Abstract

EFFECTS OF PROBLEM-SOLVING METHOD ON SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS? ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND ATTITUDE IN MATHEMATICS IN UYO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGERIA

Abasi, Andrew Umo

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This study investigated the effects of problem-solving method on secondary school students? academic achievement and attitude in Mathematics in Uyo Local Government Area, Nigeria. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. The research design used for the study was the pre-test post-test control groups design. The population comprised Senior Secondary Two (SSII) students in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The size of the population was 4937 SSII mathematics students for the 2017/2018 academic session. The sample constituted 127 SSII students in their intact classes from two schools selected using simple random sampling technique. The instruments used for the study were probability achievement test and mathematics attitude Scale. The validity of the instruments was ascertained by experts while the reliabilities were determine using Kuder Richardson formula 20 and Cronbach Alpha for test and scale respectively. The test was found to be .73 while the scale was .81. Data collected were analysed using mean, standard deviation, t-test and analysis of covariance at .05 level of significance. The findings indicated that students taught probability using problem-solving method significantly achieved better than those taught using expository method. Students taught probability using problem-solving method had a significantly better attitude than those taught probability using expository method. Students? post-attitude was significantly better than their pre-attitude when taught probability using problem-solving method. It was concluded that problem-solving method significantly enhances students? achievement and attitude. Keywords: Problem-solving, Academic Achievement, Attitude, Mathematics.

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