Name: Angelica R.

Atopan MA Psychology Major in Social Psychology

Psy 201 | Research Methods in Psychology Instructor: Dr. Ravindra Joshi

ASSIGNMENT #2

STEP 1 How to Define Your Topic (Research Paper/Research Project)

Research Topic: Understanding the Relationship Between Psychological Well-Being and

Academic Performance of STEM Learners of Philippine Science High School – Zamboanga
Peninsula Region Campus

Info Source:

▪ A study found that cognitive, psychological, physical, social, and material dimensions are
positively professed as vital in students' well-being. However, the social dimension is less
likely to be addressed among the five factors. In addition, only four well-being dimensions,
namely; cognitive, psychological, social, and material dimensions are significantly highly
correlated to learners' academic performance.
Psychological well-being dimensions significantly affect the academic performance
(grades) and NAT results of secondary students. Learners with higher cognitive,
psychological, social, and material well-being perform better academically in terms of
grades.
Source:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362909937_WELL-
BEING_AND_PERFORMANCE_OF_THE_21ST_CENTURY_SECONDARY_EDUCATI
ON_LEARNERS

▪ One study examines the relationship between psychological well-being and academic
performance among 545 tertiary students in the Philippines. Correlation research
suggests that psychological well-being and academic performance are significantly
related.
Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357097695_The_Psychological_Well-
Being_and_Academic_Performance_of_Filipino_Freshmen_Tertiary_Students_Amidst_t
he_New_Normal_of_Education

▪ A study explored the impact of mental health and wellbeing on academic performance of
university students. The results offer significant information that showed that mental health
and well-being significantly impacted the academic performance of university students.
Source:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383669507_Impact_of_Mental_Health_and_W
ellbeing_on_Academic_Performance_of_University_Students

Key/Interesting facts, opinions, ideas, concepts:

Philippine Science High School System

▪ In 1963, the Republic Act (R.A.) 3661 established the Philippine Science High School
(PSHS), or Pisay, to offer a scholarship on secondary education with emphasis on science
to prepare students for a science career. Thus, this institution encourages qualified
Name: Angelica R. Atopan MA Psychology Major in Social Psychology

Psy 201 | Research Methods in Psychology Instructor: Dr. Ravindra Joshi

students to delve into various STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)
careers.
Source: https://pshs.edu.ph/the-pshs-system/

STEM Education

▪ STEM education encompasses math, science, engineering, and technology, fostering

critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, and other 21st-century skills (Sahin, Ayar &
Adiguzel, 2014; NCR, 2012)
Source:
https://eprajournals.com/IJSR/article/12565/download#:~:text=STEM%20education%20e
ncompasses%20math%2C%20science,2014%3B%20NCR%2C%202012).

Academic Performance

▪ Academic Performance, in this research context, is measured through their General

Weighted Average. Highest possible GWA is 1.00 which is equivalent to 98.

Psychological Well-being

▪ Dr. Martin Seligman, one of the prominent founders of positive psychology, defined the
five pillars that composes one’s psychological well-being: positive emotion, engagement,
meaning, relationships, and accomplishment. In this study, this instrument will be used as
the questionnaire to measure subject’s psychological well-being.

PERMA Model of Well-Being

1. Positive Emotions - is about nurturing hope and optimism and allows people to find
fulfillment in daily tasks and persevere with difficult challenges
Negative Emotion - tendencies toward feeling, sad, anxious, and angry.
2. Engagement - is about finding psychological presence or flow in a particular activity that
deploys a person’s skills, strengths, and attention
3. Relationships - includes feelings of joy, belonging, and pride are amplified through strong
relationships and speak to the human need for connection
4. Meaning - a sense of meaning and purpose is the idea of serving something bigger than
one’s own individual needs, such as that offered through religion, family, the community,
or societal causes
5. Accomplishment - is the feeling gained through meeting goals and ambitions that may
be pursued for its own sake in a variety of contexts
Source: Butler, J., & Kern, M. L. (2015). The PERMA--‐Profiler: A brief multidimensional
measure of flourishing. Available From http://www.peggykern.org/questionnaires.html

Coping and Interventions

▪ One study showed the following results: the level of coping resources is very high, the
level of psychological well-being of students is very high, there is a significance on the
relationship between coping resources and psychological well-being of students, and
Name: Angelica R. Atopan MA Psychology Major in Social Psychology

Psy 201 | Research Methods in Psychology Instructor: Dr. Ravindra Joshi

domain of coping resources best influence psychological well-being of students are

Acceptance and Positive Reinterpretation and Growth.
Source:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381604796_COPING_RESOURCES_AND_PS
YCHOLOGICAL_WELL-BEING_OF_THE_STUDENTS

Search terms and keywords used:

Psychological Well-being, PERMA Model of Well-being, Academic Performance, STEM students,

Coping Strategies

KNOWLEDGE TOOL:

o What do I already know about the topic?

