CIET | Online Survey of Research in Education

Mary, P T. (2004). The Effect on Information Processing Models in the Teaching of Geography in the Secondary Schools of Kerala. Unpublished. Ph.D., Education. Mahatma Gandhi University.

The objectives of this study were: (1) To find out the effectiveness of Information Processing Models (IPM) of Teaching. (2) To compare the effectiveness of Information Processing Models of teaching and that of the Conventional Method on the achievement of pupils in Geography. (3) To find out if there is any significant difference in the immediate and delayed achievement of pupils in Geography when they are taught through the Information Processing Models. (4) To compare the effectiveness of three separate model categories belonging to the Information Processing Family and that of the conventional teaching-learning method on the achievement in Geography. (5) To estimate the main and interaction effect of each independent variable. (6) To estimate the main and interaction effect of the independent variable with special reference to the extraneous variables and basal variables, such as, intelligence, attitude, learning environment, Socio-economic status, gender, locality and type of management of schools on the dependent variable.

The sample consisted of 640 students from Standard IX with 160 students each in the three experimental groups and 160 students in the control group. Using the stratified random sampling techniques, eight schools were selected from the Pala Educational District

The tools used were the lesson transcripts for teaching Geography through the Information Processing Models and Conventional Method, Standardized tests of Geography (Immediate and delayed post test), Kerala non-verbal group test of intelligence, Attitude towards Geography learning scale, Geography learning environment questionnaire, Socio-economic status scale and Personal data sheet.

This was an experimental study where non-equivalent pretest-posttest control group design was adopted for the study.

Paired samples t-test and ANCOVA were used for analyzing the data.

The findings of the study were: (1) The Information Processing Model (IPM) is an effective method for the teaching of Geography in the Secondary Schools. (2) IPM is more effective than the conventional teaching method in learning Geography in the secondary schools. (3) Among the three model categories belonging to the IPM family, Advance Organizer Model is found more effective than the other two models. (4) The IPM is more effective than the conventional method in the learning of Geography with special reference to the intelligence, attitude towards Geography learning, Geography learning environment and Socio-economic Status of the students. (5) The IPM is more effective than the conventional method in the learning of Geography with special reference to the combined influence of model categories, region and gender with pretest, intelligence, attitude towards Geography learning, Geography learning environment and socio-economic status of the students as covariates.

Keyword(s): Information Processing Models , Secondary Schools