Effectiveness of Problem Solving Method at Secondary Level

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the Effectiveness of Problem Solving Method at Secondary Level. A pre-test and post-test of quasi-experimental research design was used to compare the achievement of two groups experimental and control. The experimental group and control group were selected by Coin toss method. The experimental groups were taught by using problem solving method whereas the control groups were taught by traditional method. To measure the effectiveness of problem solving method in teaching mathematics, the researcher developed and administered mathematical achievement test for both pre-test and posttest. The test scores were collected and descriptively analyzed by using different mathematical tools as mean, percentage and t-test. The findings of this study were presented after analyzing and interpreting the data. Finally, the researcher suggested recommendations and pedagogical implications. The researcher closed IX grade 39 students of Shree Panchakanya Higher Secondary School, Roshi-10, Kavre as an experimental group and 43 students of Shree Mangal Jana Bijay Higher Secondary School, Roshi-9, Kavre as a control group. After completion of the targeted chapters, researcher collected the data from mathematics achievement test and a set of interview related to the problem solving method. The mathematics achievement test was used for objective; comparing the achievement of the students taught by using Problem Solving method and traditional method and interview was used for objective to explore the students view towards the problem solving method. The results indicated that there was a significant difference between the average achievement score of experimental and control groups on post-test. This finding illustrated that the students in the experimental group performed better when using problem solving method than the control group with the traditional teaching method.