Is peer-led discovery based learning effective in promoting leadership skills among middle school children? Evidence from India

The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of discovery based learning and direct instruction strategies in peer-led leadership workshops in enhancing the leadership skills of middle school children in India. Three hundred and seventy-five, 10-13-year-old girls participated in the study. The children completed a paper and pencil Likert-type survey about their perception about leadership skills. The girls were randomly grouped into discovery based learning and direct instruction groups for the peer-led workshops. The researcher analysed the data using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to determine if there were significant differences in the participants' perception of leadership skills. The results indicated that there were significant differences between the discovery based and direct instruction groups in the perception of their own leadership skills (F = 9.2, p < .05) and their perceptions of appropriate skills a good leader needs to have (F = 22.29, p < .001).