Examining the Experiences of GAS Students: An Analysis of Discrimination and

Stereotyping within the Strand System

A Research Proposal Presented to

DEDICATION

This study is wholeheartedly dedicated to our beloved parents, who have been our

source of inspiration and gave us strength when we thought of giving up, who continually

provide their moral, spiritual, emotional, and financial support.

To our relatives, friends, classmates and teachers who shared their words of

advice and encouragement to finish this study.

And lastly, we dedicate this book to the Almighty God, thank you for the

guidance, strength, power of mind, protection and skills for giving us a healthy life. All

of these, we offer to you.

This study aims to examine the experiences of senior high school students who

encountered discrimination and stereotyping, identifies the effects of discrimination and

stereotyping, determines the challenges that encountered by the SHS students in

discrimination and stereotyping and determine the possible main solutions to address the

challenges

For qualitative design, the researchers will employ a descriptive technique,

namely the survey method. This strategy will be used by the researchers to conveniently

obtain the data that they seek using a survey questionnaire. The study will take place at a

private school in Caloocan City. Respondents will be senior high school General

Academic Strand (GAS) students, which is the main focus of this study, and the most

students who experience discrimination and stereotyping.

Approval Letter ii

Acknowledgement iv

Dedication v

Abstract v

CHAPTER 1 : Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

1.2 Statement of the Research Problem

1.3 Significance of the Study

1.4 Scope and Delimitation of the Study

CHAPTER 2 : Review of Related Literature

General Academic Strand

Stereotypes against the Strand

Discrimination against the Strand

Effects of Discrimination and Stereotyping

Chapter 1

Introduction

Background of the Study

Several studies have illustrated that students face discrimination based on

religion, socioeconomic status, and gender which includes religion-based bullying of

students by teachers, discrimination in seat arrangements and exclusion based on gender

(Ramachandran and Naorem, 2013; Dupper et al., 2015; Robnett, 2016). The

discrimination of primary school students based on socio-demographic factors like age,

family background and parenting styles were reported in Mangalore, India (Joseph et al.,

2021). Stereotypes in education remain evident in academic performance, differences in

self-efficacy scores, and disparities in standardized tests (KurtzCostes et al., 2014).

United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990) article 28 states parties

shall promote and encourage international cooperation in matters relating to education, in

particular with a view to contributing to the elimination of ignorance and illiteracy

throughout the world and facilitating access to scientific and technical knowledge and

modern teaching methods. In this regard, particular accounts shall be taken of the needs

of developing countries. In 2016, Mays delved that in decades of research it shows that

when people are chronically treated differently, unfairly or badly, it can have effects
ranging from low self-esteem to a higher risk for developing stress-related disorders such

as anxiety and depression.

Statement of the Problem

This research proposal seeks to discover the experiences of the selected GAS

students regarding discrimination and stereotyping within the strand system. The main

problem of the study is classified into four sub-problems. Particularly:

1. What kind of discrimination do Senior High School GAS students experience?

2. What are the stereotypes that Senior High School GAS students experience?

3. What are the effects of stereotyping and discrimination against Senior High

School GAS students?

4. What are the coping strategies of Senior High School GAS students when they

experience discrimination and stereotyping?

This research study will benefit those who have experienced discrimination and

stereotyping within the strand system. This research tends to identify the unfavorable and

unfair treatment of individuals or groups based on categorical characteristics. The

research study would be significant to the following categories:

Through this research study, GAS Students will be able to help the researchers in

their problem by utilizing their solutions provided by the selected respondents in this

study. As for the Department of Education, they can use this study to come up with the

solution for the students who are experiencing discrimination and stereotyping. Future

Researchers may come up with ideas or solutions that can help them to clearly

understand what discrimination and stereotyping can do to students. They may use this as

their reference for their own research.

This research proposal is focused on Senior High School General Academic

Strand students at a private school in Caloocan City for the School Year 2022-2023 who

are experiencing discrimination and stereotyping in relation to their choice of strand. The

experiences of GAS students and different forms of discrimination within their strand

will be studied by researchers. As well as the coping strategies of GAS students when

they experience discrimination and stereotyping.

