Effect of Laboratory Strategy on Senior Secondary Students’ Achievement in Biology

Journal of the International Centre for Science, Humanities and Education Research(ICSHER), Vol. 2, No. 2, 68-75.

8 Pages Posted: 15 May 2017

See all articles by Venita Abakpa

Venita Abakpa

Benue State University - Department of Curriculum and Teaching

Emmanuel Edoja Achor

Benue State University

Comfort Odoh

Benue State University - Department of Curriculum and Teaching

Date Written: Dec 30, 2016

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of laboratory strategy on senior secondary students’ achievement in biology. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The non-randomized control group, pretest-posttest quasi experimental design was used for the study. A sample of 275 senior secondary II biology students from six secondary schools in Makurdi metropolis was drawn from a population of 2,754 students and 20 schools using purposive sampling technique. The instrument used for data collection was the Biology Achievement Test (BAT) which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.71. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviations to answer the research questions while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that there was significant difference in the mean achievement scores (p = 0.00 < 0.05) of students taught Biology concepts using investigative laboratory strategy and those taught using expository method, in favour of the laboratory strategy group. In terms of gender, there was no significant difference between the mean achievement scores (P= 0.21 > 0.05) of male and female students taught using investigative laboratory strategy. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the use of investigative laboratory strategy enhanced students’ achievement in Biology than the expository method. It was recommended that Biology teachers should use investigative laboratory strategy in teaching Biology which provides students with an opportunity to carry out practical activities by themselves thereby enhancing their achievement. Also school proprietors should provide laboratory facilities to enable Biology teachers use investigative laboratory strategy in teaching Biology

Keywords: Investigative Laboratory strategy; achievement in biology; gender and biology achievement

Suggested Citation

Abakpa, Venita and Achor, Emmanuel Edoja and Odoh, Comfort, Effect of Laboratory Strategy on Senior Secondary Students’ Achievement in Biology (Dec 30, 2016). Journal of the International Centre for Science, Humanities and Education Research(ICSHER), Vol. 2, No. 2, 68-75., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2968290

Venita Abakpa

Benue State University - Department of Curriculum and Teaching ( email )

Km 1, Gboko Road
Makurdi, Benue State
Nigeria

Emmanuel Edoja Achor (Contact Author)

Benue State University ( email )

Department of Science and Mathematics Education
Makurdi, 97001
Nigeria
+2348035157702 (Phone)

Comfort Odoh

Benue State University - Department of Curriculum and Teaching ( email )

Km 1, Gboko Road
Makurdi, Benue State
Nigeria

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