PREDICTIVE STUDY OF MISCONCEIVED VALUES ON TENDENCY TO CORRUPT PRACTICES IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

The paper investigated the relationship between misconceived values and tendency to corrupt practices among staff of Nigerian universities. It identified and assessed the extent to which certain misconceived values presumed to be fuelling the spate of corrupt practices among public servants in public universities in Nigeria are actually related. These values investigated were: the value of personalization of public offices, tolerance for culture of impunity, glorifying and approbation of criminals, craze for materialism, quest for short cut to affluence, certification syndrome and culture of consumerism. To carry out the work, two research questions were raised and hypothesized. The paper employed the correlational survey design and utilized a questionnaire instrument that helped to ascertain the extent to which respondents are susceptible to the misconceived values investigated and about their tendency to be corrupt. The data gathered were analysed using multiple linear regression. The findings of the work revealed that all the misconceived values investigated correlated the tendency of staff to be corrupt, and that, the predictors together largely predicted the tendency of staff of Nigerian universities to indulge in corrupt practices as their total R Square was .435. Arising/ram the fact that, the aim of every society is tofree its membersfrom misconceived values' susceptibility, it was recommended among others that value teaching (including misconceived values) should be made a life-long learning by building it into every programme in the various levels of the school system; anmisconceived values in the society and its tendency to breed corrupt practices.d orientation programmes should be organised for staff of Nigerian universities regularly to educate them on the ills of misconceived values in the society and its tendency to breed corrupt practices.