Abstract:

The study investigated effect of field-based instructional strategy on upper basic students’ achievement and retention in basic science in a globally depressed economy in Benue State. The study was guided by two research questions and hypotheses. The non-randomized control group, pre-test post test quasi experimental research design was used for the study. A sample of 67 upper basic two students from two upper basic schools was drawn using stratified sampling technique. The instrument used for data collection was the Basic Science Achievement Test (BSAT) with reliability coefficient of 0.72. The data collected were analyzed using Mean and Standard Deviations to answer the research questions while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The result indicated that there was a significant difference between the mean achievement scores (F1 66 = 104.02, P<0.05) of students taught basic science using field-based instructional strategy and those taught using the conventional method. The results also revealed that there was a significant difference between the mean retention scores (F1, 66 = 91.84, P<0.05) of students taught basic science using field-based instructional strategy and those taught using the conventional method with those taught using field-based instructional strategy having a greater mean retention score. Based on the findings it was concluded that the use of field-based instructional strategy enhances students’ achievement and retention in basic science more than the conventional method that is widely used by teachers. It was therefore recommended among others that Basic science teachers should use field-based instructional strategy which provides students opportunity to carry out practical activities by themselves thereby enhancing their achievement and retention. Also where there are no laboratory facilities, the use of field-based instructional strategy should be encouraged as an alternative strategy for teaching Basic Science.

Keywords:

Effect, Field-Based Instructional Strategy, Achievement, Retention, Basic Science, Globally Depressed Economy.