submitted in accordance with requirements for the degree of In the subject at the

223 Pages·2017·2.8 MB·English

THE INFLUENCE OF PRACTICAL WORK ASSESSMENT METHOD IN DEVELOPING
PRACTICAL WORK SKILLS OF ADVANCED LEVEL PHYSICS STUDENTS IN
ZIMBABWE

by

NICHOLAS ZEZEKWA

submitted in accordance with requirements
for the degree of
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION
In the subject
DIDACTICS
at the
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA

SUPERVISOR: PROF. NKOPODI NKOPODI

JUNE 2016
DECLARATION

I declare that the thesis with the title: The influence of practical work assessment
method in developing practical work skills of Advanced Level physics
students in Zimbabwe, is my own work and that all the sources used or quoted have
been cited and acknowledged by means of complete references.

Student Number:50860585

03 May 2016

SIGNATURE DATE
(Mr)

i
DEDICATION

In memory of my beloved father the late Richard Saileck Zezekwa

ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This thesis was as a result of many people who played their part. I am highly indebted to these
people who offered financial, moral, technical and intellectual support throughout. It is however
absolutely impossible to mention all of these great individuals by name. I would like however to
thank the Almighty God who guided and supported me throughout this academic journey by
giving me good health and inspiration.

It has been my single honour and privilege to have worked with this profound professional Prof
Nkopodi Nkopodi as my supervisor. I would like to express my deepest gratitude for his
encouragement, expertise and support he offered at every stage of my research journey. I also wish
to register my deepest appreciation to my wife Gladys, sons Paul and Blessing and my wonderful
daughter Moreblessing who supported me in every way possible to complete this study. My
heartfelt appreciation goes to my family members especially my mother, brothers and my only
sister Varaidzo who encouraged me to soldier on during the hard times of my academic journey.

I wish to thank the late Prof Lovemore Nyaumwe who assisted me during the initial stages of
drafting my research proposal. I would also like to thank members of the comparative study
research team for taking time to shape my research proposal during the period I was involved in
collaborative research study on the comparison of the Zimbabwean and South African teacher
education training programmes.

My sincere thanks and appreciation are directed to all the students and teachers who participated
during the study including the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education as well as school
heads and parents who allowed me the opportunity to interact with subjects of the study.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION...................................................................................................................... i
DEDICATION.......................................................................................................................... ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................... iii
LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................. viii
LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................... ix
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................. x
LIST OF APPENDICES ......................................................................................................... xi
LIST OF EXCERPTS.............................................................................................................. xii
ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. xiii
KEY TERMS ............................................................................................................................ xiv

CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1
1
1.1 Purpose of the study .......................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Context of the study .......................................................................................................... 4
1.2.1 The context of the ‘A’ Level Physics curriculum (Syllabus 9188) .................................. 5
1.2.2 Practical Work Assessment: Major marking points on an ‘A’ level physics practical
work report ........................................................................................................................ 6
1.3 Statement of the problem .................................................................................................. 9
1.4 Aims of the study .............................................................................................................. 9
1.5 Research questions ........................................................................................................... 9
1.5.1 Main Research Question .................................................................................................. 9
1.5.2 Sub-Research Question .................................................................................................... 10
1.6 Significance of the study ................................................................................................... 10
1.7 Delimitations of the study ................................................................................................. 11
1.8 Definition of terms ............................................................................................................ 11
1.9 Assumptions ...................................................................................................................... 13
1.10 Structure of the study…………………………………………………………………….13
1.11 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................................. 14

CHAPTER 2 -LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................................. 16
2
2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 16
2.2 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................... 17
2.3 Formative Assessment ...................................................................................................... 21
2.4 Assessment in constructivism…………………………………………………………....24
2.5 Assessment of Advanced Level physics practical work skills.......................................... 25
2.6 Some perspectives on the assessment of practical work ................................................... 29
2.7 Assessment of practical work in other subjects and qualifications: Towards an
alternative model ............................................................................................................... 34
2.8 Lessons drawn from literature on the assessment of practical work ................................ 36

