Effects of Clay Sculpting on the Anxiety Level of Selected Freshman Students Ac 2009-2010

ABSTRACT

Thesis Title: Effects of Clay Sculpting on the Anxiety of Selected Freshman Students at Makati High School Annex, Academic Year 2009-2010

Subject: Experimental Psychology

Major: BS Psychology Guidance and Counseling Stream

Key Concepts: Anxiety, Clay Sculpting, and Early Adolescents

Date of Oral Defense: October 13, 2009

Time of Oral Defense: 10:00-11:30am

Adviser: Dr. Adelaida C. Gines

Researchers: Ambagan, Ma. Kristina

Badillo, Gratcielo Chiara

Baer, Charlene

Bautista, Annie Mae

Vasquez, Roselle

Introduction

Anxiety is an unpleasant emotional state of heightened feeling of fear, worry or concern. According to Philip Chua (2004), all of us experience fear and anxiety at one time or another. It is normal for anyone to feel about certain thing or events. In dealing with anxiety, people do not stop researching and studying for a treatment for it.

Many different sectors and areas of specialization like in the field of medicine proposed a lot of interventions on how to address it. While in the field of education, many programs and treatments are devised in helping the students deal with anxiety. One of which is through clay sculpting as a tool in reducing anxiety of the students.

In the journal made by Sholt and Gayron (2006) entitled "Therapeutic qualities of clay-work in art therapy and psychotherapy: A Review," it explains that through clay work, one can make real-like things. Clay sculptures can also function as symbolic play objects, and thus afford a much wider potential space for manifestations of fantasy and the inner world, such as fears, anxieties, wishes, and so on. Clay work or sculpting allows integration of emotions, memories, and fantasies from different levels of consciousness. The potential intensity of clay work in bringing up unconscious material, and amplifying the personal meaning of a symbol indicates the hazards that lie in premature disclosure. Clay sculpting is effective, especially in dealing with individuals with traumatic issues. It will play a pivotal role in healing an individual whether physically or psychologically.

In given circumstances, the researchers decided to conduct an experiment to prove the use of clay sculpting in healing anxiety in the Philippines. The researchers tried its effectiveness among adolescents, specifically those who fall under the early adolescence stage- the first year high school students.

This study aimed in helping them to improve their knowledge and awareness in dealing with life's issues and concerns such as in knowing the students' conflicts in school that might be related to their issues. With this, they would be able to learn how to deal with them. Thus, this study served as support paper to the effectiveness of Clay sculpting not only in the field of counseling but in the field of teaching as well.

Statement of the Problem

General Statement of the Problem:

This study focused mainly on the effects of clay sculpting on the anxiety of selected freshman students of Makati High School Annex, Academic Year 2009-2010.

Specifically the study seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the anxiety level of the participants, both exposed and not exposed to clay sculpting?

2. Is there a significant difference between the results of the pretest mean scores of both exposed and not exposed to clay sculpting?

3. Is there a significant difference between the pretest and post-test mean scores of those not exposed to clay sculpting?

4. Is there a significant difference between the results of the post test mean scores of both exposed and not exposed to clay sculpting?

5. Is there a significant difference between the pretest and post-test mean scores of those exposed to clay sculpting?

Hypothesis

1. There was no significant difference between the results of the pretest mean scores of both exposed and not exposed to clay sculpting.

2. There was no significant difference between the pretest and post-test mean scores of those not exposed to clay sculpting.

3. There was no significant difference between the results of the post test mean scores of both exposed and not exposed to clay sculpting.

4. There was no significant difference between the pretest and post-test mean scores of those exposed to clay sculpting.

Methodology

The researchers made use of the true experimental type of research, particularly the Pretest-Posttest Control