Research Writing Skills and Academic Performance of Senior High School Students

Abstract

This study examined the research writing skills and academic performance of Senior High School students at Philippine Technological Institute of Science and Technology (PhilTech) in Tanay, Rizal during the School Year 2025–2026. Specifically, the study assessed the extent of students’ research writing skills in terms of research planning and organization, note taking and data collection, critical thinking skills, and data analysis, and determined their relationship with academic performance. The study also analyzed whether significant differences exist in research writing skills when students are grouped according to selected profile variables.The study employed a descriptive survey research design with documentary analysis. The respondents consisted of 326 Grade 12 students enrolled in Practical Research 2, selected from a total population of 1,764 students using Slovin’s formula and simple random sampling technique. The respondents were described according to age, sex, sibling position, number of children in the family, monthly family income, parents’ educational attainment, and parents’ occupation. Data were gathered through a researcher-made questionnaire-checklist designed to measure the extent of research writing skills. Documentary analysis was also utilized by examining the respondents’ first-quarter grades to determine their academic performance.Findings revealed that most of the respondents were 18–20 years old, female, and either first or second born in the family. Many came from families with more than two children and with a monthly income below ₱15,000, while most parents were high school graduates or college undergraduates. Results showed that the students highly practiced research writing skills in all areas measured. Significant differences were found in research writing skills when grouped according to sex, number of children in the family, and mother’s occupation, while age, sibling position, family income, parents’ educational attainment, and father’s occupation showed no significant differences. The overall academic performance of the students was Very Satisfactory based on their first-quarter grades. Furthermore, the results indicated a significant relationship between research writing skills and academic performance.The study concluded that stronger research writing skills contribute to improved academic performance among senior high school students. It recommended that teachers continuously strengthen research-related instruction and provide more opportunities for students to practice research writing through structured activities and projects. The proposed action plan is also recommended for implementation, and further studies may be conducted considering other relevant variables.