A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF ACADEMIC

PERFORMANCE OF THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

STUDENTS WITH SEPARATED PARENTS

A Basic Education Research Proposal

Presented to the
Faculty of Senior High School Program
Calayan Educational Foundation, Inc.
Lucena City

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the
Academic Track
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

ROSELL H. DE RAMA
ZABREINE SKYE ESCOBAR
CHRISTIAN JOSH F. TINA
JURICE VILLANUEVA
November 2019

1
 Introduction

Parental involvement is an important indicator of student success in school.

Parental involvement is correlated to student success in academic achievement (Banerjee,

Zaje, Harrell, & Johnson, 2011; Malone, 2015). This means parents that engage with the

academic performance of their child contribution to the academic performance of the

students.

Academic performance is ‘what a student is capable of achieving when tested or

examined on what he/she has been taught’ (Otu-Danquah, 2002). Many empirical studies

have been carried out to determine factors affecting students’ academic performance.

Emeke (2004) pointed to a combination of personal and institutional factors which are

capable of influencing students’ academic performance. He explained that the personal

factors related to the individual’s intelligence, knowledge and ability while institutional

factors include family or parental influences, societal influences and school related

factors such as student-teacher rapport and teacher related factors like their

accommodation and living conditions.

However, if student that have broken family it have effects to the academic

performance of the students. According to Green (2015), They may experience

educational functioning or slow academic development. Also based on Marla (2014) says

broken family students failed to handle the curriculum. This failure includes various

aspects of educational failure such as rebellion, frequent absence from classes, dropping

2
out and many more. Moreover, those students living with their parents also have effects

to their academic performance. According to Pinantoan (2016), Students with two parents

operating in supportive roles are 52% more likely to enjoy school and get straight A’s

than students whose parents are disengaged with what’s going on at school.

This study aims to determine if having a separated parents affects the academic

performance of the students.

Background of the Study

Education is necessary for the progress of society. The more educated the people

are, the more civilized and well-disciplined the society might be. Family especially

parents have a responsibility to guide their child to be productive, educated, and well-

mannered. A positive experimental findings have demonstrated by association between

parental involvement in education and academic achievement (Pérez Sánchez et al.,

2013; Tárraga et al., 2017), school retention and attendance (Ross, 2016), as well as

improving children’s self-esteem and their academic performance (Garbacz et al., 2017).

According to Nickson (2019), it is very typical for children to be unhappy and

want their parents to remain together when separation occurs, that sorrow can translate

into low self-esteem, behavioral problems, and a sense of loss. He also said that if the

parents have some time to talk and connect with the children, clarifying why the

separation is happening, and show their love for them – and constantly communicating

3
with them, so they don’t feel abandoned by the parent who moves out – these feelings

usually disappear quickly.

Thus, this study seeks to determine of the effects of parental separation

involvement in school on the academic achievement of Calayan Educational Foundation

Inc. Parental involvement can take a wide variety of forms, among them, communication

between family and school, supporting learning activities at home and involvement in

school activities have been highlighted (Schueler et al., 2017). Moreover, it will be

enable the teachers and parents to understand the student’s behavior. Therefore the

teachers and parents can develop their relationship and minimize the misunderstanding.

4
Objectives of the Study

This study will prove that student with separated parents have effects to the academic

performance of the student. This study will help the parents, teachers, counsellors, and

students to understand that having a separated parents have effects to the student’s

academic performance.

This study aims to:

1. Determine the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1 Age 1.2 Sex

1.3 General Weighted Average 1.4 Years of Separated

2. Assess the mean average of the academic performance of the respondents.

3. Assess the perception of the respondents in frequency of parent involvement in their

academic work.

4. To have seminars for the students who have separated parents.

5
Literature Review

Parental Involvement

Parental Involvement refers to the action of taking part or the engagement of

parents with their obligation to the student’s life or to the school (LaBahn,1995). Parental

Involvement as an Important Factor for Successful Education Parental involvement in the

education of their children usually begins in home. Because home provides a healthy and

safe environment, support, provide positive insights about schools and suitable learning

experience by parents. Numerous studies showed that academic excellence of children

increased with parental involvement (Epstein, 2009; Greenwood & Hickman, 1991;

Henderson & Berla, 1994; Rumberger et al., 1990; Swap, 1993; Whitaker & Fiore, 2001).

Moreover, parents are the first teacher of their children, they also have bigger chance to

make a difference, to demonstrate, model, and monitor their children’s knowledge than

anyone else (Adama, 2003). According to the study of Adriones Pinantoan (2016)

Entitled "The effect of Parental Involvement on Academic Achievement", parental

involvement on its effect on the student academic success should not be underestimated.

