ABSTRACT
This study investigated the the influence of hostel squatting on academic
performance, interpersonal relationship and emotional adjustment of students in
University of Lagos. The study
employed a descriptive survey research design. An instrument titled: Influence of Hostel Squatting on academic performance,
Interpersonal Relationship and Emotional Adjustment of Students (IHSAPIREAS) was used to collect relevant data for
the study. The representatives of the study involved were selected based on
simple random sampling technique and the statistical tools employed to analyse
the data collected were percentages while the inferential statistics of
chi-square(x2) was used to test the stated hypotheses at 0.05 level
of significance. 200 sample sizes
were used for the study. Three (3)
research questions and three (3) research hypotheses were designed and
formulated for the purpose of the study. The study revealed that
there was a significant influence of hostel squatting on
academic performance of students. It also
revealed that there was a significant
influence of hostel squatting on interpersonal relationships among university
students. The study further revealed that
there was a significant influence of hostel squatting on
emotional adjustment of students in university.
Based on the findings of this study, recommendations and suggestions were made
for students, parents, lecturers and university administrators and relevant
agencies for further research.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Table of Contents vi
List of Tables
Abstract v
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the study 1
1.2
Statement of problem 4
1.3
Purpose of Study 5
1.4
Research Questions 6
1.5
Research Hypotheses 6
1.6
Significance of Study 6
1.7 Scope of
the Study 7
1.8
Limitations of Study 7
1.9 Operational Definition of Terms 7
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1
Concept of Adjustment 8
2.2
The Concept of Squatting 9
2.3
Students’ Interpersonal Relationship 16
2.4
Emotional Adjustment 18
2.5
Squatting and Students’ Academic Performance 24
2.6
Squatting and Interpersonal Relationships 26
2.7
Squatting and Emotional Adjustment of Students 28
2.8
Squatting and Social Adjustment 29
2.9
Interpersonal Relationships and Emotional Adjustment of
Squatting
Students 31
2.10
Appraisal of Literature Review 33
CHAPTER
THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1
Research Design 34
3.2
Area of Study 34
3.3
Population 34
3.4
Sample and Sampling Technique 34
3.5
Research Instrument 34
3.6
Validity and Reliability 35
3.7
Procedure for Data Collection 35
3.8
Method of Data Analysis 35
CHAPTER FOUR:
PRESENTATION AND DATA ANALYSIS
4.0
Introduction 36
4.1
Descriptive Analysis of the Respondents’ Bio-data 36
4.2 Summary of Findings 42
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION OF
FINDINGS, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDIES
5.1 Discussion of Findings 44
5.2 Conclusion 46
5.3 Recommendations 47
5.4 Implications for Counselling 48
5.5 Suggestions for Further Studies 50
References
Appendix
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Sex Status of
Respondents
Table 2: Students response
on hostel squatting and academic performance
Table 3: Chi-Square
Analysis of Hypothesis I
Table 4: Students response
on hostel squatting and interpersonal relationship of students
Table 5: Chi-Square
Analysis of Hypothesis 2
Table 6: Students response
on hostel squatting and emotional adjustment of students
Table 7: Chi-Square Analysis of Hypothesis 3
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
In the face of growing enrolment of students
in tertiary education, students’ accommodation has become one of the teething
problems faced by higher institutions in developing countries (Centre for
Global Education, 2005). In many countries, especially in developing countries,
governments have been the main provider of student accommodation for public
higher institutions. As a result of limited government resources, government in
developing countries are unable to adequately meet the accommodation demand for
all public higher institutions. Over past two decades, governments in many
developing countries have involved private hostel providers to participate in
building hostels and halls of residence for students in order to meet the
demand for more accommodation infrastructure (Centre for Global Education,
2002). This has attracted some private individuals into investment in students’
hostel accommodation.
