Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Correlational Analysis Between Students’ Performance in Theory and Practical Summative Examinations

Received: 22 November 2024     Accepted: 12 December 2024     Published: 17 January 2025
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Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between Candidates’ performance in theory and practical papers. Specifically, it determined the performance differences across gender and examined factors that influence the performance of candidates in theory and practical papers. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study used the: Karl Pearson’s correlation coefficient, to investigate the relationship between candidates’ performance in theory and practical papers; and Student’s t-test technique, to determine performance difference across gender. Different perceptions on the performance of candidates in practical and theory assessments from the students, instructors, assessors, principals and curriculum specialists using questionnaires and key informant interviews were obtained. Findings revealed a weak correlation between the performance of candidates in theory and practical papers. Descriptive statistics of candidates’ scores between 2017 and 2019 for NCES, showed that 76% of first year candidates scored below 50% in the theory papers compared to 43% in practical papers. For the Second-year candidates, 72% of the candidates scored below 50% compared to 0.7% in the practical papers. While for NCBC, NCAM and NCET, candidates performed better in practical papers than in theory. There was similar performance observed for all Programmes in year one and two. Additionally, the findings on theory and practical performance across gender established a significant difference in performance across gender. Factors that influenced students’ performance centered on availability of well-stocked libraries, workshops and equipped laboratory, adequate training and practical materials. The study recommended instructors’ retooling, stocking of libraries, and use of open spaces for practical training, practice and assessment.

Published in International Journal of Vocational Education and Training Research (Volume 11, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijvetr.20251101.12
Page(s) 7-20
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Assessment, Candidate, Examinations, Performance Practical, Theory

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Nakawala, L., Muwumba, A. M., Ogwang, S. P., Nahamya, W. K., Oyesigye, O. (2025). Correlational Analysis Between Students’ Performance in Theory and Practical Summative Examinations. International Journal of Vocational Education and Training Research, 11(1), 7-20. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijvetr.20251101.12

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    ACS Style

    Nakawala, L.; Muwumba, A. M.; Ogwang, S. P.; Nahamya, W. K.; Oyesigye, O. Correlational Analysis Between Students’ Performance in Theory and Practical Summative Examinations. Int. J. Vocat. Educ. Train. Res. 2025, 11(1), 7-20. doi: 10.11648/j.ijvetr.20251101.12

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    AMA Style

    Nakawala L, Muwumba AM, Ogwang SP, Nahamya WK, Oyesigye O. Correlational Analysis Between Students’ Performance in Theory and Practical Summative Examinations. Int J Vocat Educ Train Res. 2025;11(1):7-20. doi: 10.11648/j.ijvetr.20251101.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijvetr.20251101.12,
      author = {Lilian Nakawala and Abel Mukakanya Muwumba and Sam Patrick Ogwang and Wilfred Karukuza Nahamya and Onesimus Oyesigye},
      title = {Correlational Analysis Between Students’ Performance in Theory and Practical Summative Examinations},
      journal = {International Journal of Vocational Education and Training Research},
      volume = {11},
      number = {1},
      pages = {7-20},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijvetr.20251101.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijvetr.20251101.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijvetr.20251101.12},
      abstract = {The study investigated the relationship between Candidates’ performance in theory and practical papers. Specifically, it determined the performance differences across gender and examined factors that influence the performance of candidates in theory and practical papers. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study used the: Karl Pearson’s correlation coefficient, to investigate the relationship between candidates’ performance in theory and practical papers; and Student’s t-test technique, to determine performance difference across gender. Different perceptions on the performance of candidates in practical and theory assessments from the students, instructors, assessors, principals and curriculum specialists using questionnaires and key informant interviews were obtained. Findings revealed a weak correlation between the performance of candidates in theory and practical papers. Descriptive statistics of candidates’ scores between 2017 and 2019 for NCES, showed that 76% of first year candidates scored below 50% in the theory papers compared to 43% in practical papers. For the Second-year candidates, 72% of the candidates scored below 50% compared to 0.7% in the practical papers. While for NCBC, NCAM and NCET, candidates performed better in practical papers than in theory. There was similar performance observed for all Programmes in year one and two. Additionally, the findings on theory and practical performance across gender established a significant difference in performance across gender. Factors that influenced students’ performance centered on availability of well-stocked libraries, workshops and equipped laboratory, adequate training and practical materials. The study recommended instructors’ retooling, stocking of libraries, and use of open spaces for practical training, practice and assessment.},
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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    T1  - Correlational Analysis Between Students’ Performance in Theory and Practical Summative Examinations
    AU  - Lilian Nakawala
    AU  - Abel Mukakanya Muwumba
    AU  - Sam Patrick Ogwang
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    AB  - The study investigated the relationship between Candidates’ performance in theory and practical papers. Specifically, it determined the performance differences across gender and examined factors that influence the performance of candidates in theory and practical papers. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study used the: Karl Pearson’s correlation coefficient, to investigate the relationship between candidates’ performance in theory and practical papers; and Student’s t-test technique, to determine performance difference across gender. Different perceptions on the performance of candidates in practical and theory assessments from the students, instructors, assessors, principals and curriculum specialists using questionnaires and key informant interviews were obtained. Findings revealed a weak correlation between the performance of candidates in theory and practical papers. Descriptive statistics of candidates’ scores between 2017 and 2019 for NCES, showed that 76% of first year candidates scored below 50% in the theory papers compared to 43% in practical papers. For the Second-year candidates, 72% of the candidates scored below 50% compared to 0.7% in the practical papers. While for NCBC, NCAM and NCET, candidates performed better in practical papers than in theory. There was similar performance observed for all Programmes in year one and two. Additionally, the findings on theory and practical performance across gender established a significant difference in performance across gender. Factors that influenced students’ performance centered on availability of well-stocked libraries, workshops and equipped laboratory, adequate training and practical materials. The study recommended instructors’ retooling, stocking of libraries, and use of open spaces for practical training, practice and assessment.
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