Research methods unit 5

Unit 4

Introduction

Peer-tutoring has been one of the most widely researched in education Over the years , teachers and administrators have given proof that peer-tutoring is beneficial to everyone involved in the process . Cohen Kulik and Kulik 's (1982 ) review of the previous researches on peer tutoring for the past 10 years have shown that tutees slightly benefited from the process in terms of academic achievement and improved attitudes toward the tutored subject while tutors generally had higher grades and better self-concept and attitudes towards subject matter . In a more

recent report , Fueyo and Bushell (1998 ) found that an increase in math skills was present in tutored children than untutored ones , in a similar light , a study on college students reported that students who participated in tutoring for two semesters had higher GPA 's compared to other underprepared students (Wasik Slavin , 1993 . It is without a doubt that peer tutoring is an effective method of increasing student achievement , however most of the studies as mentioned have focused on measuring the advantages of peer tutoring but have not investigated how the tutor and the tutored perceived the process , likewise although evidence of increased academic performance have been reported by many studies , the advantage has been slight . Hence , an investigation into these factors can also shed light to our understanding of the tutoring process and how to develop tutoring programs that would be more beneficial to all concerned

Review of Related Literature

Tutoring has been in existence for many years and even has been thought of as the first precursor to formal training , in essence tutoring is a method wherein students help other students to succeed in their academic tasks (Kruft , 2000 . Two of the most widely used tutoring approach is peer-tutoring wherein same age students help one another and cross-age tutoring where the tutor is older and of higher grade level than the tutee . Most studies have found that tutors benefit more academically and personally than tutees , they are able to review and practice material as well as improving communication skills and work habits (Cohen , 1986 Their self-esteem also become higher as they begin to notice that their tutees get better in school (Gaustad ,1992 . The most common benefits of tutoring according to Greenwood et .al (1988 ) are learning academic skills , development of social behaviors and enhancing peer relations which they say applies to both the tutor and the tutee . Various studies on tutoring have been done in concordance with specific subjects hence results point out improvement of skills in a particular subject matter Peer tutoring have been used extensively in mathematics , language arts and reading . Studies on math skills have shown that learning of specific skills have been slightly improved but is not conclusive , they however found that peer tutoring contributed more to friendship (Britz , Dixon and McLaughlin 1989 Damon and Phelps 1989 Pigott , Fantuzzo , and Clement 1986 . A more positive outcome was found in peer tutoring in the study of language arts and reading both for the tutors (Rekrut...