American-Eurasian Journal of Scientific Research 5 (4): 234-240, 2010 SS!

1"1"-#$"5 % &'S (u)lications, 2010

Analysis of Science Process Skills in West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Physics Practical Examinations in Nigeria
1

Akinyemi Olufunminiyi Akinbobola and 2Folashade Afolabi

&e*artment of Science E+ucation, ,acult- of E+ucation, .ni/ersit- of .-o, .-o, A01a )om State, !i2eria
2

&e*artment of 3eacher E+ucation, ,acult- of E+ucation, .ni/ersit- of )a+an, )a+an, '-o State, !i2eria

Abstract: 3his stu+- anal-4e+ the science *rocess s0ills in 5est African senior secon+ar- school certificate *h-sics *ractical e6aminations in !i2eria for the *erio+s of 10 -ears (177"-200$)8 E6-*ost facto +esi2n 1as a+o*te+ for the stu+-8 3he 5 *rominent science *rocess s0ills i+entifie+ out of the 15 use+ in the stu+- are mani*ulatin2 (1$8209), calculatin2 (148209), recor+in2 (138#09), o)ser/in2 (128009) an+ communicatin2

(118409)8 3he results also sho1e+ hi2h *ercenta2e rate of )asic (lo1er or+er) science *rocess s0ills (#28"09) as com*are+ to the inte2rate+ (hi2her or+er) science *rocess s0ills (3$8209)8 3he results also in+icate+ that the num)er of )asic *rocess s0ills is si2nificantl- hi2her than the inte2rate+ *rocess s0ills in the 5est African senior secon+ar- school certificate *h-sics *ractical e6aminations in !i2eria8 t is recommen+e+ that the e6amination )o+ies in !i2eria shoul+ inclu+e more inte2rate+ science *rocess s0ills into the senior secon+ar- school *h-sics *ractical e6aminations so as to ena)le the stu+ents to )e *rone+ to creati/it-, *ro)lem sol/in2, reflecti/e thin0in2, ori2inalit- an+ in/ention 1hich are /ital in2re+ients for science an+ technolo2ical +e/elo*ment of annation8 Key words: (h-sics, Senior Secon+ar- Schools, Science (rocess S0ills, (ractical, !i2eria an+ technolo2- as 1ell as /ital for science learnin2 *ro)lem sol/in2, in+i/i+ual an+ conce*t formation at IN !"#$C I"N an+ societal +e/elo*ment the *rimar- an+ >unior <3=8 3he American secon+ar- school le/els8 3he shift from the teacher-centre+ metho+ of Association for the Aore +ifficult an+ teachi A+/ancement of Science inte2rate+ science *rocess n2 science to chil+-centre+ acti/it- )ase+ metho (AAAS) classifie+ the s0ills are more a**ro*riate + 1hich encoura2es an+ +e/elo*s in the chil+ science *rocess s0ills into at the secon+ar- an+ the s*irit of in:uir-; an attem*t to ma0e stu+ents full- fifteen <4=8 3hese are: tertiar- school le/els for the a1are as 1ell as un+erstan+ the 1a-s scientists 1or0; an+ o)ser/in2, measurin2, formation of mo+els, also the e:ui**in2 an+ *re*arin2 stu+ents for their *ossi)le classif-in2, e6*erimentin2 an+ careers in science an+ technolo2- le+ to the +e/elo*ment of communicatin2, *re+ictin2, inferencin28 Bence )oth *rocess s0ills <1=8 t is 1orth notin2 that for scienceinferrin2, usin2 num)er, )asic an+ inte2rate+ science teachin2 to )e meanin2ful an+ rele/ant, it must a+e:uatel- usin2 s*ace? time *rocess s0ills are rele/ant reflect the nature of relationshi*, :uestionin2, an+ a**ro*riate at the science8 is, controllin2 /aria)les, senior secon+ar- schools 3hat it must not onl- )e *rocess-oriente+, h-*othesi4in2, +efinin2 le/el in !i2eria8 ) o*erationall-, formulatin2 u it em*hasi4e *ro+ucts of mo+els, +esi2nin2 t shoul+ also the science8 e6*eriment an+ inter*retin2 reacti to t shoul+ also *romote affecti/e on science +ata8 Accor+in2 to An2o a <5=, science *rocess s0ill n stres hones o*en can )e classifie+ into t1o + s the attitu+es such as t-, an+ cate2ories as )asic an+ critical min+e+ness, curiosit-, sus*en+e+ >u+2ment an+ humilit- 1hich characteri4e scientists an+ the scientific inte2rate+ *rocess s0ills8 3he )asic (sim*ler) *rocess enter*rise <2=8 Science *rocess s0ills ha/e )een +escri)e+ as mental s0ill *ro/i+e a foun+ation for learnin2 the inte2rate+ an+ *h-sical a)ilities an+ com*etencies 1hich ser/e as (more com*le6) s0ills8 tools nee+e+ for the effecti/e stu+- of science @asic science *rocesses are
&e*artment of 3eacher E+ucation, Corres%onding A&thor: ,olasha+e Afola)i, ,acult- of E+ucation, .ni/er sit- of )a+an , )a+an, '-o State, !i2eria8

