EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF LABORATORY AND DISCUSSION METHODS ON PERFORMANCE AND RETENTION OF CHEMISTRY STUDENTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF LABORATORY AND DISCUSSION METHODS ON PERFORMANCE AND RETENTION OF CHEMISTRY STUDENTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2020-04
Authors
ADEJO, Lucy Omoka
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The study evaluated the effects of laboratory and discussion methods on the
performance and retention of Chemistry students in Senior Secondary Schools in
Kaduna State, Nigeria. Six objectives were formulated for the study amongst which
were to: determine the pre-test and post-test performance of Chemistry students
taught using laboratory method in Senior Secondary Schools in Kaduna state,
Nigeria, examine the pre-test and post-test performance of Chemistry students taught
Chemistry using discussion method in Senior Secondary Schools in Kaduna state,
Nigeria and compare the retention ability of Chemistry students exposed to
laboratory, discussion and conventional methods in Senior Secondary Schools
Kaduna state, Nigeria. In line with the objectives, six corresponding research
questions and hypotheses were formulated for the study. Relevant literatures on the
key variables of the study were reviewed. The study was carried out using quasi
experimental design with the target population of eighteen thousand, one hundred and
thirty eight (18,138) SSII Chemistry students and a sample of two hundred and seven
(207) Chemistry students was arrived at using purposive sampling techniques. Data
for the study was collected through the administration of pre-test, post-test and
retention test using teacher made test tagged “Chemistry Students Performance and
Retention Test (CSPART) and the instrument was validated by the researcher‟s
supervisors, experts from the field of Chemistry and social science, test and
measurement. The data collected were analyzed using statistical package for social
science (SPSS) version 20. Demographic variables were analyzed using frequencies
and percentages while mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research
questions. Paired sample t-test, independent t-test and one way analysis of variance
(ANOVA) were used to test the hypotheses advanced for the study at 0.05 level of
significance. The findings of the study amongst others revealed that the post test
performance of students taught Chemistry using laboratory method was significantly
higher than their pretest scores (p-value 0.000<0.05), students taught Chemistry
using discussion method performed significantly better in the posttest (p-value
0.010<0.05) also, the retention ability of students taught Chemistry using laboratory
method was significantly better than those taught using discussion and conventional
method (p-value 0.000<0.05). In view of the findings from the study, conclusion was
drawn that laboratory method motivate students to actively participate in the learning
activities rather than been passive listeners. Discussion method enabled students to
discuss and share ideas with each other. It was also concluded that performance of
students taught Chemistry using laboratory method was significantly better than those
taught Chemistry using discussion and conventional method, similarly, the retention
ability of students taught Chemistry using laboratory method was also better than
those taught using discussion and conventional method. Based on these, it was
recommended among others that the laboratory method of teaching should be
emphasized in the teaching of chemistry ahead of other teaching methods for tangible
results and teachers should be encouraged to actively involve students in relevant
participatory laboratory activities since it has been found to improve performance in
Chemistry.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE
STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, IN PARTIAL
FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN EDUCATION (CURRICULUM AND
INSTRUCTION)
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS AND CURRICULUM,
FACULTY OF EDUCATION,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA- NIGERIA
Keywords
LABORATORY AND DISCUSSION METHODS,, PERFORMANCE AND RETENTION,, CHEMISTRY STUDENTS,, SECONDARY SCHOOLS,, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA