[01] Aladenusi Oluwakemi, School of Education, Dept. of Psychology, Federal College of Education (Tech.), Akoka, Lagos State.

This study was designed to determine the influence of academic locus of control and social support on research help-seeking behaviour among undergraduates in South-west Nigeria. Also, it established the level of research help-seeking behaviour among undergraduates, either satisfactory or not. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design of an ex-post facto type. Three research hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05level of significance. Data was collected using a four standardized instruments. Research instruments were administered to one thousand eight hundred (1800) undergraduate students that were randomly selected from six universities in south-west Nigeria. Data was analysed using Multiple Regression Analysis, t-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation at 0.05 alpha levels. The results showed that research help-seeking behaviour among undergraduates was not satisfactory (24.515; 32.69%); positive significant relationship was observed between academic locus of control and research help-seeking behaviour (r=.517) and social support (r = .388). Academic locus of control and social support predicted research help-seeking attitude significantly with 35.7% of variance explanation percentage. Also, there was statistically significant difference in undergraduates’ research help-seeking behaviour based on gender (t = 1.666, P< 0.05) but not on field of study (t = 7.009, P< 0.05). The study concluded that academic locus of control and social support was found to exert influence on undergraduates’ research help-seeking behaviour.

Academic Locus of Control, Social Support, Help-Seeking Behaviour, Undergraduates, Research Writing