He stated that Students with two parents operating in supportive roles are 52 percent can

enjoy school and get high grades compared to students without parents. It is also stated

on the article that students that have both their parents can succeed twice as much than

other students. Researchers (e.g., Gonzales, 2002) have provided strong evidence that

parental involvement in child and adolescent education generally benefits student

learning and school success in all grades. Parental involvement enhances student

6
educational success all the way to the high school level. Gonzales (2002) found that

parental involvement was positively related to high school student academic

achievement, time spent on homework, favorable attitudes toward school, likelihood of

staying in school, and educational aspirations beyond the high school level. Parents that

are active in their child’s schools has shown positive effects including increased

academic achievement, positive social behavior, augmented resources and social

networking opportunities (Bower & Griffin, 2011; Garbacz et al., 2015). Parent

involvement is considered to be the most important factor that changes the outlook of

activities associated with schools such as performance, attendance, and study skills

(Koonce & Harper, Jr., 2005; Okeke, 2014). Parent participation in schools increased

positive student attitudes, study habits and academic performance (Adamski, Fraser, &

Peiro, 2013; Banerjee et al., 2011). The study revealed that parent involvement is

associated with grade promotion and a positive student transition from one grade level to

the next (Banerjee et al., 2011; Nitecki, 2015). One of the most important benefits of

parent and school partnerships is the improvement of student reading literacy (Baroon,

2011)

7
Having a Separated Parents

Physical Separation

According to HG.org Legal Resources, Physical separation is when one or both

partners of a couple decide to physically separate from the relationship. This does not

signify that they are divorced or even that they will get a divorce. It does not affect the

legal status of a couple’s relationship. It normally coincides with one partner moving out

of the marital home. This means that there’s no need to undergo a judicial process to

separate.

According to Coulson (2017), separation and divorce has a big impact of

significant number of children in Australia, In 2009, Almost 50,000 divorce had been

made and half of those divorcees involving children that are under 18 years old. With

research showing that 50 percent of children are still aspiring and hoping for their family

to be once again reunited. Also in the article he stated that Sadness can lead to isolation,

loneliness, and social difficulties. Children may also underperform academically as a

result of their parent’s break-up. Anger can also be seen as children grapple with feelings

of abandonment, guilt, worry or blame towards another parent. All of these emotions are

normal and should be expected. However, if deep anger or sadness continues beyond two

to three months then you should seek counseling for your child. Another important short-

term challenge is that children often believe they are responsible for their parent’s

separation. Children are particularly vulnerable to these kinds of thoughts between the

8
ages of three and eight. It is up to you to assure them that they are not responsible for

your decision to separate from their other parent.

According to the study entitled "Impact of parental separation or divorce on

school performance in preterm children. A population based study" by Plosone (2018),

The objective of this study was to quantify the possible decrease in school performance at

five years of age in preterm children associated with parental separation or divorce, and

to test whether this effect varies according to the child’s age at the time of the separation.

This study included 3,308 infants delivered at 35 weeks of gestation born between 2003

and 2011 and who had an optimal neuro developmental outcome at two years of age.

These infants were evaluated by their teachers to assess their abilities and behavior when

they had reached five years of age, using the Global School Adaptation questionnaire.

The mean GSA score was 50.8 points. Parental separations were associated with a

decrease in school performance at five years of age, although this was only the case for

children who exhibited difficulties at school. A decrease in school performance only

occurred when parental separations took place between 3 and 5 years after the child’s

birth. Parental separation was associated with a decrease in these children’s levels of

motivation, autonomy, and manual dexterity. This study indicates that preterm infants of

parents who had separated are particularly at risk of a lower scholar performance.

A broken family can affect all areas of a child’s development negatively. The

effects of a broken family on a child’s progress depend on numerous factors, including

the age of the child at the time of parents’ separation, and on the personality and family

9
relationships. They may experience educational functioning or slow academic

development (Green, 2015). Marla (2014) says broken family students failed to handle

the curriculum. This failure includes various aspects of educational failure such as

rebellion, frequent absence from classes, dropping out and many more. Studies have

shown that people shown that people with academic failure are more probable to rebel

and use drugs at older ages; therefore, academic failure and dropout might result to

rebellion, drug, and alcohol addictions. According toActar (2013) parents’ divorce has

both short- and long-term effects on children. Some short-term effects include losing the

ability to concentrate which could then affect academic performance and also in long

term they may be less educated due to financial and support problem.

