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Global Research in Higher Education 
ISSN 2576-196X (Print) ISSN 2576-1951 (Online) 

Vol. 1, No. 1, 2018 
www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/grhe 

80 
 

Original Paper 

Chemistry Students’ Science Process Skills Acquisition: 

Influence of Gender and Class Size 

Gladys U. Jack1* 
1 Department of Science Education, Taraba State University, Jalingo, Nigeria 
* Gladys U. Jack, Department of Science Education, Taraba State University, P.M.B 1167, Jalingo, 

Nigeria 

 

Received: April 14, 2018       Accepted: May 10, 2018        Online Published: May 21, 2018 

doi:10.22158/grhe.v1n1p80          URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.22158/grhe.v1n1p80 

 

Abstract 

Science process skills are central to the acquisition of scientific knowledge which is useful in problem 

solving in our immediate environment. In Nigeria, most secondary school students’ performances in 

chemistry in the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) are generally low which 

could probably be attributed to lack or poor exposure to science process skills. The study therefore 

investigated the influence of gender, and class size on Chemistry students’ acquisition of science 

process skills. The design adopted for the study was descriptive survey design. The sample comprised 

of 720 students drawn through multi-stage random sampling from Adamawa and Taraba States in 

Nigeria. The research instrument was Science Process Skills Knowledge Test in Chemistry’ (SPSKTC). 

The study indicated that gender have negligible influence on students’ acquisition of science process 

skills; while large class size have great influence on students’ acquisition of science process skills. The 

study concluded that most students in Nigerian schools experience difficulty in the acquisition of 

science process skills. Based on the findings, it was recommended that there should be reduction of 

student-teacher ratio in schools and training of teachers on science process skills to enable teachers 

adopt methods that lead students to have the appropriate skills.  

Keywords 

Gender, class size, science process skills acquisition, chemistry students 

 

1. Introduction 

Students are to be made able to acquire scientific knowledge by the processes of thinking, analyzing 

and interpreting observed facts. A new approach capable of triggering the processes of thinking, 

analyzing and inferring in the students’ mind is needed. Process approach is designed to attain these 



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objectives in teaching science. Process approach presents the instruction in science in an intellectually 

stimulating and a scientifically authentic way. Here, emphasis is given to the ways of acquiring 

knowledge rather than to the content. This is a shift from the traditional approach. As a result, outlook 

on different aspects of instructional practice in science teaching, the designing of instructional 

objectives and the instructional strategies have changed totally, as also the method of evaluating the 

results of these processes, i.e., the process outcomes of science teaching. Process approach demands 

that students utilize their intellect and apply their ability to engage themselves in thinking and 

reasoning more dynamically. What is actually attained by the process approach is that students are 

initiated into being scientific investigators themselves. It is also expected to help students become 

better consumers of scientific knowledge and also enable them to make original scientific contributions 

to science. 

The process approach to teaching science is meant to foster inquiry and manipulative skills in students 

and discourage rote learning. This approach embraces other methods of science teaching and is mainly 

activity based, superior to those in which students are not actively involved in the learning process 

(Akinbobola, 2008). This has made the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and other bodies 

that conduct Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) to stipulate that practical Chemistry should 

form the basis of teaching. During examination, practical Chemistry is also assessed separately. 

Currently, Chemistry being one of the science subjects taught in senior secondary schools is taught 

both in theory and in practical. In both internal and external examinations, practical Chemistry is 

assessed separately as an integral part of the subject and students are expected to have acquired certain 

science process skills on completion of the senior secondary school.  

The new science curriculum worldwide stresses science process skills and places emphasis on the 

development of higher cognitive skills through the student-centred approach (Shulman & Tamir, 2004). 

This approach, according to Molitor and George (2001) develops the understanding of science process 

skills through participation of students in activities in science classrooms. Ogunnniyi (2000) opined 

that the relevance of acquisition of process skills in science teaching is that it involves students’ in 

“doing science”. The acquisition of process skills by “doing science” enables students to, understand 

the concepts of Chemistry, one of the key science subject easily. 

