IGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ DIFFICULTIES
IN SOLVING PROBLEMS IN PHYSICS
Luzviminda M. Panes
THE PROBLEM This study sought to determine the difficulties of fourth year high school students in solvingproblems in Physics.
METHODOLOGY
This study is a diagnostic-illuminative type. It was intended to reveal conceptual or proceduralerrors that students commit in solving word problems in high school Physics. To achieve this end, theresearcher used the survey method of gathering information. In this method, all fourth year students of the two schools, SSPSC Tagbina and SSPSC Lianga, were asked to respond to a Diagnostic Test prepared by the author. The test was divided into 4 levels, level 1, understanding what is asked in the problems that measure the reading comprehension skills of students; Level 2, measuring the student’s skills in translating unknown into mathematical expression; and level 3 measuring the student’s skills in formulating mathematical equation that expresses the relation of he variables in the problem; lastly, in Level 4, solving problems involving linear equation, quadratic and exponential equation. The statistical tools used in analyzing the data were means and z-test.
FINDINGS
1. The study found out that most students understood what is asked in the problem. The resultsrevealed that out of 130 students who took the diagnostic test, there were 76 students who passed level 1 question. 2. In level 2 questions, students found difficulty in translating unknown into mathematical expression. There were only 44 students out of 130 who passed. 3. In formulating mathematical equation that expresses the relation of the variables in the problem for level 3 questions, many students did not answer correctly and only 53 students passed this level. 4. In level 4, students found it most difficult in solving problems which consisted of three different types of worded problems, linear equation, quadratic equation and exponential equation problems. The results of the test revealed that most of the students found it most difficult in solving worded problems involving quadratic equation and exponential equation. Out of 130 students, 38 passed this level. 5. The study also found out that there was a significant difference between the proportion of students who passed level 1, level 3 and level 4 question of SSPSC-Tagbina Campus and the proportion of students who passed level 1 , level 3, and level 4 questions. For the level 2 question, there was no significant difference between the proportions.
CONCLUSIONS
From the above findings, the following conclusions were drawn: 1. The students were not prepared or equipped to take Physics subject. They lacked mathematical skillswhich are needed in solving worded problems. 2. Many students could not solve worded problem because they could not translate unknown intomathematical expression and formulate mathematical equation that expresses the relation of the variables in the problem. 3. The students found it most difficult in solving worded problems involving quadratic and exponential equations.The results also indicated that the higher the level of questions the more is the increase of the level of difficulty.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the findings the recommendations are prescribed: 1. The findings of the study may be made known to students, teachers of Physics, teachers in mathematics, teachers in English, principals, supervisors for their information and guidance. 2. Although there was a greater number of students who passed level 1 questions, it is then, suggested that there must be a remedial class for English subjects, because there was still a proportion of the students who could not comprehend the problems thoroughly. 3. To the second year mathematics teachers, it is suggested that they give more emphasis on mathematics sentences, inequalities, as to provide students basic knowledge in translating into mathematical expression in preparation for solving worded problems. Furthermore, it is also suggested that they give equal weight of timed in taking up problems with the following types: linear equations, quadratic equations and exponential expression. 4. It is recommended that the Physics teacher spend more time, effort, intellect and patience in teaching the subject. 5. This study is confined to its own limitations; it is therefore recommended that further researches that involve all the topics in fourth year high school physics curriculum be undertaken 6. The researcher recommends further study to find out if there is a significant difference in the students’ performance in physics between male and female. 7. Further study be conducted to find out if the educational attainment of parents is one of the factors that affect students’ performance.
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