Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

As time went by, the young generation, known as “millennials” became more dominant,

and have played an important role in the society. According to Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the youth is the

hope, and thus have a big part in building the nation (Ferriols, 2017). In addition, the 1987

Constitution of the Philippines, Section 13, Article II states that, “The State recognizes the vital

role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote their physical, intellectual, and social well-

being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism and encourage their involvement

in public and civic affairs.” Moreover, the participation of the youth in the political governance

has been also recognized as early as 1970 in the Presidential Decree no. 603 or the Child and

Welfare Code. “Youth can actively participate in civic affairs, and in the promotion of general

welfare, always bearing in mind that it is the youth who will eventually be called upon to

discharge the responsibility of leadership, in hope for the nation’s future.” as stated in Section 3,

Article II.

Awareness about the political issues is necessary for the young generation so they can

understand what is happening around, and how it would influence their life as the future hope of

the nation. As a citizen, it is important to be conscious on the different events that your country

has been facing (Davis, 2018). In exploring different kinds of issues, they would be able to

understand how they can influence in making a change and that the students will start to

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appreciate the purpose of government. Also, understanding politics is another way to navigate

individual’s right and moral compass and can make an individual less ignorant.

However, despite of the importance of politics, younger generations nowadays are

especially inclined to the ignorance trap and are being encompass to political conflict because

they often fail to follow politics. This gives idea that young people don’t care about politics nor

on the future of the country because unawareness of it (Anderson, 2018). A study conducted by

Ahmed, et al. (2017) proved that there is a low level of political awareness of the Secondary

level students in Pakistan. Also, a study conducted by Ogunlade and Yunusa (2013) showed that

there is a low average level of secondary students that are aware on politics.

Furthermore, some studies shown that there are factors that may affect the student’s

political awareness. Gender might be a factor affecting the political awareness of an individual

and this has been proven by Kittilson (2016) that women are have greater political interest,

discussion, knowledge and attention to news about politics. Also, according to the recent studies

as cited by Fraile (2014) revealed that women appear to participate differently than men in terms

of political participation, and thus prove that women are more aware about politics than man do.

The study showed that there is a gender gap, there is a significant relationship between gender

and political awareness.

Political awareness must be instilled in students to clearly build their character and

encouraged them to express their political views whether it is inside or outside their campus

(Denis, 2018). According to Suhakam - Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, political

awareness among students is a good thing (Ward, 2019). To intensify the youth awareness and

knowledge on politics, it has been encompassed to the educational system as a subject. It is

included in the specified Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand under the K-12

2
program for it is under the branch of Social Sciences. The researchers, under the Humanities and

Social Sciences strand are likely to study the level of awareness of the HUMSS students in Dulag

National High School and correlates the factor that may affect the political awareness such as

gender of the chosen Grade 11 HUMSS students. There is still no further local study about the

correlation of gender to the level of awareness so the researchers chose to conduct this kind of

study.

Statement of the Problem

This study generally aims to determine the relationship of gender towards the level of

awareness on Philippine political issues among Grade 11 HUMSS students of Dulag National

High School, S.Y 2019-2020.

Specifically, this study seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of?

1.1 Gender

2. What is the respondent’s level of awareness towards Philippine political issues?

3. Is there a significant relationship between level of awareness on Philippine political

issues and the respondent’s gender?

Scope and Delimitation

This study is focus on correlating the relationship between respondent’s gender to the

level of political awareness among Grade 11 HUMSS students of Dulag National High School.

The study was conducted in Dulag National High School, S.Y. 2019-2020. Only the grade 11

3
HUMSS students took part in this study. Data gathered from August to September using

structured questionnaire.

Significance of the Study

The result of this study will be beneficial to the following entities:

To the DNHS Grade 11 HUMSS students,

This study will serve as an instrument to the students on how important to be aware on

political issues. Also, this will make significant attributes in molding the students to be

concerned citizen on the country’s political system as they are the future leaders and nation-

builder citizens.