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s0ills are science Acco r+in2 to*rocess @-)ee e& s0ills8 3heal8 <4= an+are tau2ht as an+ An2o <5=,*art the )asic*arcel of the science *h-sics *rocess curriculum8 Science s0ills com*rise+ *rocess s0ills are of o)ser/in2, co2niti/e measurin2 an+ *s-chomotor , classif-in s0ills em*lo-e+ in 2, communic *ro)lem sol/in28 atin2, inferrin2, 3he- are the s0ills 1hich usin2 num)er, sciences use in *ro)lemusin2 i+entificatio s*ace? n, o)>ecti/e time relationshi in:uir-, +ata * an+2atherin2, :uestionin transformati 2 1hileon, inte2rate+ inter*retatio an+ science n *rocess communicati s0ills areon8 Science controllin *rocess 2 an+s0ills can )e mani*ulatiac:uire+ an+ +e/elo*e+ n2 /aria)le, throu2h h-*othesi trainin2 such as are 4in2, +efinin2 in/ol/e+ in o*erationa science *ractical ll-, formulatin acti/ities8 2 mo+els,3he- are the of +esi2nin2 as*ect e6*erimen science t an+learnin2 is inter*retin 1hich retaine+ after 2 +ata8 (h-si co2niti/e 0no1le+2e cs )een *ractical has

for2otten8 .sin2 science *rocess s0ills is an im*ortant in+icator of transfer of 0no1le+2e 1hich is necessar- for *ro)lemsol/in2 an+ functional li/in28 3he s0ills on the 2ra*h *ractical 1or0 cannot )e com*lete+ 1ithout creati/it-8 (ractical 1or0 is not >ust *uttin2 the a**aratus to2ether 1hen seen, )ut it nee+s *lannin2, +esi2nin2 a *ro)lem, creatin2 a ne1 a**roach an+ *roce+ure an+ also *uttin2 familiar thin2s to2ether in the ne1 arran2ement8 3his im*lies that the 0no1le+2e of creati/ite6hi)ite+ )can+i+ates in an- *ractical

class ma0es use of hel*s *ractical them totest?e6amina mani*ulat tion to assess e somestu+entsD *ractical ac:uisition e:ui*ment of /arious 8 *h-sics Acco *ractical r+in2 tos0ills8 n Ci++in2s these tests, an+ ,raserstu+ents are <#=, re:uire+ to achie/in2 carrout the certain o)>ecti/es *h-sics of science*ractical *ractical acti/ities 1or0 follo1in2 +e*en+ asome 2i/en lot on theinstructions8 mo+e of3he scores assessmen of the t ofstu+ents la)orator- o)taine+ 1or0 throu2h the a+o*te+ mar0in2 of )thetheir teachers *ractical an+ 1or0s e6aminati in+irectlon )o+ies8in+icate the Accor+in2 le/els of to them,*h-sics the mo+e*ractical of *rocess assessmen s0ills thet +irectl-coul+ influences +emonstrate teachersD +urin2 the teachin2 *ractical metho+s, e6amination8 stu+entsD 3his mo+e learnin2 of st-les an+assessment attitu+es is also to1ar+s a+o*te+ )*ractical *h-sics acti/ities8 teachers 1ho 3he *re*are the 5est stu+ents for African Senior E6aminati Secon+arons School Eouncil Eertificate (5AEE)

E6amination (SSSEE)8 3his mo+e of assessment influences the teachin2 metho+s a+o*te+ )teachers8

