HIERARCHY OF NEEDS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF GRADE V-ORCHIDS

STUDENTS IN CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL - TACLOBAN CITY

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An Undergraduate Thesis

Presented to

The Faculty of the College of Education

Eastern Visayas State University

Tacloban City

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In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement of the Degree of

Bachelor in Elementary Education

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by

JUHN CARL B. BASIANO

PHEOBE CATES V. BULAWIT

NISSA MAE C. BOHOL

MARIA REGINA O. CACAYORIN

MYLA T. CAÑEZARES

AUGUST 2019
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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Curiosity paves a way for an in-depth understanding of the world. It triggers

peoples’ desire to explore something they never have ever sightseen before. It gives

answers to the questions that delights their minds to pursue something and leaves an

invaluable contribution to the world for the others to learn from and be inspired with.

Researches must be associated with existing theories and facts to make it even more

reliable. This proposal is interrelated to Abraham Maslow’s proposed theory; the

Hierarchy of Human Needs theory. Abraham Maslow was a psychologist who study

positive human qualities and the lives of exemplary people. Maslow created the Hierarchy

of Human Needs and expressed his theory on his book Motivation and Personality. He

states that individuals must satisfy lower level deficit needs before progressing on to meet

higher level growth needs. However, he later clarified that satisfaction of the needs is not

an all-or-none phenomenon, admitting that his earlier statements may have given the

false impression that a need must be satisfied 100 percent before the next need emerges

(Santos, 2016).

People are motivated to achieve certain needs and that some needs take

precedence over others. Our most basic need is for physical survival, and this will be the

first thing that motivates our behavior. Once that level is fulfilled the next level up is what

motivates us, and so on. The first level are the physiological needs. These are biological

requirements for human survival. For example: air, food, drink, shelter, clothing, warmth,

sex, sleep. If these needs are not satisfied the human body cannot function optimally.
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Maslow considered physiological needs as the most important among all the other needs

become secondary until these needs are met. The second one are the safety needs,

these are protection from elements, security, order, law, stability, freedom from fear. After

physiological and safety needs have been fulfilled, the third level of human needs is love

and belongingness. The need for interpersonal relationships motivates behavior.

Examples include friendship, intimacy, trust, and acceptance, receiving and giving

affection and love. Affiliating, being part of a group (family, friends, work). Followed by

self-esteem needs, which is classified into two categories. The esteem for oneself and

the desire for reputation or respect from others. The need for respect or reputation is most

important for children and adolescents and precedes real self-esteem or dignity. And

lastly, the uppermost are the self-actualization needs. It is realizing personal potential,

self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences. A desire “to become

everything one is capable of becoming” (Maslow, 1987).

One of the biggest problems in the Philippines is our runaway population

expansion. The Hierarchy of Needs doesn’t teach us what is most important in life as we

are all allowed to ascribe value to the aspects of life in whatever way we want. What it

does teach us is the order of what we should prioritize in our daily lives (Grimwald, 2015).

Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory has made a major contribution to teaching and

classroom management in schools. Rather than reducing behavior to a response in the

environment, Maslow adopts a holistic approach to education and learning. Maslow looks

at the complete physical, emotional, social, and intellectual qualities of an individual and

how they impact on learning. Applications of Maslow's hierarchy theory to the work of the

classroom teacher are obvious. Before a student's cognitive needs can be met, they must
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first fulfill their basic physiological needs. For example, a tired and hungry student will find

it difficult to focus on learning. Students need to feel emotionally and physically safe and

accepted within the classroom to progress and reach their full potential Maslow suggests

students must be shown that they are valued and respected in the classroom, and the

teacher should create a supportive environment. Students with a low self-esteem will not

progress academically at an optimum rate until their self-esteem is strengthened.

(McLeod, 2018).

As of these days, there are neither proposed nor published empirical researches

in the Philippines, particularly in Tacloban City in Region 8, about Maslow’s Hierarchy of

Needs and its correlation to the academic performance of the elementary pupils. The

underlying objective of this research is to be SMART, this objective leads the researchers

to the decision of making City Central School as their research locale. Not just to save

time, money and energy but also the fact that the number of students of Grade V-Orchids

at City Central is much smaller compare to other schools in Tacloban City, this will allow

them to finish their research at the given period of time with effectiveness and efficiency.

