The relationship between curiosity and academic achievement among black and white junior high school science pupils in Cape Town

Neer, Sylvia

The relationship between curiosity and academic achievement among black and white junior high school science pupils in Cape Town

Master Thesis

1990

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

School of Education

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

In this investigation an ex-post facto research method was used to gather the curiosity scores and academic science achievement results of approximately 200 pupils in one black and two predominantly white schools in Cape Town suburbs. Curiosity scores were also obtained for 150 pupils from five other high schools who submitted projects for the annual Young Scientists Exhibition (EXPO) in June 1988. The data was collected by means of two instruments devised and validated by Maw & Maw (1964) and by author-designed tests of curiosity, after refinement using a pilot study. The scores were analysed by means of t-tests, X2- (chi-square) tests and correlations. It was found that: 1) No significant differences existed samples of black and white junior between the high school science pupils on measures of curiosity. 2) No overall significant difference was found between high achieving and low achieving science pupils on the curiosity tests given to both the standard 6 and standard 7 pupils in the three chosen schools. 3) A highly significant difference on measures of curiosity was found between the group of Expo pupils (voluntary young scientists), and the ordinary groups of science pupils from the three different schools. 4) Significant correlations were found between the science pupils' inherent curiosity levels and their achievement in general science in several instances.