Performance Appraisal Methods as Correlate of Lecturers’ Productivity in Universities in Delta State

Abstract

Aims: This study examined performance appraisal methods as correlate of lecturers’ productivity in universities in Delta State. The study was guided by three research questions and three null hypotheses. Study Design: The design of the study was a correlational survey research design. Methodology: The population of the study comprised one thousand nine hundred and nineteen (1919) lecturers in public universities in Delta State. The sample size comprised 236 lecturers in universities in Delta State. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire developed by researcher, titled Performance Appraisal Methods and Lecturers Productivity Questionnaire (PAMLPPUQ).). The instrument was subjected to face and content validation and the reliability of the instrument was ascertained through test re-test method and the reliability yielding a coefficient of 0.89. The research questions were answered using the SPSS software, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient was employed to answer the research questions. The hypotheses were tested using regression at 0.05 levels of significance. Results: Results of the study, among others, showed that there is a significant relationship between critical incidents, graphic rating scale and essay methods of performance appraisal and lecturers' productivity in public universities in Delta State. Conclusion: Based on the result, it was concluded that the level of lecturers’ productivity was high attesting to the fact that the provision of adequate reward incentives and evaluation based on a fair system of performance standards improves lecturers’ productivity. Recommendations: The study recommended a systematic training and retraining programme for universities management staff and all lecturers should be designed to raise the level of knowledge, when and how to apply the various methods of performance appraisal, such as critical incident, graphic rating scale and essay methods, to enhance lecturers’ productivity.