CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

I. Background of the Study

Research agenda is a plan and focus on issues and ideas in a subset of your field. (Reedy,

2009) Research agenda is not constant; they change over time as people’s knowledge grows and

new research question came up and emerge.

In all academic disciplines, research related foundational concepts are necessary to form

the background knowledge of every student. Research can be viewed as a process of inquiry. It

gains new knowledge and information about something that has not been recognized or nobody

knows about it. In order to expose students to a structured program designed to help them

develop the skills needed to conduct research in general and in particular, to complete their final

research project, research methods course must be introduced (Papanastasiou, 2010).

However, there are some instances that the student’s knowledge about research agenda is

different from what really it is. Some students are still confused about what research is due to

their less experience of conducting research. They said that research was irrelevant activity to

undergraduates’ life. With that, research tended to be regarded as an activity only by people who

pursue academic career, such as postgraduate-level and faculty-level”. (Int J Med Educ, 2015)

Many students thought that it is only essential for those who graduated and they also thought that

it is not required to those who are under-graduate. Lack of skills and experience in doing

research is also a problem.

 According to Papanastasiou (2010), lecturers perceive that the students’ attitudes to

research in turn influences their ability to identify, comprehend and apply knowledge of the

fundamental concepts in the execution of research as well as in the formulation of this required

written work, especially as it impacts on the lecturers’ ability to further enhance the

meaningfulness and value of research by encouraging students to use their critical thinking skills

and apply their knowledge of research to real-life event. It is said that the lecturer somehow take

part in the attitudes of every students towards research. The attitude of the students towards

research agenda depends on their perception or view about research.

The researchers conducted this study to determine the perception of the first year college

students of St. Scholastica’s College Tacloban towards research. This topic tackles about how

they react in research agendas either in negative or positive way. The researchers deem it

necessary to provide empirical evidence of their perception towards research. Based on the

verification of this affective factors and significance, the researcher aims to analyze students’

perception, to make recommendation and provide remediation or solutions to any problems

evident within the teaching or learning process.

II. Statement of the Problem

What is the perception of first year college students of St. Scholastica’s College

Tacloban toward research?

III. Objectives of the study

Main Objective:

To determine the perception of first year college students of St. Scholastica’s

College Tacloban toward research agendas.

Specific Objectives:

1. To determine the perception of first year college students of St. Scholastica’s

College Tacloban towards research according to the course

a. Nursing

b. MLS

c. Pharmacy

d. Psychology

2. To determine which of the characteristics affect the first year college students’

perception towards research agendas the most.

a. Research usefulness

b. Research anxiety

c. Positive attitudes

d. Relevance to life

e. Difficulty of research

f. Course requirement

3. To determine the significance of students’ perception with regards to their

decision in writing a research.

IV. Hypothesis

Ho: There is no significant relationship between the perception of the first year college

students and the characteristics that will affect their decision in writing a research

paper.

Ho: There is no significant difference between the first year college students of the

different courses with regards to their perception towards research.

V. Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This study is concerned with the perception of first year college students of St.

Scholastica’s College Tacloban toward research agendas. The researchers limit its coverage on

the first year nursing, mls, pharmacy, and psychology students of school year 2018 -2019 of St.

Scholastica’s College Tacloban only. Its main purpose is to analyze students’ perception, to

make recommendation and provide remediation or solutions to any problems evident within the

teaching or learning process.

The researchers considered six factors affecting the students’ perception towards research

agendas. These are research usefulness, research anxiety, positive attitudes, relevance to life,

difficulty of research, and course requirement.

The whole study was conducted at St. Scholastica’s College Tacloban from December

2018 to January 2019; this period included writing and editing of the paper.
VI. Significance of the Study

The findings of this study will be a significant endeavor to the following:

For the students: The research will provide the students with knowledge in the perceptions of

first year college students towards research agendas. They will know that these research agendas

designed to understand which factors influence those decisions also will be complex. In such

circumstance, conclusions should be based on evidence and experience, not on belief. Concerns

about a research activity will also be part of this research. Thus, students can relate to it.

