Psychological Strategies for Resolving Interpersonal Conflicts among Administrators in Tertiary Institutions: A Case of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was aimed at studying the psychological strategies for resolving interpersonal conflict among administrators in Tertiary Institutions with Nnamdi Azikiwe University as the case study. Gaining an understanding of these strategies may assist administrators of educational programs in handling interpersonal conflicts in more constructive and helpful ways. It may also provide the basis for further development of formal theory and the potential for theory testing. The conflict resolution strategies scales inventory of Howart and London (1980) guided data collection. The sample comprised of 20 administrative officers and secretarial staff of NnamdiAzikiwe University Awka. The descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the opinion, while the inferential t-test statistics was used to test the hypotheses. The respondents in their opinion confirmed the five strategies for resolving interpersonal conflict. Thus we conclude that conflict can be resolved using any of the psychological strategies. The researchers hence, recommend the use of the strategies by counsellors especially in group counselling processes.

Keywords: Administrators; Institution; Interpersonal conflicts; Psychological strategies; Resolving.