Influence of Learners’ Practical Process Skills’ Competency on Their Attitude towards Biology

Learners' attitude towards biology is a key determinant of how students learn. Attitude development is a process that is influenced by what happens in and around the learners' learning environment. This study sort to establish the influence that biology practical process skills teaching approach (BPPSTA) has on learners' attitude towards biology in Gucha south sub-county, Kisii County, Kenya. The study was guided by two objectives: To establish the influence of BPPSTA on learners' attitude towards biology lesson when taught using BPPSTA as compared to when taught via the conventional methods and, to determine whether BPPSTA affects learners' attitude towards biology practical process skills. The Solomon's four non-equivalent control group design was used. The sample size comprised of 401 form two students out of a target population of 2,946. Data was collected using biology Attitude Questionnaire for Students (BAQS). Descriptive statistics using means and standard deviations were used for group comparison while t-test was used to test the hypotheses. The study found out that learners who were taught via BPPSTA had a more positive attitude as compared to those taught via the conventional methods. Therefore, BPPSTA had a positive contribution to learners' attitude towards both biology lessons and Biology Practical Process Skills (BPPS). The study findings may provide a baseline on the formulation of in-service training for biology teachers. The study recommends that biology teachers should often use BPPSTA so as to develop positive attitude among learners towards biology.