Factors Influencing the Acquisition of Science Concepts in Secondary School Students

Article title: Factors Influencing the Acquisition of Science Concepts in Secondary School Students

Author(s): Madiha Rauf & Sarah Shahed

Institute(s): Department of Gender Studies, Lahore College for Women University

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 2015, Vol. 13, No.1, 20-27

Correspondence Address: Madiha Rauf, Department of Gender Studies, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: madiha_nadeem@hotmail.com; and Dr Sara Shahed, Department of Gender Studies, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: sarahshahed@yahoo.com

Abstract

It is gaining importance among psychologists and researchers to understand the ways of learning of science concepts and particularly recognizing factors which cause retention of science concepts in students. The present study was carried out to assess the influence of socioeconomic status of family and other variables on understanding of scientific concepts in secondary school students from districts of Punjab Province. The sample size of this study was 720 enrolled male and female students of class 9th selected by using purposive sampling from the public schools in six districts covering the central, southern and northern region of the Punjab province. For data collection two types of instruments were administered to the subject of the study; The Science Concept Acquisition Test and self-constructed questionnaire regarding demographic and other variables. The collected data were analyzed by using t-test, ANOVA and correlation. The obtained results were as follows; the socioeconomic variables of parents did not show noticeable impact on students ‘performance whereas family structure, family size showed the noteworthy influence on the students’ performance. In this study no correlation was found between study hours and test scores, however, a negative correlation existed with the domestic working and TV watching hours. In the future, it is suggested that parents should create and promote the conducive environment for getting better understanding of science education in students at home.

Keywords: Science Concepts, Family Structure, Study hours

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