▪ Several studies support the claim that psychological well-being is correlated to academic
performance of students.
▪ There are several factors that help define psychological well-being including personal
emotions, social engagement and relationships, meaning, or purpose of life, and sense of
accomplishment. All of which are vital in determining students’ personal and academic
success.
▪ Healthy coping strategies amidst academic challenges and adversities can help students
improve their psychological well-being and academic performance.

o What do I want to know about this topic?

▪ What is the relationship between STEM students’ psychological well-being and
academic performance?
▪ Does having low/high psychological well-being affect academic performance of students
or vice versa?
▪ What are the factors that significantly affect psychological well-being of these students
and how do we address them?
▪ How can we help promote students’ psychological well-being and improve their academic
performance in a rigorous learning environment?

REFINE YOUR TOPIC:

WHY did you choose the topic? What interests you about it? Do you have an opinion about
the issues involved?

▪ I chose this topic mainly because I have observed most of my clients at the guidance office
have complaints relating to their mental health and well-being. Being in an academic
institution allows me to see firsthand the challenges that these students face and how it
slowly takes a toll on their mental health and well-being. I wanted to explore the state of
Name: Angelica R. Atopan MA Psychology Major in Social Psychology

Psy 201 | Research Methods in Psychology Instructor: Dr. Ravindra Joshi

well-being of these STEM learners and correlate that to their academic performance. This
will lead me to an understanding on the relationship between these two variables.

WHO are the information providers on this topic? Who might publish information about it?
Who is affected by the topic? Do you know of organizations or institutions affiliated with
the topic?

▪ The main sources of information of this study are the students, themselves, while also
incorporating related inputs from the faculty and staff.
▪ The information generated can be published to the Philippine Science High School System
to help think of programs and interventions to improve psychological well-being of STEM
learners.
▪ Data can also be used in academic institutions such as DepEd, CHED, and DOST to call
for collective action to address psychological well-being of STEM learners.

WHAT are the major questions for this topic? Is there a debate about the topic? Are there
a range of issues and viewpoints to consider?

▪ This research topic aims to answer the following:

o What is the relationship between STEM students’ psychological well-being and
academic performance?
o Does having low/high psychological being affect academic performance of
students or vice versa?
o How can we help promote students’ psychological well-being and improve their
academic performance in a rigorous learning environment?
▪ It is also noteworthy that these students have rigorous academic training and are often
faced with unique adversities that affect both their psychological well-being and academic
performance. Thus, resilience is a character they should develop in their personal and
academic journeys.

WHERE is your topic important: at the local, national or international level? Are there
specific places affected by the topic?

▪ The topic is highly important at a local and regional level, specifically, the region of
Zamboanga Peninsula, but can also impact on a national level, throughout the Pisay
community and Philippine education system.

WHEN is/was your topic important? Is it a current event or an historical issue? Do you
want to compare your topic by time periods?

▪ This research topic is timely and significant in current and future generations of STEM
learners.

Turn your topic into a question. You will be trying to answer this question with your research. Think
about something you would like to try to prove or argue.
Name: Angelica R. Atopan MA Psychology Major in Social Psychology

Psy 201 | Research Methods in Psychology Instructor: Dr. Ravindra Joshi

▪ What is the relationship between the psychological well-being and academic

performance of STEM Learners of Philippine Science High School – Zamboanga
Peninsula Region Campus?

SUMMARY:

a. Why do I want to do the research?

The reasons why I want to do this study are the following:
- I want to help my clients and the Pisay students identify their state of psychological
well-being while being in a rigorous learning environment focused on STEM.
- I want to explore the relationship of the students’ psychological being and
academic performance and how they affect each other.
- I want to help them address their mental health concerns and factors such as
behavior and social aspects that affect their overall well-being.
- I want to think of possible interventions, through collaborative effort of teachers,
staff, and stakeholders, offer psychosocial support to those needing it.

b. Who are my research participants?

The research participants will be my clients who are STEM students of Philippine Science
High School – Zamboanga Peninsula Region Campus.

c. What is my research?
- My research aims to identify whether the state of psychological well-being has a
significant relationship on the academic performance of STEM learners of
Philippine Science High School – Zamboanga Peninsula Region Campus.
- This study also aims to identify the ways how these two variables affect each other.
- This study also aims to identify factors that significantly affect psychological well-
being of these students and how do we address them?
- Through this study, we can think of ways to help promote students’ psychological
well-being and improve their academic performance in a rigorous learning
environment.

d. Where am I going to do the research?

I will conduct the study at the Philippine Science High School – Zamboanga Peninsula
Region Campus.

e. When am I going to do the research?

The study will be conducted throughout the S.Y. 2024-2025.