The researchers ought to reject a null hypothesis that states that there is no significant

relationship between the hierarchy of human needs and the academic performance of the

Grade V-Orchids Students in City Central School-Tacloban City. It’s on the basis of these

strengths that the researchers have chosen this topic as a research proposal and the

Grade V-Orchids as their research locale. This research serves as a preparation for

profession being pursued by the researchers.in-lined to a theory that is vital in exploring

understanding their career in Elementary Education that is interrelated to the growth and

holistic development of the elementary pupils.

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Statement of the Problem

This study determined the relationship between the Hierarchy of Needs theory and

the academic performance of the Grade V Students in City Central School- Tacloban City.

Specifically, it answers the following questions:

1. What are the Hierarchy of Human Needs?

1.1 Physiological Needs

1.2 Safety and Security

1.3 Love and Belongingness

1.4 Self-Esteem

1.5 Self-Actualization

2. What is the academic performance of the Grade V-Orchids Students in City Central

School-Tacloban City?

3. Is there a significant relationship between the hierarchy of needs and the academic

performance of the Grade V-Orchids Students in City Central School-Tacloban

City?

Null Hypothesis

There is no significant relationship between the hierarchy of needs and the

academic performance of the Grade V-Orchids Students in City Central School-Tacloban

City.
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Theoretical Framework

This study is anchored on the theory of Abraham Maslow. He first introduced his

concept of a hierarchy of needs in his 1943 paper "A Theory of Human Motivation" and

his subsequent book Motivation and Personality. This hierarchy suggests that people are

motivated to fulfill basic needs before moving on to other, more advanced needs. While

some of the existing schools of thought at the time (such as psychoanalysis

and behaviorism) tended to focus on problematic behaviors, Maslow was much more

interested in learning about what makes people happy and the things that they do to

achieve that aim. As a humanist, Maslow believed that people have an inborn desire to

be self-actualized, that is, to be all they can be. In order to achieve these ultimate goals,

however, a number of more basic needs must be met such as the need for food, safety,

love, and self-esteem.

Maslow's hierarchy is most often displayed as a pyramid. The lowest levels of the

pyramid are made up of the most basic needs, while the most complex needs are at the

top of the pyramid. Needs at the bottom of the pyramid are basic physical requirements

including the need for food, water, sleep, and warmth. Once these lower-level needs have

been met, people can move on to the next level of needs, which are for safety and

security. As people progress up the pyramid, needs become increasingly psychological

and social. Soon, the need for love, friendship, and intimacy become important. Further

up the pyramid, the need for personal esteem and feelings of accomplishment take

priority. Like Carl Rogers, Maslow emphasized the importance of self-actualization, which

is a process of growing and developing as a person in order to achieve individual

potential.
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Physiological needs are probably fairly apparent—these include the things that are

vital to our survival. Some examples of physiological needs include food, water, breathing

and homeostasis. In addition to the basic requirements of nutrition, air and temperature

regulation, the physiological needs also include such things as shelter and clothing.

Maslow also included sexual reproduction in this level of the hierarchy of needs since it

is essential to the survival and propagation of the species.

At the level of security and safety needs, the requirements start to become a bit

more complex. At this level, the needs for security and safety become primary. People

want control and order in their lives, so this need for safety and security contributes largely

to behaviors at this level. Some of the basic security and safety needs include financial

security, health and wellness, safety against accidents and injury, finding a job, obtaining

health insurance and health care, contributing money to a savings account, and moving

into a safer neighborhood are all examples of actions motivated by the security and safety

needs.

The social needs in Maslow’s hierarchy include such things as love, acceptance,

and belonging. At this level, the need for emotional relationships drives human behavior.

Some of the things that satisfy this need include friendships, romantic attachments,

family, social groups, and churches and religious organizations. In order to avoid

problems such as loneliness, depression, and anxiety, it is important for people to feel

loved and accepted by other people. Personal relationships with friends, family, and

lovers play an important role, as does involvement in other groups that might include

religious groups, sports teams, book clubs, and other group activities.
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At the fourth level in Maslow’s hierarchy is the need for appreciation and respect.

