Reading comprehension and other selected factors as predictors of problem solving performance in College Algebra

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the predictive abilities of high school grade in English, high school grade in Mathematics, English reading comprehension, and mathematics comprehension on problem solving performance in College Algebra of first year college students of Central Philippine University, Iloilo City. The descriptive-correlational design with the aid of the posttest-only design was used in this study. Mathematics test and English Reading Comprehension test were given to a sample consisting of 316 students who were drawn using cluster sampling. The split half method was used to test the reliability of the instruments. The data gathered were processed using SPSS software and were analyzed with the use of the following statistical tools: frequencies, percentages, mean, standard deviation, Pearson’s product moment correlation, t-test, analysis of variance, Scheffe, and regression analysis. Results of the study showed that problem solving performance is related to the four independent variables to some extent. While English reading comprehension was found to be a significant predictor, mathematics comprehension was the strongest significant predictor of students’ problem solving performance.