Moreover, supporting Amato’s argument, Sun and Li (2007) found out that those

students who have separated parents have lower score in terms of well-being. (i.e.,

academic functioning, loss of control, and low self-esteem) compared to students who

have intact families. According to (Doughty, 2008) children suffer more from parental

break-up, and that those who are grow up by a single parent are more likely to do poorly

at school, suffer poor health and fall into crime. Teachers are often too quick to identify

separation as the reason for child’s school behavior problem. The greater society points a

finger at separation as the reason for a wide range of greater social problems (Ahron,

2007).

The influence of broken family on the academic achievements of students is

beyond measure, when a family is broken, children are affected in many ways for

10
example the girls among them may run into men in order to pay their school fees some of

them may get pregnant in the process which might warrant them to quit, education

entirely (Okoye, 2001. Nwosu (1991) noted that some girls are pursuing prostitution in

order to pay their school fees which may be difficult for their single parents. Boys can be

a member of criminal gangs and exhibiting all form of social vices. Those results may

lead to loss of concentration during class hours producing poor academic performance

and loss of attention on education.

Conceptual Framework

The input for this study will be the adapted questionnaire from the “Parental Involvement

of Absentee Parents in the Academic Performance of the Junior High school Students” by

Mylene Sumucol, a Graduate of Psychology in Calayan Educational Foundation

Incorporated last March 2014. The questionnaire composed of two parts. The first part is

the demographic profile of the SHS respondents and the second part is the Profile of the

SHS students when it comes on the parental involvement in the students’ academic

performance. The process is the researchers will be using the purposive sampling and

snowball sampling. The researchers will determine if having a separated parents affects

the academic performance of the students The output is this study will be the seminars for

the students who have separated parents.

11
 Research Paradigm

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Part 1. Demographic
Profile

a. Name
b. Age
c. Sex Data gathering using
d. General Weighted Seminars for the
Average (GWA) the purposive
e. Years of separated sampling and students who have
f. snowball sampling in
Part 2. Profile of the SHS finding respondents. separated parents.
students when it comes on
the parental involvement in
the students’ academic
performance.

Figure 1. A Descriptive Study of Academic Performance of Students with Separated Parents

12
Significance of the Study

Thus, the result of the findings may be beneficial to;

 Parents (separated) – for them to understand that being separated with their

spouse really do have an impact on academic performance of their child. For them

to become aware to the impacts of their separation with their child’s academic

performance. For them to understand that it’s very important to stay connected to

their child even though you are separated with your spouse. The parents will

know that the separation that occurred has an effect on the academic performance

of their child as a student.

 Students- The students will learn that the separation of their parents is one the

reasons for their poor academic performance.

 Teachers – for them to understand why some students have a failing grades and

why some students excel in classes. For them to help the students having

difficulties in studies.

Scope and Delimitations

This study is mainly focused on determining the academic performance of the

students that have physically separated parents The respondents will be the students of

Calayan Educational Foundation Inc., Lucena City S.Y. 2018-2019 with the total number

50 respondents. The researchers will use snow ball sampling and purposive sampling.

13
Definition of Terms

 Parental Involvement – refers to the action of taking part or the engagement of

parents with their obligation to the student’s life or to the school. (Collins,n.y)

 Physically Separated Parents – Physical separation is when one or both partners

of a couple decide to physically separate from the relationship. (hg.org legal

resources)

 Academic Performance - Academic Performance is measured or

evaluated by educational institution on determining how well the every

student performs in school. It is the success summary report or the

evaluation of the performance of students in school.

 Parent- one who gives birth to, or nurtures and raises the child ; a father

or mother. (Dictionary.com)

 Student - One who studies; one who attend to school.(Merriam

Webster,n.y)

14
Bibliography

What is the Difference between Legal and Physical Separation? Retrieved from
https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/what-is-the-difference-between-legal-and-physical-
separation-42952

How Does Parental Separation Affect a Child’s Brain?(2018). Retrieved from

https://www.brainfacts.org/Thinking-Sensing-and-Behaving/Childhood-and-
Adolescence/2018/How-does-parental-separation-affect-a-childs-brain 062218?
fbclid=IwAR2v1QtunVwK90dne9vok5O2RqkGcX8e8ppH8bhqnvxoYHTk7IyQ0lxp6H
Y

Nickson.(2019). The Psychological Effect of Separation on Children. Retrieved from

http://www.separateddads.co.uk/psychological-effect-separation-children.html?
fbclid=IwAR3bjlhBhMb_mi99wNoaJImjHZiAmPU6jE6uSJpfsZsmuREUApMBYrFbvh
U

Nusinovici, et.al.( 2018) Impact of parental separation or divorce on school performance

in preterm children: A population-based study. Retrieved from
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?
id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0202080&fbclid=IwAR2yueo74SpGAXzAcRFBonY4Rexq
vX_srPZfgNEY0ecNM9h2VRGVqxWR96U

Pinantoan (2016). The Effect Of Parental Involvement On Academic Achievement.

