RESEARCH SKILLS AS PREDICTORS OF SELF-ASSESSMENT, CAREER EXPLORATION, AND GOAL SETTING OF OFFICE TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT LECTURERS IN POLYTECHNICS IN SOUTHEAST, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined research skills as predictors of self-assessment, career exploration, and goal setting among Office Technology and Management (OTM) lecturers in polytechnics in South-East Nigeria. The study was guided by two research questions and two hypotheses and adopted a predictive correlational research design. The population comprised 72 OTM lecturers from six federal and state-owned polytechnics in the region. Due to the manageable size of the population, a census approach was employed, and no sampling was conducted. Data was collected using two research-developed instruments: the Research Skills Survey (RSS). The instruments demonstrated high internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.96 for the RSS and 0.83 for the CDQ. Data analysis was conducted using multiple regression. Research questions were addressed using unstandardized regression coefficients (B) and R change, while hypotheses were tested at the 0.05 level of significance using F-tests and t-tests of beta coefficients. The findings revealed that research skills significantly predict self-assessment, career exploration, and goal setting among OTM lecturers. This indicates that lecturers with stronger research competencies are more likely to engage in reflective practices, actively explore career opportunities, and set clear professional goals. Based on these findings, it was recommended that polytechnic management should implement continuous professional development programmes focused on enhancing research capacity, including training in research design, data analysis, academic writing, and grant acquisition