La Union Provincial Library

Bibliography: pages 269-278.

This study was conducted to determine the mathematics teachers level of competence in making action research which served as the basis in the development of an action research handbook for mathematics teachers to improve their knowledge and skills in making action research.

This study utilized the Research & Development (R&D) methodology to develop the handbook. This study surveyed 179 mathematics teachers in the Junior High Schools and Senior High Schools of the three school divisions in the province of Ilocos Norte. Seven experts in Mathematics and Mathematics education from Region I were chosen to validate and evaluate the handbook. A two-part survey questionnaire was used to gather data, Part I of the survey questionnaire, which was in a checklist form, gathered information about the respondents' sociodemographic profile, professional characteristics, and research background as to training in action research and action research conducted. Part II is the Survey Questionnaire on the Teacher's Level of Competence in Writing an Action Research which included open-ended questions about the problems and concems of the mathematics teachers in making action research. Data obtained from the respondents' profiles were analyzed using frequency count, percentages, and the mean, while the mode, percentages, and thematic analysis were used to describe their research background according to training in action research and action research conducted. For efficiency of results, the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used in extracting results from the data gathered. After a thorough assessment of the problems encountered by the teachers in writing action research and analysis on the relationship of survey results between Mathematics Teacher's Profile and level of competency in writing action research, a handbook was developed. Findings of the study indicate that the practices of teachers in conducting action research were very low, the knowledge and skills of teachers in undertaking action research and the role of school management in encouraging teachers to conduct action research were insufficient; and the major factors that hinder teachers to conduct action research in the study area are the shortages of training, seminars, and workshops regarding research activities, insufficient budget, and reference materials. The data analysis revealed that there is a significant relationship between the level of competence in doing action research and each of the following variables: sex, the number of teaching hours per week, frequency of training, the extent of training, availability of references, action research conducted. The panel of experts evaluation on the validity of the components of the handbook was found to be highly valid, and that to enhance teachers' capability to undertake action research, the use of the handbook is highly encouraged.

CHED-La Union Donation January 21, 2021