Instrument for Assessing Students' Upholstery Skills in Technical Vocational Education and Training in Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract The study developed and validated an Instrument for Assessing Upholstery Skills (IAUS) for TVET students using instrumentation research design. The study was conducted in Niger state, Nigeria. Four research questions and a null hypothesis guided the study. The population of the study was 87 final year students from six Technical Colleges in Niger State. One intact class was randomly selected and used for trial test. The draft IAUS was face validated by three experts, while content validation was carried out by six upholstery teachers using table of specifications based on psychomotor skills where 20 tasks with 115 items were retained. The 115 items were subjected to factorial analysis where 109 items were retained. A pilot test conducted on 10 students produced reliability coefficient of 0.84 using Cronbach Alpha statistics. The final IAUS was trial tested on the intact class of 17 students. Three research assistants observed and rated the students using IAUS, while carrying out an Upholstery Practical Test (UPT). Mean, Standard Deviations, Factorial Analysis and Spearman correlation technique (rs) answered the research questions. The results found 20 tasks with 109 corresponding items and 14 observable skills valid for inclusion in the IAUS. The Instrument produced internal consistencies of 0.65 to 0.89 and an overall reliability coefficient of 0.82. The study recommended that NABTEB, NECO and WAEC should integrate IAUS items in their examination of upholstery students, and that seminars and workshops be organized for teachers and instructors on how to use the IAUS.