Perceived Misconception And Performance Of The Concept Of Redox Reactions; A Case Study Of Senior High Schools In The Obuasi Municipal And Adansi North District Of The Ashanti Region Of Ghana.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate Senior High School students’ perceived misconception and performance of the concept of redox reactions. Specifically, the study investigated the perception of Senior High School form three Chemistry students on a) the concept of redox reaction, b) how teachers influence students’ performance when they study redox reaction, c) students’ misconceptions on how the concept of redox reactions, d) and students performance in class when they answered questions on redox reactions. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design. The sample used for the study consisted of year three chemistry students drawn from all the schools that offer elective science in Obuasi Municipality and Adansi North District of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Purposive sampling was adopted for the study. The instruments used for data collection were questionnaire, achievement test and interview guide. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analyzing the data in order to answer the research questions. The study revealed that poor performance of students in redox reaction is as a result of the inappropriate teaching approaches used by teachers when communicating the concept of redox reactions to students. Students also have problems appreciating the concept of reducing agent and identification of reactants as oxidizing or reducing agents. The study recommended that chemistry teachers should use redox reaction models in teaching redox reactions for easy conceptualization and understanding on the part of students.