POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

THE FAMILIARITY WITH JARGONS IN SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS OF STEM 12-34

FROM POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, MANILA CAMPUS,
ACADEMIC YEAR 2018-2019

In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Subject
English for Academic Purposes Program

Prepared by:

Fernando, Aira Jeanine C.

Indong, Abigail O.

Submitted to:
Professor Alexander Perlin Parulan
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

ABSTRACT

The main objective of the study is to determine the familiarity of the students from STEM 12-34 with the
jargons that are mostly being used in their current field. In order to do so, the researchers conducted an in-depth inquiry
and study of related literature to find such information that will be helpful in the research process.
The researchers used Stratified Random Sampling as its sampling method with 20 respondents as a sample.
The instrument used is a survey questionnaire, containing ten (10) questions, five (5) math-related and five (5) science
related. The researches applied the statistical treatment on data by getting the percentage and the weighted mean.
The researchers also used the Pearson Correlation Coefficient to determine the correlation between the students’
familiarity and the ability in the subject.
The researchers compared the results gathered from the math-related questions to the science related
questions and found out that the students of STEM 12-34 are more familiar with the science-related jargons rather than
the math-related ones. The researchers conclude that there is a correlation between the grades of the respondents in
Mathematics and Science and their familiarity with jargons which is classified as a Weak Perfect Correlation.
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
INTRODUCTION

Language, as defined by American Linguists: ability has no limits, but it only interacts with the
Bernard Bloch and George Trager, is the system of familiarity of the objects that need to be processed.
arbitrary vocal symbols that may vary depends on a “We are suggesting that working memory capacity
group of people1. It is used to communicate and to is not a fixed quantity but interacts with the familiarity of the

understand individuals in a society. A language is a elements that need to be processed. If everything is very
familiar, it is easy to comprehend and build new knowledge.
tool for progress in a community, therefore, knowledge
If all the components are unfamiliar, the task becomes very
can be gain using it. Meanwhile, there are words used
difficult or impossible.”3
by professionals that are difficult for others to
The statement by Lynne Reder, professor of
understand— jargons. Familiarity with jargons can help
psychology in the Dietrich College of Humanities and
students to easily understand things.
Social Sciences, suggests that a student will gain new
In the Philippines, the K to 12 Curriculum was
knowledge easily if he is familiar with it.
implemented in 2017. The students have their own will
Thus, this research aims to determine the
to choose among the four tracks: Academic Track,
familiarity of STEM 12-34 from Polytechnic University
Sports Track, Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL)
of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa, Manila, with the jargons
Track, and Arts and Design Track, for the preparation
used in the K to 12 Curriculum. At the end of this study,
to undergraduate school. In the Academic Track,
the researchers are expecting to achieve the following:
especially the Science, Technology, Engineering, and
a) To evaluate the knowledge with the jargons
Mathematics (STEM) strand, the students can learn
used in Science and Mathematics of the
mostly about Science and Mathematics. These two
students; and
subjects use jargons to explain the world of Science
b) To correlate the familiarity with jargons and
and Mathematics because most of the words cannot
the mastery in Science and Mathematics of
be translated into layman’s term.
the students
According to a study done by Carnegie
The researchers hypothesized that:
Mellon University (2015)2, a human can easily
a) The students are familiar to the jargons used
recognize and gain new knowledge if he is familiar with
in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and
it. They suggest that a man's working memory
Mathematics strand

11
Robins and Crystal, 2019
2
Carnegie Mellon University, 2015
3
Neuroscience News, 2015
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
b) There is a correlation between the familiarity
with jargons and the performance of the
students in the subjects.
This study will help the students to assess
their knowledge in Science and Mathematics and to
develop new learning strategies. Also, this will help the
teachers to understand the students’ misconception
about jargons and to clarify the lessons to master a
subject. Likewise, the authors of academic books will
have an advantage in writing and explaining things in
Science and Mathematics because they will
understand the students’ situation with jargons.
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
METHODOLOGY

