Integrated Research, Innovation, and Development

Beyond Grades: Statistical Competence and Its Determinants among Grade 12 Learners in Palawan, Philippines

Karen Salve M. Maute, Avis Zyra C. Yumang, Nerissa Mae D. Pagayunan, Diane Joy C. Manggad, and Joel G. Becira

Abstract

Statistics is a critical component of 21st–century learning, yet gaps remain between students’ academic performance and their actual statistical understanding. This study examined the statistical competence of Grade 12 senior high school learners in selected secondary schools in Palawan and identified factors influencing their competence. A descriptive–correlational design was employed using a researcher–developed questionnaire administered to 154 learners from both academic and technical–vocational tracks. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation were used to analyze the data. Findings revealed that although learners demonstrated outstanding academic performance in Statistics and Probability (M = 91.34), their overall statistical competence was only at a “competent” level (WM = 3.62), indicating a gap between procedural achievement and conceptual understanding. Learners showed stronger competence in computational domains, such as measures of central tendency, but lower competence in higher–order skills, including inferential statistics and bivariate analysis. Among the examined factors, student–related variables showed a significant relationship with statistical competence (r = 0.398, p < .01), while teacher– and parent–related factors were not significantly associated. Additionally, statistical competence was significantly related to academic performance and strand but not to sex. The findings highlight the central role of learner engagement and self–regulation in developing statistical competence. The study underscores the need for learner–centered, inquiry–based instructional approaches that promote higher–order thinking and conceptual understanding, particularly in geographically diverse and resource–constrained contexts such as Palawan.