CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN

This research work is specifically designed to study the student's level of academic achievements
using their attitudes towards the chemistry laboratory work in Ungogo local Government area of
Kano state as a case study. The research design is meant to guide the researcher in the use of the
best method of collecting data in the course of the study. The research design used in this study is
the simple survey approach. The researchers are interested in observing what is happening to the
sample subjects without any attempt to manipulate or control them.

3.2 POPULATION OF THE STUDY

The population of the study defines the limit to which research findings are acceptable. The
population for this comprises of all the staff in students in Science and Day secondary schools in
Ungogo local government area of Kano state, which comprises of the teaching staff,
administrative staff like laboratory technician/attendant, and the senior secondary students
offering science based subjects. The table below gives a detailed summary of the study area
population.
S/N School No. of No. of No. of Total Remarks
Teachers admin staff students
i. GDSS Ungogo 19 6 50 75 Public
ii. GSSS 20 4 66 90 Private
iii. GDSS Bachirawa 30 5 38 73
iv. SSA Jajira 18 10 56 84
v. 16 9 44 69
vi. 19 5 25 49
vii. 18 4 40 62
Total 140 43 319 502
Table 1.1: Population of the study

3.3 SAMPLE TECHNIQUES AND SIZE

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 3.3.1 Sample Techniques: For this research work, the simple random sampling (SRS)
and Stratified Sampling technique were used; where all the units of analysis in the
population that is everybody in each school has an equal chance being chosen. The
researchers partitioned the population into groups based on a factor that may influence
the variable that is being measured. Using the stratified sampling the researchers
partitioned the population into groups (strata), obtain a simple random sample from each
group (stratum) and collect data on each sampling unit that was randomly sampled from
each group (stratum).
However, two (2) sampling techniques, the simple random sampling (SRS) and Stratified
Sampling technique were used because there are obviously times when one sampling method is
preferred over the other.
3.3.2 Sample Size: The sample size comprises of the present staff and students of the
ten Secondary schools in Ungogo local government area of Kano state so that the
researchers can arrive at a result that will be clear from bias in all aspect of the survey.
However, a total number of one hundred (100) copies of questionnaires were distributed to the
staff and students of the ten Secondary schools in Ungogo local government area of Kano state
and the same quantity (i.e 100) were collected back from them which were filled without mistake
or rejected.
The study sample is summarized in the table below:
S/N School No. of No. of No. of Total Remarks
Teachers admin staff students
i. GDSS Ungogo 3 2 5 10 Male & Female
ii. GSSS 6 4 10 20 Male & Female
iii. GDSS Bachirawa 3 2 5 10 Male & Female
iv. SSA Jajira 6 4 10 20 Male & Female
v. 3 2 5 10 Male & Female
vi. 6 4 10 20 Male & Female
vii. 3 2 5 10 Male & Female
Total 30 20 50 100 Male & Female
Table 2: Study sample

3.4 INSTRUMENT USED FOR DATA COLLECTION

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The researchers used questionnaire as an instrument for the collection of data in this study. This
involves sending pre-arranged questions to various members of staff and students of the ten
Secondary schools in Ungogo local government area of Kano state and are questions, which are
also relevant to the study.
3.4.1 VALIDITY INSTRUMENTS
The essence of this validity is to know whether meaningful inferences can be drawn from the
measure of the instrument of this study. This was determined by conducting a face validity test
on the wordings and sequence of the items to determine which best suites the respondents among
the alternative formats, to ascertain whether the items of this study will adequately measure the
hypothetical concepts of the study. (Sekaran & Bougie, 2009).
3.4.2 RELIABILITY OF INSTRUMENTS
Reliability is the quality of consistency of a study or measurement (Kothari, 2009). It explains
the degree to which observed scores are free from errors of measurement. Reliability is an
essential pre-condition for validity. In other to ensure reliability of the instrument, a pilot test was
carried out. The reliability of this research instrument (questionnaire) was maintained by
conducting a pilot study prior to the main study. The test questions therein the instruments were
also taken to the supervisor for appropriate correction, comments and observations where
necessary.
A pilot study was also conducted by taking a range of few respondents (10-30), though there
may be a substantial increase in the sample size for a pilot study (Malhotra, 2008) all targeted in
observing the reliability of the instrument. The questionnaire was reviewed by academia in the
department and pilot test was later carried out with a group of consisting fifteen (15) staff of the
selected schools, of which 5 questionnaires were distributed to each branch. In this research,
Cronbach‟s alpha (1946) is used to determine the reliability of the scales and results. The result
shows that the instrument is reliable for the study.
3.5 JUSTIFICATION OF INSTRUMENT USED
The questionnaire method was used, because it will cover large number of people within a
period. The questionnaire will also eliminate the problem of pressure or directing respondent in
answering questions. With the questionnaire method, respondents are free to answer the question
at their own convenience, without undue pressure from the correspondent.