Science as a practical subject provides students with an opportunity to interact with science process skills 

that can be used to solve problems in everyday life and contribute to national development (Abungu, 

Okere, & Wachanga, 2014). Science process skills are activities, which students carry out in scientific 

investigations to enable the acquisition of scientific knowledge and skills. Science Process Skills (SPS) 

are also defined as the adaptation of the skills used by scientists for composing knowledge, thinking 

about problems and drawing conclusion (Farsakoğlu, Sahin, Karsli, Akpinar, & Ultar, 2008). They are 

also the abilities each individual is supposed to possess in a science-based community as a science 

literate person (Temiz, 2007).  

 



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Science process skills acquisition refers to a variety of abilities that affect the acquisition, retention, 

understanding, organization or use of verbal and/or non-verbal information (Amanso & Bassey, 2017). 

Science process skills acquisition in a generic term refers to a heterogeneous group ability manifested in 

the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, or mathematical abilities, or of 

social skills (Hallahan & Mercer, 2007). Ajunwa (2000) observed that science process skills have 

general commonality in all science subjects, serving as tools for information gathering, problem 

solving, decision making and adaptation. Science process skills are classified as basic (observing, 

measuring, classifying, collecting data and using number relationships), causal (predicting, identifying 

variables and drawing a conclusion) and experimental (formulating hypotheses, making models, 

experimenting, controlling variables and making a decision) (Ayas, Cepni, Ozmen, Yigit, & Ayvaci, 

2007). All of these science process skills are complementary of each other, providing students 

opportunities to reach meaningful learning goals in science. 

Science process skills also help in preventing the memorization of facts and developing negative 

attitudes in science (Temiz, 2007; Dirks & Cunningham, 2006). Science process skills have great 

influence on education because they help students to develop higher mental processes such as 

problem-solving, critical thinking and making a decision (Tan & Temiz, 2003; Koray, Koksal, 

Ozdemir, & Presley, 2007). 

Science process skills are cognitive and psychomotor skills employed in problem solving. They are the 

skills which the sciences use in problem-identification, objective inquiry, data gathering, 

transformation, interpretation and communication. Science process skills can be acquired and 

developed through training such as are involved in science practical activities. They are the aspect of 

science learning which is retained after cognitive knowledge has been forgotten. Using science process 

skills is an important indicator of transfer of knowledge which is necessary for problem-solving and 

functional living. The knowledge of process skills in science is very important for proper understanding 

of concepts in science. Alfredo, Natale and Lombardi (2006) stated that process skills are fundamental 

to science, which allow everyone to conduct investigation and reach conclusions. They observed that 

there is a serious educational gap in this area, both in bringing these skills into the classroom and in the 

training of teachers to use them effectively. 

The skills in qualitative and quantitative analysis cannot be completed without creativity. Practical 

work is not just putting the apparatus together when seen, but it needs planning, designing a problem, 

creating a new approach and procedure and also putting familiar things together in the new 

arrangement. This implies that the knowledge of creativity exhibited by candidates in any practical 

class helps them to manipulate some practical equipment. According to Giddings and Fraser in 

Akinbobola and Afolabi (2010), achieving the objectives of science practical work depends a lot on the 

mode of assessment of laboratory work adopted by teachers and examination bodies. According to 

them, the mode of assessment directly influences teachers’ teaching methods, students’ learning styles 

and attitudes towards practical activities. 



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The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) makes use of practical test/examination to assess 

students’ acquisition of various Chemistry practical skills. In these tests, students are required to carry 

out certain Chemistry practical activities following given instructions. The scores of the students 

indirectly indicate the levels of Chemistry practical process skills they could demonstrate during the 

practical examination. This mode of assessment is also adopted by Chemistry teachers who prepare the 

students for Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). This mode of assessment influences the 

teaching methods adopted by teachers. Also, students’ learning style is influenced in such a way that 

students always try to find certain correct responses or answers, irrespective of the procedures adopted. 

In North-Eastern part of Nigeria, secondary school students’ performances in chemistry in the West 

Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) are generally low which could probably be 

attributed to lack or poor exposure to science process skills. Series of reports from the chief examiners 

of WAEC, 2007-2017 and that of Ochu (2007), and Jack (2013) showed that Chemistry students were 

deficient in interpreting data, descriptive ability, calculative ability, drawing inference and also in 

qualitative chemical analysis. It, therefore, follows that the trend is not improving even in recent years. 

