Effects of a Target-Task Problem-Solving Model on Senior Secondary School Students' Performance in Physics

International Council of Associations for Science Education. Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Education, Buca, Izmir 35150, Turkey. Tel: +90-532-4267927; Fax: +90-232-4204895; Web site: http://icaseonline.net

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17

Problem Solving; Secondary School Science; Science Achievement; Models; Quasiexperimental Design; Control Groups; Experimental Groups; Lecture Method; Teaching Methods; Pretests Posttests; Energy; Science Instruction; Statistical Analysis; Scores; Gender Differences; Physics; Hypothesis Testing; High School Students; Foreign Countries

1450-104X

The study investigated the Effects of a Target-Task Problem-Solving Model on Senior Secondary School Students' Performance in Physics. The research design was a quasi-experimental, non-randomized, non-equivalent pretest, post-test using a control group. The study was conducted in two schools purposively selected and involved a total of 120 Senior Secondary School II students, 60 students per school. The experimental group was exposed to the Target-Task Problem-Solving Model while for the control group lecture method was used. The experimental and control groups were pre-tested in the first week of the research after which the treatment was applied and post-testing took place in the sixth week using a performance test on Current Electricity (PTCE). The data collected were analysed using mean, standard deviation and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and the hypotheses put forward tested at an alpha level of 0.05. The study revealed that the Target-Task Problem-Solving Model enhanced performance of low scoring level male students. Other findings, implications, recommendations and suggestions for further studies were explored.

As Provided

36

2016

EJ1086539