Vol. 1, No. 1 (2026)

Grooming behaviour is a reliable indicator of central nervous system (CNS) functioning frequently used to assess behavioural and neurochemical responses to psychoactive substances. This study examined the separate and combined effects of energy drinks and alcohol on grooming behaviour in male Albino Wistar rats. Using a randomized experimental design, twenty-eight rats were assigned to four groups (n = 7): energy drink, alcohol, combined energy drink and alcohol, and control. Treatments were administered orally once daily for 28 consecutive days. Upper- and lower-body grooming behaviours were recorded daily and systematically quantified. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, repeated-measures ANOVA, two-way mixed ANOVA, and Least Significant Difference (LSD) post hoc tests. Descriptive analyses showed that control animals displayed the highest grooming frequencies, whereas rats exposed to the combined treatment exhibited the lowest grooming activity. Although one-way ANOVA revealed no significant overall group differences (p > .05), LSD post hoc comparisons indicated significant reductions in lower-body and mean grooming in the combined group relative to controls (p < .05). Repeated-measures analysis demonstrated a significant main effect of time and a significant Group × Day interaction (p < .001), indicating treatment-dependent variations in grooming patterns across the exposure period. A significant main effect of grooming type was also observed, with upper-body grooming occurring more frequently than lower-body grooming. These findings suggest that chronic co-administration of alcohol and energy drinks disrupts grooming behaviour with suggestions for further neurochemical research and public awareness.

In this study, the researchers investigated TETFund intervention on human resources as correlate of infrastructural development in tertiary institution in Imo State. Two research questions and two hypotheses were formulated and tested using simple linear approach at 0.05 level of significance. The design adopted was correlation research design. The population consist of three thousand three hundred and sixty-four (3,364) lecturers from the seven state and Federal owned tertiary institutions in Imo State, the sample was three hundred and thirty-six (336) lecturers which is 10% of the population drawn through cluster and proportionate random sampling techniques. The instruments are two rating scales titled “Tertiary Education Trust Fund Scale (TETFS) and Infrastructural Development Scale (IDS). The instruments were validated by two Measurement and Evaluation experts and reliability established to be 0.76 and 0.74 for TETFS and IDS respectively using crombach alpha statistics. Pearson product moment correlation coefficient (Pearson r) statistics was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings showed that both provision of research/publication and academic staff training have moderate, positive and significance relationship with infrastructural development in tertiary institutions in Imo State. It was recommended among others that government should continue to encourage and support research activities, staff training and infrastructural development through TETFund intervention.

This study investigated effects of reality and rational emotive behaviour therapies in improving regular school attendance behaviour among truants' secondary school students in Ajegunle, Lagos State, while considering the moderating effect of age and gender. The study adopted a pre-test, post-test control group quasi experimental design with 3x2x2 factorial matrix. The design is made of three rows representing the two treatment techniques, reality therapy and rational emotive behaviour therapy and the Control Group (non-treatment group). The two treatment groups were exposed to eight-weeks training in Emotional Intelligence and Cognitive Restructuring Training, while participants in the control group received no training. The sample for the study comprised of sixty secondary school students (male and female) who are truants and have consistently absented from school 15 times in each term (first and second term) without permission as recorded in their school attendance register. Participants were purposively selected based on their absenting record for two terms. One validated instrument: Regular School Attendance. Questionnaire (a= 0.82) was used. Three hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Data was analysed using Analysis of Covariance. There was significant main effect of treatment in the pre-post school attendance behaviour scores among secondary school truants' students in the experimental and control groups (F (3,56) = 5.538, P < .05). Also, there was significant moderating main effect of age in the pre-post regular school attendance behaviour scores among secondary school truants' students between older and younger students (F (2,57) = 8.923, P < .05). Likewise, there was significant moderating main effect of gender in the pre-post regular school attendance behaviour scores of truants' secondary school students (F (2,57) = 2.244, P < .05). School counselling psychologists could adopt the two interventions to manage challenges of truancy among secondary school students.