Gender and class size are some of the major factors affecting the quality of learning and chemistry 

students acquisition of science process skills. Ukwungwu and Ezike (2000) have noted that many 

factors have been known to affect the academic performance of students in science and Chemistry in 

particular; and among these factors is the difference between boys and girls or gender. Akpokorie 

(2000) researched on the effects of sex on difficulties experienced by students in 15 process skills using 

600 JSS3 integrated science students from schools in Delta State and the study revealed that; gender 

has no significant effect on the magnitude of difficulties experience by integrated science students on 

each of the 15 process skills. This finding also supports the that of Omajuwa (2011) who found that 

gender have no influence on students experienced difficulty in science process skills acquisition; 

contradicts the works by Afif and Majdi (2015) whose results of the study indicated that there were 

significant differences in science process skills due to gender in favour of the females. 

Commeyras (2003) reported that effective teaching seems impracticable for teacher educators having 

large class sizes of 50, 75, 100 or more. According to Ajaja (2010) very large class sizes, which exist in 

schools, have made healthy interactions between students and teachers almost non-existent. Most 

teachers hardly know their students by their names. The large class size has reduced individual 

student’s attention during practical lesson. Students seeking special attention as a result of lack of clear 

instruction in practical lessons are hardly attended to. All these culminate in very poor performances of 

students in test of practical knowledge in final year examinations. A number of studies have looked at 

the influence of class size on a variety of teaching and learning issues. Class size was also identified by 

most respondents as a major hindrance for effective teaching and learning. Adeyela (2000) found that 

large class size is un-conducive for serious academic work. Also Afolabi (2002) found no significant 

relationship among the class size and students’ learning outcomes. Chemistry requires getting the 

students involved, as most of the topics involve demonstration, if they could be well understood but 



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this becomes very difficult when the class is large. But, out these studies reviewed the influence of 

class size on students’ science process skills acquisition was not investigated which called for urgent 

attention to the researcher. 

Chemistry is taught in most schools as a bundle of abstractions without practical experiences. This has 

resulted to students’ low acquisition of science process skills which has become more evident in the 

mass failure of students in the subject in public examinations. All the questions asked to test Chemistry 

students’ knowledge in practical skills require that they demonstrate one form of process skill or the 

other. The inability of students to carry out these activities properly results in low scores in the test of 

practical knowledge. The basic science process skills are useful in science and non-science situations 

while the integrated skills are the working behaviour of scientists and technologists. Thus, both basic 

and integrated science process skills are relevant and appropriate for all science subjects, in particular 

Chemistry at the senior secondary schools. Hence, there is need to find out the level of acquisition of 

the process skills, and influence of gender and class size since process skills are very fundamental to 

science and there exists a serious educational gap in this area both in bringing these skills into the 

classroom. Therefore, the problem of this study is: “will assess of secondary school chemistry students’ 

acquisition on science process skills help in bringing the process skills into the classroom and 

minimizing difficulty encountered by the students”? 

The following research questions were raised to guide this study: 

1) What specific basic and integrated science process skills do Chemistry students experience 

difficulty in acquiring? 

2) Does gender influence Chemistry students’ difficulty in science process skills acquisition? 

3) Does class size influence Chemistry students’ difficulty in science process skills acquisition? 

The following research hypotheses were formulated for testing at the 0.05 level of significance: 

Ho1 There is no significant difference in the mean difficulty of chemistry students’ scores between 

basic and integrated science process skills. 

Ho2 There is no significant difference in the mean difficulty of process skills scores between male and 

female Chemistry students. 

Ho3 There is no significant difference in the mean difficulty of process skills scores between Chemistry 

students in small-class size and in large-class size. 

 

2. Method 

The design adopted for the study is a descriptive survey design. The sampling technique used for the 

study was a multi-stage random sampling technique. The first stage was selection of 25 Local 

Government Areas (LGAs) that have senior secondary schools offering the basic science subjects from 

each of the three senatorial districts of Adamawa and Taraba states of Nigeria. The second stage was 

selection of 36 public schools from the 25 LGAs that have science laboratories and qualified chemistry 

teachers who had taught the subject for a minimum of 5 years to ensure that teachers’ qualification and 



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experience does not confound the result of the study. The third stage was random sampling of 20 SS III 

Chemistry students from each of the 36 schools giving a sample size of seven hundred and twenty 

students. Out of this total number sampled 202 males and 196 females. 