Other strands are not included, such as Accountancy, Business, and Management

(ABM), and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Science, Technology,

Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS).

Only the General Academic Strand students are included in the topic because the number

of Grade 11 and Grade 12 GAS students on this topic is sufficient for the researchers'

participants.
 Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature

This chapter presents the related literature and studies after the thorough and in-

depth search done by the researchers. This will also present the synthesis of the

discrimination and stereotyping to fully understand the research to be done and lastly the

definition of terms for better comprehension of the study.

General Academic Strand

The K-12 program was approved by the late president, Benigno Aquino III, a year

after he was elected to the position. The program is a comprehensive reform of basic

education to enable the Philippines to catch up to other foreign countries that will make

the Filipinos more qualified when seeking for employment outside the country. It was a

means to give importance to kids to strictly attend kindergarten and an additional two

years to the time needed to complete highschool, which previously was four. It also

offered various strands such as Science Engineering and Mathematics (STEM),

Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMMS), Accountancy Business and Management

(ABM), and the General Academic Strand (GAS) (Patinglay, 2021). Each strand has its

own specializations and strengths. For STEM, it nourishes and enhances the students'
ability to innovate, problem-solve, and skills for critical thinking. Humms on the other

hand specializes with words and public speaking. ABM focuses its specialization in

solving problems related with numbers or to those who are planning to work in the

business field. Lastly, GAS gives a chance to those students who are still unsure of what

degree they want to take in college, to still have time to weigh their options for their

future careers (Pamor, 2019).

Stereotypes against the strand

According to Rosime et al. (2021), strand stigmatization or degradation is a

common problem that GAS students face, that sometimes leaves the students under the

said strand to be left out. This problem occurs because of stereotyping, which is to

believe in something unfairly that all individuals or things with specific characteristics

are of the same. Stereotypes for example, would be when a person has high grades and is

excelling academically, then they are expected to be taking up either STEM or ABM as

people usually see it fit as the best strand to take. These occurrences in turn lead to

hierarchy that also leads to discrimination and eventually degradation. Stereotyping, i.e.

attributing traits, characteristics and/or behaviors to a person on the virtue of shared and

overgeneralized beliefs regarding the social groups she/he belongs to (cf. Puddifoot 2019:

71; Locksley et al. 1982: 270), seems to be a pervasive human tendency that stems from a

basic cognitive need to categorize, simplify and process the complex world that

surrounds us (Rakić et al. 2011: 17). Unfortunately, this tendency also leads to

unmotivated in-group/out-group definitions that are a precondition for social bias,

prejudice, discrimination and structural injustices.

Pamor (2019) discussed that people claim the GAS strand is an option belonging

to those who are still indecisive of what career they want or those whose academic

abilities are not passable for other strands. People claim that GAS is for those who do not

know what they want to take up in college yet, or whose academic ability does not reach

that of the other strands, and so they are ‘left’ or ‘tossed’ into GAS. Additionally, Wenz

and Hoenig (2020) also illustrated the discrimination against the students. Rueger and

Jenkins (2014) highlighted diminished physical and mental health as a result of

discrimination among students. Thus, persistent discrimination based on caste, creed and

economic background ultimately results in negative behavioral outcomes, even in the

education sector (Ali et al., 2019).

Effects of Discrimination and Stereotyping

The researchers also found that discrimination is associated with increased

depression and loneliness, but less so for people with better social support. He was struck

by how many students suffered from mental health issues and depression, due in part to

the increased stress of college and being away from home. Our approach in this paper,

using passive sensing and data modeling, really lends itself to studying frequent events.

Unfair treatment, or discrimination, might happen repeatedly in a quarter. (Dey, 2019)

In 2016, Mays delved that in decades of research it shows that when people are

chronically treated differently, unfairly or badly, it can have effects ranging from low

self-esteem to a higher risk for developing stress-related disorders such as anxiety and

depression. When the mental health of one person is affected, it can produce a domino
effect extending beyond that individual (Gordon, 2016). According to the Anderton

(2022) Discrimination is a public health issue. Research has shown that the experience of

discrimination—when perceived as such—can trigger a cascade of stress-related

emotional, physical, and behavioral changes.

