Effect of Cooperative Learning Strategy on Students’ Academic Achievement in Home Economics in Anambra State

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of Cooperative Learning strategy on students’ academic achievements in Home Economics. The study which adopted a quasi-experimental, pretest post-test non-equivalent control group research design was carried out in Anambra state. Two research questions and two hypotheses respectively guided the study. A sample of 125 secondary school (Upper basic eight) students drawn from two public co-educational secondary schools in the State. This was used for the study using purposive sampling technique. One intact class each was sampled in each of the two sampled schools which were assigned into one experimental groups and one control group. Data were collected using a 25-multiple choice questions titled: Home Economics Achievement Test (HEAT). The instrument was developed by the researcher and subjected to face and content validation. The validation was carried out by three experts, two in Home Economics Education and one in measurement and evaluation all from Michael Okpara university of Agriculture Umudike, Abia state Nigeria. The instrument was tested for reliability by subjecting it to analysis using Kuder Richardson (K-R₂₀) formula to determine the internal consistency which yielded an index of 0.81. Before and after the treatment that lasted for eight weeks, the copies of the instrument were administered to the students by their regular Home Economics teachers. The data collected from the students were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, while the Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the null-hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance.  The results of the study showed among others that Cooperative Learning had statistically significant effect on students’ academic achievements in Home Economics than the use of lecture method. It was also found that gender had no significant effect on the mean achievement of students taught Home Economics using Cooperative learning strategy. Based on the findings, it was recommended that teachers should use Cooperative Learning instructional strategy regularly in teaching Home Economics to the students especially the less-achievers than the use of conventional lecture method.