Effects of gender and reciprocal peer-tutoring method on academic performance of students in business studies in Oyo, Oyo state, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the effects of gender and reciprocal peer-tutoring method on academic performance of students in business studies in Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria. The study employed Quasi-experimental research design of non-equivalent control group. The population for the study was 7,962 public junior secondary schools (JSS II) business studies students. The sample for the study two junior secondary school students (made up of 76 students). The instrument titled Business Studies Academic Performance Test (BSAPT) was employed for data collection in the study. The instrument was validated by two business educators. The reliability of the instrument was established through Kuder Richads formula (KR-21) statistical method. The reliability coefficient of 0.79 was obtained. Two research questions were raised to guide the study while two null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Mean was used to answer the research questions while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was employed to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study found that the students in experimental group exhibited significant higher post-test achievement scores than the students in control group. Also, there were low mean gains between male and female students’ achievement scores in experimental group and the result of the analysis of hypothesis equally indicated that the difference in male and female mean achievement scores was not significant. The study concluded that that there was no significant difference between the post-test mean achievement scores of male and female students taught business studies using reciprocal peer tutoring. The study recommended that Professional association such as Association of Business Educators of Nigeria (ABEN) should create awareness about the use of Reciprocal Peer Tutoring in teaching business studies through seminars, workshops, conferences.