For the teachers and especially for the research teachers: This study would guide the teachers

to equipped effective strategies for developing positive perceptions toward research agendas

among their students. In addition, by assessing students’ perception toward research agendas,

teachers may be able to recognize what modifications to behaviors, attitudes and skills are

required to assist the learning of research and foster a deeper appreciation of this subject in

students.

For the school: The SSCT community will be able to learn about the conditions of the research

activities being implemented in the campus. To be specific in this study, the conditions of the

first year college students of SSCT will be its main concern. This will encourage the school to

check for areas for improvements.

For the society: The findings of the study will redound to the benefit of the society by

considering the research is essential for everyone. They will have more knowledge on research

and it will have a positive impact in their lives.

For the researchers: The researchers will be able to uncover the perceptions of students towards

research agendas, some factors affecting it and its significance in the decision making in writing

a research paper. The concepts in this study will be useful in their future studies.

VII. Review of Related Literature

Perception and Its Importance

Given, L.M. (2008) defined Perception as a “mode of apprehending reality and

experience through the senses, thus enabling discernment of figure, form, language, behavior,

and action”. What one views of his environment is what perception depends on. Some theories of

perception have opposing or different points about it are the strong direct realism that states our

insights are generally exact, and the broad representative theory that states the temporariness of a

perception due to the changes of our psychological states from that point of time and so on.

(Illumine.co, 2011)

Studies like that of Anderson (1991) and Wood (1995) has shown perception as an

important element in determining the student’s level of performance. Marzano, R. (1992) has

classified attitudes and perceptions into two in accordance to the factors that affect the student’s

learning. The first one is the “attitudes and perceptions about the learning climate” and the other

is the “attitudes and perceptions about the classroom tasks”. Excellent teachers keep in mind

these two categories that helps in the learning process of their students.

At a point, there is a correlation between our cognition and perception because whatever

we know affects our own perception of something. Knowing about the student’s perceptions has
its importance. It can help you gain more understanding of their behaviors and also their reasons

on why they struggle at some problem in their learning environment. Individuals may learn a

certain topic in a different way and so it is helpful in knowing the concern of the students.

Parents and teachers must consider these concerns. (Hazari, 2010)

Research and its Importance

Research is also having its importance for the students. It provides them information of a

certain topic at its every aspect and so increasing their knowledge. It also lessens the confusion

to a topic and so providing more proper understanding it. It also lets the students know what they

are interested in as they start to think of their future. It also lets the students understand some

related topics from different authors about a certain topic, tracing its origin, and collaborating it

with our individual ideas. It is also important in education as it helps the person in his or her

decision making during the research process as they he or she may experience risks and

consequences. (Reddy, n.d.)

Imafuku, R. et. al. (2015) states in his study that research activity will not only increase

your knowledge about it but also it will be helpful in developing more of your basic leaning

skills that could help you overall as a student. The study also identified two “learning outcomes”

that the possible researcher gains as he or she involves himself or herself in research activity.

These two “learning outcomes” are the “professional skills learning outcome” which is in

connection with the student’s ability in time management, independent learning, and

communicating and the second one is the “research skills learning outcome” which is the

student’s ability to think critically and having the basic skills of a researcher. It has also been

proven in the study the changes in the perceptions of the students in a qualitative approach.
Factors Affecting Perceptions Towards Research

Papanastasiou (2002) has identified five factors of student attitudes towards research. The

five factors are “usefulness of research”, “anxiety”, “affect indicating positive feelings about

research”, “life relevancy of research to the student’s daily lives”, and “difficulty of research”.

In the Journal article of AlGhamdi, et. al. (2014), it stated the extreme importance of the

topic about the perceptions, attitudes, and practices of the students, as it is a great help for their

future careers and also it expands the knowledge in research as it looks for areas for

improvement. However, there are barriers in research activity. These barriers drive the students

to have poor performance in research. Insufficient numbers of training, workshops and

coherences that the students should have had more, has the largest votes among all the barriers.

The need for more time in research activity has been the result of their loaded works and

priorities in their other studies. Other barriers include the need for more research advisers who

plays a role in helping and motivating the students in research and also the need for more

funding on the expenses needed for a good research.