Also, in learnin2 stu+entsD *rocess <$=8 learnin2 3his reason st-le ishas ma+e the influence+ 5est African in such aE6amination 1a- thats Eouncil the(5AEE) an+ al1a-s tr-)o+ies that to fin+con+uct certain Senior correct Secon+arres*onses School or Eertificate ans1ers E6amination irres*ecti/ (SSSEE) to e of thesti*ulate that *roce+ure *ractical s a+o*te+8 1or0 shoul+ 3he form the *rocess )asis of a**roach teachin28 metho+ of&urin2 teachin2 e6amination, science isthe *ractical meant to1or0 is also foster assesse+ in:uir- se*aratel-8 an+ Eurrentl-, mani*ulati*h-sics /e s0ills)ein2 one of in the *h-sical stu+ents science an+ tau2ht in +iscoura2 senior e rotesecon+arlearnin28 schools is 3his tau2ht )oth metho+ in theor- an+ em)races *ractical8 n other )oth internal metho+s an+ e6ternal of sciencee6amination teachin2 s, *ractical an+ is*h-sics is mainlassesse+ acti/it- se*aratel- as )ase+, an inte2ral su*erior *art of the to those insu)>ect8 1hich the stu+ents are not he acti/el- Problem: )asic in/ol/e+ 3he

science *rocess s0ills are useful in science an+ non-science situation 1hile the inte2rate+ s0ills are the 1or0in2 )eha/iour of the scientists an+ technolo2ists 8 3hus, )oth )asic an+ inte2rate+ science *rocess s0ills are rele/ant an+ a**ro*riate for all science su)>ects, in *articular (h-sics at the senior secon+arschools le/el in !i2eria8 Bence, there is nee+ to fin+ out the le/el of ac:uisition of the science *rocess s0ills an+ also to i+entif- the science *rocess s0ills inherent in the 5est African Senior Secon+arSchool Eertificate (5ASSSE) (h-sics

*ractical science e6aminati *rocess on ins0ills !i2eria inclu+e+ in an+ the 5est classif- African them toSenior /arious Secon+arhierarchic School al le/els8Eertificate 3herefore, (5ASSSE) 1ill the(h-sics relati/e *ractical *ercenta2 e6amination e ofs in !i2eria inte2rate+ for a *erio+ *rocess of 10 -ears8 s0ills 3he inclu+e+ stu+is in the+esi2n to 5est achie/e the African follo1in2 Senior Secon+ar- o)>ecti/es: School 3o Eertificate in/esti2 (5ASSSE ate the ) (h-sics science *ractical *rocess e6aminati s0ills ons )e inclu+e a+e:uate to meet + in the the :uest 5est for African national senior +e/elo*m secon+a ent /ic-a r/is school scientific certifica technolo2 te - 2ro1th *h-sics an+ self *ractica reliance in l !i2eriaF e6amina tions in P&r%ose of the !i2eria8 St&dy: 3he *ur*ose of this stu+is to +etermine the

235

Am-Euras. J. Sci. Res., 5 !"# 2$!-2!%, 2%1%

ans1ers to 3o the com* follo1in2 are :uestions the )asic 5hat an+ are the *romin inte2 ent rate+ science *roce *rocess ss s0ills in s0ills the inclu 5est +e+ African in the senior 5est secon+a Afric ran school senio certifica r te secon *h-sics +ar*ractica scho l ol e6amin certif ations icate in !i2eria *h-si F cs *racti cal e6am inatio ns in !i2er ia for a *erio + of 10 -ears !esearch '&estions : 3he stu+sou2ht to *ro/i+e 5hat are the *ercent a2es of )asic an+ inte2rat e+ *rocess s0ills inclu+e + in the 5est African senior secon+a rschool certifica te *h-sics

*ractica l e6amin ation in !i2eria F

!esearch (y%othesis: 3here is no si2nificant +ifference )et1een the num)er of )asic an+ inte2rate+ *rocess s0ills inclu+e+ in the 5est African senior secon+arschool certificate *h-sics *ractical e6amination s in !i2eria8 )ethod: 3he entire Aa-?June 5ASSSEE (h-sics *ractical e6amination :uestions from 177$ to 200# 1ere stu+ie+ to i+entif- the science *rocess s0ills re:uire+ from the stu+ents8 All the )asic an+ inte2rate+

