Underlying Causes of Research Anxiety among Grade 12 Academic Track Senior High Students

Research is part of the curriculum in Senior High School, particularly in the Philippines. Students frequently struggle with research anxiety, which affects their performance on academic assignments, especially when it comes to writing research papers. This research sought to identify the cause contributing to research anxiety with an emphasis on writing competency, mathematical proficiency, and experiential knowledge, of Grade 12 Senior High School students enrolled in Talisay City National High School's academic track. This study used a descriptive-survey research approach, and slovin’s formula was used to choose 219 respondents. A validated questionnaire created by the researcher was used to gather data, and weighted means were used for analysis. The results showed a moderate level of concern in writing proficiency, especially when it came to structuring thoughts and following citation formats. High levels of anxiety were observed in mathematical proficiency, particularly in applying statistical methods and interpreting quantitative data, as well as in experiential knowledge, especially in presenting research findings and balancing academic responsibilities. The researchers concluded that workshops, peer-led study groups, and mentoring programs, are essential to address these issues and help students overcome their research anxiety effectively.