EFFECT OF NUMBER MULTIPLES GAME ON MIDDLE BASIC SCHOOL PUPILS’ ACHIEVEMENT AND RETENTION IN MATHEMATICS IN ENUGU SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

Abstract

This study sought to determine the effect of Number Multiples Game on Middle Basic School Pupils’ achievement and retention in mathematics. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. Pretest-posttest non randomized control group design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State. Population for the study was 12,901 Middle Basic II pupils in Enugu South Local Government Area from which a sample of 414 Middle Basic II pupils was drawn from 12 intact classes across 6 purposively sampled schools. Technique adopted for sampling was multistage sampling technique. Instrument used for data collection was Algebra Achievement Test (ALAT). The instrument was constructed by the researcher and validated by three research experts. ALAT was subjected to internal consistency test and it yielded a reliability coefficient of .65 obtained by Kudar-Richardson 20 formula. Since ALAT was used for retention test, there was need for stability test. Hence, ALAT yielded a stability coefficient of .81 obtained through test –retest approach. Research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation. Hypotheses were tested using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Major findings of the study showed that the experimental group achieved higher and retained more algebra than their counterparts in the control group. It was recommended, among other things, that Number Multiples Game Strategy be used in teaching middle basic school mathematics.