*rocess the entire s0ills inalternati/e A the of the :uestions 5ASSSE(( 1ere G an+ i+entifie+8 3he +esi2n a+o*te+ for the stu+- 1as an e6-*ost facto +esi2n8 3he instrument use+ for the stu+1as the 5est African Senior Secon+arSchool Eertificate (h-sics (ractical Guestions (5ASSSE ((G) across the -ears 177" to 200$8 3he 5ASSSE ((G ha+ alrea+)een /ali+ate+ an+ the relia)ilitha+ )een con+ucte+ an+ o)taine+ )the 5est African E6aminati ons Eouncil (5AEE)8 3he researcher s collecte+

i+entifie+ all the )asic an+ inte2rate+ *rocess s0ills for each -ear8 &ue to the nature of the *h-sics *ractical :uestions in !i2eria, the researchers i+entifie+ 15 science *rocess s0ills an+ classifie+ them into )asic an+ inte2rate+ *rocess s0ills8 3he )asic science *rocess s0ills com*rise+ of o)ser/in2, measurin2, com*arin2, contrastin2, +ra1in2 calculatin2, recor+in2 an+ communicati n2 1hile inte2rate+ *rocess s0ills com*rise+ of e6*erimentin 2, in/esti2atin2 , formulatin2 mo+els, +e+ucin2, 2ra*hin2, inter*retin2 an+ mani*ulatin2 8 3he +ata collecte+ 1ere anal-4e+

usin2 ons in sim*le !i2eriaF *ercenta2 es an+ t-3he anal-sis is as sho1n test8 in 3a)le 1 an+ 2 ! 'ut of the 500 E science S $ *rocess * s0ills i+entifie+ S 1ithin the A *erio+ of 10 N -ears (177" # H 200$) in # IS the 5est C African $ senior S secon+arSI school " certificate N *h-sics !esearch *ractical '&estion e6amination +: 5hats in !i2eria as sho1n in are the 3a)le 1 an+ *rominent 2, the science *rominent *rocess science s0ills in*rocess the 5ests0ills are African mani*ulatin2 senior 1ith a total secon+ar- fre:uenc- of school "#(1$8209), certificate calculatin2 a *h-sics 1ith *ractical fre:uenc- of e6aminati $1 (148209),
200# 3a)le 200$ 1: 3otal J ,i2ures in )rac0et IEA s are in *ercent R 177" a2es 1777 ' 2000 @ 2001 S 2002 E 2003 2004 K 2005
S ' ) s e r / i n 2 , A E A A e a s u r i n 2 , K

recor+in2 1ith a fre:uenc- of #" (138#09), o)ser/in2 1ith a fre:uenc- of #0(128009) an+ communicati n2 1ith fre:uenc- of 5$(118409)8 3his im*lies that out of the 15 science *rocess s0ills use+ in this stu+-, mani*ulatin2 s0ill is the onl*rominent s0ills from the inte2rate+ (hi2her or+er) *rocess s0ills 1hile calculatin2, recor+in2, o)ser/in2 an+ communicati n2 s0ills are )asic (lo1er or+er) science *rocess s0ills8

E ' A ( K E o m * a r i n 2 , E ' ! 3 K E o n t

r a s t i n 2 , & R A 5 K & r a 1 i n 2 , E A L E R e c o r + K E a l c u l a t i n 2 , R E E ' K

i n 2 , E ' A A K E o m m u n i c a t i n 2 8

23#

Am-Euras. J. Sci. Res., 5 !"# 2$!-2!%, 2%1%

3a)l e 2: nte2rate+ (Bi2her) *rocess s0ills in the 5est African the -ears (177"200$) Senior Secon+arSchool certificate *h-sics *ractical e6aminations in !i2eria across

nte2rate+ (Bi2her 'r+er) (rocess S0ills ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------IEA R 177" 1777 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 200# 200$ AA! 7 10 5 # 10 10 $ " 11 10 EM(E 2 1 0 3 1 0 2 4 5 5 CRA( 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 &E&. # 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 5 2 32(#840) !NE 1 # 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 "(18#0) ,8A'& 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2(0840) !3E 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 5(1800) 3'3AL 23(48#0) 22(4840) 11(2820) 1$(3840) 1$(3840) 1$(3840) 15(3800) 17(38"0) 25(5800) 20(4800) 1"#(3$82 0)

3otal "#(1$820) 23(48#0) 30(#800) J,i2ures in )rac0ets are in *ercenta2es AA! K Aani*ulatin2, EM(E K E6*erimentin2, CRA( K Cra*hin2, &E&. K &e+ucin2, !NE K n/esti2atin2, ,8A'& K ,ormulatin2 mo+els, !3E K nter*retin28

