• Dr. Rose Mugwiria

This study determined the influence of gender on learners’ attitude towards chemistry when taught using Harkness teaching method in secondary schools in Kajiado County, Kenya. Quasi experimental design was utilized (Solomon’s four group design) to determine and describe the relationship between variables. Four sub-county secondary schools from the County were involved in the study. The study targeted students undertaking chemistry subject in secondary schools within the county. The accessible population was drawn from form three class and involved 5,289 chemistry students in mixed secondary schools in the sub-county. The study employed purposive sampling technique to sample sub-county mixed secondary schools from a list of mixed secondary schools identified in the county. Simple random sampling was used to draw the participating sub-county mixed schools. Thereafter, participant schools were assigned to experimental and control groups using a simple random sampling technique. The study sample size was 124 learners from the four schools. Chemistry Attitude Questionnaire (CAQ) was used as data collection tool. Pilot study was performed to determine the reliability of the tools in a school from Tharaka Nithi County. The validity of the instrument was ensured through experts’ input and opinion from Chuka University Department. The Reliability coefficient for chemistry attitude questionnaire was 0.774. Harkness teaching method was used to teach Experimental group (E1 and E2) while conventional teaching was used with control groups (C1 and C2). Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25.0. Inferential statistics, Mann-Whitney U Test was used. The significance level for rejection was at α = 0.05. The findings revealed that there was a significant relationship between gender difference and students’ attitude towards the subject when using Harkness method. The findings of the study may be help curriculum planners and learning institutions (teacher training colleges) to incorporate innovative techniques in classroom teaching to improve learning of chemistry subject in Kenya as well as form a ground upon which likely further research could be built on.

Harkness teaching method, Gender, Attitude

"INFLUENCE OF GENDER ON STUDENTS’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS CHEMISTRY WHEN TAUGHT USING HARKNESS TEACHING METHOD IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KAJIADO COUNTY, KENYA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 11, page no.c728-c736, November-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2411296.pdf

"INFLUENCE OF GENDER ON STUDENTS’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS CHEMISTRY WHEN TAUGHT USING HARKNESS TEACHING METHOD IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KAJIADO COUNTY, KENYA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 11, page no. ppc728-c736, November-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2411296.pdf