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They are therefore, better able to freely give their options/opinion on questions asked and the
completed questionnaires will be subjected to preliminary editing. Those that were not properly
completed were rejected. After editing, the collected questionnaires were marked against each
respondent for each question asked and these formed the basis for using the tabulation and
percentage in order to obtain a result.
3.6 METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION
There has always been the need for an accurate data to be collected for any reliable information
to be produced from it. This has prompted the researchers to adopt the best and most appropriate
techniques and method of data collection needed. The researchers employed both primary and
secondary sources of data collection. In the primary sources, the researcher used the
questionnaire as an instrument for collecting data.
In the secondary sources of data collection, the researcher obtained data from the school
laboratory practical record, and previous internal and external examinations in each school.
3.7 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION
The data collected for this study was analyzed using simple statistical tools, by sorting, counting
and recording response in each item and was presented using percentage tables. Following each
data table is a discussion of the findings of the research in the study area.

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 DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY EDUCATION, FACULTY OF SCIENCE EDUCATION

BAYERO UNIVERSITY KANO

QUESTIONNAIRE

Dear Respondent,

We are final year (400 level) students of the above mentioned department, faculty and institution carrying
out a project research on the topic: “student's level of academic achievements using their attitudes
towards the chemistry laboratory work in Ungogo local Government area of Kano state”. Your support is
highly solicited for the successful conduct and data collection. On this note, you are kindly urged to
contribute your quota by responding to the under listed questions to the best of your ability. Be informed
that all information given will be treated with utmost confidentiality. Thank you.

SECTION A: PERSONAL DETAILS

1) Sex (a) Male [ ] (b) Female [ ]
2) Marital Status (a) married [ ] (b) single [ ]
3) Which of these age group do you belong to?
(a) 18-25 [ ] (b) 26-35 [ ] (c) 36-40 [ ] (d) 46-65 (e) 66- and above [ ]
4) Educational Qualification
a. Primary [ ] b. Secondary [ ] c. Post-secondary [ ]
5) What is your present position in the school?
(a) Teaching staff [ ] (b) Non-teaching
staff [ ] (c) student [ ]
7) For how long have you been staying in the school?
(a) 1-3 years [ ] (b) 4-6 years [ ] (c) 7 years and above [ ]

SECTION B: REEARCH QUESTIONS

RESEARCH QUESTION ONE
Does the use of chemistry laboratory in teaching the subject develop scientific attitudes towards learning
of chemistry?
S/N ITEM RESPONSE
1 There adequate equipment and materials for practical Chemistry in this school SA A D SD
2 Chemistry experiments are conducted regularly whenever the need arise
3 Learning of Chemistry is made easier when laboratory experiment is taken
4 The theoretical knowledge gained in class is best practiced on laboratory basis
5 The use of laboratory in teaching makes Chemistry a more interesting subject

RESEARCH QUESTION TWO

2. Does the use of chemistry laboratory develop scientific skills in the students for problem solving?
S/N ITEM RESPONSE
1 Experiments in chemistry laboratory helps students improve their hygienic S A D S
status, modify drug abuse and smoking habits among their peers. A D

2 Much more is learned in students’ experiments than

teacher demonstrations
3 The laboratory safety rules learned in conducting
Chemistry experiments helps students prevent and avoid

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 accident in school, at home, at work and other places
4 Chemistry laboratory work helps students to become self-
reliant by producing simple products using local resources
at low cost
5 We solve problems in Chemistry laboratory work through teamwork

RESEARCH QUESTION THREE

3. Does the use of chemistry laboratory in teaching the subject helps students match their abilities through
the laboratory experience they are exposed to?
S/N ITEM RESPONSE
1 Laboratory experiments in Chemistry helps students do well in universities and SA A D SD
other tertiary institutions after their graduation
2 I like improvising equipment for Chemistry laboratory work
3 Chemistry is important to my future career
4 Chemistry laboratory experiment makes students develops interests in health
related courses like Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing etc
5 Chemistry laboratories built in schools makes schools looks like hospitals

RESEARCH QUESTIONFOUR
4. Does laboratory exposure have an impact in students’ academic performance in chemistry?
S/N ITEM RESPONSE
1 Schools where there is Chemistry laboratory with adequate and efficient SA A D SD
materials pass WAEC, NECO, JAMB, NABTEB and other external
examinations with best grades
2 Students in schools with Chemistry laboratories normally excel in local, state,
national and even international quizzes
3 Learning of all science subjects is understood best with the use of laboratory
experiments
4 Abstract chemical processes are only understood through laboratory
experiments
5 The overall academic performance of students in science schools is boosted by
providing science laboratories, especially chemistry

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