3a)le 3: Summar- of the )asic (lo1er or+er) an+ nte2rate+ (hi2her or+er) science *rocess s0ills in the 5est African senior secon+ar- school certificate *h-sics

e6aminations in !i2eria across the -ears (177"-200$) S? ! 18 28 38 48 5 # $ " @asic (rocess S0ills ')ser/in2 Aeasurin2 Eom*arin2 Eontrastin2 &ra1in2 Ealculatin2 Recor+in2 Eommunicatin2 3otal ,K ,re:uenc,(9) #0(128009) 31(#8209) 2 (08409) 4(08"09) 21(48209) $1(148209) #"(138#09) 5$(118409) 314(#28"09) S?! 18 28 38 4 58 # $ nte2rate+ (rocess S0ills Aani*ulatin2 E6*erimentin2 Cra*hin2 &e+ucin2 n/esti2atin2 ,ormulatin2 Ao+els nter*retin2 ,(9) "#(1$820 9) 23(48#0 9) 30(#800 9) 32(#840 9) "(18#09) 2(08409) 5(18009) 1"#(3$82 09)

3otal

fre:uenc- of 5$(118409)8 3he im*lication is that onl- 5 out of 15 science *rocess s0ills 'ther )asic science *rocess are *rominent 1ithin the *erio+ of 10 -ears (177"-200$) in s0ills are rate+ lo18 3hese the 5est African senior secon+ar- school certificate *h-sics inclu+e +ra1in2 1ith the fre:uenc- of 21(48209), *ractical e6aminations in !i2eria8 contrastin2 1ith the !esearch '&estion ,: 5hat are the *ercenta2es of the )asicfre:uenc- of 4(08"09) an+ an+ inte2rate+ science *rocess s0ills inclu+e+ in the 5est com*arin2 1ith a fre:uencAfrican senior secon+ar- school certificate *h-sics *ractical of 2(08409)8 e6aminations in !i2eriaF 3he anal-sis is as sho1n in 3a)le 38 3he anal-sis in 3a)le 3 sho1s that, amon2 the )asic (lo1er or+er) science *rocess s0ills i+entifie+ in this stu+-, calculatin2 1as rate+ hi2hest 1ith the fre:uenc- of $1 (148209), secon+e+ )- recor+in2 1ith the fre:uenc- of #"(138#09), follo1e+ )- o)ser/in2 1ith the fre:uenc- of #0 (128009) an+ closel- follo1e+ )- communicatin2 1ith the

3he anal-sis in 3a)le 3 also sho1s that, amon2 the inte2rate+ (hi2her or+er) science *rocess s0ills i+entifie+ in this stu+-, mani*ulatin2 1as rate+ hi2hest 1ith the fre:uencof "# (1$8009), secon+e+ )- +e+ucin2 1ith the fre:uenc- of 32 (#8409), follo1e+ )- 2ra*hin2 1ith the fre:uenc- of 30(#8009) an+ e6*erimentin2 1ith the fre:uenc- of 23(48#09)8 'ther inte2rate+ science *rocess s0ills are rate+ /erlo18 3hese inclu+e

in/esti2atin2 1ith the fre:uenc- of "(18#09), inter*retin2s0ills in the 5est African 1ith the fre:uenc- of 5(18009) an+ formulatin2 mo+els 1ith senior secon+ar- school the fre:uenc- of 2(08409)8 certificate *h-sics ,rom the results *resente+ in 3a)le 3 a)o/e, it 1as e6aminations in !i2eria o)ser/e+ that there 1as a hi2h re:uirement ma+e of the )asic across the -ears (177"science *rocess s0ills than the inte2rate+ science *rocess 200$)8 3his is in+icate+ )23$

hi2h *ercenta2e rate of the )asic science *rocess s0ills (#28"09) as com*are+ to the inte2rate+ science *rocess s0ills (3$8209)8

Am-Euras. J. Sci. Res., 5 !"# 2$!-2!%, 2%1%

3a)le 4: t-test anal-sis of the )asic an+ inte2rate+ *rocess s0ills inclu+e+ in the 5ASSSE *h-sics *ractical e6aminations (rocess S0ills ! S8& &, t-cal8 @asic "0 3873 nte2rate+ $0 28#$ JK Si2nificant at (O805 al*ha le/el 3823 3801 14" 285"

