for a total of 97 GAS students in Senior High School. 30 Grade 11 and 27 Grade 12

students, with a total of 57, were chosen as a sample for the study out of the total.

Data Gathering Instrument

 The researcher created the questionnaire with the utmost care when formulating

the questions. The specific research questions and hypotheses served as a guide for

the researcher as he reviewed relevant studies. The researcher was also assisted in

creating the questionnaire by her adviser, a reader who served as a critic, and a panel

of members.

The data-gathering instrument used in this study is a set of questionnaires which

were distributed to the Grade 11 and 12 GAS students of Ronar Academia de Gerona in

the Municipality of Gerona Tarlac. The questionnaire was main instrument in gathering

data and consisted of four parts. Part I focused on the profile of the Grade 11 and 12

learners as to age and sex. Moreover, Part II will determine the difficulties that students

encounter in mathematics as to solving, analyzing, and language difficulties. Further,

the Part III looked on the factors affecting the mathematical performance of students as

to math anxiety, motivation, and parental influence. Lastly, Part IV determines the

reasons why senior high school students find it difficult to understand mathematics as to

attention difficulties, lack of practice, and poor understanding. The data gathering

instrument will be answered by the Grade 11 and 12 General Academic Strand students

and the recommendations of researchers for students to better understand

mathematics. The final drafts of the questionnaire were shown to his/her adviser and all

suggestions/recommendations will incorporate to improve the questionnaire.

Data Collection Procedure

 A communication letter will be submitted to the school principal of the assigned

school seeking permission for the actual study, as noted and checked by the adviser. A

set of questionnaires were provided to the Grade 11 and 12 students for evaluation,

where instructions thoroughly explain. The questionnaires were used to answer

questions in the statement of the problem.

Also, to achieve 100% retrieval, the researcher will personally conduct and give

the questions to the designated respondents. This protects the respondents' privacy and

the validity of their answers.

Instrument and its Validation

The questionnaires were subjected to content validity using the assessment

Instrument developed by Meimban (1999) using the five (5) evaluation instrument based

on the following criteria:

1. Clarity

2. Readability

3. Objectivity

4. Comprehensiveness

5. System/Orderliness

The validity of the instruments evaluated on the above-mentioned criteria using the

following five-point scale:

 1- Not Encountered. No flaws observed; nothing more to be desired to make it

better.

2- Slightly Encountered. Very little flaws are observed; minor rewording of few

items needed.

3- Moderately Encountered. Some flaws are observed; the overall usefulness is

diminished only slightly

4- Much Encountered. Several flaws are observed; overall usefulness is

diminished greatly.

5- Very much Encountered. Major revision is needed to make it useful.

The validity of the data-gathering instruments will be described in terms of the

following scale values with the corresponding descriptive equivalent.

Scale Mean Descriptive Equivalent

1.00 – 1.80 Not Encountered

1.81 – 2.60 Slightly Encountered

2.61 – 3.40 Moderately Encountered

3.41 – 4.20 Much Encountered

4.21 – 5.00 Very much Encountered

The instrument considered valid ones, if their validity rating for each indicator is 2.00

or higher. The following evaluators will make use the evaluation sheet.
 1. Principal

2. Head Teacher

3. Master Teachers

4. Teachers

The instruments qualitatively analyzed for the correctness of content, distribution

of concepts and appropriateness of the language level.

Statistical Tool and Treatment of Data

Appropriate statistical methods were used by the researcher to develop a correct

interpretation in line with the stated problems of the study in order to generate valid and

reliable results from the data to be collected. According to Discoverphds.com (2020)

Applying a statistical procedure to a data collection in order to derive meaning from it is

known as "statistical treatment." Descriptive statistics can be used to characterize the

relationship between variables in a population, or inferential statistics can be used to

test a hypothesis by drawing conclusions from the data that have been collected.

Problem Number 1
 Frequency counts and percentages were used primarily to characterize the

profile of the Grade 11 and 12 students in terms of age and sex. Frequency refers to

the total number of instances, while percentage is calculated using the formula,

f
%= ×100
N

where

% Percentage

f Frequency

N Total Number of Cases

While in determining what are the difficulties encountered by the students; factors

affecting their mathematical performance; and the reasons why the students find difficult

to understand math, frequencies and weighted means will be used.

X=
∑ WX
n

where

X Weighted Mean

W Weight

X Raw Scores
 n Number of Cases

Problem Number 2

Also, in determining what are the difficulties encountered by the students in terms

of solving, analyzing, and language difficulties. The average weighted mean will be

interpreted using the scale below:

Description Mean Scale Value

Very much encountered 5

Much encountered 4

Moderately encountered 3

Slightly encountered 2

1
Not encountered

Problem Number 3
 The following scale will be used to analyze the average weighted mean as

factors affecting student’s mathematical performance in terms of math anxiety,

motivation, and parental influence.

Description Mean Scale Value

Very much encountered 5

Much encountered 4

Moderately encountered 3

Slightly encountered 2

Not encountered 1

Problem Number 4

Finally, in assessing the reasons why the students find difficult to understand

math, the average weighted mean will be interpreted using the scale below;

Description Mean Scale Value

Very much encountered 5

Much encountered 4

Moderately encountered 3

Slightly encountered 2

Not encountered 1
Ethical Considerations

For ethical considerations, permission was sought from the office of the school

leader before conducting research. After that, a request letter addressed to the school

principal's office will be forwarded for approval.

Moreover, after obtaining agreement, the researchers send the instruments to

chosen respondents in accordance with Republic Act No. 10173, generally known as

the Data Privacy Act of 2012. The respondents hereby guarantee that the information

they provided will be treated in strict confidence and used only for the purposes stated.

To respect their right to privacy, the study will proceed while keeping the participants'

identities secret.

Additionally, the respondents' scores are confidential and had no influence on

their academic evaluations. There will be forms for both the respondents' agreement

and their consent. There was no school fund to be used for data collection; therefore

responders should not be charged anything.

 Finally, instruments were distributed to participants via paper questionnaire to

generate much higher response rates. In addition, most respondents frequently think

that printed surveys are more anonymous than internet surveys, which gives rise to the

notion that people may be more honest in printed surveys.

CHAPTER 4

PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION, AND ANALYSIS

 This chapter presents the data and their corresponding analysis and

interpretation to answer the problems of the study.