The Relationship Between Whole - Subject, Part Subject Organization and Student Achievement and Retention

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to answer the following major question:-- Do the achievement and retention of the first secondary class students differ when using different organization of subject matter? The study sample consists of (220) male and female students from four secondary schools in Irbid Educational District in Jordan. Two approaches were used : The organization of subject- matter into two styles (whole and part subject organization) and building an achievement test to measure student achievement in both styles. The Analysis of 2- ANCOVA was uesd. The reults showed the following:- 1. There was a statistical difference between students "achievement and retention, due to the subject - matter organization style, in favour of the whole- subject organzation style. 2. There was a statistical difference between students" achievement and retention, due to the sex of student, in favour of male students. 3. There was no interaction between students' achievement and retention, due to the subject- matter organization style and sex of students. The study recommended that more research studies should be conducted in different areas of social studies, and teachers should be trained in using different styles of subject matter organization.