Effect of Multimedia on Primary School Pupils Retention and Interest in Basic Science Concepts

Abstract

The study examined the effect of multimedia on male and female pupil’s retention and interest in basic science. Forty-four (44), primary five (5) pupils were randomly selected from two (2) private primary schools in Port Harcourt. The study employed quasi-experimental and control design. The instrument for data collection was Basic Science Retention Test (BSRT) and Basic Science Interest Test (BSIT). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was employed for data analysis. Findings revealed that multimedia has no significant effect on male and female pupils’ interest in Basic Science Concepts studied. However, the effect on the male pupils tended to be superior to their female counterparts with regard to retention in Basic Science Concepts studied. It was recommended that science teachers in primary schools should pay attention to the issues of gender difference which are not related to innate tendency by using appropriate instructional materials such as multimedia.