InvestigatingtheDevelopmentofScientificSkillsinRelationtoAcademicAchievement

This study was to investigate the development of scientific skills in relation to academic achievement among undergraduate science students. The major objectives were to find out the development of scientific skills of undergraduate science students during their university studies, and to find out the association of their scientific skills and academic achievement. A cross-sectional survey was used for data collection. The population was all undergraduate science students of University of Sargodha. The sample consisted of 315 students randomly selecting 45 students each from the seven science departments of the University of Sargodha including 15 students each from the 1st, 5th, and 7th semesters. A self-developed test including MCQs was used to measure the students’ scientific skills and academic achievement was inquired as a demographics. The data were analyzed through mean, standard deviation, frequency and Pearson r. The findings were that scientific skills have moderate positive relationship with academic achievement. Furthermore, 7th semester students demonstrated better scientific skills compared to students in the 1st and 5th semesters. A recommendation is that teachers of university and head of the departments organize activities that enhance basic scientific skills and for positive influence on students’ academic achievement.