Factors related to the mathematical problem solving ability of the freshmen and sophomores of De La Salle - Santiago Zobel School, 1991-1992

This study investigated the different factors affecting the problem solving ability of the first and second year high school students of De La Salle-Santiago Zobel School during the schoolyear 1991-1992. Specifically, it investigated the following: 1. the profile of the student respondents 2. the significant difference between the male and female respondents in terms of the different independent variables 3. the significant relationship between problem solving ability and the different independent variables and 4. the predictors of problem solving ability. The subjects of the study were 219 students chosen through proportional stratified random sampling from a group of 519 first and second year high school students of De La Salle-Santiago Zobel School in New Alabang Village, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila during the schoolyear 1991-1992. The Guidance Center of the school administered the Metropolitan Achievement Test to the population. The data of the samples of the study on reading comprehension, understanding of mathematics concepts, and intelligence quotient were used in this study. The population was also given three separate tests on computational skill, translating problems to equations, and problem solving by the researcher. They were also asked to answer the questionnaires on attitude toward mathematics, students\u27 perception of the teacher, and socio-economic survey to which was incorporated five questions on the degree of outside assistance they receive. Only the data of the chosen respondents of the study were taken into consideration. The respondents\u27 mathematics achievement was determined by getting the average of the first three quarter grades of the schoolyear 1991-1992. To describe the profile of the student respondents, the obtained means and standard deviations were computed and interpreted. To determine the significant difference between the male and female respondents in terms of the different independent variables, the t-value was computed and compared to the tabular t. The Pearson Product Moment of Correlation was computed to determine the relationship between problem solving ability and the independent variables of the study. The multiple R was computed to find out the possible predictors of problem solving ability. For the first year students, the findings of the study were the following: 1. There is a significant difference between the male and female respondents in terms of attitude toward mathematics 2. Significant relationship exists between problem solving ability and computational skill, the ability to translate problems to equations, intelligence, mathematics achievement, reading comprehension, understanding of mathematics concepts, and attitude toward mathematics 3. The predictors of problem solving ability are understanding of mathematics concepts, the ability to translate problems to equations, attitude toward mathematics, and intelligence. For the second year students, the findings of the study were the following: 1. No significant difference was found between the male and female respondents in terms of all the independent variables 2. Significant relationship was found between problem solving ability and computational skill, the ability to translate problems to equations, intelligence, mathematics achievement, reading comprehension, understanding of mathematics concepts, attitudes toward mathematics, and the degree of assistance perceived outside of the classroom