Influence Of Teachers' Variables On The Application Of Testing Skills In Secondary Schools In Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the influence of teachers’ variables on the application of testing skills in secondary schools in Abia state. A survey design was adopted for the study. The sample of this study consisted of 500 secondary school teachers randomly drawn from the study population using the stratified sampling technique. The data collection instrument (questionnaire) was designed by the researchers, then validated by two experts in educational measurement and evaluation. The reliability coefficients of the instrument determined using the test-retest method, ranged from 0.71 to 0.89. The research questions were answered using descriptive statistics (mean), while the hypotheses were tested using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at .05 level of significance. The results of the analyses revealed that teachers’ teaching experience influenced their application of the components of testing skills. Again, that secondary school teachers’ qualifications also influenced their application of item construction and test score interpretation components of testing skills; while their qualifications did not have any influence on their test planning, test administration, test scoring and test item analysis components of testing skills. From the conclusion that, teachers’ experience and qualifications directly influenced their application of testing skills and test construction. Various recommendations were made, among which are that: teachers should be trained and retrained from time to time. Also, well experienced teachers should oversee test construction and the testing of students in the various departments or subject areas, in our various secondary schools. Word Count: 239 words