Philippine E-Journals

Factors Related to Students' Learning Difficulties in Mathematics

Donata D. Acula | Oligario T. Suaiso

Discipline: Mathematics, Education, Study and Teaching

 

Abstract:

 

This study examined the factors related to students’ learning difficulties in Mathematics of 78 engineering students of the Technological Institute of the Philippines-Quezon City. On getting the sample, the study has two stages, the probability and non-probability sampling.

 

Probability sampling and non-probability sampling were used in the two stages of the study.

 

The information needed for these 78 respondents were obtained from the records in the Math and Physics Department, a survey questionnaire and a random follow-up interview of the respondents.

 

To determine the profile of the respondents, the research used the Percentage, Mean and Mode. It showed that most of the respondents were male, coming from the ECE and mostly 2nd year level aged 19 years old. Their monthly family income was less than Php10,000 and they graduated from public high schools. Most of the respondents had 3 siblings and they were not employed.

 

On getting the related factors about the difficulties of the students in learning Mathematics, a Pearson-r correlation was used. The most correlated factor in the specific difficulties encountered by the students was they were not ready to face the higher level of Mathematics since they lacked training in analytical or logical thinking. It was significant at 99% confidence interval having significant value of 0.001. There was a low positive correlation having the computed r of 0.381.

 

 The respondents answered that the specific field of their difficulties in Mathematics was in problem- solving analysis and comprehension as well as in the manipulation of equations.