STUDENTS’ ATTITUDE TO PROBLEM-SOLVING, CAREER ASPIRATION AND LOCUS OF CONTROL AS DETERMINANTS OF STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENT IN STOICHIOMETRY

Abstract

This study determined the predictive relationship of students’ attitude to problem-solving, career aspiration in chemistry
and locus of control as predictors of students’ achievement in stoichiometry at senior secondary school level. Using multistage sampling, the study sampled a total of 1.171 students from public schools in Lagos State, Nigeria. Three research
questions were raised and answered in the study. Four research instruments were used to collect data for the study. The
instruments were validated and the reliability was determined using Cronbach Alpha and KR-20. The data were analysed
using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Regression at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study showed
that students’ attitude to problem-solving and locus of control had a significant positive relationship with students’
achievement in stoichiometry while the relationship with career aspiration was positive but not significant. The study also
shows that the variables had a significant composite contribution in predicting students’ achievement in stoichiometry
with attitude to problem-solving and locus of control having significant relative contributions. It was therefore
recommended among others, that education stakeholders should give more attention to improving the non-cognitive factors
of locus of control, attitude to problem-solving and career aspiration in chemistry. Schools should also organize career
day to show students career opportunities available in chemistry and science.