[01] Adenuga, R. A & Ayodele, K. O. (2012) Service quality dimensions and thesis writing among postgraduate students in south-west Nigeria. Universal Journal of Education and General Studies, 1(7) 188-194. [02] Adenuga, A & Ayodele, K (2009). General self-efficacy and emotional intelligence as predictors of postgraduate students’ choice and interest in conducting experimental research. African Journal of Research in Personnel and Counselling Psychology, 1, 2, 23-31. [03] Al-Naggar, R, Al-Sarory, S, Al-Naggar, A & Al-Muosli, M (2012) Doctorate international students’ satisfaction and stress on academic supervision in a Malaysian University: a qualitative approach. Educational Research, 3, 3, 264-269. [04] Akın, A. (2010). Achievement goals and academic locus of control: A structural equation modeling approach. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 38, 1–18. [05] Antonio, A. L. (2004). The influence of friendship groups on intellectual self-confidence and educational aspirations in college. The Journal of Higher Education, 75(4), 446-471. [06] Atik, G. (2006). The role of locus of control, self-esteem, parenting style, loneliness, and academic achievement in predicting bullying among middle school students. Unpublished Master Thesis. METU, Ankara. [07] Ayodele, K. O. & Akinlana, T. (2012) Writing apprehension and Nigerian undergraduates’ interest in dissertation’s writing: the moderator effects of self-efficacy, emotional intelligence and academic optimism. African Educational Research Journal, 12(1), 46-56 [08] Barzegar, M. (2011). The relationship between learning style , locus of control and academic achievement in Iranian students, 2011 2nd International Conference on Education and Management Technology IPEDR vol.13, IACSIT Press, Singapore. [09] Bean, J. P. (2005). Nine themes of college student retention. In Seidman, A. (Ed.). College Student Retention: Formula for Student Success. Washington, D. C.: American Council on Education, 215-244. [10] Bostic, M.N. (2010). Locus of control and academic achievement among first-generation and second-generation college students. Master thesis of Arts, Tennessee Technological University. [11] Bourke S, Holbrook A, Lovat T, Dally K (2004). Characteristics, degree completion times and thesis quality of Australian Ph.D. candidates. Paper presented at the Quality in Postgraduate Research Conference: Re-imagining Research Education, Adelaide, South Australia. [12] Çetinkalp, Z. K. (2010). The relationship between academic locus of control and achievement goals among physical education teaching program students. World Applied Sciences Journal, 10(11), 1387-1391. [13] Daum, T.L., & Wiebe, G. (2003). Locus of control, personal meaning, and self-concept before and after an academic critical incident. Unpublished Master Thesis, USA: Trinity Western University. [14] DeBerard, M., Spielmans, G., & Julka, D. (2004). Predictors of academic achievement and retention among college freshmen: A longitudinal study. College Student Journal, 38, 66-80. [15] Domagała-Zyśk, E. (2006). The significance of adolescents' relationships with significant others and school failure. School Psychology International, 27, 232-247. [16] Deniz, M., Tras, Z., & Aydoğan, D. (2009). An investigation of academic procrastination, locus of control, and emotional intelligence. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 9(2), 623-632. [17] Dilmac, B., Hamarta, E., and Arslan, C. (2009). Analyzing the trait anxiety and locus of control of undergraduates in terms of attachment styles. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 9(1), 143-159. [18] Dubois, D. L., Felner, R. D., Sherman, M. D., & Bull, C. A. (1994). Socio-environmental experiences, self-esteem and emotional/behavioral problems in early adolescence. American Journal of Community Psychology, 22, 375–397. [19] Eachus, P. & Cassidy, S (1997). Self-efficacy, locus of control and styles of learning as contributing factors in the academic performance of student health professionals. Proceedings of First Regional Congress of Psychology for Professionals in the Americas - Interfacing the Science and Practice of Psychology, July 27-August 2, 1997, Mexico City, Mexico. [20] Farrand, P., Parker, M. & Lee, C. (2007). Intention of adolescents to seek professional help for emotional and behaviour difficulties. Health and Social Care in the Community, 15(5), 464-473. [21] Findley, M., & Cooper, H. M. (1983). The relation between locus of control and achievement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44, 419–427. [22] Gasson S, Reyes L (2004). Ph.D. completion within four years. Paper presented at the Quality in Postgraduate Research Conference: Reimagining Research Education, Adelaide, South Australia. [23] Ghasemzadeh, A. & Saadat, M. (2011). Locus of control in Iranian university Student and its relationship with academic achievement. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 30, 2491–2496. [24] Gourash, N. (1978). Help-seeking: A review of the literature. American Journal of Community Psychology, 6, 413–423. [25] Hans, T. (2000). A meta-analysis of the effects of adventure programming on locus of control. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 30(1), 33–60. [26] Iskender, M., & Akin, A. (2010). Social self-efficacy, academic locus of control, and internet addiction, Computers and Education, 544, 1101–1106. [27] Koldjeski, D., Kirkpatrick, M.K., Everett, L., Brown, S. and Swanson, M. (2004), “Health Seeking Related To Ovarian Cancer”, Cancer Nursing, 27(5), 370-378. [28] Koulnazarian, M. (2007). Help-Seeking Behavior in Early Childhood. Thesis submitted to McGill University, Montreal (DPhil in Applied Psychology). http://digitool.library.mcgill.ca [29] Lee, S., Woods, K. &Tonissen, K (2011) Writing activities embedded in bioscience laboratory courses to change students’ attitudes and enhance their scientific writing, Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science & Technology Education, 7(3), 193-202 [30] Martin, B. (2009). Research Productivity: some paths less travelled. Australian Universities' Review, 51(1), 14-20. [31] Mearns, J. (2006). The social learning theory of Julian Rotter. In D. P. Crowne (Ed.), Personality theory. New York: Oxford University Press. [32] Möller-Leimkühler. (2002). Barriers to help-seeking by men: a review of sociocultural and clinical literature with particular reference to depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 71, 1-9. [33] Sarıçam, H., & Duran, A. (2012). The Investigation of The Education Faculty Students' Academic Locus Of Control Levels. 28-30 June 15th Balkan International Conference, Bucreast, [34] Ray, C. E. (2002). Perceived parental support and adolescents’ psychological wellbeing: Examining the effects of perceived peer pressure and general attitude toward school on this relationship (Unpublished master thesis). Michigan State University, Michigan. [35] Rayle, A. D., Kurpius, S. E. R., & Arredondo, P. (2006). Relationship of self-beliefs, social support, and university comfort with the academic success of freshman college women. Journal of College Student Retention, 8(3), 325-343. [36] Rickwood, D., Deane, F.P., Wilson, C.J. & Ciarrochi, J. (2005). Young people’s help-seeking for mental health problems. Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health, 4(3). Supplement. [37] Rickwood, D.J., Deane, F.P. & Wilson, C.J. (2007). When and how do young people seek professional help for mental health problems? Medical Journal of Australia, 187(1), 35-39. [38] Robbins, S., Lauver, K., Le, H., Davis, D., Langley, R., & Carlstrom, A. (2004). Do psychosocial and study skill factors predict college outcomes? A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 130, 261-288. [39] Romania.Shepherd, S., Owen, D., Fitch, T., & Marshall, J. (2006). Locus of control and academic achievement in high school students. Psychological Reports, 98, 318-322. [40] Rueger, S. Y., Malecki, C. K., & Demaray, M. K. (2008). Gender differences in the relationship between perceived social support and student adjustment during early adolescence. School Psychology Quarterly, 23(4), 496-514. [41] Ryan, A. M., Pintrich, P. R., & Midgley, C. (2001) Avoiding seeking help in the classroom: Who and why? Educational Psychology Review, 13(2), 93-114. [42] Sterbin, A. & Rakow, E. (1996). Self-esteem, locus of control, and student achievement. (ERIC Document Reproduction Services No: Ed 406429). [43] Suls, J. (1982). Social support, interpersonal relations, and health: Benefits and liabilities. In G. Sanders, & J. Suls (Eds.), Social psychology of health and illness (pp. 255-277). NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. [44] Tella, A., Tella, A., & Adeniyi, O. (2009). Locus of control, interest in schooling, self-efficacy and academic achievement. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences 4, 168-182. [45] Tella, A., & Adıka, L.O. (2008). Self-efficacy and locus of control as predictors of academic achievement among secondary school students in Osun State Unity Schools. IFE PsychologIA 16(2), 120-130. [46] Tinto, V. (1993). Leaving college: Rethinking the causes and cures of student attrition(2nd Ed.). Chicago: The University of Chicago. [47] Ullah, H., & Wilson, M. A. (2007). Students’ academic success and its association to student involvement with learning and relationships with faculty and peers. College Student Journal, 41(4), 1192-1202. [48] Yates, R. (2009). Locus of control and academic achievement: a study of gender and grade level differences among low-income African-American students in a middle school. Phd thesis, Southern Illinois State University.