THE EXPERIENCES OF STUDYING WHILE WORKING: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL
STUDY OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT THE
MUÑOZ NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANNEX
LUKE WENDELL L. ROJA
A Researher Proposal Submitted to the Facility of
Senior High School,Muñoz National High School,
Science City of Muñoz,Nueva Ecija, Philippines
In Partial Fullfilment of the Requirements
For Practical Research 1
ACADEMIC TRACK
(GRADE 11 HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES)
John Paul V Gonzales
Practical Research 1 Teacher
APRIL 2024
Review of Related Literature
Studying while working is a common phenomenon among high school students, particularly
those attending the Muñoz National High School Annex. This unique situation presents both
challenges and opportunities for these students as they navigate the demands of academics and
employment simultaneously.
Research in this area has shown that senior high school students who work part-time jobs face
various challenges that can impact their academic performance and overall well-being. Balancing
work schedules with study time often leads to fatigue, stress, and limited time for extracurricular
activities or personal interests. However, many students also report feeling a sense of
accomplishment and independence from earning their own income.
A phenomenological study focusing on the experiencees of senior high school students at Muñoz
National High School Annex can provide valuable insights into how these students perceive and
navigate the dual responsibilities of work and study. By exploring their perspectives, emotions,
and coping strategies, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of the impact of this
balancing act on academic outcomes and personal development.
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Working while studying is primarily driven by budgetary need to cover setbacks in various
types of understudy bolster; to top up a salary to provide superior understudy understanding, or
to help with future goals. It also empowers understudies to share the responsibility of meeting
their examination expenses, gives them a sense of financial autonomy, and creates skills in
managing accounts. While the cost of higher education continues to rise, many students are faced
with the daunting task of balancing the financial burden of their academic pursuits. For low-
income students, this challenge is particularly acute, as they often lack the financial resources to
cover the costs associated with education. Poverty has a big impact on a student’s decision to
become a working student. Financial need is one of the main factors that motivate students to
take part-time or full-time work while pursuing their education. According to a study by the
National Center for Education Statistics, students from low-income families are more likely to
work while studying than students from high-income families (McDonough , Antonio, & Trent,
2010).This new work expands on findings from SIES to gain a deeper understanding of work
motivations, the nature of the work undertaken, and the difficulties and advantages of working
while studying in more higher education (Williams, 2014). A study conducted by Endsleigh
(2015), showed that eight out of ten (77%) understudies are now working part-time to help them
with their financial needs at school. And according to the Commission on Higher Education
(CHED), around 216,000 students in the Philippines work while studying at the year of 2023.
Being a working student can be stressful balancing your social life, time for family,
school, and work. Figuring out how to manage the pressure that comes with being a working
undergrad, and making sure you have at least one night off a week, can lower your stress levels
tenfold (Mitchell, 2016 ).Filipino students are still able to support themselves financially by
working even if they have financial problems. According to The Working Student (2016), to set
the job options of Filipino working students such as online jobs, fast-food crew, and school jobs.
Filipino students struggle because they have to meet standards in their work so they don’t lose
their jobs and maintain academic performance so they don’t get failing grades.
According to the findings of the study conducted by Williams (2014), the reasons why
students work is due to budgetary need, meet a quick or basic necessity, and to help the
understudies in their future objectives. This was supported by the study of Furr and Elling
(2002), where the reason why the students work part-time is due to financial problem. Aside
from these reasons, there were also consequences of working while studying and that is
according to the findings of the study of Darolia (2014), where understudies take fewer attributes
in school because of work duties. As a result, the students’ lost confidence to enroll and are
dropping out and started to find a stable job. Researches about working students are mostly
conducted at universities in developed countries, but those researches lack knowledge about how
working students face their everyday lives and how they conquer every problem they encounter.
According to the study of Ruhm (1997).But now not only in the cities or universities their have a
working student because even in the province and high school student are into it.
We can’t deny that the one of the reason why there working while studying is because
of the [Link] is a major motivator for many Filipino students to become working
students. While working can help students support their education and families, it can also
present a number of difficulties, such as time management and academic performance.
Therefore, it is critical to provide additional assistance to students from low-income households
in order to help them overcome financial hurdles to education and succeed in their [Link]
study explores how the student creates ways to maximize their time in working and in studying.
The said study also aims to investigate and identify students’ experiences while working. They
are starting at how difficult their situation. Next, the problems they encounter. Then, how they
deal and cope with such difficulties. Finally, to provide a solution that might help the working
students shortly.
Statement of the Problem
The proposed research has questions that must be answered by the respondents and is
summarized as follows:
1. What are students’ perceptions of working while studying?
2. What are the positive and negative effects of working while studying?
3. What are the challenges faced by students when working while studying and how do they
overcome the problems?
4. What are suggestions and recommendations for students who are working while
studying?
Significance of the Study
The study of working students is significant because it helps universities understand the
unique experiences and challenges faced by these students. It allows universities to identify
factors that contribute to the educational success and well-being of working students. Research
shows that working students who combine their studies with work in their field of study have a
more developed educational experience and higher levels of self-change potential and subjective
[Link] to understand their recovery experiences, job demands and resources, well-
being, turnover intentions, and the effects of work and school on each other.
Scope and Limitation of the Study
Working students face challenges and responsibilities both at university,schools and in
their employment. They may be overwhelmed by trying to balance their studies, assignments,
extracurricular activities, and work functions. Non-cognitive factors such as psychological
capital, time management, and grit have a positive relationship with flourishing and a negative
relationship with the intention to quit studies . Incorporating programs that develop these non-
cognitive variables into the university’s curriculum can improve academic success and
throughput of working students .
References
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