The research instrument that was used for this study is; Science process skills Knowledge Test in 

Chemistry (SPSKTC) which consisted of two sections: Section A which demanded personal 

information on the school and respondent (bio data) and Section B which consisted of 70 questions on 

15 items which include 6 basic or lower skills (observing, classifying, measuring, communicating, 

recording, using number relationships) and 9 higher or integrated skills (hypothesizing, predicting, 

inferring, identifying/controlling variables, interpreting data, defining operationally, experimenting, 

manipulating, and building mental models). The SPSKTC was a test of knowledge on 15 Science 

process skills, having options A-D where students are expected to choose only one correct answer. 

Each correct answer was assigned 1mark while the incorrect (wrong) answer was assigned 0 mark. The 

mean scores for each process skill by each student were collated by counting the number of students 

that experienced difficulty in process skills acquisition and expressed in simple percentages. Tests of 

skills involve testing the application of students’ knowledge to problems or situations so as to assess 

the level of student knowledge in comparison to a particular competence which was 15 items or process 

skills. The test of knowledge on Science process skills covers both the basic and integrated skills and 

these were adapted from WAECSSCE Alternative to practical Chemistry past questions of 10 years.  

The Science process skills Knowledge Test in Chemistry (SPSKTC) was subjected to both content and 

face validity by three experts in science education and two in test and measurement. Two Chemistry 

teachers who had taught this subject for more than eight years also helped in the validation of the 

instrument. The items were actually tested on a sample of the target population to determine the 

reliability. The items were pre-tested using 20 SS III Chemistry students in two randomly selected 

secondary schools in Adamawa and Taraba States. The data obtained was subjected to Kuder 

Richardson formula 21 to obtain the correlation value. A correlation coefficient of 0.78 was obtained 

which was considered adequate for this study. 

After the administration of the SPSKTC, students’ answers were collected and scored. The data 

collected were arranged and analyzed so as to answer the research questions and test the stated 

hypotheses. Descriptive statistics in terms of means, frequencies, percentages and standard deviation 

were used to analyze the response measures on SPSKTC. The level of difficulty of a particular process 

skill was determined by the value of the mean as follows: means scores less than 50 (<50) were 

classified as “Difficult”, and means scores equal to or above 50 (≥50) as “Simple”. Each student was 

scored on each of the science process skills before the individual scores were aggregated to form a 

composite means scores. The data collected were analyzed using means and t-test. The hypotheses 

were tested at 0.05 level of significance with t-test statistics which were calculated with SPSS 

(Statistical Package for Social Sciences) 16.0 version. 

 



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3. Result 

Research Question 1: 

What specific science process skills do Chemistry students experience difficulty in acquiring? 

 

Table 1. Areas of Chemistry Students’ Difficulty in Science Process Skills Acquisition 

Type of Skills Science Process Skills N Mean Std. Deviation Remarks

Basic Skills 

Observing 720 26.7160 14.82931 Difficult

Classifying 720 45.9349 19.66844 Difficult

Measuring 720 53.6389 15.79009 Simple 

Communicating 720 38.8889 17.13528 Difficult

Recording 720 38.9167 18.58540 Difficult

Using Number Relationships 720 35.7939 20.79647 Difficult

Integrated Skills 

Formulating Hypotheses 720 36.9444 19.75080 Difficult

Predicting 720 32.6736 16.60422 Difficult

Inferring 720 28.7500 16.98297 Difficult

Identifying/Controlling Variables 720 27.9824 15.44749 Difficult

Interpreting Data 720 44.1111 19.98021 Difficult

Defining Operationally 720 42.8125 18.54138 Difficult

Experimenting 720 37.9722 19.21402 Difficult

Manipulating Techniques 720 51.0284 18.41318 Simple 

Building Mental Models 720 51.8619 18.92849 Simple 

 

The analysis showed in Table 1 and Figure 1 revealed the specific science process skills that students 

experience difficulty in acquiring in this order: observing (26.72), identifying/controlling variables 

(27.98), inferring (28.75), predicting (32.67), using number relationships (35.79), formulating 

hypotheses (36.94), experimenting (37.97), communicating (38.89), recording (38.92), defining 

operationally (42.81), interpreting data (44.11), and classifying (45.93); while manipulating technique 

(51.03), building mental models (51.86) and measuring (53.64) as simple. Out of these 5 basic skills 

with mean scores of 39.98 and 7 integrated skills with mean scores of 39.35 were found difficult in 

acquiring by Chemistry students. Out of the 15 science process skills, 12 (80%) were found difficult by 

students in acquiring. 

