The laboratory performance, anxiety level, and perceptions of Grade-8 students at Tanza National Trade School toward a guided inquiry physics experiment

• Main Author: Oraa, Luzette Divina
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2016
• Subjects: Physics > Study and teaching > (Secondary) > Philippines; Science > Study and teaching > (Secondary) > Philippines
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/5314
• Institution: De La Salle University

A substantial body of research studies claim that inquiry-based laboratory is effective in closing the science process skills gap among learners. Despite this significant number, information regarding the performance of high school learners in performing a guided inquiry Physics experiment (GIPE) is limited. For the purpose of extending the study in this area, this paper provided a snapshot of the laboratory performance, anxiety, and perceptions of G-8 students on GIPE. A triangulation mixed method was employed for this study to gain a better understanding of the inquiry. Three heterogeneous intact classes of Grade-8 students at a high school in Tanza, Cavite participated in this study. Several cook-book type of laboratory activities about Heat and Temperature were given before learners were set to engage in a GIPE. A triangulation mixed method was employed for this study to gain a better understanding of the inquiry. Three heterogeneous intact classes of Grade-8 students at a high school in Tanza, Cavite participated in this study. Several cook-book type of laboratory activities about Heat and Temperature were given before learners were set to engage in a GIPE. A scientific ability rubric was adapted to rate the level of laboratory performance of the participants in delivering a GIPE by way of their laboratory reports. On the other hand, anxiety that was brought about by the high-level physics experiment was explored using an adopted Physics Laboratory Anxiety Assessment Scale. The correlation coefficient between the laboratory performance and anxiety level was determined using the Excel built-in function. Reflective journals and interviews were analyzed qualitatively to uncover categories that emerged from the content of the individuals reflections. The major categories were then presented in themes and discussed collectively. Findings show that learners obtained poor success rates which is below 4% for all the parts of the laboratory report: problem, hypothesis, experiment to test the hypothesis, data analysis, interpretation and conclusion. Among others, working as a team, behavior, inclination, academic pressure, science process skills, language, time constraint, fixation, and readiness to high level of inquiry were found relevant to the students laboratory performance. The over-all anxiety level of the students of 3.165 is intermediate and there is no clear indication that the Physics laboratory performance and anxiety levels of the learners were interrelated. Findings from the study contribute to the awareness of the difficulties and experiences of the learners in performing a GIPE. Suggestions for the use of GIPE in laboratory instructions were identified.