Coping Strategies

The ways people cope (i.e., coping behaviors/reactions) may have either positive

or negative impacts on their physical or mental well-being. As found by Folkman and

Lazarus (1988), some coping strategies (e.g., problem solving) may reduce distress or

produce some improvement in one’s mental state, while others (e.g., internalization of

blame) may be associated with greater distress. Coping mechanisms are cognitive and

behavioral approaches that we use to manage internal and external stressors (Algorani &

Gupta, 2021). Paula (2019) stated that the results help underscore the deep impacts of

discrimination on mental health, and the importance of resources like social support in

helping to reduce the impact of discrimination in the long term. Interventions such as

‘Coming Out Proud‘ (Corrigan et al., 2013) or decision aids for disclosure (Henderson et

al., 2013) could help service users to develop more effective coping strategies and reduce

stigma stress. According to the American Psychological Association (2019) Focusing on

core values, beliefs, and perceived strengths can motivate people to succeed, and may

even buffer the negative effects of bias. Overcoming hardship can also make people more

resilient and better able to face future challenges. People can get involved with like-

minded groups and organizations, whether locally or online. It can help to know there are

other people who have had similar experiences to them. And connecting with those
people might help you figure out how to address situations and respond to experiences of

discrimination in ways you haven’t thought of.

Definition of Terms

Discrimination a biased or unfavorable viewpoint, behavior, or treatment

GAS or General Academic Strand caters to students who are unsure of what college

course or degree they wish to pursue. This strand was created to allow confused students

to continue with any college program. Is a strand that prepares students for college by

adopting a generalist approach. It covers a variety of academic fields, including

management, organization, and the humanities and social sciences.

Stereotyping something that follows a set or common pattern especially: a shared mental

image among group members that expresses an overly simplistic viewpoint, a biased

attitude, or an uncritical judgment.

Research Methodology

The study's research techniques are discussed in this chapter. It includes the

demographic information of the respondents, the descriptions of them, and the

instrument, technique, and statistical tools used to analyze the data and produce an

analytical analysis and interpretation of the results.

Research Design

This study is qualitative research; a survey design was used in this study. The

researchers were able to determine the Experiences of Students: An Analysis of

Discrimination and Stereotyping within the Strand System on GAS (General Academic

Strand) students in the Philippines using this method. Participants will respond to

questions via interviews or questionnaires on Google Forms in this survey-method

research. Researchers describe and interpret the responses given by participants after they
have completed the questionnaires. Through the use of a questionnaire, the design is

acceptable and useful in gathering data for the study. The researchers designed a digital

poster titled "Examining the Experiences of GAS Students: An Analysis of

Discrimination and Stereotyping within the Strand System (Equality for Everyone)"

students and equal rights for all genders

Research Locale

The researchers will be conducted in a certain private school in Caloocan City.

The respondents that the researchers chose are the selected Senior High School GAS

students, taking into consideration that the researchers are in Senior High School and they

wanted to know struggles and experiences of their fellow classmates and schoolmates in

discrimination and stereotyping. The researchers also believe that the chosen respondents

are capable of answering the interview questions effectively and honestly.

Grade 11 No. of Respondents

GAS 25

Grade 12 No. of Respondents

GAS 25

Total : 50 SHS Students

In this study, the researchers will use a survey questionnaire as the instrument for

the study. The survey questionnaire is a set of orderly arranged questions carefully

prepared to answer by a group of people designed to collect information. The

questionnaire consists of 20 questions, including the ones that pertain to the profile of the

respondents and questions asking about their experiences and perspectives. The

researchers find the survey forms as the simplest and practical approach to collecting

information that the researchers need in the study. Each is subjected to sufficiently

answer the sub problems of the study.

Data Gathering Procedure

During the month of January, the researchers were obliged to make a research

proposal on a particular subject, Practical Research 1. The researchers were given ample

time to collect resources that include relevant articles and information, as well as valid

references. The researchers are not required to conduct the survey for now but are still

required to validate the questionnaires that the researchers will use in the future.