The importance of accommodation covers the
entire aspects of human life. Primarily, it involves physical protection from
hazards which ordinarily may be regarded as shelter but also provide the
setting from many of the basic biological and social processes necessary to
sustain life, which permit the healthy growth and development of the mind. In
all, accommodation as a unit of the environment of man, has a profound
influence on the health, social behaviour, satisfaction and general welfare of
the community. It reflects the cultural, social and economic values of a
society as it is the best physical and historical evidence of civilization in a
country (Aluko, 2009). Research on student development in higher education
system in many developed nations is not restricted to academic activities;
diverse issues relating to hostels are also involved (Shelton, Nicole, Tessa
and Trail 2010; McCorkle and Mason, 2009; Hanasonso and Nadler, 2012). Thus,
problems relating to students campus residential settings have been of interest
to many researchers, most especially human resource practitioners, Social
Psychologists, Sociologists and scholars in humanities etc, in these societies
for decades. Despite the prevalence of a
large body of literature on college roommate relationships in developed
nations, literature on roommate interpersonal relationships among tertiary
students is very scanty in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). The dearth of knowledge in
this area in Nigerian higher institutions of learning is precarious and it is
traceable to the poor-state-of- the- art-facilities, which have been hindering
effective learning. The most crucial aspect of these facilities as related to
this study is insufficient accommodation for students. Where accommodation is
available, it usually is poorly maintained and managed due to poor funding of
higher education and prevalence of endemic corruption in higher
institutions. Consequently, the
management of higher education system resorted to ‘private developer policy on
students’ residential matters’ in order to make provisions for students’
accommodation without any financial implication on the institution (Omonijo,
Uche, Rotimi & Nwadialor, 2014).
The study on student development is never restricted to
academics in developed nations. It equally involves diverse issues relating to
hostel, off-campus apartments, parents’ homes etc. Thus, problems relating to
students hostel squatting, whether on campus or off, have been of interest to
many researchers in these societies, for decades. The students need comfortable
accommodation in the universities for them to study hard and pass their
examinations (Osagie, 1993). The original idea of hostel accommodation was to
provide a more conducive academic atmosphere for students. As a result, the
first generation Universities built beautiful hostels, befitting the image of
undergraduate and post-graduate students. Students’ population then was within
control. In some of the hostels, two or a maximum of three students occupied a
room (Guardian, 2004). Abubakar (2007) noted that students are supposed to be
accommodated one per room and where two or more students shared a room often
lead to conflict among them.
With university
life can be a strong indicator of the academic level of the students from one
hand and the level of social relations development and achieving personal goals
from the other hand. It could be noted that many educational scholars studied
this aspect in order to explore the status of the academic, social and
psychological level of undergraduate students then determining the problems
facing them when trying to achieve their goals. (Al-nabhan, 2007). The stage of university life is an important
part of the student’s life as he moved from the total dependence on the
teacher, family and curriculum into the complete independence. Moreover, many
students move away from their cities into new places causing a change in their
cultural, social and psychological environment, this may affect their
adjustment with the university life. (Al-shinawi& Abdurrahman, 1994). Students living in Hostel are a distinct
group, who have unique needs and problems. They have particular physical,
social and emotional characteristics. They are away from home for the first
time and have to learn to manage their own affairs, and adjust to new
conditions of living without a family member of greater experience to guide
them . Also students who live independently are subjects to less parental
control that can inhibit unhealthy behaviour. Such students are more prone to
poor eating habits, lack of sleep, or the acquisition of new habits, such as
smoking or drug use. Furthermore, student
persistence toward graduation is positively correlated with the quality of
roommate relationship, the hostel social environment, adjustment and emotional
support. Satisfaction with social life
and other social factors also have been shown to contribute to overall
persistence. Interpersonal
relationships are defined
as an association between two or more people that ranges from informal
interactions to formal partnerships and commitments. Interpersonal
relationships develop over time, and researchers have proposed a life-cycle of
this development. The relationship typically starts in the acquaintance stage.
