Influence of Principals’ Coercive Power on Job Performance among Secondary School Teachers in Eket Educational Zone, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated how principals' use of coercive power predicts teachers' job performance in secondary schools in Eket education zone of Akwa Ibom State. Ex-post facto design was used for the study. One research question was raised and a hypothesis formulated to guide the study. The population of the study consisted of all teachers in public secondary schools in Eket education zone with the population of 2436. The sample size of 372 teachers was selected through stratified random sampling technique from 62 public secondary schools out of 234. Data collection was done with the use of researcher's developed instruments tagged 'Principals Use of Coercive Power and Job Performance of Secondary School Teachers Questionnaire' (PUCPJPSSTQ) measured on 4 - point rating scale. The questionnaire had 27 items and a Cronbach reliable index of 0.67. The data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using correlation coefficient and Regression analysis. The hypothesis was tested at 0.5 level of significance. The finding of the study was that Principals' use of coercive power significantly predicts teachers' job performance in secondary schools in Eket Education zone of Akwa Ibom State. It was recommended from the study that Principals should exercise their coercive power with caution so as not to cause unrest, instability and rancour in the school system and that seminars, workshops and symposia be organized to train principals on proper use of power within the school system.