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CHAPTER 3 - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................................................. 42
3
3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 42
3.2 Methodology ..................................................................................................................... 42
3.2.1 The mixed methods approach ........................................................................................... 43
3.2.2 Convergent - Parallel Mixed Method Approach .............................................................. 44
3.2.3 Research Paradigm: Qualitative aspect of the mixed methods approach ......................... 45
3.3 Research Design ............................................................................................................... 46
3.4 Population and Sample ..................................................................................................... 48
3.4.1 The research instrument ................................................................................................... 49
3.4.2 Observation Schedule ....................................................................................................... 50
3.4.3 Interview schedule ............................................................................................................ 53
3.4.4 Focus Group Discussions ................................................................................................. 56
3.5 Procedure for data collection ............................................................................................ 58
3.6 Data analysis and interpretation ....................................................................................... 59
3.7 Limitations of the study .................................................................................................... 60
3.7.1 Validity and Reliability .................................................................................................... 60
3.7.2 External Validity .............................................................................................................. 63
3.7.3 Internal Validity................................................................................................................ 63
3.8 Ethical issues ..................................................................................................................... 65
3.8.1 Informed consent .............................................................................................................. 66
3.8.2 Confidentiality .................................................................................................................. 66
3.8.3 Harm ................................................................................................................................. 66
3.8.4 Ethics Review Committee ................................................................................................ 67
3.9 Chapter summary.............................................................................................................. 68

CHAPTER FOUR - ASSESSMENT OF OBSERVED PRACTICAL WORK SKILLS
AND SUBMITTED PRACTICAL WORK REPORTS .................... 69
4
4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 69
4.2 Observations made during practical work session and comments from the marked
report for experiment 1 ..................................................................................................... 70
4.3 Observations made during practical work session and comments from the marked
submitted report for experiment 2..................................................................................... 76
4.4 Observations made during practical work session and comments from the marked
submitted report for experiment 3..................................................................................... 82
4.5 Observations made during practical work session and comments from the marked
submitted report for experiment 4..................................................................................... 87
4.6 Observations made during practical work session and comments from the marked
submitted report for experiment 5..................................................................................... 92
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4.7 Observations made during practical work session and comments from the marked
submitted report for experiment 6..................................................................................... 98
4.8 Rating of practical work skill mastery during observations against obtained mark
from the submitted marked report..................................................................................... 102
4.8.1 Correlations: Percentage rating as observed by the researcher against obtained mark
from the submitted practical work report ......................................................................... 104
4.9 Comment on observational results: Relevance of the assessment practices on
students’ practical work skills development ..................................................................... 106

CHAPTER FIVE- TEACHERS’ VIEWS AND PRACTICES ON THE
ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICS PRACTICAL WORK ...................... 109
5

5.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 109
5.2 Assessment of practical work skills by physics teachers .................................................. 111
5.2.1 School A: Teacher A1 ...................................................................................................... 111
5.2.2 School A: Teacher A2 ...................................................................................................... 112
5.2.3 School B: Teacher B1 ....................................................................................................... 113
5.2.4 School B: Teacher B2 ....................................................................................................... 113
5.2.5 School C: Teacher C1 ....................................................................................................... 114
5.2.6 School C: Teacher C2 ....................................................................................................... 115
5.3 Teachers’ views on the relevance of the assessment practices on students’ practical
work skill development ..................................................................................................... 116
5.3.1 School A: Teacher A1 ...................................................................................................... 116
5.3.2 School A: Teacher A2 ...................................................................................................... 118
5.3.3 School B: Teacher B1 ....................................................................................................... 120
5.3.4 School B: Teacher B2 ....................................................................................................... 121
5.3.5 School C: Teacher C1 ....................................................................................................... 124
5.3.6 School C: Teacher C2 ....................................................................................................... 126
5.4 Teachers’ views on possible alternatives to physics practical work examinations .......... 129
5.4.1 School A: Teacher A1 ...................................................................................................... 130
5.4.2 School A: Teacher A2 ...................................................................................................... 130
5.4.3 School B: Teacher B1 ....................................................................................................... 131
5.4.4 School B: Teacher B2 ....................................................................................................... 132
5.4.5 School C: Teacher C1 ....................................................................................................... 133
5.4.6 School C: Teacher C2 ....................................................................................................... 134
5.5 Emerging themes from interview data ……………………………………………135
5.6Comment on teachers’ views on the assessment of physics practical work ......................... 137

