`EFFECT OF EXPERIMENTATION ON CHEMISTRY STUDENTS’ CONCEPTUALIZATION OF ACID, BASE AND SALTS
Oyakhirome, A. H1., Akpan, Anyanime O2.
1Department of Curriculum and Instructional Technology,
Faculty of Education,
University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State,
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 08027530479
2Department of Science Education,
Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enin LGA, Akwa Ibom State
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 08023319141
Corresponding Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,
Abstract
The study examined the effect of experimentation on chemistry students’ conceptualization of acid, base, and salts in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State. Three research questions and their corresponding null hypotheses guided the study.A quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test non-equivalent control group design was employed. The population comprised 571 Senior Secondary I (SS1)Chemistry students in the eight public secondary schools in the study area. A sample of 101 students (46 male and 55 female) from two intact classes were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using a 29-item multiple-choice validated Chemistry Achievement Test (CAT) with a reliability coefficient of 0.791. Mean statistics was used for answering the research question, while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used for testing the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings from the study showed there is significant difference in the mean achievement scores of students who were taught using experimentation method and those taught with lecture method; there is no significant difference in the mean achievement scores between male and female students taught using experimentation method; and there is no significant difference in the mean achievement scores between male and female students taught using lecture method. It was recommended among others that teachers should teach chemistry concepts using experimentation methods and students should exposed to the same instructional strategies irrespective of gender.
Keywords: Experimentation, Conceptualization, Gender difference and chemistry Students