EFFECT OF INQUIRY-BASED INSTRUCTION ON STUDENTS IN BIOLOGY: IMPLICATIONS FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION IN YALA L. G. A, CROSS RIVER STATE

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of inquiry-based Instructional method on student 
academic achievement in biology with specific implications for science education 
in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. The study was 
motivated by persistent poor performance of students in Biology as reported by the 
Cross River State Examination Board between 2018 and 2020, and the continued 
reliance on teacher-centered instructional strategies in science classrooms. Two 
research questions and two hypotheses guided the study formulated and tested at 
0.05 α-level. A pre-test post-test quasi-experimental research design was used for 
the study. A multi-stage sample of 60 SS II biology students from two intact classes 
drawn from a population of 1,613 students in 25 public secondary schools. The 
Biology Performance Test (BPT) served as the main instrument for data collection. 
The Biology Performance Test (BPT), was used for data collection. Data were 
analysed using mean standard deviation mean gain scores and mean gain difference 
to answer research questions while the null hypotheses were tested using analysis of 
Covariance (ANCOVA). Findings of the study showed that there is no significant 
mean difference in the achievement scores between students taught biology using 
inquiry-based method and those taught biology using traditional lecture method. F 
(1, 177) = 237.91; p ≤ 0.05 However, those taught Biology concept using inquiry
based method exhibited  significantly higher achievement scores than those taught 
with traditional lecture method,  F (1, 158) = 253.14; p ≤ 0.05 Also there is no 
significant mean difference in the achievement score between male and female 
students taught biology using inquiry-based method.t (99) = 1.275; p > 0.05 This 
implies that inquiry base method is gender friendly hence it enhanced academic 
achievement in both male and female biology Students. Therefore, among others the 
use of inquiry-based instruction should be encouraged among teachers of Biology to 
improve student's academic achievement in secondary education.