Retrieved from https://www.teachthought.com/learning/the-effect-of-parental-
involvement-on-academic-achievement/

15
Kunz (N.Y) The Effects Of A Single Parent Home On A Child's Behavior. Retrieved
From Https://Www.Livestrong.Com/Article/83670-Effects-Single-Parent-Home-Childs/?
Fbclid=Iwar3bjlhbhmb_Mi99wnoajimjhziampu6je6usjpfszsmureuapmbyrfbvhu

Johnston (n.y.)Kids Need a Mom and a Dad – That’s What the Research Shows.
Retrieved from
https://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/marriage/marriage/30-years-of-
research?
fbclid=IwAR22gciVPXAjSNpDUNvd11bthhddxLRZcexbLik7KWWDEsvbpbo3iMUVs
8

Ulveseter (2015) Growing Up with One or Both Parents: The Effects on Physical Health
and Health-Related Behavior Through Adolescence and into Early Adulthood. Retrieved
from. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10502556.2015.1058659?
journalCode=wjdr20&fbclid=IwAR1L3YHVyw3U_z7yaXZj8LP0tIxmHa5Z1D0ILiCK9
XzKiwbUG1KqNqpNzg

Washington.(2016). The Effects of Parent Involvement on Student Outcomes in a

Minority-Serving Charter High School. Retrieved from
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://
www.googe.com/&httpsredir=1&article=3730&context=dissertations

Braley, et.al.(2008). Parental Involvement and Perceived At Risk Student Performance:

Views from Predominantly Hispanic Parents Retrieved from
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1068501.pdf

16
Smith (n.y.) The Effect Of Parents' Presence On Children's Social Interactions In
Preschool. Retrieved from.

Https://Www.Sciencedirect.Com/Science/Article/Pii/0885200694900280?
Fbclid=Iwar2rruvzu_DW0AUbiQXDyvq--_HG6AipOzdihjk6Ttj2zsyqzH7gx2rtNlg

The Effect Of Parental Involvement On Academic Achievement. Retrieved from.

https://www.teachthought.com/learning/the-effect-of-parental-involvement-on-academic-
achievement/?
fbclid=IwAR2H1cDdwwRvDXcAJ_GSsbq_gME5RAxAe0zREcc_O7CbVzi-
gBA4O0puxIg

Magpantay.(2014). Behavioral Problems and Coping Strategies of Selected.CAM

Research journal Vol 2 No. 1, 114-1120

iye, j. (2017). The impact of broken homes on academic performance of students. 6-9

green, a. (2015, August). About Us: International the news. Retrieved from International
the news Web site: https://thenews.com.pk/magazine/you/76974-the-effect-of-a-broken-
family

Meriam Webster. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/student

17
 Part 1. Demographic Profile

Please fill up the following that will serves as your personal profile by putting check

mark (/) on the space provided.

A. Name:

B. Age:

C. Sex

_ Male _Female

D. General Weighted Average (GWA) :

E. Years of Separated:

Part 2. Perception of the Respondents in Frequency of Parent Involvement in their

Academic Work

Direction: Please take time to mark the following items with a “1” “2” “3” “4” and “5”

indicating the degree to which that statement correspond to your feelings.

Always Sometimes Rarely Very Rarely Never

5 4 3 2 1

Perception of the Respondents in Frequency of Parent 5 4 3 2 1

Involvement in their Academic Work

18
I can get along with my parent.
I can go and talk with my parent.
I can go and talk with my parent that concerns my personal life.
I can get my parent to help me if I have problems with my
homework and projects.
I can talk to my parent about my concerns in school.
My parent usually helps me with my homework and teaches me on
ways to make my homework fun.
My parent stays with me until I finish my homework.
I ask for help from my parent when I have trouble understanding
something.
I am willing to study when my parent is with me.
I feel motivated when my parent supports me.
I feel valued when my parent attends on my school activities.
I lose interest in school activities when my parent is too busy to
attend with me.
When my parents fight, I lose my concentration in school.

I try to achieve high grades to make my parent proud and happy.

My parents’ presence helps me to even study harder.

I feel lonely when my parent left for a business trip.

I try to be responsible with my actions when my parent is gone for

work.

19
 Chapter II

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Design

A Descriptive design was utilized in this study entitled “A Descriptive Study Of

Academic Performance Of The Senior High School Students With Separated Parents”.

