SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS ACQUIRED BY SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY STUDENTS IN QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS IN KEFFI EDUCATION ZONE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was aimed at ascertaining the science process skills acquired by senior secondary school Chemistry students in qualitative analysis in Keffi Education Zone. The sample was made up of sixty (60) secondary school students (SSSIII) from six (6) secondary schools. The design for the study was descriptive survey. The science process skills investigated were observing, experimenting, and controlling variables, measuring, recording, communicating and inference using qualitative analysis. The instrument for data collection was the qualitative analysis skills rating scale (QASRS) adapted by the researchers and validated by the science educators in Nasarawa State University Keffi. The instrument contained twenty (20) qualitative analysis items (QLA). Kendall’s co-efficient of concordance was used to establish the inter-rater reliability index of 0.803. The internal consistence reliability coefficient of the instrument was 0.732 using Cronbach’s alpha. Data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, Z-test and ANOVA. It was found that students had low level of acquisition in controlling variables, recording, communication and inference. Gender and school type had no significant influence; school location had significant influence in favour of Urban. Among other, it was recommended that pedagogical inspectors, principals and school administrators should be strict on the maximum use of the science laboratory by science teacher.