Participants The respondents were made sure to

The researchers conducted the survey to the understand that their identities and response were
20 students from Science, Technology, Engineering, treated confidentially. Hence, personal information
and Mathematics (STEM) 12-34 of Polytechnic such as name, age, gender, grades in science, and
University of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa, Manila. mathematics was asked.
Stratified sampling procedure – it refers to a type of
sampling method that divides the population into Data Collection Procedure
separate groups, called strata. Then, a probability After the permission to conduct the survey,
sample will be drawn from each group, was used in the researchers gave one (1) day to the selected STEM
choosing the respondents (10 males, and 10 females). 12-34 students to answer the survey questionnaire.
The researchers personally gathered the surveys.
Instruments
The researchers used the following material Data Analysis and Procedure
to gather the data needed: The data were analyzed using the percentage
Survey Questionnaire method.
The researchers formulated a questionnaire
in the form of a survey wherein it contains jargons that 𝑃= 𝑓/𝑛 ×100%
are used in the strand of Science, Technology,
Where:
Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The survey
P = Percentage,
questionnaire is in objective type, hence, having four
f = Frequency
(4) choices: a, b, c, and d. It consisted of 10
n = Total number of Respondents
questions— 5 mathematics-related jargons, and 5
The researchers also used the weighted
science-related jargons. This was intended to test the
mean to be more accurate in analyzing the data.
familiarity of STEM 12-34 students with jargons in the
current field they belong. It extracted the needed data
and information on matters that pertain to the topic
under study. The researchers came up with questions
that did not seem too personal for the respondents’
point of view.
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Where:
𝑥̅ = Mean,
𝑥̅𝑖 = Transmuted age of the Respondents
n = Total number of Respondents
Lastly, the researchers also used the Pearson
Correlation Coefficient to determine the correlation
between the familiarity and the ability in the subject.

Where:
N = Number of pair score
X = Total grades of the students in a subject
Y = Score of the students in the survey
conducted.
Using the line graph below, the researchers
interpreted the value given in the Pearson Correlation
Coefficient.
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Respondent’s Profile Familiarity with Jargons

