SUPERVISORS’ ETHICAL CONDUCT AND POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS’ RESEARCH COMPLETION RATE IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between supervisors’ ethical conduct and postgraduate students’ research completion rates in Public Universities in Rivers State. Specifically, it focused on supervisors’ adherence to fairness, transparency, and accountability as key determinants of students’ academic progress. Guided by two research questions and two null hypotheses, the study adopted a correlational research design to establish the nature and extent of the relationship. The population consisted of 11,656 respondents, including 3,356 lecturers and 8,300 postgraduate students from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State University, and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. Using Taro Yamane’s formula, a sample of 387 respondents (111 lecturers and 276 postgraduate students) was proportionately drawn. Data were collected through two validated instruments, Supervisors’ Ethical Conduct Questionnaire (SECQ) and Postgraduate Students’ Research Completion Rate Questionnaire (PSRCRPUQ), with reliability coefficients of 0.80 and 0.81, confirming strong internal consistency. Data analysis involved Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, while hypotheses were tested using t-transformation at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed a significant positive relationship between supervisors’ adherence to fairness, transparency and accountability and postgraduate students’ research completion rates. It was recommended that universities implement comprehensive ethics training programs emphasizing fairness, transparency and accountability to promote ethical supervision practices and improve postgraduate research completion rates in Rivers State.