Global Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Relationship between Students’ Perception of a Constructivist Learning Environment and Motivation towards Biology in Siaya County, Kenya

Richard O.Ongowo, Francis C. Indoshi and Mildred A. Ayere

The study investigated the relationship between students’ perception of a constructivist learning environment and motivation towards Biology among form two secondary school students in high and low achieving schools. Correlational survey design was used and a sample of 815 students from co-educational schools was selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. The instruments used in the study were: Student Perception Questionnaire (SPQ), Student Motivation Questionnaire (SMQ) and Student Interview Guide (SIG). Data were analyzed using Pearson Correlation Analyses and Multiple Regression Analyses. The interview data were used to explain the quantitative data. The results indicate that the perception of the constructivist learning environment explained 10.5% of the variance in motivation collective dimensions among students in the high achieving schools. On the other hand, the constructivist learning environment explained 3.2% of the variance in motivation collective dimensions of the students in the low achieving schools. Implications are discussed.