A Development of The Causal Relationship Model of Variables Influencing The Science Achievement of Matthayom Suksa 4 Students in Si Sa Ket Province

Abstract

The purposes of this research were to develop  the causal relationship model of variables influencing  the science achievement of Matthayom Suksa 4 students  in Si Sa Ket  province and examining the goodness of fit model with the empirical data.

The samples used in this research were 445 Matthayom Suksa 4 students in Si Sa Ket  province in the second semester of the academic year 2012, randomly selected  by multi-stage random sampling. The instruments used for data collecting were seven multiple choice tests ; the science achievement test , the science process skills test, the verbal comprehension aptitude test, the number aptitude test, the space aptitude test, the memory aptitude test and the reasoning aptitude test.  These tests had the reliability value ranging from .920 to .970. Two summated rating scales questionnaire; the scientific mind scale and the friend group relationships scale. These scales had the reliability value of .985 and .980, respectively. For the construct  validity of the research tools. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Model to computerize, by means of arithmetic mean , standard deviation, simple correlation, confirmatory factors analysis, and causal correlation analysis.

The research findings were as follows :

The causal relationship model Influencing the science was fitted with the empirical data. And the variables influencing the science achievement included ; verbal comprehension aptitude exert direct and indirect effects pass entry knowledge and science process skills, number aptitude exert direct and indirect effects pass entry knowledge, space aptitude exert indirect effects pass entry knowledge and science process skills, memory aptitude exert direct and indirect effects pass entry knowledge and scientific mind, reasoning aptitude exert direct and indirect effects pass science process skills and scientific mind, friend group relationships exert indirect effects pass entry knowledge and scientific mind, entry knowledge exert direct, science process skills exert direct and indirect effects pass entry knowledge and scientific mind exert direct and indirect effects pass science process skills.