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Bangkirig, James II M.
Clemente, Roxanne A.
Dasigan, Edrean G.
Lapig, Raniel G.
Mathematics (STEM) under the Academic career track and is said to be one of the most
arduous subjects for its complex equations and topics. It is utilized on both first and
second semester of eleventh grade: Pre-Calculus on the first semester and Basic Calculus
by the second semester. The researchers have thoroughly observed that most of the
students are having difficulties in finding the right and efficient study habits especially in
the stated subject, hence, resulting in low-grade attainment. This intricate, unsettled
situation does not just affect a student’s grades on the said subject but also on their other
subjects, which is believed to be due to lack of motivation for obtaining a rate lower than
what they have anticipated. Thus, insufficient study habits on one subject may affect a
student’s motivation to learn the remaining subject areas that is needless to say, an
The main problems that many students have in understanding not only Calculus but other
Mathematic tools are, among others, the following: 1) Bad preparation of the students in
teachers at these two levels, 5) Lack of interest in the study of Mathematics by most of
the students at these two levels due to their misunderstanding, 6) Insufficient time
(Pedraza, 2018) Moreover, in the past years, several Mathematics-related studies have
Breidenbach et. al. 1992; Calson 1998; Carlson et. al. 2010; Tall and Vinner 1981). The
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difficulties experienced results in bad performance and low-grade attainment in the said
subject. In the result of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study in
2008 revealed that the Philippines performed least among ten countries in mathematics in
which students performed weak in the Calculus subject (Ogena, Lana & Sasota, 2010).
With these abovementioned studies it shows that in the success of this research, it can
help the students to achieve higher rates in Calculus and discover the study habits which
As the researchers also belong to the group of students who experience difficulties in
Calculus, they decided to conduct a research about the study habits of the students. The
data that will be gathered will be used to recommend and suggest better ways of studying
the lessons and topics in the said subject that will help a lot of students, as well as
themselves.
Sacred Heart Academy of Bulacan, Inc. is one of the most prestigious private educational
institutions situated at Dr. Teofilo Santiago Street, Poblacion, Santa Maria, Bulacan. The
school continues to grow as it established the Senior High School department in 2016
which will be an excellent location for conducting the research study. In addition, they
are taking the STEM strand as well, wherefore; they have an initial knowledge to the
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The main problems that many students have in understanding not only Calculus but other
Mathematic tools are, among others, the following: 1) Bad preparation of the students in
Mathematics by explaining why these concepts, principles and properties are important.
The consolidation of the understanding of the main concepts, principles and properties of
exercises that helps students in the fixation of these important elements. 4) Lack of
qualified teachers at these two levels and/or the use of updated methods for the teaching
of interest in the study of Mathematics by most of the students at these two levels due to
Insufficient time dedicated by the students for the study of Mathematics at these two
levels, and 7) Use of non-appropriate books for teaching Mathematics. (Pedraza, 2018)
Furthermore, the researchers discovered that numerous students have been struggling to
learn and understand the subject Calculus wherein unfortunately, attainment of grades
difficulties experienced by the students which will be discussed further in this research
study.
With the preceding situations and problems stated above, the main objective of the
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determine the possible reasons that consequentially produce low grades. Moreover, it will
ascertain the correct methods on effective studying since this research shall identify the
root of wrong study habits of the students. With the preceding wrong study habits that are
identified on this research, it can become a basis to let students look for effective study
habits that will improve their understanding not just in Calculus but also in their other
subjects. As a result, this will help in all subject areas to help students learn how to apply
the lessons they have learned in their lives and further give importance to them.
In brief, this study aims to specify the study habits that seem to be the cause of obtaining
low rates in the subject Calculus and what the students must do to prevent this. Above all,
this is to rectify the incorrect study habits and change for a better grade attainment of
every student in Sacred Heart Academy because in one situation, Student A cannot
completely understand some lessons in Calculus even though they are attentively
listening to their instructor. They need further insights in the certain lesson to fully grasp
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Statement of the Problem
The research aims to analyze the study habits of the STEM students particularly in the
subject Calculus and later identify the most common study habits that result to low-grade
1. What are the study habits the STEM students practice in the subject Calculus in
terms of:
1.d. Peers
2. What are the ways students can do to study Calculus more efficiently in terms of:
2.d. Peers
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Scope and Delimitations
The research assessed the different study habits the STEM students of Sacred Heart
Academy execute whenever they study Calculus. The students who were involved in the
study were the grade eleven STEM students in the academic year 2018-2019 because
they are taking Calculus in their first and second semesters which were also the
respondents of this study. Moreover, to further collect different study habits we have
chosen random students coming from different sections who will help us gather
additional data. The grade twelve STEM students were not included in the research since
eleventh-grade STEM students may give more accurate results on what incorrect study
habits are they doing which can be one of the major factors that result in low grades.
The results from the questionnaires bearing the answers of the respondents will determine
if they experience difficulty in understanding Calculus and applying such lessons into
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Significance of the Study
The study can provide wisdom about the factors and study habits that can affect the
STEM students’ performance in Calculus considering that this subject is essential for
students that are interested in taking engineering courses. Wherein by that, this study can
Students - This study may help the students who are having a hard time understanding the
mentioned subject. In order for that to be possible, we can provide the information that
Parents - The study can also help parents to have knowledge about the study habits that
some students struggle into, which they could recommend their children efficient habits
Teachers and Professors - With the results and data that will be served in our study,
teachers will have more insights on how their students understand the subject. They may
also take an action in order to help their students after knowing that they are having these
difficulties.
