GROUP INVESTIGATION LEARNING STRATEGY AND SENIOR SECONDARY STUDENTS’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS MATHEMATICS WORD PROBLEMS IN OYO NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of group investigation learning strategy on senior secondary
school students’ attitude towards mathematics word problems. The moderating effect of gender
was also investigated. The pretest, posttest, non-randomized control group quasi experimental
design of 2x1x1 factorial matrix of one experimental and one control group was adopted for the
study. Five hundred and eighty seven SSII students randomly selected from nine secondary schools
of Iseyin, Itesiwaju and Kajola local government areas of Oyo north senatorial District of Oyo
state constitute the sample of the study. Two instruments, which comprise the group investigation
instructional guide (GIIG) and mathematics word problems attitude scale (MAWPAS) were
developed, adapted, validated and used for the study. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and
estimated marginal means were used for the data analysis. The findings of this study revealed that
the treatment had a significant main effect on students’ attitude towards mathematics word
problems. The participants exposed to group investigation learning strategy had the higher
posttest score as against the conventional group. There were no significant main and interaction
effect of gender and treatment on students’ attitude towards mathematics word problems.
The study concluded that the mathematics teachers should be trained on the usage of group
investigation learning package for mathematics instructional activities as a result of its efficacy in
enhancing students’ attitude towards mathematics word problems as against the conventional
method.