CHAPTER SIX - STUDENTS’ VIEWS ON THE ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICS
PRACTICAL WORK .......................................................................... 143
6

6.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 143
6.2 Assessment of students’ practical work skills .................................................................. 144
6.2.1 School A: Group 1 ............................................................................................................ 145
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6.2.2 School B: Group 2 ............................................................................................................ 146
6.2.3 School C: Group 3 ............................................................................................................ 147
6.3 Students’ views on the relevance of practical work assessment method .......................... 149
6.3.1 School A: Group 1 ............................................................................................................ 150
6.3.2 School B: Group 2 ............................................................................................................ 154
6.3.3 School C: Group 3 ............................................................................................................ 156
6.4 Students’ views on possible alternatives to current physics practical work assessment
method............................................................................................................................... 158
6.5 Comment on students’ views on the assessment of physics practical work ..................... 160

CHAPTER SEVEN- TOWARDS AN ALTERNATIVE MODEL OF PRACTICAL
WORK ASSESSMENT........................................................................ 165
7

7.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 165
7.2 An overview of ‘A’ level physics practical work assessment .......................................... 165
7.3 The proposed model of ‘A’ level physics practical work assessment .............................. 169
7.4 Justification of the model .................................................................................................. 172
7.5 Anticipated challenges and proposed solutions ................................................................ 173

CHAPTER EIGHT - CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .............................. 176
8

8.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 176
8.2 Summary and conclusions ................................................................................................ 176
8.3 Recommendations ............................................................................................................. 181
REFERENCES ................................................................................................................ 183
LIST OF APPENDICES ......................................................................................................... 189

vii
LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 4.1 Scatter diagram showing the comparison of grades obtained by the student from
DAPS and IAPS………………………………………………………………....104
Figure 7.1 An incomplete graph work with a score of 0 out 5 because of limited time……166
Figure 7.2 Graph sheet with a score of 0 out 5 which the student never attempted to draw a
graph on because of limited time……………………………………………….167
Figure 7.3 A proposed model of practical work assessment……………………………….170
Figure 8.1 Schematic diagram of the research study……………………………………….179

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1.1 Paper structure……………………………………………………………………5
Table 1.2 Skill weighting and distribution………………………………………………….6
Table 2.1 Comparison of DAPS and IAPS…………………………………………………27
Table 3.1 A sample of multiple case studies………………………………………………..49
Table 3.2 Mastery of practical skills as observed by the researcher(s) during practical
session and grade obtained from the submitted report………………………….50
Table 4.1 Comments on practical work skills assessment using the direct and in direct
methods for experiment 1………………………………………………………..72
Table 4.2 Comments on practical work skills assessment using the direct and in direct
methods for experiment 2………………………………………………………..78
Table 4.3 Comments on practical work skills assessment using the direct and in direct
methods for experiment 3………………………………………………………..84
Table 4.4 Comments on practical work skills assessment using the direct and in direct
methods for experiment 4………………………………………………………..89
Table 4.5 Comments on practical work skills assessment using the direct and in direct
methods for experiment 5………………………………………………………..95
Table 4.6 Comments on practical work skills assessment using the direct and in direct
methods for experiment 6………………………………………………………..99
Table 4.7 Grades obtained by students from DAPS and IAPS…………………………….102
Table 4.8 Statistical Comparison of scores from DAPS and IAPS………………………...105
Table 5.1 Bio data of teachers who participated in the interviews………………………....109
Table 6.1 Bio data of students who participated in FGD…………………………………...143
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