I. Gender I. Tally of Scores
GENDER FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE NUMBER A B C D TOTAL
MALE 10 50% 1 14 2 1 3 20
FEMALE 10 50% 2 3 9 5 3 20
TOTAL 20 100% 3 10 1 7 2 20
Table 1. Total number of Respondents 4 11 2 1 6 20
5 4 1 14 1 20
The table shows that there are 20 6 1 7 11 1 20
respondents – 10 males and 10 females respectively, 7 6 12 1 1 20
in Science, Technology, Engineering, and 8 15 4 0 1 20
Mathematics (STEM) 12-34 of Polytechnic University 9 12 1 5 2 20
of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa, Manila. 10 3 16 1 0 20
The table above implies that there is an equal Table 3. The Results of the Questionnaire
distribution of questionnaires for both male and female.
Thus, there will be no issues such as gender inequality. The table shows the result of the objective
questionnaire given to the 20 respondents in STEM 12-
II. Age 34 of Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta.
AGE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE Mesa, Manila.
17 8 40% The green boxes represent the answers
18 12 60% related to Science. On the other side, the blue boxes
TOTAL 20 100% represent the answers related to Mathematics. The
Table 2. Ages of the Respondents distribution of questions was fair to both subjects.
In question number one (1), most of the
The table shows the ages of the respondents students understand the jargon, Antimatter. 70% of the
in STEM 12-34. Eight (8) students are 17-year-old, and respondents chose letter A – Antimatter. The rest of the
12 students are 18-year-old. The average age of the respondents (30%) were stuck in the choices Apogee
respondents is 17.6. (B), Argon (C), and Altitude (D).
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Students found it hard to differentiate the
meaning of Dispersion, in question number two (2).
Less than half of the respondents (45%) got the correct
answer: B – Dispersion. They were confused in using
either Letter B, Letter C – Density (25%), Letter A –
Suspension (15%), or Letter D – Occultation (15%).
Half of the students (50%) answered Letter
A – MDAS in question number three (3). However, the
correct jargon must be Letter B –Algorithm. Only 35%
of the respondents got the right answer. The other 15%
were uncertain of their answers.
More than half of the students (55%) were
familiar with the jargon, Perihelion, in question number
four (4). Other respondents (30%) thought that Letter
D – Axis was being defined in the question. The other
15% chose either Letter B – Aphelion, or Letter C –
Apsis.
70% of the students were aware of the jargon,
Cartesian Coordinates, in question number five (5).
20% assumed that the jargon being defined was Letter
B – Calculus, and the other 10% assumed that it was
either Letter C – Combinatorics, or Letter D – Integrals.
In question number six (6), 55% of the
respondents recognize the jargon, Ellipse. On the other
side, 35% of the students thought it was Letter B –
Parabola, and 10% thought it was either Circle or
Hyperbola.
More than half of the students (60%)
recognize the jargon, DNA Replication, in question
number seven (7). 30% of the respondents answered
Letter A – Reproduction, 5% answered Letter C –
Transcription, and 5% answered Letter D –
Translation.
75% of the students were familiar to the
jargon, Fibonacci Numbers, in question number eight
(8). 20% thought the jargon being defined was Letter B
– Geometric Numbers, and 5% of the students thought
it was Letter D – Harmonic Numbers.
3/5 of the students (60%) knew the jargon,
Formula, in question number nine (9). ¼ of the
respondents (25%) answered Letter C – Derivation,
10% answered Letter D – Integration, and 5%
answered Letter B – Answer.
Majority of the students (80%) were familiar
with the jargon, Viscosity, in question number ten (10).
Only 20% of the respondents were not familiar with the
jargon defined in number ten.
Based on the result of the survey
questionnaire, in each number, the number of students
who are familiar with the jargons are higher than those
who are not familiar, except in questions number two
(2) and three (3).
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Correlation between the Familiarity with Jargons Correlation between the Familiarity with Jargons
and Grades in Mathematics and Grades in Science
GRADE IN SCORE IN GRADE IN SCORE IN
RESPONDENTS RESPONDENTS
MATHEMATICS SURVEY SCIENCE SURVEY
1 87 2 1 89 2
2 85 3 2 82 4
3 90 3 3 92 3
4 90 3 4 90 4
5 90 4 5 89 5
6 86 5 6 90 4
7 88 4 7 90 3
8 89 4 8 90 2
9 90 4 9 90 5
10 89 5
10 89 3
11 89 3
11 86 3
12 90 3
12 89 4
13 90 2
13 89 1
14 92 3
14 88 4
15 93 5
15 91 4
16 91 0
16 92 2 17 92 5
17 88 4 18 88 1
18 88 1 19 84 1
19 85 1 20 84 2
20 82 1 TOTAL 1784 62
TOTAL 1762 60 Table 5. The Grades of the students in Science and
Table 4. The Grades of the students in Mathematics their Scores in the Survey
and their Scores in the Survey Based on table number five (5), the average
Based on the table above, the average grade
grade of STEM 12-34 in Science is 89.2
of STEM 12-34 in Mathematics is 88.1. Given the data
Given the data above, the computed value in
above, the computed value in the Pearson Correlation
the Pearson Correlation Coefficient is 0.239270762. It
Coefficient is 0.316520977. It lies between >0 and also lies between >0 and <0.5. Meaning, there is a
<0.5. Meaning, there is a weak perfect correlation
weak perfect correlation between the familiarity with
between the familiarity with jargons and grades in
jargons and grades in Science of the students
Mathematics of the students.
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Conclusion
Based on the findings of the study, the following
conclusions are drawn:
a. The researchers conclude that the students
from STEM 12-34 are familiar with the
jargons that are being used in their current
field.

b. The researchers conclude that the students

from STEM 12-34 are more familiar with the
science-related jargons than the math-
related jargons.

c. The researchers conclude that there is a

correlation between the grades of the
respondents in Mathematics and Science
and their familiarity with jargons which is
classified as a Weak Perfect Correlation.