When the needs at the bottom three levels have been satisfied, the esteem needs begin

to play a more prominent role in motivating behavior. At this point, it becomes increasingly

important to gain the respect and appreciation of others. People have a need to

accomplish things and then have their efforts recognized. In addition, people need to

sense that they are valued and by others and feel that they are making a contribution to

the world. Participation in professional activities, academic accomplishments, athletic or

team participation, and personal hobbies can all play a role in fulfilling the esteem needs.

People who are able to satisfy the esteem needs by achieving good self-esteem and the

recognition of others tend to feel confident in their abilities. Those who lack self-esteem

and the respect of others can develop feelings of inferiority. Together, the esteem and

social levels make up what is known as the psychological needs of the hierarchy.

At the very peak of Maslow’s hierarchy are the self-actualization needs. "What a

man can be, he must be," Maslow explained, referring to the need people have to achieve

their full potential as human beings. According to Maslow’s definition of self-actualization:

"It may be loosely described as the full use and exploitation of talents, capabilities,

potentialities, etc. Such people seem to be fulfilling themselves and to be doing the best

that they are capable of doing. They are people who have developed or are developing

to the full stature of which they capable." Self-actualizing people are self-aware,

concerned with personal growth, less concerned with the opinions of others, and

interested fulfilling their potential.

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Conceptual Framework

Improved
Academic
Performance

Maslow’s
Student’s
Hierarchy of Academic
Human Needs Performance

Grade V-Orchids
Students in City Central
School-Tacloban City.

Figure 1: The Conceptual Framework of the Study

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The aim of this study was to analyze the different needs the Grade V-Orchids

Students in City Cental School- Tacloban City and whether or not they are correlated.

This study provides a comprehensive interpretation of different studies belonging to

different individuals. The study will contribute in literature by stating that, people are

motivated to achieve certain needs and that some needs take precedence over others.

Our most basic need is for physical survival, and this will be the first thing that motivates

our behavior. Once that level is fulfilled the next level up is what motivates us, and so on.

This conceptual framework explains the relationship between the hierarchy of

needs and the academic performance of the Grade V-Orchids Students in City Central

School-Tacloban City.

Scope and Delimitation

The focus of this study is the Grade V-Orchids Students at City Central School-

Tacloban City, enrolled in academic year 2019-2020. The total number of students is 30.

Significance of the Study

The findings of this study are believed to be beneficial to the following:

Administrators. The study will help them become aware of importance fulfilling the

different needs of elementary pupils and how those needs affect them; in order to avoid

poor academic performance.

Teachers. The study will help them be more aware of the needs of their students, not just

in the physical aspect but also in mental, emotional, social and spiritual. This study will

help allow them to be able to deal with it.

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Students. The study will help them classify and understand their needs that are to be

fulfilled to be able to reach their fullest potential.

Parents. The study will help them be aware of the needs of their children and how those

needs affects the latter holistically and be able to reflect and assess themselves if whether

or not, they were able to meet their children’s needs.

Researchers. This study can be of help to other researcher in the same field with the

literature to support their arguments and improve their knowledge on the problem being

studied.

Definition of Terms

The present study uses the following terms:

Academic Performance. Is measured by the final grade earned in the course

achievement of students who meet or exceed performance standards prescribed by

course work.

Esteem needs - which Maslow classified into two categories: (i) esteem for

oneself (dignity, achievement, mastery, independence) and (ii) the desire for reputation

or respect from others.

Love and belongingness needs - after physiological and safety needs have been

fulfilled, the third level of human needs is social and involves feelings of belongingness.

The need for interpersonal relationships motivates behavior.

Physiological needs - these are biological requirements for human survival, e.g.

air, food, drink, shelter, clothing, warmth, sex, sleep. If these needs are not satisfied the
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human body cannot function optimally. Maslow considered physiological needs the most

important as all the other needs become secondary until these needs are met.

Safety needs - protection from elements, security, order, law, stability, freedom

from fear.

Self-actualization needs - realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking

personal growth and peak experiences.