ROLES OF ACADEMIC ADVISERS IN PREVENTING EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE AMONG HOME ECONOMICS STUDENTS: A CASE STUDY OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH WEST, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study determined the role of academic advisers in preventing examination malpractice among home economics students in South West, Nigeria. Three research questions with corresponding hypothesis guided the study. The study adopted quantitative research design. The population of the study was 116 Home Economics lecturers selected from five Federal universities in South West, Nigeria (UI, UNILAG, OAU, FUNAAB and FUOYE). There was no need for sampling since the population is small and manageable. Data were collected through a self-developed questionnaire titled, “Role of Academic Advising in Preventing Examination Malpractice among Home Economics Students (RAAPEMAHS). The questionnaire was validated by three experts, two from Department of Home Economics Education and one from Department of Measurement and Evaluation. The reliability of the instrument was trial tested on 20 lecturers in University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The Cronbach Alpha coefficient was used to analyze the data from the trial testing and the result indicated 0.87 reliability coefficient value indicating the instrument is suitable and reliable. The questionnaire was administered by the researcher with the help of three research assistants. A total of 116 copies of the instrument were administered to respondents in the five institutions. Data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and t-test statistics. The findings identified fifteen (15) roles of academic advisers in preventing examination malpractice among Home Economics students in South West, Nigeria. The roles include: educating students on the consequences of examination malpractice and the importance of academic integrity, promoting a culture of honesty and ethical behavior among students, encouraging students to study diligently and prepare well for exams. The result also shown that there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the mean responses of male and female Home Economics Lecturers on the roles of academic advisers in preventing examination malpractice among Home Economics students in South West, Nigeria, among others. Based on the findings, the study concluded that effective and functional academic advising in tertiary institutions can be a vital tool in preventing examination malpractice among Home Economics students. The study recommended among others that school management should provide constant training and workshops for academic advisers; and school administration should set up examination malpractice committee at that will be in charge of handling examination malpractice matters and punish the offenders.