EFFECT OF HEURISTIC METHOD ON STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN SHORTHAND IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the effect of heuristic method on students’ performance in shorthand in colleges of education in Kano State, Nigeria. It had two objectives, two research questions and two null hypotheses. Quasi-experimental research design (pre-test post-test) was used in the study. The population of the study was (756) of NCE 1 students of shorthand for 2019/2020 academic session from colleges of education in the State, from which a sample size of 249 was drawn and was purposively selected. Frequency distribution was used in analyzing respondents’ of genders; mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while independent t-test was used to test null hypothesis one , then pair-sample t-test was used to test null hypotheses two. The findings revealed that a significant positive difference existed between the mean academic performances of students taught shorthand using heuristic method from those taught using lecture method. The study showed that there was no significant difference in the performances of the male and female students taught with heuristic method. The study concluded that heuristic method had effect on students’ academic performance in shorthand over the lecture method. The study recommended, among other things, that Heuristic should be introduced as a better method of teaching and learning of shorthand in Colleges of Education.

Keywords:   Heuristic, Shorthand and Performance