EFFECTS OF NUMBERED-HEADS-TOGETHER AND HEURISTIC METHODS ON THE PUPILS' ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SOCIAL STUDIES IN ILORIN EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KWARA STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The study examined the effects of Numbered-Head-together and Heuristic Method on pupils' Academic performance in Social Studies. The research design adopted for this study is the pre-test, post-test, control group quasi-experimental research design. The population for this study consisted of all the primary school pupils in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State. Sample size for the study was 6 primary four classes. Four Instruments were used to elicit information from the participants including treatment packages. They were made up of Performance Test (PT), Instructional Guide for Number-Head-Together Method (IGNM), Instructional Guide for Heuristic Method (IGHM) and Instructional Guide for Conventional Method (IGCM).Seven hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The instruments were given face and content validity by some selected Social Studies teachers in primary schools, some lecturers in the Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education Kwara State University, Malete were vetting instruments. Pearson's Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to determine the reliability index of 0.84. Research hypotheses were tested, using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) at 0.05 level of significance. Findings showed that there was significant effect of Numbered-heads-together and Heuristic methods on pupils' academic performance in Social Studies (F (2; 104) = 43.620, P < 0.05). Based on the findings of the study, it can be stated that Numbered-Heads-together and Heuristic methods can enhance better performance in Social Studies than the traditional method of teaching. Recommendations were made, Social Studies teachers should be enlightened on the effectiveness of Numbered-Heads-together and Heuristic Methods on pupils' academic performance in Social studies, Curriculum developers in Social Studies like, Federal and State Ministries of Education, school proprietors