School – Research results can be a huge opportunity for the school to learn more about
the students’ difficulties with the said subject and with that, the administration may help
resolve the problem that has been growing throughout the years.
Future Researchers - This study may serve as an information resource for those who are
conducting a research a related with the topic present in this study. They may use these
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Review of Related Literature and Studies
Based from the research of Mendezabal and Tindowen (2018), In the Philippines, a
developing country in South East Asia, students’ performance in Calculus has never been
difficult major courses of college students in the Philippines (Angeles, Fajardo &
Tanguilig III, 2015; Salazar, 2016). In fact, the result of the Trends in International
Mathematics and Science Study in 2008 revealed that the Philippines performed least
among ten countries in mathematics in which students performed weak in the Calculus
subject (Ogena, Lana & Sasota, 2010). Moreover, it is also viewed as boring and strictly
procedural subject (Matthews, Hoessler, Jonker & Stockley, 2013). In many Calculus
classes, the traditional approach which puts emphasis on computational procedures rather
than on understanding the underlying concepts is still the most commonly used method
performance in the subject, more so students do not know how to apply the concepts in
real life situation (Fluck & Dowden, 2013; Nobre, Meireles, Junior, De Resende, Da
According to Arieta, Gementiza and Saco (2017), Success or failure of each student
depends upon his own study habits. Of course, study is an art and as such it requires
practice. Some students study more but they fail to achieve more. Others study less but
achieve more. Success of each student definitely depends upon ability, intelligence and
effort of students.
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Sangcap (2010) stated that students believe that effort can increase mathematical ability
and favorably agreed on the usefulness of mathematics in their daily lives. In contrast,
students do not believe that word problems are important in mathematics and tend to
believe that all problems can be solved using simple procedure. Surprisingly, findings on
effort also concurs with that of previous study (Huang & Waxman, 1997) that Eastern
families tent to value effort, perseverance and hard work as contributing factors for
success in mathematics.
Mendezabal (2013) said that the participants do not have favorable study habits and
attitudes. Among the noted unfavorable study habits were inefficient time management,
lack of planning and concentration in their studies, poor skills in reading, ineffective test
taking techniques, and failure to inform their teachers of their difficulties with school
work and ask for their help. The participants also demonstrated unfavorable attitudes
Capate and Lapinid’s (2015) study said that Mathematics is one subject that pervades life
at any age and in any circumstance. Thus, its value goes beyond the classroom and the
According to Pedraza (2018), the main problems that many students have in
understanding not only Calculus but other Mathematic tools are, among others, the
following:
Mathematics,
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2) Wrong teaching methods (Mechanical reasoning in the study of Mathematics) at these
two levels,
instead of emphasizing the understanding of the main concepts, principles and properties
important. The consolidation of the understanding of the main concepts, principles and
practical exercises that helps students in the fixation of these important elements.
4) Lack of qualified teachers at these two levels and/or the use of updated methods for
Mathematics,
5) Lack of interest in the study of Mathematics by most of the students at these two levels
Mathematics.
6) Insufficient time dedicated by the students for the study of Mathematics at these two
levels, and
According to Kauffman, et al., (2011), the reasons for the retention issue have also been
widely studied and include diverse factors such as learning styles and psychological
dispositions. Other studies have identified the issues of poor teaching and pedagogy as
key factors in persistence. The close link between Mathematics success and continued
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success in later engineering studies, ultimately translating into long term retention in the
STEM major, is also documented in many papers. These studies generally identify that
one of the more at risk groups is those students who have selected a STEM major but do
not arrive in the university setting with strong and robust mathematics background, as
evidenced by failure to be placed into calculus I in the first semester of freshman year.
Many of these students are placed in pre calculus in anticipation that this will allow them
although many of these students appear to be motivated for and capable of pre calculus
success, often they do not do well and this results in changes of the major and loss of
From Tarmizi (2010), Calculus is seen as a difficult subject among mathematics students
and often they misunderstood the notion of function. It is clear that some students are
likely to need special treatment such as further tutorial session in correcting their
misconception. Also students need to monitor their steps in problem solving or deriving
problem solution. Much attention should be directed to fostering students’ ability to plan
for problem solution. If this is not done, the students are likely to become progressively
more confused and in the long run they may not survive in their mathematics problem
solving experiences.
As stated by Novriani and Surya (2017), Mathematics is an important science but in fact
mathematics lessons are less desirable, feared, and boring for students. This can be seen
from the students' weak math skills. One of the weaknesses among students is the
weakness of students in solving math problems. Where students complain and find
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difficulties in solving problems in math so that students look less able to solve math
problems.
From Onwumere (2009), concepts are not inherited: they have to be gradually learned. In
a mathematics lesson, there are often too many things to be manipulated cognitively at
the same time - including previous learning. There are rules and formulas to be applied,
skills to be recalled and verbal instructions to be used. In this situation, learners cannot
discriminate what is important the ‘signal’ from what is peripheral the ‘noise’ (Jung,
2005).
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Definition of Terms
change and the summation of infinitely many small factors to determine some whole.
Formidable, inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense,
or capable.
Mathematics, the science of structure, order, and relation that has evolved from elemental
theoretical concept.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), a strand that belongs to the
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References:
https://www.britannica.com/science/calculus-mathematics
https://www.britannica.com/science/mathematics
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