Dissemination and Utilization of Physics Education Research Findings: Towards Enhanced Teaching and Learning of Physics in Secondary School

Abstract

The study ascertained the different ways by which Physics education research findings are disseminated to Physics teachers. It also determined the factors affecting the dissemination and utilization of Physics education research findings to senior secondary schools and investigated Physics teachers’ attitude to the dissemination and utilization of research findings. These were with a view to understanding the usefulness of Physics education research findings to secondary school teachers. The study used descriptive survey research design. The population comprised Physics teachers of senior secondary schools in southwestern Nigeria. The sample comprised 120 senior secondary school Physics teachers selected using multi stage sampling technique from 60 schools in three states in the southwestern Nigeria. The instruments used for data collection were Physics Education Research Findings Dissemination Questionnaire (PERFDQ) and Questionnaire on Factors Affecting Dissemination and Utilization of Physics Research Findings (QFDUPRF). Data collected were analyzed using frequency counts and percentages. The results showed that Physics education research findings (PERF) were disseminated to Physics teachers through the internet, libraries, textbooks, seminars / workshops, colleagues, journals, research studies from universities, documentaries and Ministry of Education. The results also showed that factors affecting the dissemination and utilization of PERF were that larger number of the teachers could not get adequate fund to purchase different textbooks that provide information on research findings; many of the teachers did not appreciate Physics research findings on newspaper; the government was unable to provide adequate research funding to be used by the teachers. The results further showed that very high percentage of the teachers showed a positive attitude towards PERF dissemination and utilization. The study concluded that majority of Physics teachers in senior secondary schools utilized the Physics education research findings disseminated to them, and this has helped to improving their students’ academic performance.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s4p333