THE IMPACT OF ADOPTION STANDARD SUPERVISION PROCEDURE OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DISSERTATIONS IN AJAYI CROWTHER UNIVERSITY, OYO, NIGERIA

Abstract

In Nigerian universities, submission of dissertation is a core requirement for undergraduate students as a partial fulfilment for the award of a certificate. Few studies have addressed supervision and assessment of undergraduate student dissertation in relation to responsibilities of supervisors and students in the process of dissertation writing and assessment. This study examined students’ perception of supervisor’s responsibilities in assessing dissertation and also what the supervisors in the different departments in Ajayi Crowther University expect in students’ dissertation. Total enumeration was used to include 328 final year students from the three faculties in the university and 15 lecturers across the same faculties who teach and supervise final year students’ dissertations. Linear regression was used to determine the influence of supervision methods on assessment from students’ perception and a correlation analysis was conducted to find the relationship between supervision and assessment on the quality of dissertation. Analysis shows that supervisors had different priorities when assessing students’ dissertations. Linear regression implies that there is high influence of the combined four methods of supervision (the accessibility, regular meetings, requesting chapter drafts, research material provision) on the assessment as perceived by the students. A correlation analysis revealed that there is low correlation between assessment factors and supervision as perceived by the supervisors. This study fills a gap in knowledge about students’ dissertation assessment process and what the supervisors expect in students dissertation particularly in Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Nigeria.

Keywords: Dissertation supervision, research assessment, Nigerian universities, Ajayi Crowther University.