Grade 10 Indian Students’ Academic Performance and Leisure Interest in Science Under Laboratory-Based and Textbook-Based Methods

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this quantitative comparative study was to determine whether there was a significant difference in the gain in academic performance and leisure interest in Science between Grade 10 students learning under laboratory-based method and those learning under textbook-based method at St. Joseph High School, Barhalganj, India. Research design, data and methodology: The researchers implemented, during June 2022, a quasi-experimental research design, using two conveniently-chosen groups of Grade 10 students from the target school: a group of 35 students was taught using laboratory-based method, while a group of 37 students was taught using the textbook-based method. For the data collection, the Students’ Leisure Interest in Science Questionnaire and a Science academic performance test were both administered as pre-tests and post-tests. Results: There was no significant difference in the gain in either academic performance in Science or leisure interest in Science between Grade 10 students learning under laboratory-based and textbook-based methods; however, participants’ academic performance in Science was numerically higher for those learning through laboratory-based method. Conclusions: The results indicate that the teaching method under which Grade 10 Indian students from the target school were learning Science appears to have no significant effect on their gain in either academic performance or leisure interest in Science.

Keywords: Science Education, Academic Performance, Leisure Interest, Teaching Methods, India.

JEL Classification Code: C12, I20, I21, N35