EFFECTS OF PROBLEM-SOLVING AND LECTURE METHODS ON STUDENTS' ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STUDENTS IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN NORTH CENTRAL, NIGERIA

Abstract

The research was conducted to examine the effects of problem-solving and lecture methods on students' academic performance of Financial Accounting Students in Colleges of Education, North Central, Nigeria. The study had three specific purposes. In line with the specific purposes, three research questions were raised while three null hypotheses were postulated to guide the research. The researcher used quasi-experimental research design. The population of the study was 8,923 Business Education students in Colleges of Education, North Central, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 509 NCE II students as respondents in the study. A researcher developed Instructional Package for Financial Accounting (IPFA) and Financial Accounting Achievement Test (FAAT) which were used in collecting data for the study. The instruments were face and content validated by experts. A pilot test was carried out at FCT College of Education, Zuba. Spearman Rank Order Correlation Coefficient was used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument 0.86. The data collection period lasted for six weeks. The data collected for the research was analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, t-test statistic was used to test null hypotheses one and two while null hypothesis three was tested using ANOVA and Scheffe Post Hoc Pairwise Comparison test. All the null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 levels of significance. The study revealed among others that there exist a significant effect of problem-solving and lecture methods on students' academic performance in Financial Accounting in Colleges of Education, North Central, Nigeria.It was concluded that combination of different student-centred teaching methods like problem-solving teaching method with lecture teaching method will significantly improve academic performance of students in Financial Accounting in colleges of education in North Central Nigeria. Based on the findings and conclusion of the study, it was recommended among others that Financial Accounting lecturers in colleges of education in North-Central Nigeria should adopt student-centred teaching methods like problem-solving teaching method to reduce students' failure rate in the subject.