Correlation between Secondary Students’ Mathematical Skills and Academic Performance in Chemistry in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between students’ mathematical skills and their performance in chemistry. Two objectives guided the study. The research was correlational in nature because it sought for relationship between variables of the study. Expo facto research design employed because the event had already taken place.  The population of the study consisted of all the two thousand one hundred and sixteen (2,116) senior secondary two (SS2) chemistry students in senior secondary coeducational public schools in Port Harcourt L.G.A of Rivers Sate, Nigeria. The purposive sampling technique was used to draw a sample of two hundred and thirty six (236) SS2 chemistry students from the population. Mathematics Performance Score Inventory (MPSI) and Chemistry Performance Score Inventory (CPSI) were the instruments used to collect data. The mathematics scores and chemistry scores of each sample student were obtained from the examination and records unit of the sample schools. The mathematics and chemistry scores of students were correlated. Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to run analysis at .05 probability level. The result showed that there was a positive, moderate and significant relationship (r = 0.68, p,.05) between students’ mathematical skills and their performance in chemistry. The result also showed that there was a positive, moderate and significant relationship (r = 0.61, p<.05) between the female students’ mathematical skills and their performance in chemistry. Based on the findings it was recommended amongst others that the mathematical skills of chemistry students should be developed to help boost their performance in chemistry.