According to Tschirner (2011), knowing about the updated insights of the students on

research will allow us to be clarified on things that are to be improved in the school community

in terms of research activity to increase the appreciation on research among the students. What

the educational curriculum has to improve to satisfy the student’s needs is to ease the student’s

capacity in conducting a research and also provide a feeling of guidance for them. Furthermore,

the faculty that is composed of the research advisers must learn to guide the students in

accordance to the more or less experienced. Having a long-term idea about research will help the

students in their future profession.

 Ogeng’o, Mwachaka, and Bundi (2010) has statements in accordance to their results, the

positive and negative factors students face in a research activity. Positive factors include

“advance of knowledge” ad “fulfillment of academic requirements”. In comparison to the

barriers of AlGhamdi, et. Al. (2014), they also have identified the negative factors that affect

research. The main negative factors include having an insufficiency in the number of research

trainers or instructors or mentors, trainings, workshops, or experience in research, and funds.

In the study of Belgrave and Jules (2010), majority of its students have the perspective to

agree that knowing about research has its worth. However, in their part wherein they are asked

about their negative and positive views about research, more respondents answered a negative

approach towards research than a positive approach. It is due to their less knowledge about the

application of this process in our everyday lives as correlated to the negative attitudes in the

conclusion of the study. It is also suggested that the 5 elements of best practice, “student–

centered”, “experiential”, “holistic”, “authentic”, and “challenging”, would help increase the

positive approach to research and knowledge of applying in real-life.

VIII. Conceptual Framework

INPUT

 First year nursing, mls, pharmacy, and psychology

students of St. Scholastica’s College Tacloban

PROCESS

 The researchers will conduct a survey to the

senior high school students using a questionnaire
and focused group discussion (FDR).

OUTPUT

 At the end of the research, the researchers will

identify the first year college students’
perception toward research agenda and at the
same time, determine the students’ decision in
writing a research paper.

IX. Definition of Terms

Fundamental – any factor that could be considered important to the understanding of a

particular business.

Perception – The active mental process of recognizing and interpreting the information brought

to the brain by that serves as a basis for understanding, learning, and knowing or for motivating a

particular action or reaction.

Remediation – The process of correcting a mistake or something bad or defective and offers an

improvement to set things right.

Research Agenda – A plan and a focus on issues and ideas in a subset of your field.

Undergraduate – A student in a university or college who has not received a first, especially a

bachelor's, degree.
 “PERCEPTION OF FIRST YEAR COLLEGE STUDENTS OF ST. SCHOLASTICA’S
COLLEGE TACLOBAN TOWARDS RESEARCH”

Name: (optional)

Grade & Section:

Directions: The following statements refer to some aspects of scientific research. Please answer all the
questions sincerely. Put a check (/) in the box that corresponds to your answer.

Agree Strongly

Agree Slightly

Disagree Slightly

Disagree Strongly
Undecided

Disagree
Neither
Agree
Questions
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 Research is useful for my career

Research is connected to my field of

2
study

Research should be indispensable in

3
my professional training

Research should be taught to all

4
students

Research is useful to every

5
professional

6 Research is very valuable

I will employ research approaches in

7
my profession

The skills I have acquired in

8 research will be helpful to me in the
future

Knowledge from research is as

9
useful as writing

10 Research makes me nervous

11 Research is stressful
12 Research makes me anxious

13 Research scares me

14 Research is a complex subject

15 Research is complicated

16 Research is difficult

I feel insecure concerning the

17
analysis of research data

18 I love research

19 I enjoy research

20 I like research

21 I am interested in research

Research acquired knowledge is as

22
useful as arithmetic

23 Research is interesting

24 Most students benefit from research

I am inclined to study the details of

25
research

26 I use research in my daily life

Research-orientated thinking plays

27
an important role in everyday life

Research thinking does not apply to

28
my personal life

29 Research is irrelevant to my life

30 I have trouble with arithmetic

31
I find it difficult to understand the
 concepts of research

32 I make many mistakes in research

Research is necessary to pass this

33
course

Learning concepts about research

34
helps in writing the whole paper

Research is the basis for me to be

35
admitted to the next education level

Question: How significant is writing a research, for you?

Extremely Moderately Slightly Not at all

Very Important
Important Important Important Important

1 2 3 4 5