t-critical 187#

&ecision at (O805 J

3he anal-sis in 3a)le 4 sho1s that the calculate+ t3he results *resente+ in 3a)les 1 an+ 2 also in+icate+ /alue of 285" is 2reater than that there are more science *rocess s0ills in the last fi/e the critical t-/alue of 187# -ears (2003-200$) than the first fi/e -ears (177"-2002)8 3hat is, there is a 2ra+ual +e*arture from the 2eneral *attern at805 le/el of si2nificance8 the h-*othesis o)ser/e+ in the first fi/e -ears to a *attern 1here more Bence, 1hich state+ that there is no em*hasis is *lace+ on la)orator- 1or0 or e6*erimentin2 an+ si2nificant +ifference critical thin0in28 3his is in line 1ith the national *olic- on )et1een the num)er of e+ucation <"=, 1hich aims at consoli+atin2 the science *rocess s0ills 0no1le+2e 2aine+ in the *rimar- schools an+ )asic an+ inte2rate+ *rocess s0ills inclu+e+ in the 5est >unior secon+ar- schools le/els8 African senior secon+arSimilarl-, there 1as stea+- em*hasis in the re:uirementschool certificate *h-sics of the s0ill of communicatin2 in the last fi/e -ears (2003- *ractical e6aminations in 200$)8 3his is in line 1ith the ne1 a**roach to science !i2eria is re>ecte+8 3he teachin2 an+ learnin2 1hich em*hasis on communicatin2 ta)le also sho1s that the science rather then listenin2 to tal0s an+ ta0in2 +o1n notes num)er of )asic *rocess <$=8 Another o)/ious *attern is the increase+ em*hasis on thes0ills is more than the s0ills of mani*ulatin2, +ra1in2, calculatin2 an+ recor+in2 in inte2rate+ *rocess s0ills in the last fi/e -ears (2003-200$)8 3his mi2ht )e +ue to the fact the 5est African senior that in !i2eria, em*hasis has )een shifte+ from the teacher- secon+ar- school certificate *ractical centere+ a**roaches to chil+-centere+ a**roaches of learnin2 *h-sics such as *ro)lem-sol/in2, +isco/er- an+ in:uir- metho+s <1= e6aminations in !i2eria an+ to in/ol/e the learner in han+-on-acti/ities in or+er to across the -ears (177"ac:uire a**ro*riate s0ills, a)ilities an+ com*etencies )oth 200$) un+er re/ie18 3his is in line 1ith the mental an+ *h-sical as e:ui*ment for the in+i/i+ual to sol/e life *ro)lems an+ contri)ute to the +e/elo*ment an+ 2ro1th fin+in2s of !1osu <7= that there is /er- lo1 le/el of of the societ- <2=8 Also, it is from the mani*ulation of a**aratus, materials +e/elo*ment of s0ills of an+ e:ui*ment +urin2 *ractical that lea+ to +ra1in2, inferrin2, *re+ictin2 an+ calculation an+ 2i/e the result that is recor+e+ an+ hence formulation of mo+els amon2 -ear one senior +e+uce+ to 2i/e the final result re:uire+8 Bo1e/er, in the areas of the *rocess s0ills of com*arin2, secon+ar- )iolo2- stu+ents8 contrastin2, in/esti2atin2, formulatin2 mo+els an+3he result is also in line inter*retin2, there are scant- re*resentations in :uestions in 1ith the fin+in2s of <10= that the -ears un+er re/ie1 *articularl- in the last fi/e -ears '0e)u0ola stu+ents 1ere 2i/en fe1 (2003-200$)8 o**ortunities to ac:uire the !esearch (y%othesis: 3here is no si2nificant +ifference *rocess s0ills an+ such fe1 )et1een the num)er of )asic an+ inte2rate+ science *rocess o**ortunities 1ere often for s0ills inclu+e+ in the 5est African senior secon+ar- school the ac:uisition of the )asic s0ills rather than the certificate *h-sics *ractical e6amination in !i2eria8 inte2rate+ science s0ills8 3he anal-sis is as sho1n in 3a)le 48 3his mi2ht )e +ue to the fact that )asic *rocess s0ills can )e easil- learnt an+

rea+il- transferre+ to ne1 situations unli0e inte2rate+ *rocess s0ills a)ilities that nee+ to )e *ractice+ o/er a *erio+ of time an+ cannot )e learne+ /ia a 2-1ee0 unit in 1hich science content is t-*icall- tau2ht in !i2eria8 3hese a)ilities are closelrelate+ to the formal thin0in2 +escri)e+ )(ia2et <11=8 3omera further e6*lains that one 1a- to +eci+e 1hether some one is concrete or formal is to as0 that *erson to +esi2n an e6*eriment to sol/e a *ro)lem8 Ehia*etta <12= o)ser/es that most earla+olescents an+ man-oun2 a+ults ha/e not -et reache+ their full formal reasonin2 ca*acit-8 t is 1orth nothin2 that man- of our senior secon+ar- school stu+ents fall 1ithin this a2e )rac0et8 3his mi2ht )e one of the reasons for the 5est African E6aminations Eouncil to set most of their :uestions on )asic science *rocess s0ills8 C"NC *$SI "N 3he fi/e(5) *rominent science *rocess s0ills i+entifie+ out of fifteen (15) use+ in this stu+- are mani*ulatin2 (1$8209), calculatin2 (148209), recor+in2 (138#09), o)ser/in2 (128009) an+ communicatin2

