EFFECT OF GUIDED DISCOVERY METHOD ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND INTEREST AMONG AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE STUDENTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN WUDIL EDUCATION ZONE, KANO STATE

Abstract

The importance of agricultural science in sustainable food production as well as national development cannot be overemphasized. This study investigated the effect of guided discovery method on academic achievement and interest among agricultural science students in Secondary Schools in Wudil Education Zone, Kano State. The study adopted quasi-experimental research design. Four research questions and four null hypotheses guided the study. The population of the study was 3,125. Four intact classes, two control and two experimental groups served as sample of the study exposed to lecture method and guided discovery method respectively. Two instruments were used for data collection; Agricultural Science Achievement Test (ASAT) and Agricultural Science Interest Ratings Questionnaire (ASIRQ). The instruments were validated by three experts and reliability coefficient of 0.78 and 0.69 were obtained using Pearson product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) and Spearman Rank Order Correlation Coefficient respectively. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while t-test was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings from the study revealed that guided discovery method was found to be an effective method in enhancing the academic achievement and interests of students in Agricultural Science and the method is gender friendly. It was recommended among others, that Kano State Ministry of Education should organize workshops for teachers so that they would be conversant in the use of guided discovery method.