To the politics teachers,

This will give them the prior understanding on the level of awareness of the students on

political issues. Moreover, this can also be their basis to equip and educate more the students

regarding politics and its importance.

To the future researchers,

This study will serve as a key information to them about the political awareness among

the grade 11 HUMSS students of DNHS. Furthermore, this can be their guide and basis to

conduct deeper studies regarding student’s political awareness level.

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 Chapter II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter presents related literature that are found to be helpful in contributing

knowledge for the study. With the hopes of having better comprehension regarding the study,

included in this chapter are bodies of literature that provide conceptual knowledge that have been

gathered from various studies.

Political Awareness of the students

Today’s young people are a source of growing social and academic concern. It is often

expected that schools serve as a potential agent of socialization which influences the formulation

of political awareness, values and attitude among children. It is also believed that is an effective

instrument for creation of political awareness which prepares the youth to perform their function

to the nation effectively as they grow up (Ogunlade, A. & Yunusa, B., 2013). According to

Willia et al (2007), many high school students believe that political awareness and being

politically active is only for adult duty. Previous studies have also claimed that ignorance about

politics among citizens is spread in most industrial democracies as cited by Clark (2017). Thus,

students who have this kind of mindset are unaware of their own personal political beliefs. Also,

the inactiveness of young people to the discussion of political issues may affect their awareness

5
in politics. Youth are being marginalized because of their young age, limited opportunities, and

projected lack of interest.

Young people, being considered as the hope of the nation are importantly to be politically

aware, should have an active engagement in political issues discussion and should not be

ignorant on this matter. In connection to this, the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, Section

13, Article II states that, “The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and

shall promote their physical, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth

patriotism and nationalism and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.” Indeed,

political awareness among young people is highly important, not just for academic purposes but

most essentially for cultivating their mind to be patriotic concerned young Filipino citizens.

An international study conducted by Muzaffar et al (2017) in Pakistan showed that the

level of political knowledge of the students are very low due to not intensified politics subject in

Pakistan educational curriculum. However, a study conducted on Senior High School students of

St. Paul University Manila are revealed to be aware about political issues and current related

topics in the Philippines. Yet many of them are not willing to join any discussions about these

topics. Many of the students admitted that they find Philippine politics as boring and they don’t

have interest on it. Also, the lacking of good and intensified education contributes why they are

not interested in politics.

Gender in relation to the level of political issues awareness

Gender-based differences in political knowledge are prevalent in the United States and

abroad. Previous researches showed that gender gap is real in terms of political awareness (Jerit,

J. & Barabas, J., 2017). In connection to this, it has been proven by Kittilson (2016) that women

6
are have greater political interest, discussion, knowledge and attention to news about politics.

Also, according to the recent studies as cited by Fraile (2014) revealed that women appear to

participate differently than men in terms of political participation, and thus prove that women are

more aware about politics than man do.

Gender plays a vital role on an individual’s level of awareness as the gathered studies and

articles being revealed. Various studies from international and national established different

conclusion regarding this kind of study. Some studies shown that it has significant relationship

with level of political awareness, otherwise, some indicated that there is no clear relationship

between the two. There is still no further local study about the correlation of gender to the level

of awareness so we find this study as the edge of the study.

Conceptual Framework

Male

Level of Political Issues

Female

Figure 1. Research Paradigm

The diagram above shows the correlation between the level of political awareness with

the gender of the research participants. This framework illustrates the relationship of the factor

7
that may affect the participant’s level of political awareness. The study intent to show the simple

flow of the study which is to demonstrate the relationship of the independent variable to the other

dependent variable.

Definitions of Terms

Political Awareness

- It is a person’s knowledge or perception about politics and other related topics.

(Puertollano, 2015)

- This refers to the awareness of the Grade 11 Humanities and Social Sciences students

on the political issues happening in the Philippines

Gender

- It is the state of being male or female in relation to the social and cultural roles that

are considered appropriate for men and women. (Collins Dictionary, 2019)

- It is the other variable that has a potential relationship with the level of political

awareness and thus being compared if there is a gender gap between male and female

in terms of political consciousness.

