A limitation was that the research was carried out on a small scale, by being restricted to only three schools. The sample was limited to only three poor-performing schools in a district in the Mpumalanga province. Due to contextual factors that may be specific to these schools the findings of the study cannot be generalised to the broader population. It is therefore recommended that a further research be conducted using a broader spectrum of schools.
This research was conducted in a relatively short period of time. It would be desirable in future to conduct a longitudinal study that traces learners from senior primary school to secondary school to examine how learners’ motivation and goals orientation changes overtime in response to science instruction. These will help science teachers who wish to understand the process on how learners set their goal orientation and what changes might occur.
67 5.5 CONCLUSION
The present study was to determine the achievement goals orientation of poor-performing grade 12 Physical Sciences learners and further to examine how classroom factors relate to learner achievement goals orientation in science. Results showed that the grade 12 Physical Sciences learners have a mixed goal orientation, whereby they favour both mastery and performance orientation. Previous research on science learning have pointed out that mastery goal orientation of learners has a positive relation with desired learning characteristics and therefore should be encouraged by parents, teachers and schools. The results of this study show that despite learners having both a strong mastery and performance goal orientations the performance of learners in Physical Sciences in the three schools is dismal.
The investigation of classroom factors revealed that although teachers emphasize conceptual understanding in their explanation of concepts, the approach is primarily didactic and learners are not engage in their learning. Although learners have a mixed goal orientation, their classroom experiences need to changes so that they are more actively involved in the development of scientific ideas. This will lead to a higher performance in the subject.
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82 APPENDIX A
A SUMMARIZED PROPOSAL FOR MINOR DISSERTATION MASTERS DEGREE STUDY
83
84
85
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87 APPENDIX B
ETHICS CLEARANCE
88 APPENDIX C
REQUEST TO CONDUCT A RESEARCH IN GERT SIBANDE DISTRICT
89 APPENDIX D
CONSENT TO CONDUCT A RESEARCH IN GERT SIBANDE DISTRICT
90 APPENDIX E
Consent letter to school principal
Dear Sir
Research conducted by Mr. Shoba Sipho Patrick on the achievement goal orientation of poor performing grade 12 Physical Sciences learners.
I, the undersigned, am an M.Ed student at the University of Johannesburg. I would like to ask your consent to do research at your school. Attached is a copy of the consent letter from the Mpumalanga Provincial Department of Education to conduct research in Gert Sibande District institutions.
The following information is to provide you with the background of the study:
Aims and objectives of the study:
To determine the achievements goal orientation of poor performing grade 12 Physical Sciences learners.
To examine how classroom factors and environmental factors such as school culture relate to learners achievement goal orientation in science.
Data Collection
Data will be collected in different ways. Prior consent will be obtained from the relevant respondents for the collection of data. Methods for data collection include filling of questionnaire, interviews, and classroom observations.
Faculty of Education
University of Johannesburg PO Box 524
Auckland Park March 2012
91 1. Questionnaires
Grade 12 Physical Sciences learners and teachers will fill in an achievement goal questionnaire.
2. Interviews
Interviews will be conducted with the Grade 12 Physical Sciences teacher and learners to validate the information given in the questionnaire.
Interviews with the Head of department of sciences or the school principal himself or any member of the school management team.