Influence of Students’ Learning Styles on Problem-Solving Abilities and Attitudes in Secondary School Physics in Osun State, Nigeria
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Date
2024
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Department of Science and Technology Education, Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Abstract
The study identified the learning styles of the senior secondary school Physics students in Osun State. It also determined the learning styles which could enhance problem-solving ability of secondary school students in Physics in the study area. Finally, the study examined the learning styles that can improve the attitude of students in the study area. These were with a view to providing information to teachers and educational stakeholders on the existence of diverse learning styles among the Physics students in the study area.
The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised Senior Secondary School II Physics students in Osun state. The sample of the study was 300 senior secondary school II Physics students. Multistage sampling procedure were adopted in selecting the sample for the study. Two Local Government Areas (LGAs) were randomly selected from each of the three senatorial districts in the State, making a total of six Local Government Areas. Four secondary schools (two private and two public) were selected from each of the LGAs using stratified random sampling techniques making a total of twenty-four (24) schools. Three instruments used for the study were Students’ Learning Style in Physics Questionnaire (SLSPQ) to survey the students’ learning styles; Students’ Attitude Towards Physics Questionnaire (SATPQ) to elicit information on students’ attitude to Physics; and were Problem-solving Ability Test (PSAT) to evaluate students’ problem solving ability in the subject. Data collected were analysed using mean, standard deviation and ANOVA.
The results showed that Kinesthetic (50%), Auditory (28%), Read/Write (6%) and Visual (5.5%) learning styles were identified among the secondary school Physics students in Osun State. The findings also indicated that Kinesthetic learning style enhances problem-solving ability of secondary school Physics students most in the study area (F(4,199) = 2.98; p < 0.05) at 0.05 level of significance. Finally, the results showed that none of the identified learning styles has effect on improving the attitude of secondary school Physics students in the study area (F(4,199) = 2.98; p < 0.05) at 0.05 level of significance.
The study concluded that Visual, Audio Read/Write and Kinesthetic learning styles were identified among the students in the study area. It was also concluded that Kinesthetic learning style enhances problem-solving ability of secondary school Physics students most in the study area. Finally, it was concluded that none of the identified learning styles has effect on improving the attitude of secondary school Physics students in the study area.
Description
xiv, 213p
Keywords
Physics students, learning styles, teachers, educational stakeholders, secondary schools
Citation
Ogunsola, J . O (2024) Influence of Students’ Learning Styles on Problem-Solving Abilities and Attitudes in Secondary School Physics in Osun State, Nigeria .Department of Science and Technology Education, Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.