The researchers adopted a survey questionnaire from the study of “Parental Involvement

of Absentee Parents in the Academic Performance of the Junior High school Students” by

Mylene Sumucol, a Graduate of Psychology in Calayan Educational Foundation

Incorporated last March 2014.

Descriptive research is defined as a method of research that describes the

characteristics of the studied population or phenomenon. This methodology focuses more

on the study topic's "what" than the study topic's "why” (Bhat, 2018). Based on Research

Methodology, (n.d.) It value is based on the assumption that by observing, analyzing and

describing, issues can be solved and procedures enhanced. The most common descriptive

method of research is the survey that includes questionnaires, personal interviews,

telephone surveys, and normative surveys. According to Koh & Owen (n.d.), it directed

at shedding light on present issues or issues through a information collection process that

allows them to more fully describe the scenario than was feasible without using this

technique.

20
Respondents

The researchers will collect the data from the students in Calayan Education

Foundation Incorporated. 50 Senior High School Students with separated parents.

Sampling

The researchers focused on senior high school students of Calayan Educational

Foundation Inc. The researchers will use purposive sampling and snowball sampling

because purposive sampling uses the judgment of an expert in selecting cases or it selects

cases with a specific purpose in mind and snowball sampling because members are

sampled and then asked to help identify other members to sample and this process

continues until enough samples are collected. Through the use of this sampling

procedure, it will be easier to gather respondents.

Criteria for Student with Separated Parents

1. The students’ parents must be physically separated.

21
Data Gathering

The instrument will be use in the study was a survey-questionnaire that adopted from

the study of Parental Involvement of Absentee Parents to the academic performance of

the High school students of CEFI by Mylene Sumucol The survey-questionnaire is a

likert scale type includes Always, Sometimes, Rarely, Very Rarely, and Never

questionnaire for the study of academic performance of students that have separated

parents. The questionnaire has two parts, Demographic Profile and Profile of the SHS

students when it comes on the parental involvement in the students’ academic

performance. The questionnaires were translated from English to Filipino and

immediately distributed it to the respondents after the validation from the research

adviser.

After the validation, the researchers will personally distribute the questionnaire

and explained to them how they would answer the questions. Sufficient time was given to

the respondents in answering the questionnaire.

The researchers assured the respondents that their responses will be kept

confidential. After collecting the data and tabulating for the data analysis. Then the

researchers will analyze the results that have been gathered to determine and compare the

academic performance of students with living their parents and students with separated

parents.

22
Statistical Treatment

1. Frequency Percentage Distribution

To answer the objective no.1, which is the demographic profile of the respondents, the

frequency percentage distribution is used following this formula:

P = F/N x 100

Where P = is the simple percentage

F = is the frequency of responses

N = is the total number of respondents multiplied by 100 to determined the percentage.

2. Weighted Mean Distribution

To answer the objective no.2, which is the mean average of the academic performance of

the respondents, the method of weighted mean with the formula will use.

∑ X ( F)
WM =
N

Where WM = Weighted Mean

∑X = Summation of Variable

F = Frequency

23
N = Number of Respondents

Bibliography

Bhat, A. (2018, August 29). Descriptive Research: Definition, Characteristics, Methods,

Examples and Advantages. Retrieved August 21, 2019, from

https://www.questionpro.com/blog/descriptive-research/

Descriptive Research - Research-Methodology. (n.d.). Retrieved August 21, 2019, from

https://research-methodology.net/descriptive-research/

Koh, E. T., & Owen, W. L. (n.d.). Descriptive Research and Qualitative Research.

Retrieved August 21, 2019, from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4615-

1401-5_12

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 Proposal Seminar (Output)

•Objectives

-For the students to know that there are people ready to help them.

-To motivate students to keep going even though their parents are separated. •Topic
(Title) Soar high

•Discussion: (there will a question in the beginning of the seminar) How are you since
your parents have separated?

•Message: A lot of students are suffering from their parents separating which are
becoming the reason on why their will to go on is fading which is affecting their life, in
school, in their houses, in life. Some are getting over but there are some who are giving
up. (Give concrete examples of what is happening) But there are three things to do to go
on:

1. Accept- Accept the fact that what is happening has happened and there is nothing that
you can do about it.

2. Dream- Just keep on fighting and keep on dreaming, Don't give up.

3. Unite- Know that you are not alone in he battle that you are facing because there are
people who are there to support you, friends, family, and loved ones. Just keep on going,
Don't let the separation of your parents get the best of you, Don't let the challenges be the
hindrance of you becoming successful and to soar high.

•Final Activity of the seminar: Have an open mic for questions of the students.

25