International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue VIII, August 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

Availability and Utilization of Physics Laboratory Equipment on Academic Achievement of Students in Public Day Secondary Schools

Malach Mogire Mogaka
Kenyatta University, Kenya

Abstract:-The purpose of paper was to investigate the correlation between availability and utilization of physics laboratory equipment and the academic achievement of students in Public day secondary schools. The study was necessitated by thecontinuous decline in students’ academic achievement in public day secondary schools in Kisii County, Kenya. The objective of the study was to establish the level of availability and utilization of physics laboratory equipment and how it relates to students’ academic achievement in public day secondary schools. Correlational research design was used in this study which involved students and teachers from the 246 public day secondary schools in the county. Non-proportionate sampling, systematic random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used to select the sample unit size of schools and sample size of students and teachers. Non-proportionate sampling technique was used to sample schools, systematic random sampling technique was used to sample students while teachers were sampled using purposive sampling technique. Student questionnaire (SQ) and Teachers Interview Schedule (TIS) were used to collect data. The study yielded both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data were analyzed using inferential statistics, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlational Coefficient analysis and multiple regression.The findings from the study revealed that availability and utilization of physics laboratory equipment had a relationship with students’ academic achievement. It was concluded that the relationship was statistically significant [F (4, 372) =39.203, R2=.297, sig. <.05]. A respectable variability (≈30%) in student academic achievement was explained by the physics laboratory equipment.

Key Words: Laboratory Equipment, Academic Achievement, Availability and Utilization

I. INTRODUCTION

According to Akçayir et al. (2016), when science laboratories equipment are utilized effectively in the teaching and learning process, they instil in students skills and abilities to pose scientifically oriented questions, design experiments, perform practical science activities, articulate and rescript scientific enlightenments, converse and defend scientific arguments. Therefore, a science laboratory as a learning resource, plays a very crucial role in the teaching of science subjects and has a significant relationship to students’ academic achievement.