Preferred Laboratory Learning Strategies in Biology and Related Subjects

Abstract

The research was conducted to determine the preference of tertiary students enrolled in science programs in terms of their experienced laboratory learning strategies in the biology laboratory. A total of 107 student respondents from three different science programs available in Pangasinan State University – Lingayen Campus were surveyed with a structured questionnaire to determine their levels of preferences among their experienced laboratory learning strategies. The results were then analyzed using Chi-square test of association and linear regression to determine significant relationships with their demographic profiles. There were seven laboratory learning strategies that were previously encountered by the respondents. Most of the respondents’ answered that they highly preferred those previously encountered learning strategies. Results of the chi-square tests also showed significant differences in the levels of preferences of the respondents in the different learning strategies. Regression analyses showed significant relationships between the age of the respondents and their high preference in three learning strategies, i.e., inquiry-based, research-based (exploratory) and computer assisted strategy. Significant relationship was also found out between the sex of the respondents and their high preference in all the learning strategies. There was also a significant relationship between the number of subjects previously enrolled by the respondents and their high preference in the teacher demonstration strategy.