 



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Figure 1. Areas of Chemistry Students’ Difficulty in Science Process Skills Acquisition 

 

Research Hypotheses 1: 

There is no significant difference in the mean difficulty of chemistry students’ scores between basic 

and integrated science process skills.  

Table 2 was used to answer research hypothesis 2. 

 

Table 2. T-Test Summary Table Comparing Mean Difficulty of Chemistry Students’ Scores 

between Basic and Integrated Science Process Skills  

Scores Type of Skills N Mean Std. Deviation Df t ∝ P≤ .05 Decision 

 
Basic Skills 720 40.0020 19.77573 718 .483 0.05 .637 Not Significant 

Integrated Skills 720 39.3485 20.05593      

*Significant at p≤.05 Decision=Not Significant at p>0.05 level (H01 Not rejected or Retained). 

 

As indicated in Table 2 the t value for skills type is .483 not significant at p=.637: p>0.05 level of 

significance; showing that the significant (2-tailed) is greater than 0.05 showing non-significant 

difference between students’ difficulty in basic and integrated skills, hence the null hypothesis was 

retained. Thus the hypothesis 1, no difference between students’ difficult in basic and integrated skills 

was not rejected. 

Research Question 2: 

Does gender influence Chemistry students’ difficulty in science process skills acquisition? 

The analysis showed in Table 3 and Figure 2 revealed that the total mean scores of the male students 

who experienced difficulty in science process skills acquisition was 42.20 while; the mean scores of the 

female students who experienced difficulty in science process skills acquisition was 40.40. Both males 

and females experienced insignificant difficulty in process skills acquisition. Also in Table 3, the t 

values for sex for the 15 process skills 



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are .637, .484, .458, .677, .635, .639, .638, .644, .637, .794, .553, .522, .528, .520 and .558 which are 

greater than; 0.05 level of significance. This shows that gender have negligible influence on students’ 

difficulty in science process skills acquisition but was tested with hypothesis 2. 

 

Table 3. Means Scores and T-Test Summary Table for Process Skills Difficulty Experienced by 

Male and Female Chemistry Students  

Process skills Gender N Mean Std. Deviation Df T ∝ 

Observing Male 366 26.8269 14.682 718 .637 0.05

 Female 354 26.5590 14.831    

Classifying Male 366 45.7285 19.817 718 .484 0.05

 Female 354 46.1483 19.539    

Measuring Male 366 54.4262 16.736 718 .458 0.05

 Female 354 58.4746 19.482    

Communicating Male 366 41.1202 19.401 718 .677 0.05

 Female 354 39.4068 18.362    

Recording Male 366 39.2896 18.328 718 .635 0.05

 Female 354 38.4746 18.710    

Using number relationships Male 366 38.5792 19.533 718 .639 0.05

 Female 354 38.4746 20.111    

Formulating hypotheses Male 366 35.8470 19.023 718 .638 0.05

 Female 354 38.0791 20.441    

Predicting Male 366 33.8115 17.038 718 .644 0.05

 Female 354 34.6751 16.935    

Inferring Male 366 27.5273 16.305 718 .637 0.05

 Female 354 24.4350 3.817    

Identifying/Controlling variables Male 366 27.1457 14.742 718 .794 0.05

 Female 354 29.0077 16.071    

Interpreting data Male 366 43.9891 19.985 718 .553 0.05

 Female 354 44.2373 20.003    

Defining operationally Male 366 43.0328 18.853 718 .522 0.05

 Female 354 42.5847 18.237    

Experimenting Male 366 34.5355 18.921 718 .528 0.05



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 Female 354 41.5254 18.891    

Manipulating techniques Male 366 52.9246 18.360 718 .520 0.05

 Female 354 51.1621 18.464    

Building mental models Male 366 53.7445 18.211 718 .558 0.05

 Female 354 52.9154 19.4778    

Total mean scores (Male)=42.20. Total mean scores (Female)=40.40. 

 

Figure 2. Process Skills Difficulty between Male and Female Students 

 

Research Hypothesis 2: 

There is no significant difference in the mean difficulty of process skills scores between male and 

female Chemistry students. 