This study was carried out to determine the effects of cognitive restructuring therapy (CRT) and survey, question, read, recite, review (SQ3R) study strategy on academic procrastination among secondary school students in Gombe State, Nigeria. A pre-test post-test non-equivalent no control group design was adopted for the study. To guide the study, three research questions were answered, and three hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significant. Population of the study was 24,478 secondary school students in the 142 public coeducation schools in Gombe State, and the sample for the study was 134 students in the public co-education schools in Gombe State, drawn using the purposive sampling technique. There were two experimental groups. The experimental group 1was exposed to cognitive restructuring therapy on academic procrastination, while the experimental group 2 was exposed to SQ3R study strategy on academic procrastination. The study made use of three research instruments – a 25-item academic procrastination scale (APS), and two experimental packages. The APS was validated by five experts. The test of stability of APS was ensured using test-retest method on twenty students at an interval of two weeks. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to ensure the reliability of APS at 0.05 level of significant. APS yielded a reliability index of 0.72. Cronbach Alpha was also used to test the internal consistency of APS and the coefficients of internal consistency 0.84. All the experimental groups were exposed to pre-test and then after the administration of the various treatments, were exposed to post-test. The data obtained were analyzed using Mean and Standard Deviation for answering research questions and Analysis of Covariance for testing hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Major findings of the study revealed that CRT and SQ3R study strategy had significant effects on academic procrastination levels of secondary school students in Gombe State; and that gender was a factor of significant difference in academic procrastination in favour of male. It was concluded that academic procrastination is effectively managed using CRT and SQ3R study strategy among secondary school students. The study recommended among others that CRT and SQ3R study strategy should be used by school counsellors/psychologists, teachers and other Education stakeholders in managing academic procrastination among secondary school students.

This study explored the impact of peer influence as a social mechanism for fostering positive behaviour against bullying tendencies among students in Upper Basic Education, Delta state. Two research questions were answered and two hypotheses tested. The study employed ex post facto, descriptive and correlational research. 40,204 students in Upper Basic II Education in Delta State constitute the population of the study. 380 students were sampled for the study. Two instruments were used for data collection titled: Peer Influence Scale and Bullying Behaviour Scale. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics (Mean and Standard Deviation), Multiple Correlation and Multiple Regression Statistics. The study revealed that on the basis of components of peer influence, yielding to Peer Pressure significantly increase bullying among the students while resistant to peer pressure and peer encouragement can mitigate bullying behaviour problem. The findings also show a significant difference in bullying tendencies between male and female students, with female students exhibiting higher bullying behaviours compared to their male counterparts. The study concludes that resistant to peer pressure and peer encouragement can mitigate bullying behaviour problem. The study advocate for development of social resistance skills, since encouraging young adolescents to build resistance to negative peer pressure is essential for their personal and social development. Programmes that enhance decision-making, assertiveness, and self-confidence will equip young people to make independent and positive choices.

Juvenile delinquency among adolescents remains a growing concern within secondary schools in Nigeria, particularly in urban centers such as Benin Metropolis, Edo State. This study examined the efficacy of rehearsal therapy and cognitive therapy in the management of juvenile delinquent behaviours among senior secondary school adolescents. The study used quasi experimental research design. The targeted population of the study consisted of Eighteen thousand, and twelve (18,012) public mixed Senior Secondary School Adolescents in Benin Metropolis. A sample size of one hundred and thirty-three (133) adolescents were selected from the population through multi-stage sampling technique. An instrument titled "Juvenile Delinquency Assessment Scale (JDAS)" was used. The validity of the instrument was established by three test experts, two from Counselling Psychology, and one from Measurement and Evaluation, in the Department of Educational Evaluation and Counselling Psychology. A Reliability coefficient value of 791 was obtained using Cronbach's alpha statistics. The data collected were analyzed using paired sample t-test statistics, one way analysis of variance Two-way ANOVA, including Post Hoc multiple comparison. The study revealed that there were significant differences in the Pre-test and Post-test mean scores in the management of juvenile delinquency of Senior Secondary School adolescents, when exposed to CBT, RT and Control group at post-test. This shows that the two treatment packages, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Rehearsal Therapy that were used in modifying juvenile delinquency, were effective. It was recommended that Counsellors, and Psychologists should make use of Cognitive behavioural therapy and Rehearsal therapy in assisting students and clients who exhibit acts of juvenile delinquency.

