Determining Factors Influencing Fourth Year Students' Attitude Towards Literature

This research study aims to seeks to gain deeper understanding of the way in which factors such as educational institution, parents and students play a role in how the fourth year students of Sta. Clara Parish School students view literature. The paper used the descriptive method of research which aims to present situations or conditions in a particular place or area. In the study, the sex, gender, as well as the attitudes of the students towards their literature teachers, the instructional materials and media used in the teaching-leaning of literature and perception on the subject itself were analysed and interpreted. The respondents of the study were the eighty (80) fourth year students of Sta. Clara Parish School students equivalent to 59.56 percent males and 112 or 40.44 percent females enrolled during the school year 2013-2014 . They were taken from the general population of 250 students spread out into six sections at the time of the investigation. A sample of convenience was applied to select the sample school for conducting this study because of the time constraint and easy access.

To accomplish the said study the researcher first created the instrument based on the information as well as ideas he had gathered from related literature and studies. The respondents were given fifteen minutes to answer the validated questionnaire and assured that all data gathered from the survey would be handled with outmost confidentiality. Much later the post interviews were conducted with the same set of respondents to explore their effects, if any, on the students' and teachers' attitudes towards the application of literature. The interview is meant to confirm and complement information gathered from the questionnaire. Data gathered were analyzed and the results were used to answer the research questions. In this study the analysis of data involved only descriptive statistics because there are no hypotheses to be tested. Analysis of the students' response is done using respondent counting and percentages. Based on the study following conclusions were drawn. The fourth year high school students have positive and high motivational level towards literature. The students’ gender do slightly affect their attitude towards literature. They also generally showed a positive attitude towards their literature teachers and have demonstrated a optimistic attitude towards the subject itself and the instructional media used in the subject thus these were factors influencing students' attitudes toward the subject. Thus, cited factors in the study influence students' attitudes toward the subject, Literature. In light of these conclusions, a number of recommendations are offered for the benefit of the Literature teachers, parents and the English department of each school as well as for the future researchers. Some of of the recommendations are as follows: for the literature teachers to serve as a role model to his/her students on having a positive attitude towards Literature. On the other hand, parents should encourage their child to like literature and develop a positive outlook towards it. On the part of the English department they should develop a continuing educational program that will enhance the teaching skills of Literature teachers. Lastly for the future researchers to conduct similar study including other variables such as (a) class size, (b) time schedule, (c) teacher educational preparation, interest and other intellective factors. Students now a days are reluctant to engage in the field of literature because of their negative attitude towards it due to lack of knowledge and guidance on how to exploit the literary texts. In order for the students to overcome these problems, it is necessary to determine the extent of factors influencing attitudes on Literature. These factors related to students' attitudes should identified as a matter of urgency so that feasible strategies and intervention programs are organized. Such strategies might help in addressing the problem and hopefully encourage the students in adopting meaningful and positive attitudes towards the subject.