Data-school type-PSAT & CTAT analysis

Before, any teaching was done, form-two students were given a pretest on Critical thinking ability and on problem solving ability. This was done to check their level of knowledge. Pretest covered simple machines- a chapter in Physics and was done under similar conditions for four government and four private lower secondary schools. Problem based learning method was used as an instruction for only schools under treatment group and those under control group used methods like talk and chalk , dictating notes and others. At the end of the a chapter, a post-test was administered. Critical thinking ability test (CTAT) scores and problem solving ability test (PSAT) scores were compiled in excel and analyzed using SPSS . PSA post-test showed a very high statistically significant effect between treatment and control group in favor of treatment group. Also high statistically significant difference between Government and Private schools in favor of Private schools. Students in treatment group from private schools have statistically performed well compared to their counterparts from government schools. Critical thinking abilities increased significantly after learning. There was a very high statistically significant difference in pre-and post-test. The same significant difference was found between teaching intervention in favor of Problem based learning (PBL).