23"

Am-Euras. J. Sci. Res., 5 !"# 2$!-2!%, 2%1%

s0ills (118409) (3$8209)8 in the3he results 5est also African in+icate+ senior that the secon+ar- num)er of school )asic *rocess certificate s0ills is *h-sics si2nificantl*ractical hi2her than e6aminati the ons ininte2rate+ !i2eria *rocess 1ithin thes0ills in the *erio+ of5est African 10 -earssenior (177"secon+ar200$)8 school 'ut ofcertificate this, onl-*h-sics mani*ulati*ractical n2 s0ill ise6amination the s in !i2eria inte2rate+ across the (hi2her -ears (177"or+er) 200$)8 science *rocess Im%lication 3he s0ill8 3hes: si2nificance result also the in+icate+ of science hi2h *ercenta2 *rocess e rate ofs0ills has le+ to the )asic e6*ansion of (lo1er the 2oal of or+er) science science *rocess e+ucation to inclu+e an s0ills (#28"09) un+erstan+in 2 )- an+ as com*are+ +e/elo*ment the to thein stu+ents of inte2rate+ these *rocess (hi2her s0ills8 3he or+er) science )asic (lo1er *rocess or+er) science

*rocess s0ills are useful in science an+ the inte2rate+ (hi2her are the 1or0in2 )eha/iour of the scientists an+ technolo2ists 8 3he inte2rate+ (hi2her or+er) science *rocess s0ills are im*ortant since theare more nee+e+ for self reliance, +e/elo*ment an+ *ro)lem sol/in2 than the )asic s0ills8 A+e:uat e fulfillment of our 2oals an+ as*irations of in+i/i+uals for rele/ant an+ functional e+ucation +eman+ a reasona)le an+ hi2her le/el of ac:uisition of science *rocess s0ills since inte2rate+ *rocess s0ills are the non-science or+er) science situatio n *roce ss 1h ile s0i lls

)e+roc0 *rocess of sciences0ills in the an+ 5est African technolo2 senior -8 n thesecon+arli2ht ofschool the certificate fin+in2s, *h-sics it *ractical )ecomes e6amination a**arent s in !i2eria8 that stu+ents !ecommen ac:uisitio dations: n n of hi2hthe li2ht of le/el the fin+in2s, s0ills such the as follo1in2 in/esti2ati recommen+a n2, are formulatin tions 2 mo+elsma+e: an+ E6amin inter*retin ation 2 1as )o+ies /er- lo18 in 3hat is, !i2eria, not much es*ecial is seen in the hi2her l- 5est or+er African s0ills or E6amin the ations inte2rate+ Eouncil science (5AEE *rocess ) an+ s0ills, !ationa 1hich has l much to E6amin +o 1ith ations reflecti/e Eouncil thin0in2, (!EE') creati/itshoul+ an+ inclu+e *ro)lem more sol/in28 inte2rat Bence, e+ there is (hi2her nee+ to or+er) increase science the *rocess num)er of s0ills inte2rate+

into the senior secon+a rschool *h-sics *ractica l

e6am inatio ns so as to ena)l e the stu+e nts to )e *rone + to creati /it-, *ro)l em sol/i n2, reflec ti/e thin0i n2, ori2i nalitan+ in/en tion 1hic h are /ital in2re +ient s for scien ce an+ techn olo2i cal +e/el o*me nt of annatio (h-si cs stu+e nts at secon +arschoo ls le/el

shoul+ )e 2i/en the o**ortu nit- to han+le an+ mani*ul ate material s, tools an+ e:ui*m ent in the la)orato ries; test their i+eas e6*erim entall-; collect, com*ar e an+ inter*ret +ata; formula te mo+els an+ +ra1 conclusi on8 Seminar s, 1or0sh o*s an+ confere nces shoul+ )e or2ani4e + to reorientat e the *h-sics teachers an+ to instill the a1arene ss to the

*u)lic on the use an+ a**licat ion of science *rocess s0ills in the nationDs 2ro1th an+ +e/elo* ment8 3he *resent *h-sics curricul um shoul+ )e re/ie1e + to ensure 2reater in/ol/e ment of inte2rat e+ (hi2her or+er) *rocess s0ills at the senior secon+a rschool le/el8