 

Table 4. T-Test Summary Table Comparing Process Skills Difficulty Experienced by Male and 

Female Chemistry Students  

 Gender N Mean Std. Deviation Df t ∝ P≤ .05 Decision 

Scores 
Male 366 39.79 20.166 718 .731 0.05 .465 Not Significant 

Female 354 40.08 20.319      

*Significant at p≤.05 Decision=Not Significant at p>0.05 level (H02 Not rejected or Retained). 

 

In Table 4, the t-ratio for gender is .731 is not significant at p=.465: p>0.05 level of significance; 

showing that the significant (2-tailed) is less than .05. The result showed that there was no significant 

difference in the mean difficulty process skills scores between male and female Chemistry students. 

Based on this, hypothesis two was not rejected.  

 



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Table 5. Means Scores and T-Test Summary Table for Process Skills Difficulty Experienced by 

Chemistry Students in Large Class and Small Class Sizes 

Process skills Class size N Mean Std. Deviation Df t ∝ 

Observing Large 420 23.8937 12.75058 718 .000 0.05 

 Small 300 36.6740 16.01602    

Classifying Large 420 41.3177 18.79779 718 .001 0.05 

 Small 300 52.3411 18.98985    

Measuring Large 420 49.9048 15.60217 718 .003 0.05 

 Small 300 58.8667 14.54030    

Communicating Large 420 35.8333 17.49247 718 .000 0.05 

 Small 300 47.8333 18.38747    

Recording Large 420 30.7619 17.04663 718 .001 0.05 

 Small 300 46.2667 18.45347    

Using number relationships Large 420 34.7619 19.07629 718 .000 0.05 

 Small 300 44.0667 19.58078    

Formulating hypotheses Large 420 30.3333 17.00437 718 .000 0.05 

 Small 300 46.8000 19.74147    

Predicting Large 420 28.3929 12.76651 718 .001 0.05 

 Small 300 39.5000 19.23930    

Inferring Large 420 21.6667 13.40870 718 .002 0.05 

 Small 300 32.8333 15.87384    

Identifying/Controlling variables Large 420 25.4416 13.09896 718 .000 0.05 

 Small 300 32.7288 17.47558    

Interpreting data Large 420 38.9524 18.50879 718 .000 0.05 

 Small 300 51.3333 19.75322    

Defining operationally Large 420 39.2857 15.39346 718 .001 0.05 

 Small 300 48.2500 17.79728    

Experimenting Large 420 26.8571 13.70081 718 .000 0.05 

 Small 300 54.2667 14.22921    

Manipulating techniques Large 420 48.6604 18.44942 718 .002 0.05 

 Small 300 56.4552 17.43564    



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Building mental models Large 420 49.0573 18.75935 718 .003 0.05 

 Small 300 59.5667 16.84533    

Total mean scores (large class size)=35.01. Total mean scores (small class size)=50.80. 

 

The analysis showed in Table 5 and Figure 3 revealed that the mean scores of students that are from 

large class sizes that experienced difficulty in acquiring Science process skills were 35.01; while the 

mean scores of students that are from small class sizes who experienced difficulty in acquiring Science 

process skills was 50.80. Table 5 also showed the t values for class size for the 15 process skills which 

are .000, .001, .003, .000, .001, .000, .000, .001, .002, .000, .000, .001, .000, .002 and .003 which are 

less than 0.05. This shows that class size have great influence on students’ difficulty in Science process 

skills acquisition since the mean percent is significant; but was tested with Ho3. 

 

Figure 3. Process Skills Difficulty Experienced by Chemistry Students in Large Class and Small 

Class Sizes 

 

Research Hypothesis 3: 

There is no significant difference in the mean difficulty of process skills scores between Chemistry 

students in small-class size and in large-class size. 

 

Table 6. T-Test Summary Table Comparing Process Skills Difficulty Experienced by Chemistry 

Students in Large Class and Small Class Sizes 

 Class size N Mean Std. Deviation df T ∝ p ≤.05 Decision 

Scores 
Large 420 35.011 18.614 718 -30.500 0.05 .000 Significant

Small 300 46.362 19.702      

*Significant at p ≤ .05 Decision=Significant at p< 0.05 level (H03 Rejected). 