Research Hypothesis

There is a significant relationship between the level of political awareness and the gender

of the research participants. The researchers hypothesize that female students are more aware in

terms of political issues than male students do.

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 Chapter III

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

This study utilized quantitative correlational research design which uses simple random

sampling to determine the level of political awareness among Grade 11 HUMSS Students of

Dulag National High School.

Research Sampling

The respondents of the study are the Grade 11 HUMSS Students of Dulag National High

School, S.Y: 2019-2020. The students will be selected through random sampling under

probability sampling.

Instrumentation

The research instrument that will be used in the study is survey questionnaire. The

content of the research survey focuses on the Level of Political Awareness Among Grade 11

HUMSS Students of Dulag National High School. The survey is composed of 10 structured

statements and have 5 option where the respondents can choose. The given options have a

corresponding value wherein 1 is to Strongly Disagree, 2 is to Disagree, 3 is to Undecided, 4 is

to Agree, and 5 is to Strongly Agree.

Data Procedure

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 Before the survey begins, the researchers ask permission to conduct the data gathering to

the respected classroom. The students are selected through simple random sampling. The

researchers allow the respondents to answer the survey in their most convenient time. After the

data being gathered the researchers allow the respondents to answer the survey in their most

convenient time. After the data being gathered the researchers facilitate in the process collecting

the answered survey for the data analysis.

Statistical Analysis

The researchers will find the weighted mean of the data gathered from each of the two

variables which are the male and female respondents. The after finding the weighted mean, the

result will be interpreted and will be analyzed if there is a significant relationship between the

respondent’s gender to their level of political awareness.

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 Chapter IV

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

This chapter presents the results of the study, which includes analysis, interpretation of

data gathered.

Is there a correlation between the student’s gender to their level of political

awareness?

Values Interpretation
1.oo – 1.80 Not aware
1.81 – 2.60 Low aware
2.61 – 3.40 Moderate
3.41 – 4.2 Aware
4.21 – 5.00 Strongly aware

Male Level of Political Awareness

2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Given Political Issues

Figure 1. Male Student Level of Political Awareness

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 Based on the gathered data and as shown from the chart above, male HUMSS students

shows a low level of political awareness.

Female Level of Political Awareness

3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Given Political Issues

Figure 2. Female Student Level of Political Awareness

Based on the gathered data and as shown from the chart above, female HUMSS students

shows higher level of political awareness than male students do.

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 Level of Awareness on Political Issues

4
3.5
Mean of Awareness

3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Male Female

Figure 3. Level of Political Awareness of the Male and Female Grade 11 HUMSS

Students

Thus, it can be observed that the variation in gender has a significant relationship with the

student’s level of political awareness. Female grade 11 HUMSS students has an average

weighted mean of 3.66 which shows a higher level of awareness on political issues than male

students do whose average weighted mean is 2.72.

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 Chapter V

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

The following conclusions were inferred from the findings presented in receding sections.

Conclusion

This study has been concerned with the correlation of the Grade 11 HUMSS student’s

gender to their level of political awareness. Its focal point was on the influence of the gender on

the students’ awareness on the current political issues or events. Based on the research findings,

student’s gender has a significant effect and matters on the respondent’s political level of

awareness. It has been shown that female students showed higher level of political awareness,

while male students showed low awareness.

Recommendation

The researchers recommend that HUMSS students must be politically aware regardless of

their gender. Because being under the Humanities and Social Sciences strand needs to be

inclined with the politics and issues relating to this field. More especially, youth are the hope of

the nation as quoted by Dr. Jose Rizal, so therefore it is much important that young people or

students must be politically aware because they are the future nation builders. Moreover, to the

future researchers, it is highly recommended to conduct a deeper study on the other possible

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variables that may affect the student’s level of political awareness aside from gender – male or

female.

References

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