Effect of Concept Mapping Instructional Strategy on Senior Secondary School Students’ Performance in Home Economics

Abstract

his study investigates the effects of the concept mapping instructional strategy on Senior Secondary School students’ performance in Home Economics in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. The study adopted the pre-test post-test quasi-experimental design approach. The participants are made up of 199 students selected from the total population of all SS2 Home Economics students in Akure South Local Government Area during the 2022/2023 session. The participants were given pre-tests, post-tests, and retention tests after two weeks. Five major research questions and null hypotheses were raised, answered, and tested. Independent t-test analyses revealed the following: Students taught using the concept mapping strategy performed better than those taught with the conventional method and equally performed better in the two-week retention test. Female students performed better than male students. There is no significant difference in the performance of students in private schools with those in public schools. All the groups showed improved performance for the two week retention test after been taught using concept mapping strategy. The study showed that the concept mapping strategy is an appropriate method for teaching Home Economics for both male and female students. Among others, the study recommends that seminars should be organized for teachers to emphasize and encourage the use of the concept mapping strategy in teaching science and practical oriented subjects in senior secondary schools.