Effective Graduate Thesis Supervision in Faculties of Education: Constrains and Standards

Abstract

As a result of the imperative need for uniformity in Nigerian faculties of education standard, the study investigated the level of effective graduate thesis supervision in Nigerian universities as well as variation in standard measures used. It also identified the constraints to proper graduate supervision. The study adopted survey design. The population consisted of all universities (federal and state) in the south-south geopolitical zone in Nigeria. A sample of 60 academics was selected from 3 Faculties of Education in the selected universities in South-South Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria (20 academic staff from Faculty of Education were selected using accidental sampling technique from each of the selected universities used in the study). An instrument titled “Graduate thesis Supervision and Uniformity in Standard Questionnaire” (GTSUSQ) was developed by the researchers and validated by two experts in measurement and evaluation was used to collect data. The GTSUSQ reliability index yielded .84 which was determined using Cronbach Alpha technique. The data was collected by the researchers and research assistants and was analyzed using percentages and Relative Significance Index (RSI).The findings of the study among others indicated the need for common standard adjudged by eggheads from universities. The recommendations include among others the need for all the universities to hold conference where best brains should brainstorm and articulate uniform standard for all graduates across the universities that should be followed as models.

Keywords: Graduate Thesis Supervision, Faculty of Education, Nigerian Universities, Uniformity
and Standard.
centres.