Correlations among Six Learner Variables and the Performance of a Sample of Jamaican Eleventh-Graders on an Achievement Test on Respiration

Authors: Soyibo, Kola¹; Pinnock, Jacqueline²

Source: International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, Volume 3, Number 2, June 2005 , pp. 239-265(27)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

This study aimed at establishing if the level of performance of 500 Jamaican Grade 11 students on an achievement test on the concept of respiration was satisfactory (mean=28 or 70% and above) or not (<70%); if there were statistically significant differences in their performance on the concept linked to their gender, cognitive abilities in biology, self-esteem, school location, socioeconomic background (SEB), school-type and school location; and if there were significant relationships among the six variables and the students’ performance. The sample (n=500) consisted of 212 boys and 288 girls selected from five all-boys’ schools (119 students), five all-girls’ schools (159 students), and six coeducational schools (222 students). The students were from six rural schools (137 students) and ten urban schools (363 students), out of which 291 were from a high SEB and 209 were from a low SEB. A 40-item multiple choice test on respiration and a self-esteem questionnaire were used to collect data. The results revealed that the students’ level of performance (mean=23.44 or 58.60%, SD=6.86) was regarded as fairly satisfactory; there were statistically significant differences in the students’ performance on respiration based on their cognitive abilities, and school-type in favour of students with high cognitive ability in biology and all-boys’ schools respectively. There was a positive statistically significant but weak relationship between the students’ (a) cognitive abilities, and (b) school-type and their performance on respiration.

Keywords: cognitive abilities in biology; correlations; gender; level of performance; respiration concept; school location; school type; self-esteem; socioeconomic background

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10763-004-7155-8

Affiliations: 1: Department of Educational Studies, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, 7, Jamaica, Email: kolawole.soyibo@uwimona.edu.jm 2: Department of Educational Studies, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, 7, Jamaica,

Publication date: 2005-06-01

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