CHAPTER 1: THE PHENOMENON

Introduction

“The evidence about student interesting engineering studies and careers is quite

mixed.” says Myles Boylan (2006). Buildings, computers, perfumes, electricity, cars;

people always see these kind of stuffs but there are circumstances that people become

curious and think how these things were made. These things are created by engineers,

and they are divided on how to work with these different tasks.

According to Eric Grimson (2011), “Identify your true interests, and selecting an

engineering specialty becomes worlds easier.” As stated in Oxford English Dictionary,

“Engineering is the branch of science and technology concerned with design, building,

and use of engines, machines, and structures.” There are different fields in engineering

and it has their own specific specialization: Chemical Engineering develop and design

chemical manufacturing processes. Civil Engineering design and create construction

like roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and

sewage treatment. Electrical Engineering deals with electricity, electro-magnetism and

electronics. Mechanical Engineering deals with research, design, develop, build, and

test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and

machines. Aeronautical Engineering plan and supervise for the flight vehicles.

Computer Engineering is often described as Electrical Engineering with specific training

in computer hardware and in the interaction between hardware and software. These
fields in engineering are the most familiar for the students and it make students decide

easier on picking their fields in engineering.

“Whether to go for engineering or not entirely depends upon your personality

type, intellectual profile and goals.” says Karoly, M.S (2013). Before they became

engineers, students must know their interests. Socialization, competence, assessments,

perceptions, and stereotypes are some reasons of students observed in choosing

courses, like engineering. In picking the course of engineering, students are really

aspire to enter the world of engineering, some are just forced by their parents, some just

want to try it because of curiosity, some are influenced by others, and some just don’t

care about picking it. Students’ awareness in the reality of engineering are divergent,

understanding and accepting their own decision to take the course of engineering and

select its field should be a satisfaction for a student to be better and for them not to toil

and constrain. Expertise in choosing, studying, and appreciating engineering a student

has, is a worth continuously in life, not only in studying and solving difficulties of

engineering.

In these days, with the help of technology, engineering is dominating in our world

that may be the cause of the great increase of students picking engineering. High

technology affects the job of engineers because of the economic materials created by

engineers like buildings, bridges, etc. Without technology, engineers have no ideas on

how they will make their works much easier and better.

As stated by Sonny K. Siu (2013), “A flexible career path and positive job outlook are

among the benefits of pursuing job in engineering.” Students must know that engineers
do not just make bricks but to make house out of bricks. Engineers could bring nothing

into everything and everything into something and something into many things.

Engineers could also contribute a huge economic growth because of what they have

done and on what they will still continue in the future. Having no engineers in the world,

there would also be no development in all things. Engineers make every people’s

dreams and goals happen.

“Each engineering specialty requires distinct trails for a person to be successful

in that career.” says Karoly, M.S (2013). The purpose of this research is to investigate

the outlook of students in different fields of engineering. It can help students on deciding

and having a viewpoint on how they will deal with the course of engineering in the

future. This research wants to evaluate the different perspective of students in choosing

a certain field in engineering. This study will allow us to know more about the reasons of

the students and their thinking regarding on choosing their field. It guides the students

to find what they are interested at and what they want exactly in engineering and in its

fields that can help students motivate and drive them into their desires and passion.

Nonetheless, in making this study, the research will serve as a guide/ advantage to the

students and it will give benefits not only to students but also to us, researchers.

Conceptual Framework
Objectives

This research study named “Assessment of Students on Choosing Fields in

Engineering” conducted in Emilio Aguinaldo College – Cavite aims:

1. To identify the reasons of the STEM students in choosing a certain field in

engineering.

2. To determine the different factors that affects the decision making of STEM

students in choosing their preferred field in engineering.

3. To give some benefits, advantages, and motivations to the STEM students on

choosing the right path after conducting this research.

Assumptions of the Study

In conducting a research on "Assessment of Students Perception on Choosing

Fields in Engineering" in Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite, the study is based on the

following assumptions:

1. Every STEM students choosing engineering in the college are familiar about the

course of engineering and its fields.

2. Participants would be cooperative and provide reliable responses.

3. Perception and awareness of STEM students about engineering will give comfort

and benefits to the other students who are confused in their decision.

4. Participants' answers in the interview are in the affirmative way to motivate other

students.
Significance of the Study

The outcome of this study will bring advantage to the following persons:

Students

The result of this research may provide benefits to the students that can improve

their thoughts and knowledge on selecting and entering the world of engineering. In

conclusion, they could recognize which section they need to improve about assembling

their own point of view in determining what course they will take in their college.

Society

The result of this research will guide the society on knowing the facts and

information about the fields of engineering and the reasons why students choose

engineering as their course in college.

Future Researchers

On having a research, researchers shall have some references and basis that

may support their study. This research may help the future researchers to give more

information and knowledge about the topic related to our research. This research can

stand as a guide to the future researchers in creating their own study.

Scope and Delimitations

Engineering” focused on the Senior High School students of Science, Technology,

Engineering, and Mathematics track of Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite A.Y. 2016-2017

as the participants. It sought to identify the reasons affecting the outlooks on choosing

fields in engineering among the selected Science, Technology, Engineering, and

Mathematics students of Emilio Aguinaldo College Dasmariñas City, Cavite.

Definition of Terms

STEM – an academic strand in the K-12 curriculum which focuses in the study of

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Assessment –

Engineering –