NIGERIAN PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS’ AWARENESS AND UTILIZATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING IN PREPARATION FOR GLOBAL LANDSCAPE

Abstract

Scholars in different educational fields take it as mandatory activities to identify educational problems, seek the causes of the problems, obtain results from findings, and recommend adequate solutions to the identified problems. Despite the significance of the findings and recommendations, studies have shown that most primary school teachers are either not aware of the research findings and recommendations or do not make use of them to solve the day-to-day educational problems they encounter inside and outside the classroom. This study therefore investigated primary school teachers‟ awareness and utilization of research findings for teaching and learning in Ibadan metropolis. A descriptive survey research was adopted. All Local Government Areas in Ibadan municipal were used for this study. 40 primary schools were randomly selected, which included 30 public primary schools and 10 private primary schools. 200 primary school teachers were selected from public and private primary schools within the five local government areas. The instruments were presented to some primary teachers to know if the statements were appropriate after which necessary adjustment was made on face, content, and construct validity, and items found unsuitable were removed. Four research questions were raised and answered. Two instruments were used for data collection titled Teachers‟ Awareness of Research Findings Questionnaire (TARFQ), the reliability was tested using Cronbach Alpha, and the coefficient obtained was α = 0.72 and Teachers' Utilization of Research Findings Questionnaire (TURFQ), with a reliability coefficient of α = 0.84. Frequency count, mean, standard deviation, and simple percentage were used to analyze the data collected. Findings revealed that a higher percentage of primary school teachers were aware of research findings and means of acquiring research findings. Also, the extent to which primary school teachers utilize research findings is high (WA = 3.47). Therefore, it was recommended that teachers should be encouraged to study more research documents, they should create more time to study research documents such as journals, research projects, books of reading, and other documents for an update of knowledge. Also, research findings should be made available in schools for easy access to teachers.

 

Keywords: Awareness, Utilization, Research Findings, Primary School, Teachers