Kemahiran proses Sains dan hubungannya dengan keberkesanan penggunaan makmal serta kemahiran manipulatif pelajar menengah atas

Abstract

This research is to investigate the level of understanding in manipulative skills, efficiency of laboratory usage and level of mastery of science process skills among the students. The correlation between the level of understanding in manipulative skills and level of mastery of science process skills; the correlation between efficiency of laboratory usage and level of mastery of science process skills were also investigated. Besides, this research also identifies the level of understanding in manipulative skills and level of mastery of science process skills via the factor of gender. A total of 285 Form Four Chemistry students from five secondary schools in Pasir Gudang district were selected as the research respondents. The questionnaire regarding the Level of Understanding of the Manipulative Skills, Efficient Laboratory Usage Scale and the Mastery Test of Science Process Skills were used as the research instruments. All the data collected was analysed using the SPSS software, version 15.0. The data is interpreted into mean, standard deviation, frequency, t-Test and Pearson Correlation. The results of the study showed that the level of understanding in manipulative skills and scale of efficient of laboratory used was at high level, whereas the level of mastery of science process skills were only at medium level. The findings also showed that there was no significant difference between the level of understanding in manipulative skills among the male and female students. Besides, there was no significant difference between the level of mastery in science process skills among the male and female students. However, there was low correlation between the level of understanding in manipulative skills and level of mastery of science process skills. Besides, there was medium correlation between efficient of laboratory used and level of mastery of science process skills. Implications and a few suggestions for further research were also proposed.