INFLUENCE OF KNOWLEDGE OF LABORATORY SKILLS ON STUDENTS' PERFORMANCE IN ACID-BASE TITRATION IN OREDO LGA, EDO STATE

Abstract

This study examined the influence of knowledge of laboratory skills, sex, and school ownership on students’ performance in acid-base titration in Oredo local Government Area, Edo State. Based on these, four research questions were raised and three were hypothesized and tested at 0.05 alpha level of significance. A causal-comparative (expo-facto) research design was adopted as the research design for the study. The population for the study consists of all Senior Secondary School II chemistry students in public and private secondary schools in Oredo Local Government Area. A sample of three hundred and twenty-six (326) chemistry students were selected for this study through purposive random sampling techniques. An instrument titled ‘Laboratory Skills and Titration Performance Test in Acid-base Titration (LSPTT)’ was used to collect data from the students in the study. The questionnaire had a reliability coefficient of 0.831 using Cronbach Alpha Statistics while the performance test had a reliability coefficient of 0.760 using Kuder Richardson (KR-20), hence the instrument was deemed reliable. The data collected from the students were analyzed using, mean, standard deviation, and multiple regression. The results from the study showed that observation, reading, and safety skills were predominantly used. The result from the study also showed that laboratory skills contributed to and influenced the performance of the students in acid-based titration, whereas, sex and school ownership did not influence the performance of the students. Based on the findings in the study, it was recommended that the teaching of laboratory skills in practical Chemistry should be prioritized to enable the students to perform successfully in their practical examinations.