The Influence of Supervisor’s Attitude and Workload on Student’s Academic Performance in Post Graduate Research in Cross River State

Abstract

Post graduate projects forms the requirements for the fulfillment of doctoral and Master degree progamme. Therefore, the success of these academic exercises depends on the cordial relationship between the supervisor, the academic mentor and the learner. This study therefore investigates the influence of supervisor’s attitude and work load on student academic performance in postgraduate research in Cross River State. The study adopted the ex-post factor research design. The population of the study comprised of all the Postgraduate students who completed their theses defense between 2019 to 2021 academic year among Universities in Cross River State, Nigeria. A sample size of 406 was selected using simple random method. The study adopted the Theses and Dissertations supervisor variables scale (TADSVS) via a five-point Likert scale questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. Using the Simple Linear Regression Analysis the findings of the study revealed that: supervisor’s attitude towards thesis supervision have no influence on students’ performance in post graduate thesis. Similarly, it was discovered that supervisor’s academic workload has no influence on students’ performance in post graduate theses and dissertation. The study therefore recommended that deans of school of post-graduate studies in all Universities in Cross River State should ensure supervisor with positive attitude to supervise their post graduate student since supervisors’ attitude to theses and dissertations supervision significantly influence students’ performance in post graduate research and more than one supervisors should be allocated for post graduate project supervision to enhanced adequacy of time for both the supervisor and the learner in producing a qualitative research work of global standard.