EFFECTS OF PERSONALIZED SYSTEM OF INSTRUCTION ON STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENTS AND RETENTION IN ECONOMICS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN WASE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

Abstract

This study investigated effects of personalized system of instruction on students‘ achievements and retention in economics in secondary schools in Wase Local Government Area, Plateau State. The study adopted two objectives, two research questions and two hypotheses respectively. The study adopted non-randomized quasi-experimental design. The samples were drawn in the study using the purposive sampling technique. The population of the study comprised of 879 senior secondary two students in Government secondary schools in Wase Local Government Area. 190
economics students were drawn as the sample of the study. A class was assigned to the control group and also a class was assigned to the treatment group. Two instructional packages were developed, one for the control group and the other for the treatment group. The control group were taught using the conventional method while the treatment groups were taught using the personalized instruction strategy. Economics Achievement Test (EAT) was used to collect data for the study. The research questions were analyzed using mean and standard deviation while the hypotheses were tested using ANCOVA at 0.05 level of significance. The study findings revealed that there is significant effect of Personalized System of instruction on students‘ academic achievement at secondary schools; there is a significant effect of personalized system
of instruction on students‘ retention in economics at secondary schools. The study recommended among others teachers of senior secondary schools should expose economics students to Personalized System of instruction to promote their academic performance in the subject, multimedia should be incorporated in the curriculum of teacher training institutions to promote retention ability in economics.