1.2 Statement of problem
Nigerian University students live within and
outside University campuses with many students to a room. The behaviour they
exhibit toward one another often results in a series of conflicts. Some
students exhibit deviant social behaviour in the room, some squat their friends
or relation without informing other roommates, some practice their religion to
offend other roommates, some use the fact that they belong to intimidate other
roommates and roommates who support different contestants in student union
elections and principal officers’ of the Universities in crisis period
sometimes end up with conflict in their rooms. Patch (2005) noted that some
roommates never contribute to bills, steal and use other roommate properties
without permission and sell drugs in the room.
The problem which bought to the investigate
concerned recent changes in the programmes and enrolment of students in
universities in Nigeria. The increase in the social demand for university
education has led to increasing demand and need for more quantitative and
qualitative learning environment. Presently, the situation still persists, more
worrisome is the situation of students’ hostel accommodation issues experienced
in universities in Nigeria. The National Universities Commission (2005), whose
goal is to ensure quality and comparative education in the Nigerian university
system, recommended minimum standards. It is very appalling that most often,
government emphasizes provision of education to students without a
corresponding emphasis on provision of affordable students’ accommodation. Lack
of hostels have serious effect on students’ health and learning (Chukwu, 2007).
Accommodation problems experienced by these students have become a barrier to
the realization of university education goals, as indicated in the Nigeria
National Policy on Education (FRN, 2004). It is these factors that motivate
this study to examine accommodation problems in universities in Nigeria with
particular reference to the University of Lagos. Specially, the study will
investigate the influence of hostel squatting on interpersonal relationships
and emotional adjustment of students in university of Lagos.
1.3 Purpose of Study
The aim of this study is therefore to access the
influence of hostel squatting on academic performance, interpersonal
relationships and emotional adjustment of students in university of Lagos.
Specifically, the objectives are:
1. Examine the effect of hostel squatting on the
academic performance of students.
2. Examine the influence of hostel squatting on
interpersonal relationships among university students.
3. Examine the influence of hostel squatting on
emotional adjustment of students in university
4. Identify the students problems facing the
student housing in University of Lagos;
1.4
Research Questions
1.
What is
the effect of hostel squatting on the academic performance of students?
2.
Is
there any significant influence of hostel squatting on interpersonal
relationships among university students?
3.
Is
there any significant influence of hostel squatting on emotional adjustment of
students in university?
1.5 Research
Hypotheses
1. There is no significant influence of hostel
squatting on academic performance of students.
2.
There
is no significant influence of hostel squatting on interpersonal relationships
among university students
3.
There
is no significant influence of hostel squatting on emotional adjustment of
students in university.
1.6 Significance
of Study
It is hoped that the information collected
from this research will be useful to the University management and the
government of Nigeria, in defining their priority areas at the University when
preparing and approving the budget of the institution. The information would
also help the University management in determining rules and principles on
safety, expansion of facilities and effective rules in guiding students’ accommodation.
1.7 Scope of the Study
This
study was limited to the University of Lagos,
Yaba, Lagos State.
1.8
Limitations of Study
The study will be constrained by time,
finance and mobility. The study will cover undergraduate students residing in
five hostels from University of Lagos, Yaba, Lagos State
1.9 Operational
Definition of Terms:
Academic performance:
It is the outcome of education-the extent to which student has achieved their
educational goals.
Hostel: A
residential facility where students live temporarily away from home for
pursuing their education away from home
Students: In
this study it refers to students who are attending the tertiary institution.
Interpersonal
Relationship: is
a strong, deep, or close association or acquaintance between two or more people
that may range in duration from brief to enduring. This association may be
based on inference, love, solidarity, regular business interactions, or some
other type of social commitment.
Emotional
adjustment: is
the maintenance of emotional equilibrium in the face of internal
and external stressors. This is facilitated by cognitive processes of
acceptance and adaptation.
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