This study investigated the influence of continuous assessment on teaching and learning process in secondary schools in Imo State, Nigeria. To achieve the aims of the study, two research questions were asked and two corresponding hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted the correlation research design. The population of the study is 94,963 students in 296 public senior secondary schools in Imo State. A sample of 398 students was drawn from 15 selected schools through Taro Yamane using simple random sampling technique. Two researcher-made rating scales titled “Continuous Assessment Scale (CAS)” and “Teaching and Learning Process Scale (TLPS)” were used as instruments for data collection. These instruments were validated by three research specialists. Reliability coefficients of 0.81 for CAS and 0.85 for TLPS were obtained using Cronbach Alpha statistics. Research questions were answered using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) while the hypotheses were tested using t-test of the significance of Pearson “r”. The results revealed that continuous assessment has a high, positive and significant coefficient of relationship with students’ learning outcomes and attitude in public senior secondary schools in Imo State. It was concluded that continuous assessment as a crucial tool for enhancing student learning outcomes and attitudes provides regular feedback that informs instruction and motivates students to learn. Based on these results, it was recommended among others that teachers should prioritize regular, well-designed continuous assessments in order to provide actionable feedback to students and inform teaching practices, helping to boost learning outcomes.

The study investigated academic self-efficacy and academic performance of secondary school students in Owerri Municipal: Predictive role of domestic violence. The study adopted descriptive survey research design of quantitative nature. A population of 85 secondary school students that have experienced domestic violence and have received guidance counselling support service from their school counsellors were purposively selected for this study from ten randomly selected secondary schools in Owerri Municipal of Imo State Nigeria. Two research hypotheses were tested and three standardized instruments were used for data collection. Pearson Product Moment Correlation statistical tool was used to analyse collected data at 0.05 level of significance. Result revealed that domestic violence has negative predictive impact on secondary school students’ self-efficacy, r (85) = .-027, p>.05. and academic performance, r (85) =.-031, p>.05 of students that were victims of domestic violence. Therefore, it was recommended that parents should be made to know through parent-teachers-association meetings of the fact that domestic violence negatively affects students’ self-efficacy and their academic performance. Therefore, parents should avoid the occurrence of incidence of domestic violence.

Adolescent pregnancy out of wedlock is often accompanied by unimaginable crisis with negative implication on the well-being of pregnant adolescents. This study adopted a descriptive survey research design to investigate peer influence, self-esteem and attitude to life as predictors of adolescent pregnancy in Owerri Municipal Imo State Nigeria. Purposive random sampling technique was used to select one hundred pre-marital pregnant adolescents attending antenatal clinic from ten community maternity centres in Owerri Municipal Imo state, Nigeria. A researcher’s made questionnaire was used and three research questions were answered at 0.05 level of significance. Data were analysed using Multiple Regression statistical tool. There was significant relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable. Also, the independent variables accounted for 66.4% of the total variance on the prediction of pre-marital adolescent pregnancy. In order of magnitude, of the contribution: peer influence contributed most to the prediction of pre-marital adolescent pregnancy (β = 0. 594, t = 9.805, P < 0.05) followed by attitude to life (β = 0. 462, t = 7.243, P < 0.05) and self-esteem (β = 0. 188, t = 4.161, P < 0.05) to adolescent pre-marital pregnancy. Therefore, counselling programmes should be put in place and used as a measure to guide and lead adolescents to the path of self-discovery.

