Relationship Between Students' Mathematical Ability And Their Performance In Stoichiometry

Abstract

The effect of poor performance in chemistry on the individual and society makes it necessary to not only identify factors of poor performance in chemistry, but to remedy them to yield better performance in chemistry. This study attempts specifically to investigate students understanding of mathematics as it relate to the performance in stoichiometry. This study attempts specifically to investigate students' understanding of mathematics as it relates to their performance in stoichiometry. The sample drawn from the population by simple random sampling, consisted of 226 SS11 chemistry students in nine old secondary schools in Jos-South Local Government Area of Plateau State. The students responded to instruments namely: Perceived Difficulty in stoichiometry questionnaires (PDSQ), Stoichiometry Achievement Test (SAT) and Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT). The data collected were analysed using Pearson Product – Moment correlation coefficient and frequency counts. Two research questions were answered and two hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The results indicated a significance positive relationship existed between students' performance in mathematical achievement test and their performance in stoichiometry test. Also a significant relationship existed between students' perceived difficulty in stoichiometry and their achievement in a stoichiometry test.


Journal of Research in National Development Vol. 3 (2) 2005: pp. 39-43