Cui+ e+ +isco /er-?i n:uir meth o+ shoul + )e use+ )the *h-si cs teach ers to im*ro /e stu+e ntsD le/els

an+ stu+ents shoul+ utili4e the facilitie s in such a 1a- that coul+ lea+ to the +e/elo* ment of )oth )asic an+ inte2rat e+ science *rocess s0ills8

.n*u)li she+ (h8& +issertat ion, .ni/ers itof .-o, .-o, !i2eria8

28

of scien ce *roce ss s0ills 18 ac:ui sition 8 Co/e rnme nts (,e+e ral, State an+ Local ) shoul + e:ui* la)or atorie s an+ *h-si cs teach ers

!E-E !ENC ES A0in)o )ola, A8'8, 200#8 Effects of teachin2 metho+s an+ stu+ha)its on stu+ents D achie/e ment in senior secon+a rschool *h-sics, usin2 a *ictorial or2ani4e r8

A0in)o )ola, A8'8 an+ 8@8 A+o, 200$8 Ban+son an+ min+son strate2ie s for teachin2 of force: Cui+e+ +isco/er a**roac h8 n E8.+o, .8 .-oata, !8E8.8 n-an2, B8Iero, P C8@ello (E+s8), 'andson and mindson s&ra&e(i es in &he &eachin ( of force. (rocee+ in2 of the Science 3eacher s

Asso ciatio n of !i2er ia (S3A 38 !) *rima rscien ce 1or0 sho*8 .-o: Afah ai+e P @ros8

(rintin2 P (u)lishi n2 co8 #5-$28 !1osu, A8A8 an+ E8A8E8 '0e0e, 17758 3he effect of teacher sensiti4 ation of stu+ents D 237

ac:uisiti on of science *rocess s0ills8 Journal of Science 3eacher s Associa tion of !i2eria (S3A!) 30(1P2 ): 37458

Am-Euras. J. Sci. Res., 5 !"# 2$!-2!%, 2%1%

48

@-)e e, R858, E8E8 @uch 1al+, 58 S8 Eriss man, &8 Beil, (8J8 Quer )is, E8 Aats umot o an+ J8&8 Acln erne, 17"78 Scien ce an+ techn olo2for the eleme ntar-ears: ,ram e 1or0 s for curric ulum an+ instru ction8 5ash in2to n &8E8: #8 !atio nal Eente

r for m*ro/i n2 Science E+ucati on8 An2o, A8L8, 17728 !ee+e+ science *rocess s0ills as foun+ati on for effecti/ e technol o2e+ucatio n for national +e/elo* ment8 n (8'8 A1otun +e (E+8), ssues in technol o2e+ucatio n for national +e/elo* ment8 Jos: !ationa l Associa tion of 3eacher s of 3echnol o2-, 1: 72-1048 Ci++in2 s, C8 an+ @8J8 ,raser,

17""8 Assess ment of stu+ents D learnin2 in science e+ucatio n8 n 8 La-ton (E+8), nno/ati ons in science an+ technolo 2e+ucatio n8 (aris: .!ESE ' (u)licat ion8

$8

A0in)o )ola, A8'8, 200"8 ,acilitat in2 !i2eria n *h-sics stu+ents D attitu+e to1ar+s the conce*t of heat ener2-8 Scien&ia )aeda( o(ica E*+eri men&ali s, MLN(2): 3533##8

"8

,e+er al Ainis tr- of E+uc ation (,A E, 2004) 8 !atio nal *olic - on e+uca tion8 La2o s: !i2er ian E+uc 108 ation al Resea rch an+ &e/el o*me nt (ress8

one senior secon+a rschool stu+ents 8 Journal of Science 3eacher s Associa tion of !i2eria (S3A!) , 27(1P2 ): 4$538 '0e)u0 ola, (8A8, 17"58 Le/el of *rocess s0ill +e/elo* ment amon2 stu+ents an+ im*licat ions for sciencin 2 in !i2eria8 (rocee+ in2s of 2#th annual confere nce of S3A!, 21$21"8

A8, 17$48 3ransfer an+ retentio n of science *rocess es of o)ser/i n2 an+ com*ari son in >unior hi2h school stu+ents 8 Science E+ucati on, 5": 1752038

128 Ehia*ett
a, E8, 17$#8 A re/ie1 of *ia2etia n stu+ies rele/ant to science instructi on at the secon+a r- an+ colle2e le/el8 Science E+ucati on, #0: 2532#18

78

!1os u, A8A8, 17748 Le/el s of ac:ui sition of scien ce *roce ss s0ills amon 2 -ear 118 3omera,

2 4 0