A Causal Model of Nigerian Teacher Characteristics and Their High School Students' Achievement in Some Ecological Concepts

Abstract

This study developed and validated a teacher-student model
involving causal linkages between some teacher characteristics and
students' achievement in Secondary School Ecology. The sample consisted
of one hundred biology teachers and one thousand students. Eight
validated instruments were used to collect the data while the path-analysis
and multiple-regression analyses were employed for data analysis. The
results indicated that the more parsimonious model is effective in predicting
students' achievement in Ecology. The results further indicated that six out
of the eleven teacher characteristics had both direct and indirect causal
linkages with the criterion variable whereas the remaining five
characteristics had only indirect causal linkages. A major implication of the
linkages shown in the p~rsimonious model is the fact that curriculum
developers and science educators could employ them to develop a more
effective theory and technique for efficient nation building through effective
Science Education programme.