The study investigated the impact of Social Media tools, Instagram and Twitter(X) on the Academic attentiveness of trainee Counsellors in Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education Owerri, Imo State Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised of all fifty-three (53) undergraduate students of Guidance and Counselling department. Two research questions were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of Significance. A researcher made and validated instrument name Social Media tools and Academic Attentiveness Scale (SMTAAS) with liability coefficient of 0.82 established through Cronbach Alpha was employed to generate data for the study. The data generated was analysed using mean and standard deviation statistics. The findings show that to a high extent the respondents accepted that social media tools; Instagram and X(Twitter) impact their academic attentiveness negatively. It is recommended that workshops on self- regulation and focus skills training be organised for trainee Counsellors, students should be guided to disable their phone notifications during lectures, social media literacy should be incorporated in the University curriculum among other recommendations.

This study examined strategies for addressing the challenges of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in educational assessment in Imo State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design, targeting 1,200 lecturers, ICT coordinators, examination officers, and selected secondary school administrators in Imo State. A sample of 240 respondents was selected through purposive and stratified random sampling. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire administered electronically using Google Forms, and reliability was established with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.84. Data analysis employed mean and standard deviation to determine the extent of challenges and the effectiveness of proposed strategies. Findings revealed that respondents agreed technical, ethical, and pedagogical challenges significantly hinder AI integration, with major issues including infrastructure deficiencies, limited training, and ethical concerns. They also agreed that strategic measures; such as stable infrastructure, teacher training, national AI policy development, data protection frameworks, human moderation, continuous monitoring, stakeholder sensitization, and expert collaboration, can effectively address these challenges. The study concluded that deliberate implementation of these strategies is essential to maximize AI’s potential in educational assessment.

Children over the world at one time or the other do exhibit some levels of delinquent behaviour, and these behaviours have most times become detrimental to their psychological wellbeing and academic exploits. In view of this context, this study investigated Juvenile delinquencies: Predictive impact of punishment on secondary school students’ behavioural dispositions in Lagos State. The study adopted a descriptive survey design, with the application of mixed method approach (questionnaires and a few structured open-ended questions) for data collection from a sampled population of 500 participants (Teachers-100 with 56 male and 44 females, and students-400, with165 males and 235 females). Six research questions were answered and one hypothesis tested. Collected data were analysed with the 24th version of the SPSS, and the open-ended questions were analysed narratively. Findings of the study revealed that: Verbal warning and extra academic assignments were the most frequently used disciplinary measures. Majority of teachers agreed that punishment is necessary to maintain discipline and reduce delinquent behaviour among students. This study further established that truancy was the most prevalent form of delinquency among public secondary school students, hence, significant. Also, it was found that punishment has positive influence students’ behavioural dispositions. Likewise, punishment has significant relationship with juvenile delinquency of students in public secondary schools in Lagos State. Therefore, it was recommended that schools should regularly assess the effectiveness of punishment and other disciplinary strategies in reducing juvenile delinquency. Data from these assessments can guide improvements in school discipline policies.

This study examined socio-economic factors predicting gender disparities in technology education among female students of Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic, Sokoto State, Nigeria. A mixed-methods design was adopted, combining descriptive survey and phenomenological approaches. The study population consisted of 596 final-year female students across six technology-related programmes. Using stratified random sampling, a sample of 234 students was selected, while 13 females were purposively chosen for in-depth interviews. Two instruments were employed: a structured questionnaire (SPFGDTEQ) and an interview guide. Content validity was established through expert review and reliability of 0.71 was obtained using Cronbach's alpha. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean score) for the quantitative aspect, while qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis. Findings revealed that high educational costs, limited household income and lack of scholarships significantly constrain female participation in technology education. The study concluded that socio-economic barriers remain central to female underrepresentation in technical fields. It recommends the establishment of targeted scholarships and subsidized tuition plans to reduce financial burdens and promote equitable female participation in technology education.