Comparative Analysis Of Students’ Performance In Two Formats Of A Biology Practical Test In Taraba State

Abstract

The study sought to compare the performances of senior secondary school students in two formats of a Biology practical test. A quasi-experimental study, involving two random groups, treatments post-test design was adopted. The two tests are multiple-choice test and fill in the answer tests formats (MCT and FIT). A random sample of 220 SS3 Biology students drawn from 1540 students that constitute the population was used. The sample was randomly grouped into two groups of 110 each and was randomly assigned to treatments. Then the tests were administered and the students’ responses to the test were scored. Three hypotheses were tested. Mean scores, in the researcher-made Biology test, of students who took the MCT is significantly different from those who took the FIT format. Also, variances of student performances, in the researchers’ made Biology test, of those who took the MCT is significantly different from those who took the FIT format, and, the mean score after correction for guessing of students in the MCT is not significantly different from the mean score of students in the FIT format of the same researchers’ made Biology test.. The study recommends that the sole or dominant use of MCT should be minimized. FIT should be incorporated in our secondary schools’ Biology practical testing programmes.

Keywords: Performance, Biology, Practical, Test