EFFECTS OF PROBLEM-SOLVING APPROACH ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS LEARNING MATHEMATICS : IN THE CASE OF HOTIE GENERAL AND PREPARATORY SECONDARY SCHOOL DESSIE TOWN, AMHARA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of Problem-Solving Approach on Students, academic achievement and Attitude towards learning Mathematics . The students of grade 11 of Hotie General and Preparatory Secondary School were selected as a sample for the study using Convenience sampling. Sample size consisted of 94 students who were equally divided into an experimental group (n=47) and a control group (n=47) on the basis of pretest. Experimental (true) is used as a research design in this study. During five weeks instruction, the experimental group received instruction with the problem-solving approach while the control group was taught with lecture method . Data of the study was collected through questionnaire and achievement test. After the treatment, post-test was used to see the effects of the treatment. Results were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, paired t-test and independent t-test. A collected data was processed by SPSS version 20.0. Findings of the study indicated that there was statistical significant difference between students learned by problem solving approach and lecture method in attitude attitude towards learning mathematics and academic achievement in mathematics (coordinate geometry). That is the students learned by problem-solving approach showed a better attitude towards learning on mathematics and showed a better academic achievement in coordinate geometry than the students learned by lecture method . The study recommended that problem solving approach is more effective method of instruction for develop positive attitude on students towards learning mathematics and more effective method of instruction for showed a better academical achievement in mathematics (coordinate geometry) as compared to lecture method of teaching. Therefore mathematics teachers of preparatory school should use problem solving method to improve the academic achievements of the students on mathematics (coordinate geometry) and develop positive attitude towards learning mathematics.