Analyzing the Role of Teachers’ Mentoring in Improving Senior High School Students’ Research Competency

This qualitative study analyzed the role of mentors in the development of senior high school (SHS) students’ research competency as beginning researchers. This also tried to understand the importance of the mentor-mentee relationship as regards the improvement of the aforementioned competency. Through narrative analysis, this study gathered experiences from selected learners of one of the public schools in Antipolo City, Rizal. In the selection of the participants, the researchers employed purposive sampling, whereas fifteen (15) SHS students, all in grade 11, were chosen. These students were purposely selected since (1) they were enrolled in the SHS of the school, (2) they did not have any research-related background prior to PR1, and most importantly, (3) they were all taking Practical Research 1 during the school year 2022-2023. Before initiating the data-gathering processes, the researchers sought the necessary permission from the school principal through formal letters. As per the analysis part of the study, the researchers applied thematic analysis to the audio-recorded interviews and other transcriptions. This analysis rendered several themes and categories that are eventually defined and discussed in parallel with the participants’ verbatim responses. It was then concluded that the teacher-mentors’ role is indeed crucial to how beginning researchers can assimilate the fundamental research content and eventually be able to apply it across all disciplines.