EFFECT OF DEMONSTRATION AND PROJECT METHODS OF TEACHING ON STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENT AND INTEREST IN SOME GRAPH RELATED CONCEPTS IN ECONOMICS
ABSTRACT
The main purpose of the study was to determine the effect of demonstration and project method of teaching on students’ achievement and interest in some graph related concepts in Economics. The problem that necessitated the study is students’ low achievement in Economics as reported by research. The review of literature was carried out under three broad headings namely conceptual framework, theoretical framework and empirical studies. The study adopted quasi-experimental design – a non-equivalent control group design. The population of the study comprised of all SS II students in Ikeduru local Government area in Imo state. The researcher sampled two intact classes out of which one was taught using demonstration teaching method while the other class was taught using project method. Two instruments were used for data collection namely; Economics Achievement test (EAT) and Economics graph interest scale (EGIS) and were developed by the researcher. EAT was subjected to face and content validation by One person from Department of Social Science Education, University of Nigeria Nsukka, two persons from Department of Economics Education, AlvanIkoku Federal college of Education Owerri. Three Measurement and Evaluation experts in Department of Science Education, university of Nigeria, Nsukka validated the Economics graph Interest Scale instrument. The reliability of these instruments was established using Kendel coefficient of concordance for EAT and Cronbach’s Alpha for EGIS. The reliability indices were found to be 0.97 for EAT and 0.85 for EGIS. Mean and standard deviation were used to provide answers for the research questions while analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the hypotheses at .05 level of significance. The result of the study, among others showed that project teaching method increases students’ interest and achievement in graph related concepts in Economics. Based on the findings of this study, the researcher, among others recommended that Economic teachers should endeavour to develop and adopt the use of project method as it would enhance overall interest and achievement in economics as well as help reduce gender gap in the subject.