 



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As indicated in Table 6, the t-ratio for class size is -30.500 at p=.000: p<0.05; showing that the 

significant (2-tailed) is less than .05 hence the null hypothesis Ho3 was rejected. The result showed that 

there was a significant difference in the mean difficulty process skills scores between Chemistry 

students in small-class size and those in large-class size. 

 

4. Research Findings 

The results of the analysis showed that: 

i. 12 science process skills (80%) were found difficult by students in acquiring which includes: 

observing, identifying/controlling variables, inferring, predicting, using number relationships, 

formulating hypotheses, experimenting, communicating, recording, defining operationally, 

interpreting data, and classifying; with a total mean scores of 39.35 out of the 15 science process 

skills.  

ii. There was no significant difference in the mean difficulty process skills scores of Chemistry 

students between the basic and integrated science process skills acquisition. 

iii. There was no significant difference in the mean difficulty process skills scores between male and 

female Chemistry students.  

iv. There was a significant difference in the mean difficulty process skills scores between Chemistry 

students in small-class size and in large-class size. 

 

5. Discussion  

The analysis of the data collected gave rise to the following findings which are discussed.  

The findings of the study as presented in Table 1 revealed the specific science process skills that 

students experience difficulty in acquiring in this order: observing, identifying/controlling variables, 

inferring, predicting, using number relationships, formulating hypotheses, experimenting, 

communicating, recording, defining operationally, interpreting data and classifying; while manipulating 

technique, building mental models and measuring as simple. Out of these 5 basic skills with mean 

scores of 39.98 and 7 integrated skills with mean scores of 39.35 were found difficult in acquiring by 

Chemistry students respectively. Out of the 15 science process skills, 12 (80%) were found difficult by 

students in acquiring. This variation in difficulty levels of Science process skills can be attributed to the 

type of activities to which the students were exposed. Adeyemi (2000) found that not all the process 

skills in Chemistry are found difficult by students. The findings of this study which indicated that 

students found controlling variables very difficult, contradicted earlier findings of Omajuwa (2011) 

who found controlling variables less difficult; but agrees with the study by Akpokorie (2000) which 

showed that students found controlling variables very difficult. According to Adeyemi (2000), when 

students are always exposed to practical lessons, with good quality of teachers and quality of teaching 

methods, they will obviously find most of these process skills less difficult. 

 



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As indicated in Table 2 the t value for skills type is .483 not significant at p=.637: p>0.05 level of 

significance; showing that the significant (2-tailed) is greater than 0.05 showing non-significant 

difference between students’ difficulty in basic and integrated skills, hence the null hypothesis was 

retained. Thus the hypothesis one, no difference between students’ difficult in basic and integrated 

skills was not rejected. The result showed no significant difference in the mean difficulty process skills 

scores between Chemistry students who experience difficulty in acquiring the basic and integrated 

science process skills acquisition. This finding may be hinged on the quality of teachers and 

instructional modes used by the teachers. This finding supports the work of Akpokorie (2000) and 

Omajuwa (2011) whose study showed that students find most process skills difficult. According to 

earlier work Ajaja (2010), the reason why students may find all process skills difficult could be due to 

the persistent use of lecture methods for teaching Chemistry as against the recommended use of 

laboratory and discovery/inquiry approaches which are student-activity centred. 

The analysis showed in Table 3 revealed that the total mean scores of the male students who 

experienced difficulty in science process skills acquisition was 42.20 while; the mean scores of the 

female students who experienced difficulty in science process skills acquisition was 40.40. Both males 

and females experienced insignificant difficulty in process skills acquisition. This shows that gender 

have negligible influence on students’ difficulty in science process skills acquisition but was tested 

with hypothesis 2. In Table 4, the t-ratio for sex is .731 is not significant at p=.465: p>0.05 level of 

significance; showing that the significant (2-tailed) is less than .05. The result showed that there was no 

significant difference in the mean difficulty process skills scores between male and female Chemistry 

students. Based on this, Ho2 was not rejected. The result showed that there was no significant 

difference in the mean difficulty process skills scores between male and female Chemistry students. 

Based on this, hypothesis two was not rejected. The findings of this study is in agreement with those of 

Akpokorie (2000) and Omajuwa (2011) who found that gender have no influence on students 

experienced difficulty in science process skills acquisition; contradicts the works by Afif and Majdi 

(2015) whose results of the study indicated that there were significant differences in science process 

skills due to gender in favour of the females. 

