The main objective of the study was to assess the performance and determinants of problem solving among college physics students. The instruments used in gathering data were the PSTS test, Attitude and Study Habits Inventory, and Teaching Strategies Inventory. Data were analyzed using weighted mean, percentage, t-test, analytic scoring scale, Pearson correlation analysis, regression analysis and ANOVA. Findings showed that most of the Physics majors have not attended Physics seminars and trainings for the last ten years. Favorable attitude towards problem solving helps students in working with tasks that involve problem solving skills. Study habits of the students promote greater effort on the part of the students to learn, thus, resulting in greater success in the problem solving. Students have average competence in the problem solving thinking skills. Problem solving performance of the students is likely to increase when students have better prior competence in English and Mathematics. Teaching strategies is associated with the students’ problem solving performance. Students become better solvers when they are taught with problem solving strategies. Campus differences in problem solving thinking skills (PSTS) performance of the students exist.
Problem-solving, performance and determinance, problem-solving thinking skills, understanding, planning, answering
