INVESTIGATION OF THE CONCEPT OF CELL BIOLOGY AS A PREREQUISITE IN UNDERSTANDING GENETICS AMONG UNIVERSITY OF BENIN UNDERGRADUATES
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Abstract
The study was set out to investigate the concept of Cell Biology as a prerequisite in understanding Genetics among University of Benin undergraduates. A thorough statistical analysis of undergraduates’ performance in Cell Biology and Genetics revealed a
very interesting finding. The ability to relate to previously established knowledge and
integrate various biological concepts to form a whole is a key factor that promotes understanding, transfer of knowledge therefore paramount in the field of biology. According to Bransford and Schwartz (2000), transfer is the ability to extend what has been learned in one context to new context. This study does not argue whether students transfer and use knowledge gained from one topic to another topic. Instead, the researcher only framed his investigation on the transfer of knowledge between two related biological concept, the Cell Biology and Genetics. The population and area of study consists of all undergraduates in university of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, offering genetics and genetics related courses. A research hypothesis was postulated and
two research questions were raised to guide the study. The study employed correlational survey research design and Regression Statistical Analysis. One hundred (100) students were randomly selected as the sample size. The instrument used in gathering the needed data for the study was the researcher’s made questionnaire Data obtained was scrutinized, analyzed, scored, tabulated and was subjected to correlation coefficient statistical analysis to determine an existing linear relationship after which regression analysis was used to determine the cause-effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable. Using these statistical methods, the findings revealed that 90% of the changes observed in the dependent variable(Genetics) were accounted for by the independent variable (Cell Biology).
very interesting finding. The ability to relate to previously established knowledge and
integrate various biological concepts to form a whole is a key factor that promotes understanding, transfer of knowledge therefore paramount in the field of biology. According to Bransford and Schwartz (2000), transfer is the ability to extend what has been learned in one context to new context. This study does not argue whether students transfer and use knowledge gained from one topic to another topic. Instead, the researcher only framed his investigation on the transfer of knowledge between two related biological concept, the Cell Biology and Genetics. The population and area of study consists of all undergraduates in university of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, offering genetics and genetics related courses. A research hypothesis was postulated and
two research questions were raised to guide the study. The study employed correlational survey research design and Regression Statistical Analysis. One hundred (100) students were randomly selected as the sample size. The instrument used in gathering the needed data for the study was the researcher’s made questionnaire Data obtained was scrutinized, analyzed, scored, tabulated and was subjected to correlation coefficient statistical analysis to determine an existing linear relationship after which regression analysis was used to determine the cause-effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable. Using these statistical methods, the findings revealed that 90% of the changes observed in the dependent variable(Genetics) were accounted for by the independent variable (Cell Biology).
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