Abstract:
The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of conceptual change texts on
students’ cognitive achievements and attitudes towards electrochemistry. The study
employed a quasi-experimental design in which intact classes were used. The
experimental group (N=51) was made up of SHS2 chemistry students and the control
group (N=52) was also made up SHS2 chemistry students. Students’ misconceptions in
electrochemistry were first identified using a structured interview and an electrochemistry
concept test (ECCT) as pre-test. Students attitudes towards electrochemistry were also
determined using the Attitude towards Electrochemistry Scale (ATECS). Both the ECCT
and the ATECS were administered to students before and after the treatment. The results
from the interview showed that students have many misconceptions in electrochemistry
regarding electrochemical cells. There was a significant difference in cognitive
achievement of students in the experimental group (M = 12.2, SD = 3.83) and the control
group (M = 10.0, SD = 3.73), t (101) = 2.99, p = .003, d = .59. There was no significant
difference in the attitude of students in the experimental group (M = 56.6, SD = 8.86)
and those of the control group (M = 58.2, SD = 7.63), t (49) = -1.03, p = .305. There was
no significant difference in the cognitive achievement of males (M = 12.06, SD = 3.67)
and females (M = 13.12, SD = 4.79), t (50) = -.711; p = .480. Also there was no
significant difference in attitude of males (M = 56.6, SD = 8.77) and females (M = 56.6,
SD = 9.94), t (49) = -.006, p = .995. The results revealed that conceptual change texts
resulted in a better acquisition of scientific concepts and cognitive achievement of
students in electrochemistry than the traditional teaching approach.
Description:
A Thesis in the DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE EDUCATION, FACULTY OF
SCIENCE EDUCATION, Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, University
of Education, Winneba, in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of
the Master of Philosophy, Science Education Degree
OCTOBER, 2016