A study of the relationship between achievement in KCPE mock examination and attitude towards primary science among standard eight pupils in Katulani education zone of Kitui district: Kenya, 1991

Abstract

The study attempted to establish the importance of attitudes towards science achievement. It also tried to measure the effect of another variable, sex, which is closely associated with performance in science.

The sample of the study consisted of pupils from standard eight in Katulani educational zone of Kitui district. Four schools were drawn randomly from the nineteen schools in the zone. All the pupils in the four schools were involved in the study, making a total of 79 respondents.

The data was collected by use of the following methods. For attitudes, a questionnaire was used whereby points were awarded depending on the type of feeling manifested. For example, positive feelings were awarded more points than negative feelings.

For achievement, KCPE mock marks were obtained from the head teachers.

The scores were then analyzed by use of some statistical techniques: the coefficient of Association, chi-square, the percentages and mean. Those helped in arriving to some conclusions from the study.

The coefficients of Association revealed that attitudes towards science and achievement in science were positively associated. However, for girls, the magnitude of the Association was found to be statistically insignificant.

The association between attitudes and achievement for boys was found to be higher than for girls.

Only one hypothesis of the study was accepted and the other two rejected.

From the above findings, the researcher concluded that the positive association that exists indicates that attitudes have some influence on achievement. Furthermore, this influence is higher for boys than girls. Therefore, pupils should be encouraged in science so that they develop positive attitudes.