International Journal of Science and Humanities studies

Assessing the impact of adaptive digital simulations on the conceptual understanding of molecular biology among graduate students in Delta State, Nigeria

Josephine Ese Konyeme — 2026-03-20

The study examined the nature and influence of adaptive digital simulations on the conceptual understanding of molecular biology in the hands of the graduate students of chosen public higher educational institutions in Delta. A quasi-experimental design was employed using the pretest, post-test results from 76 students who came from Molecular Biology and other postgraduate subjects. A design based on multistage sampling was chosen using the deliberate selection of university and department, and then randomly assigning the class to either the experimental group, which would have the adaptive digital simulations or the control group, which only had the traditional instruction. The data were collected using the Molecular Biology Conceptual Understanding Test (MBCUT), a package containing adaptive digital simulation (ADSP), Students' Perception Questionnaire (SPQ), and logs of engagement with the simulation platform. All these instruments were validated by experts with Cronbach's alpha > 0.70 to check reliability. The duration of the instructional intervention, employing adaptive digital simulations or traditional instruction, extended from 6 to 8 weeks following onboard post-test scores concerning conceptual understanding and the students' perceptions. Data collected were analyzed by paired sample t-tests, independent sample t-tests, ANCOVA, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis explaining the triadic relationship between conceptual understanding, engagement, and prior knowledge. It was observed that students in the experimental group receiving adaptive digital simulations significantly outperformed peers in the control group larvae of the traditional group in post-test scores (t = 4.62, p < 0.05) regardless of the levels of prior knowledge (ANCOVA, F = 28.56, p < 0.05, partial η² = 0.28). A few regressions had suggested that 18% of variance in post-tests was predicted by pre-socialization scores (R² = 0.18) as evidence of substantial involvement of prior knowledge, suggesting that cognition gained had a lot to do with the simulation intervention. Furthermore, students' engagement with the simulations was positively correlated with high scores on the post-test (r = 0.62, p < 0.05), drawing attention to the importance of active participation in technology-mediated teaching. From the results obtained, the study concluded that adaptive digital simulations can significantly lend to the toolkits of Nigerian higher education as enhancers of conceptual understanding in molecular biology through providing active learning and leading to better educational results

Impact of Laboratory Teaching Experience on Enhancing Secondary School Students’ Cooking Skills in Delta State

Itagar Oghenevwarhe — 2026-03-20

The study examined the impact of home economics laboratory teaching experience on enhancing secondary school students' cooking skills in Delta State. The study was guided by three research questions and adopted a descriptive research design. The population comprised Home Economics teachers in Delta State secondary schools who specialize in food and nutrition. An accidental (convenience) sampling technique was used, and a sample of 100 nutrition teachers participated in the study. A closed-ended questionnaire consisting of 26 items was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics were employed to answer the research questions. A mean score of 2.50 and above was used as the benchmark for accepting an item, while a mean of 2.49 and below was considered rejected. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS. The findings revealed that teachers’ laboratory experience had a high impact on students’ acquisition of practical skills in food and nutrition. It also showed that laboratory training significantly improved students’ culinary skills and their ability to make informed and healthy food choices. Based on these findings, it was recommended that diverse teaching methods should be employed to foster students’ creativity. Teachers should also ensure that all practical aspects of food and nutrition are conducted in the kitchen laboratory and incorporate information and communication technology, such as instructional cooking videos, into their teaching

Age, location as determinant for sustainable apparel needs and design for retired elderly women in Delta State, Nigeria

Anthonia Ekorememata Okedi — 2026-03-20

This study is on age, location as a predictor for sustainable apparel needs and design for retired elderly women in delta state. Two research questions and one hypotheses were formulated for the study, the study is a experimental study; it adopted survey research design. The study adopts multi-stage sampling technique. Sample sizes of 240 were drawn from the Population of 6798 elderly women. Mean and Standard deviation was used to answer the research questions, the formulated hypotheses were tested with regression analysis. The findings show that clothing needs of retired elderly women is significantly influenced by their age and needed to produce sustainable apparel between urban and rural retired elderly women are not influenced by their location. The study therefore recommends that Age specific apparel design: that designers and manufacturers should develop age responsive clothing that addresses mobility limitations, posture changes, skin sensitivity, and ease of dressing and Standardized Sustainable design framework do not vary by location, policymakers and designers should establish universal sustainable production guidelines applicable to both urban and rural markets

Assessment of Competencies and Professional Knowledge Needed by Foods and Nutrition Teachers for Effective Implementation of the Catering Craft Practice Curriculum in Secondary Schools in Delta State, Nigeria

