The Effectiveness of Teaching Approaches for Concept Attainment at Elementary School Level

Abstract

This study analyzes the effectiveness of teaching approaches i.e. inductive and deductive for concept attainment at elementary level. The major objectives of the study were to analyze the effect of deductive teaching method on students’ concept attainment, to measure the effect of inductive teaching method on students’ mathematical concept attainment and to analyze the comparative effectiveness of inductive and deductive teaching methods on elementary students’ mathematical learning. All the 7^th class students in Federal Government schools of Islamabad were the population of the study. One secondary school was selected through convenient sampling for the study. The independent variable of teaching methodology was manipulated into inductive teaching approach and deductive teaching approach for the experimental and control group respectively. An overall sample of 60 students was randomly taken from the selected school on the basis of 6^th class annual examination scores. These 60 students were divided equally into experimental and control groups through even odd distribution ensuring representation of high, middle and low achievers in both groups. A pre test – post test control group design was followed in the study. Twenty five concepts from 7^th class textbook were selected randomly keeping in view the representation of sets, algebra and geometry portions. The researcher developed 25 lesson plans each in light of the principles of concept attainment model using inductive and deductive approach to teach the students of experimental and control groups respectively. A standardized 100 item academic achievement test, based on 8 tasks paradigm was administered to each group as pre test as well as post test. The mean difference between post test and pre test scores was taken as the academic achievement of the students. The results of the study approved that all groups of students’ i.e. low, average and high achievers of experimental group