Do Predict-Explain-Observe-Explain and Vee Heuristic Strategies have the Potentials to Eliminate Gender Difference in Students’ Achievement in Organic Chemistry? A Field Report

The study investigated if Predict-Explain-Observe-Explain (PEOE) Strategy and Vee Heuristic (VH) Strategy have the potentials to eliminate gender difference in students’ achievement in organic chemistry in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study adopted a pretest, post-test, control group, quasi-experimental research design. The instrument used for data collection was Organic Chemistry Achievement Test (OCAT). Kuder-Richardson (KR-21) formula was used to test internal consistency of OCAT which yielded a reliability value of 0.94. The target population of this study was 14,753 which was the population of Senor Secondary 2 students offering chemistry in study area. A sample of 308 students comprising 174 boys and 134 girls drawn from 9 schools within 9 Local Government Areas (LGA) out of 16 LGA in the Ekiti State, Nigeria selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The research questions were answered using Mean and Standard Deviation scores while the null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The findings revealed that, there was no significant difference between the mean achievement of male and female students taught Organic Chemistry using PEOE strategy [F1, 101=.665, P>0.05]. The findings also revealed that, there was no significant difference between the mean achievement of male and female students taught Organic Chemistry using VH strategy [F1, 98 =.420, P>0.050]. The authors recommended that since PEOE and VH strategies were found to be effective strategies for improving both male and female students’ achievement than the use of discussion method; Chemistry teacher’s trainee should be trained on the application of PEOE and VH strategies and serving teachers should employ it in teaching to enhance both male and female students’ achievement