ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effects of collaborative learning and individualized instructional methods on the academic achievement and retention of secondary school Biology students in Abia State. The study was guided by six research questions and six null hypotheses. The related literature for this study was reviewed in four sections; conceptual framework, theoretical framework, empirical studies and summary of literature review. Quasi experimental research design was adopted for this study. Specifically, non-equivalent control group research design was used. The study was carried out in Abia State. It is one of the five South Eastern States in Nigeria with 17 Local Government Areas. Abia State is located approximately within latitude 4⁰40ʹ and 6⁰14ʹ North and longitude 7⁰10^ʹ and 8⁰ East. The population of the study comprised 13,306 SSII Biology students (6,415 males and 6,891 females) in 2020/2021 academic session. A sample of 115 SSII Biology students consisting of 54 males and 61 females was drawn in multi stages using purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Biology Achievement Test (BAT) adapted from past WAEC questions was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts; one in measurement and evaluation and two in Biology education, all in the Department of Science Education, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. The instrument was subjected to reliability test using Kuder Richardson 20 (KR₂₀) test statistics, and a reliability coefficient of 0.78 was obtained. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while the null hypotheses were tested using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) at 0.05 level of significance. Findings from the study showed that students taught Biology using collaborative learning method achieved higher than those taught with individualized instructional method. Students taught Biology with individualized instructional method recorded higher level of retention than those taught using collaborative method. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the academic achievement of male and female students exposed to collaborative learning method. However, significant difference existed in the academic achievement of male and female students taught Biology with individualized method in favour of the males. The findings also indicated that there was no significant difference in the retention of male and female students taught Biology with both collaborative learning and individualized instructional methods. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that Biology teachers should use collaborative learning and individualized instructional methods in the process of teaching and learning for high academic achievement and retention. It was also recommended that male and female students be encouraged to study together in groups so as to learn from each other.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                                                                                                    i

Declaration                                                                                                                  ii

Certification                                                                                                                iii

Dedication                                                                                                                  iv

Acknowledgements                                                                                                    v

Table of Contents                                                                                                       vii

List of Tables                                                                                                              x

List of Figures                                                                                                             xi

Abstract                                                                                                                      xii

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION                                                                          1

1.1        Background to the Study                                                                                  1

1.2        Statement of the Problem                                                                                  7

1.3        Purpose of the Study                                                                                         8

1.4        Research Questions                                                                                            8

1.5        Hypotheses                                                                                                        9

1.6        Significance of the Study                                                                                  10

1.7        Scope of the Study                                                                                            12

CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE                                              14

2.1       Conceptual Framework                                                                                   14

2.1.1    Concept of biology                                                                                         14

2.1.3    Collaborative learning method                                                                        15

2.1.4    Individualized instructional method                                                               21

2.1.5    Lecture method                                                                                               27

2.1.6    Academic achievement                                                                                   31

2.1.7    Retention                                                                                                        33

2.1.8    Gender                                                                                                            33

2.2       Theoretical Framework                                                                                   35

2.2.1    Theoretical framework for collaborative learning                                           36

2.2.2    Theoretical framework for individualized instruction                                    39

2.3       Empirical Studies                                                                                            44

2.3.1    Collaborative learning, individualized instruction and academic

            achievement                                                                                                    44

2.3.2    Collaborative learning, individualized instruction and retention                    51

2.3.3    Gender and academic achievement in biology                                               52

2.3.4    Gender and retention in biology                                                                    55

2.4       Summary of Reviewed Literature                                                                  57

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHOD                                                                 60

3.1    Design of the Study                                                                                           60

3.2    Area of the Study                                                                                              61

3.3    Population of the Study                                                                                     62

3.4    Sample and Sampling Techniques                                                                     62

3.5    Instrument for Data Collection                                                                          63

3.6    Validation of the Instrument                                                                             64

3.7    Reliability of the Instrument                                                                              64

3.8    Method of Data Collection                                                                                65

3.8.1 Experimental procedure                                                                                     65

3.8.2 Control of extraneous variables                                                                         67

3.9    Method of Data Analysis                                                                                  68

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION                                                    69

4.1    Results                                                                                                               69

4.2    Major Findings of the Study                                                                             82

4.3    Discussion of Findings                                                                                      83

CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 89

5.1    Summary of the Study                                                                                       89

5.2    Conclusion                                                                                                         90

5.3    Recommendations                                                                                             91

5.4    Educational Implications of the Findings                                                          92

5.5    Suggestions for Further Studies                                                                        83

         References                                                                                                       

         Appendices                                                                                                      

LIST OF TABLES

4.1:      Mean achievement scores of students taught biology with

            collaborative learning, individualized instruction and lecture

            methods                                                                                                          69

4.2:      Analysis of covariance of the mean achievement scores of students

            taught biology with collaborative learning, individualized instruction

            and lecture methods                                                                                        70

4.3:      Scheffe post hoc analysis for the mean achievement scores of students

            taught biology with collaborative learning, individualized instruction and

            lecture methods                                                                                               71

4.4:      Mean retention scores of students taught biology with collaborative

learning, individualized instruction and lecture methods                               72

4.5:      Analysis of covariance of the mean retention scores of students taught

            biology with collaborative learning, individualized instruction and

            lecture methods                                                                                               73

4.6:      Scheffe post hoc analysis for the mean retention scores of students

            taught biology with collaborative learning, individualized instruction and

            lecture methods                                                                                               74

4.7:      Mean achievement scores of male and female biology students exposed

             to collaborative learning method                                                                   75

4.8:      Analysis of covariance of the mean achievement scores of male and

            female students taught biology with collaborative learning method              76

4.9:      Mean achievement scores of male and female biology students exposed

            to individualized instructional method                                                           77

4.10:    Analysis of covariance of the mean achievement scores of male and

            female students taught biology with individualized instructional

            method                                                                                                                        78

4.11:    Mean retention scores of male and female biology students exposed

            to collaborative learning method                                                                    79

4.12:    Analysis of covariance of the mean retention scores of male and

            female students taught biology with collaborative learning method              80

4.13:    Mean retention scores of male and female biology students exposed

            to individualized instructional method                                                           81

4.14:    Analysis of covariance of the mean retention scores of male and female

            students taught biology with individualized instructional method                82

LIST OF FIGURES

Fig. 2.1:           Diagrammatic Representation of Conceptual Framework                  35

Fig. 2.2:           Diagrammatic Representation of Theoretical Framework                                44