Problem Solving Ability of the Adolescents in Relation to their Interest in Science

Headnote

ABSTRACT

Problem solving forms an important ingredient of all scientific disciplines and it also constitutes an integral part of mathematics and science programmes at all level of studies viz. primary, secondary and upper secondary, almost everything that an individual does involves problem solving which is directed towards achieving a goal. The present study was designed to seek answers to three questions viz. whether there exist difference in problem solving ability and interest in science among boys and girls, and whether there exist any correlation between problem solving ability and interest in science. The results indicate that there is no significant difference in problem solving ability of girls and boys. The results also show that the difference in interest in science of girls and boys is significant. The coefficient of correlation between the problem solving ability and interest in science of the adolescents was found to be 0.494 which was found significant at 0.01 level of significance in the study.

Keywords: Problem solving, interest in science, adolescent, difference

There is a growing need to focus on teaching science in the early childhood classroom is based on a number of factors affecting the early childhood learning. First and foremost is the increased understanding and recognition of the power of thinking and learning among the children. Many research studies suggested that children have great potential to learn than adults. Therefore, early childhood teaching should focus on providing richer and more challenging environments for learning. In these challenging environments, under the skilful guidance of the teachers, the child's experiences in the early years can have a great impact on learning in later years. In addition to this, science may be a particularly important domain in early childhood. Science not only serves the child to build a base for future scientific understanding but it also to equip the child with important skills and attitudes for learning the scientific concepts. Problem solving is accorded a top priority in large number of curricula in science stream. Teachers are not trained to teach problem solving. Problem solving strategies involves many formal operational skills such as proportional reasoning, logical and inductive-deductive thinking. Interest is based on instincts and sentiments, just as knowledge of instincts and sentiments help the teacher, similarly knowledge of interest...