Effect of Physics Practical on Students’ Attitude and Performance in Bauchi Educational Zone

Abstract

The study investigated the Effects of Physics Practical on Secondary School Students’ Attitude and Performance in Bauchi Educational Zone, Nigeria. In a bid to achieve the objectives of the study four research questions were raised and five hypotheses were postulated. The study adopted quasi-experimental research design. Specifically, the pre-test posttest control group design. The study population consisted of ten thousand two hundred and eighty SSII physics students. The sample of the study was made up of one hundred and Forty SSII physics students. Stratified random sampling technique was used for the study. The research instruments used for the study were Physics Students Laboratory Practical Performance Test (PSLPPT) and Physics Students Laboratory Attitude Rating Scale (PSLARS). The reliability of the instruments was determined using Cronbach alpha coefficient. The reliabilities stood at 0.76 for PSLPPT and 0.98 for PSLARS. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and t-test. The results obtained showed that: Students have positive attitude toward physics laboratory practical, laboratory practical enhanced students’ performance in physics. The findings also revealed that there is a significant difference between the performance of students exposed to laboratory practical and those not exposed to, both male and female students were at the same level of performance in physics after exposure to laboratory practical. It was then recommended among others that teachers should put more efforts in teaching students the practical aspect of physics as this would made the students to have positive attitude and have better performance in physics.