EFFECT OF NUMBER HEAD TOGETHER STRATEGY ON STUDENTS' ACHIEVEMENT IN JUNIOR SECONDARY BASIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN BASSA, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of Number Head Together strategy on students' achievement in junior secondary Basic Science and Technology in Bassa, Plateau State, Nigeria. The researcher adopted quasi experimental design with the use of experimental and control group. The research had two research questions and two hypotheses. The population of the study was all the 18 senior secondary schools' Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria with the total number of 1,807. The population was made up of males and females. The sample of the study was taken from the population of all public junior secondary schools students.in Bassa LGA, Plateau State. The sample of the study was taken from the population of all public junior secondary school students in Bassa LGA State. This study focused on two junior secondary schools. The two schools had a total number of 70. There were 18 male and 16 female in school while the second school had male 19 and female 17 in Bassa LGA which were used as experimental and control groups. The simple random sampling technique was used to select two schools that were involved in the study. The instrument used for the collection of data was a Basic Science and Technology Achievement Test (BSTAT). To ensure that the BSTAT for the study was valid, the instrument was subjected to scrutiny of 3 experts, one in the Department of Research Measurement and Evaluation and two from the Department of Science and Technology Education, all in University of Jos. These experts assessed the content and relevance of the items. In order to establish the reliability of the BSTAT. Kuder Richardson (K-R20) method was used to estimate the internal consistency of the instrument. The resulting test scores was correlated to get the reliability coefficient of 0.73It was found out that there was significant deference in the Post-test achievement mean scores. The achievement mean scores for the Pre-test and Post-test for experimental group was 54 before treatment and 82 after treatment. The control group had 44 before and had 61 after treatment. The mean difference for experimental and control group was 11. Based on the result of the study, it was recommended that the use of Numbered Heads Together Strategy was effective and efficient in improving teaching and learning of Basic Science and Technology in junior secondary schools.