Domitilla Nwabuko Ogbanu — 2026-03-20

The effective implementation of the Catering Craft Practice curriculum has been challenged by inadequate teacher competencies and professional knowledge in secondary schools. Addressing these gaps is essential for improving skill-based learning outcomes in Foods and Nutrition education. The study was conducted in Delta State using a descriptive survey and ex-post facto design. The population comprised 322 Foods and Nutrition and Home Economics teachers, with the entire population studied. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire validated by experts and tested for reliability (0.835). A total of 298 responses were analyzed using SPSS. Mean, standard deviation, t-test, and ANOVA were employed, with 2.50 as the decision benchmark at 0.05 significance level. The findings revealed that Foods and Nutrition teachers require a wide range of competencies for implementing the Catering Craft Practice curriculum, with all items having mean scores above 2.50 and a grand mean of 3.50 (SD = 0.50). Similarly, teachers were found to need strong professional knowledge, as all items also recorded mean scores above 2.50 with a grand mean of 3.50 (SD = 0.50). Furthermore, hypothesis testing showed no significant difference between rural and urban teachers’ competencies (t = 1.68, p = 0.09 > 0.05), and no significant difference based on teachers’ qualifications (F = 0.66, p = 0.52 > 0.05). This indicates that both location and qualification do not significantly influence teachers’ competencies and professional knowledge. In conclusion, effective implementation of the curriculum depends on teachers’ competencies and professional knowledge; therefore, continuous professional development and provision of adequate instructional facilities are essential.

Impact of food hygiene practices on students’ health and prevalence of foodborne illnesses among secondary school students

Favour Emelie Afam-Osia — 2026-03-20

Foodborne diseases are a major health issue in society with school going children being the most vulnerable to this health problem as they regularly eat meals offered by school canteens, street sellers, and local food stores. Food hygiene practices, including poor handwashing, poor food storage, and unsafe food handling, increase the vulnerability of these pupils to infections, including diarrhoea, gastrointestinal upsets, and frequent illness. This paper has adopted a descriptive survey design to investigate how food hygiene practices affect the health of secondary school students in Ethiope East LGA, Delta State. Multistage sampling was used to get a sample of 300 out of a population of about 1,200 students. Structured questionnaire with four-point Likert scale was used to collect data. The instrument was subject-matter validated and tested on reliability. Data collection was also undertaken using ethical procedures, and statistical analysis was performed to obtain the means and standard deviations, where a 2.50 standard was used as a decision criterion. Findings show that most respondents belonged to SSS 1 (39%), SSS 2 (41%), and SSS 3 students (19%), which is good representation spread across lower senior classes. The results indicate that students tend to agree that food hygiene has a great effect on their health, with poor hygiene related to stomach aches, diarrhoea, frequent illness, and absenteeism and good hygiene behaviour related to good health. However, hygiene has impact on academic performance that many students do not take seriously. Further, the identified key determinants of food hygiene are access to clean water, sufficient sanitation facilities, health education, and personal habits, and peer influence was not considered to be significant. The research concludes that education and provision of infrastructure and monitoring of food hygiene practices is crucial to minimizing foodborne illness and promoting the overall health and well-being of students.

A study on preferred accessories and standard measurements for constructing female wedding gowns

Ufuoma Blessed Agofure — 2026-03-20

This paper applied a descriptive survey research approach to explore the preferences of female undergraduate students at Delta State University, Abraka, on coloured wedding gowns. A simple random sample of 100 respondents was taken out of a target population of 2,171 students. The sampling was done using a validated structured questionnaire that was administered to the subjects who were subject-matter experts. The questionnaires were filled in and submitted as a whole with a response rate of 100%. A quantitative analysis was used that utilized descriptive percentages to answer the research questions and mean values to summarize average body measurements. The findings showed that beads (60 %) and stones (56 %) were the most popular accessories in designing gowns, whereas flowers (46 %) and bow-tie (10 %) were relatively not popular with the respondents and therefore they thought beads and stones were more preferred due to their beauty, functionality and affordability. The research also found that the body measurements used in making the gown differed among three size groups (small, medium, large), where bust, waist, and hip and sleeve measurements were proportionately related to size. These results highlight the importance of having accurate anthropometric data to guarantee correct fit as well as improve the overall look of the garment. The research came to a conclusion that responsible choice of accessories and proper body measurements are key factors in creating well-fitting, aesthetically pleasing wedding dresses. These insights are recommended to designers to help them improve the quality and customer satisfaction of their products.

Perception of homemakers towards the processing and utilization of plantain products for food security in delta state, Nigeria

Joy Emoefe Ejobee — 2026-03-21

The study examined homemakers’ capacity building needs in processing and utilization of plantain products for food security in Delta State. Two research questions and hypotheses were respectively raised to guide the study. The population of the study consisted of 236,315 female homemakers who deal with the plantain products in Delta State. The study utilized a descriptive survey research design that employed questionnaire in collecting respondents’ opinions on the problem under investigated. The instrument was face validated by three experts; and the reliability was established using the test-retest reliability method which gave a correlation co-efficient of 0.80, showing that the instrument is reliable. Data were analyzed with Mean and standard deviation (SD) for the research questions, while t-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level. The study revealed that homemakers have positive perception regarding the processing and utilization of plantain products and by extension there was a significant difference between the mean responses of rural and urban homemakers on their perceptions regarding how plantain products processing and utilization can boost food security in Delta State. The second finding revealed that there was a significant difference between the mean response of the required skills possessed by young and old homemakers in processing and utilization of plantain products to achieve food security. Based on the findings, it was recommended that Homemakers should be sensitized on how plantain products can be utilized to boost household food security in Delta State, among others