INFLUENCE OF CONCEPTUAL INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD ON STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN, AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY AMONG STUDENTS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
INFLUENCE OF CONCEPTUAL INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD ON STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN, AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY AMONG STUDENTS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2014-08
Authors
MUHAMMAD, Binta Asabe
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Abstract
Researches in chemistry education have shown that students’ low performance in practical
chemistry was due to lack of in-depth conceptual understanding of chemical concepts behind
practical chemistry. It was based on this that, the study investigated the Influence of
Conceptual Instructional Method on students’ Performance in, and Attitude towards Practical
Chemistry in Zaria Educational Zone, Kaduna State. The target population for the study was
1401 S.S. II Science Students. The subjects in the coeducational schools were pretested and
schools that do not differ significantly were chosen for the study. A sample of 100 Students
was randomly drawn from two co-educational senior secondary schools, within Zaria
educational zone. The subjects were divided in to two groups: The experimental group and
the control group of 50 students each. The pretest-posttest quasi-experimental control group
design was adapted. The subjects in the experimental group were exposed to Conceptual
Instructional Method, while those in the Control group were exposed to the lecture
instructional strategy for a period of six weeks. The following instruments were developed
and validated for data collection: Chemistry Practical Achievement Test (CPAT) with
reliability coefficient of 0.71, Chemistry Practical Performance (CPPT) with reliability
coefficient of 0.73 and Chemistry Practical Attitude Inventory (CPAI) with reliability
coefficient of 0.79. Six research questions were stated and six null hypotheses were tested.
The data collected were subjected to statistical analysis at 0.05 level of significance. t-test
statistics was used to test the hypotheses on achievement, performance and gender difference.
Mann-Whitney U-test was used to test the subjects change in attitude towards practical
chemistry while Pearson product moment correlation coefficient r- statistic was used to test
the relationship between academic achievement and practical performance of subjects in the
experimental group. The major findings from the study include the following: The Academic
Achievement, Practical Performance and Attitude of Subjects Exposed to Conceptual
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Instructional Method were significantly higher than their counterparts exposed to lecture
method of instruction. With reference to gender, there was no significant difference between
male and female students academic achievement in the experimental group but, there was a
significant difference between male and female students practical performance with the male
students performing better than their female counterparts. It was also found that, there was a
significant relationship between academic achievement and practical performance of subjects
in the experimental group. On the basis of the findings outlined above, it was concluded that,
conceptual instructional method enhances senior secondary school students’ academic
achievement, practical performance and attitude towards practical chemistry. A number of
recommendations were made some of which are as follows: (1) Chemistry teachers should
incorporate conceptual instructional method for teaching at senior secondary school level. (2)
Curriculum planners should recommend and ensure conceptual instructional method is used
for teaching chemistry at senior secondary school.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO
SCHOOL OF POSGRADUATE STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE AWARD OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPY (Ph.D)
DEGREEE IN SCIENCE EDUATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE EDUCATION,
FACULTY OF EDUCATION,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
KADUNA STATE
NIGERIA
AUGUST, 2014
Keywords
INFLUENCE,, CONCEPTUAL,, INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD,, PERFORMANCE,, ATTITUDE,, PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY,, STUDENTS,, KADUNA STATE,, NIGERIA