META-ANALYSIS OF STUDIES ON PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF WAEC AND NECO EXAMINATIONS IN NIGERIA

Author Name: 1 Prof. M.S. Omirin, 2 Adekunle Ayesimoju

Volume: 01 &  Issue:

Country: Nigeria

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: http://www.doi-ds.org/doilink/02.2021-22842258/UIJIR

Affiliation:

1. Institute of Education, Faculty of Education, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the factors responsible for variation in the findings of studies conducted on the psychometric properties of WAEC and NECO examinations in the last 20 years by meta-analyzing such like studies. The study examined some of the study characteristic such as sample size, year of examination question as it influences the effect size generated for each study.The descriptive research of the survey design was used in this study. The population however consisted of all studies that examined the psychometric properties of WAEC and NECO examinations from year 2000 to 2019. Meanwhile, 45 relevant studies were used as sample for the study out of which useful 65 hypotheses were extracted for meta-analysis. Comprehensive meta-analysis was used to generate effect and test for heterogeneity while hypotheses were tested using the statistics. Findings from the study established a significant heterogeneity and difference in the effect size of the studies while it was ascertained that the year of examination questions used by different studies was said to significantly influence the effect size of the studies.It was therefore recommended that the two examination bodies (WAEC and NECO) should put in more effort in ensuring that their examination questions are of standard and that such culture is maintained at all times. The general public should be rest assured that the two examinations are indeed parallel in terms of their psychometric properties (qualities), only that the questions of the examinations do vary from one examination year to the other.

Key words: WAEC, NECO, Psychometric Properties, Meta-analysis, Heterogeneity, Effect Size