Dr Ogbaga Emmanuel, Dr Nweke C. O., Dr Beth N. Oluka, Dr I. O. Egbe & Dr M. N. Anugwo
Abstract
The study appraised the predictive strength of students’ achievement in basic science vis-a-vis the performances of students in Physics in West African Senior School Certificate Examination. The research technique used was correlational design. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the sample of the study. The sample size consisted 275 students drawn from six schools located in three states in southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The hypotheses were tested at 95% level of confidence. The theoretical framework was anchored on the “achievement goal theory”. The instruments for data collection was students’ achievement records from the NECO organized JSSCE/BECE and WAEC organized WASSCE. Linear regression analysis was done, enabling the researchers to answer the research questions. The extracted data were paired for the analysis. Based on the outcome of the analysis, it was discovered that students’ achievement in basic science is not a predictor of students’ achievement in physics in WASSCE for both males and females combined, and when each gender is considered separately. It was recommended that ministry of Education should undertake survey on the issue in order to obtain peoples’ opinions on how to address the matter.