Predicting Students’ Physics Achievement From Metacognitive Skills, Scientific Reasoning Ability, and Learning Motivation

This study investigated the relationships between students’ metacognitive skills, scientific reasoning ability, learning motivation, and achievement in Physics among secondary school students in Nigeria. A correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised 894 Senior Secondary School II (SS II) students offering Physics in public secondary schools in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria, while a sample of 312 students was selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected using four instruments: Physics Achievement Test (PAT), Metacognitive Skills Questionnaire (MSQ), Scientific Reasoning Ability Test (SRAT), and Physics Learning Motivation Questionnaire (PLMQ). The instruments were validated by experts in Physics Education and Measurement and Evaluation, while reliability coefficients ranged from 0.75 to 0.83. Data were analyzed using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed significant positive relationships between metacognitive skills and Physics achievement, r(310) = 0.482, p< .001; scientific reasoning ability and Physics achievement, r(310) = .526, p< .001; and learning motivation and Physics achievement, r(310) = .587, p< .001. The findings indicate that students with higher levels of metacognitive skills, scientific reasoning ability, and learning motivation tended to demonstrate higher achievement in Physics. The study concludes that these learner-related characteristics are important factors associated with students’ Physics achievement. It is recommended that Physics teachers integrate metacognitive strategies, scientific reasoning activities, and motivational approaches into classroom instruction to support students’ engagement and achievement in Physics.