Investigating the Effects of Problem Solving Approach on Academic Achievement of Basic Science and Technology Students in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of problem solving approach on the performance of Basic Science and Technology students in Nasarawa State. The study employed quasi-experimental of the pretest, posttest control group design. One hundred Junior Secondary School final year students participated in the study from schools that fall within the once sampled in Nasarawa State. Four research questions and four research hypotheses were used for the study. The instrument consisted of twenty item essay questions in Basic Science and Technology final Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (JSSCE) questions. The reliability coefficient of the questions was 0.74. Pretest was administered to the Basic Science and Technology students before treatment. Basic Science and Technology Students in experimental group were taught using the Basic Science and Technology problems solving approach while Basic Science and Technology students in the control group were taught using lecture method. Both groups were taught for four weeks and posttest was administered to them. Mean, standard deviation and ANCOVA statistics were used for data analyses. The results showed that, the Basic Science students that were exposed to the Basic Science Problem Solving Approach (BTPSA) performed significantly better than those exposed to the Basic Science and Technology lecture method approach (BTLMA). Among the recommendations that were passed was that the government should provide practical experience of how to use Basic Science and Technology problem solving approach to both the Basic Science teachers and the Basic Science and Technology students in junior secondary schools in Nasarawa State.