The analysis showed in Table 5 revealed that the mean scores of students that are from large class sizes 

that experienced difficulty in acquiring Science process skills were 35.01; while the mean scores of 

students that are from small class sizes who experienced difficulty in acquiring Science process skills 

was 50.80. This shows that class size have great influence on students’ difficulty in Science process 

skills acquisition since the mean percent is significant; but was tested with Ho3. As indicated in Table 

6, the t-ratio for class size is -30.500 at p=.000: p<0.05; showing that the significant (2-tailed) is less 

than .05 hence the null hypothesis, Ho3 was rejected. The result showed that there was a significant 

difference in the mean difficulty process skills scores between Chemistry students in small-class size 

and those in large-class size. This implies that there was a significant difference in the mean difficulty 

process skills scores between Chemistry students in small-class size and those in large-class size. This 



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result agrees with the work Adeyela (2000) whose studies revealed that large class size is un-conducive 

for serious academic work for students and process skills acquisition but; disagrees with the works by 

Afolabi (2002) and Commeyras (2003) who found no relationship among class size and students’ 

academic performance and process skills acquisition. According to Ajaja (2010) very large class sizes, 

which exist in schools, have made healthy interactions between students and teachers almost 

non-existent. Most teachers hardly know their students by their names. The large class size has reduced 

individual student’s attention during practical lesson. Students seeking special attention as a result of 

lack of clear instruction in practical lessons are hardly attended to. All these culminate in very poor 

performances of students in test of practical knowledge in final year examinations. But, Brophy (2004) 

opined that large class size can be handled through proper classroom management and group or 

cooperative teaching in science labs. 

The following conclusions were made, based on the findings of this research work. This study 

highlighted the difficulty experienced by Chemistry students in the acquisition of Science process 

skills. Based on the findings and discussion, it could, therefore, be concluded that majority of the science 

process skills (80%) with means scores of 39.35 are found difficult by chemistry students’ in acquiring. 

These process skills include observing, identifying/controlling variables, inferring, predicting, using 

number relationships, formulating hypotheses, experimenting, communicating, recording, defining 

operationally, interpreting data, and classifying and this may be as a result of persistence use of lecture 

method which does not promote active learning in science classrooms. Therefore, an effective, efficient 

and innovative method that provides students with an opportunity to acquire/interact with science 

process skills that can be used to solve problems in everyday life and contribute to national development 

should be encouraged in the teaching learning process to help improve students’ performance in 

chemistry. The study also revealed that gender have negligible influence on students’ process skills 

acquisition while large class size have great influence on students science process skills acquisition. 

Chemistry requires getting the students engaged; as most of the topics involve practical activities but 

this becomes very difficult when the class is large since it is un-conducive to acquire the appropriate 

science process skills required by students. The finding of this study implies that small class-sizes in 

schools enable chemistry students to acquire the appropriate science process skills, therefore large 

class-sizes should be discouraged from our secondary schools. 

Based on the findings and conclusions of this study, the following recommendations are made: 

1) The study has established that a large proportion of science process skills 80% are found 

difficult by Chemistry students in acquiring. Teachers should therefore assess students on the 

different kinds of science process skills needed in science classes; and educate them on the 

relevance they play on their everyday life so as to arouse students’ interest towards chemistry and 

also reduce students difficulty on process skills acquisition. 

2) The number of periods per week for practical Chemistry lessons should be increased to create 

room for more elaborate laboratory activities with students. This may help eradicate students’ 



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difficulties in science process skills acquisition and enhance meaningful teaching-learning process 

which will lead them in acquiring more process skills. 

3) The study has also reaffirmed that majority of the chemistry students’ found difficulty in 

acquiring both the basic and integrated science process skills. Teachers should therefore make a 

“Question Collection on both basic and integrated science process skills” and periodically choose 

a question to initiate a science exploration or activity to reinforce scientific and critical thinking 

amongst students in order to promote active learning in science classrooms and acquisition of 

science process skills.  

4) The study has also reaffirmed that chemistry students’ acquisition of science process skills is 

negatively affected by large class size. The student-teacher ratio should be drastically reduced to 

help improve small class sizes such that adequate attention will be paid to students during 

laboratory exercises since large class size was identified as a major hindrance for effective 

teaching and learning in this study. 

 

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