Effectiveness of interpersonal conflict management strategies in senior secondary schools of Bauchi state, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examines the effectiveness of conflict management strategies in senior secondary schools in Bauchi state. Descriptive research design was used to study Bauchi education zone. The population of the study was 89 principals from which the sample of 30 principals were selected. Questionnaire was the adapted to collect the opinion of the respondents. Mean and standard deviation were used in the analysis of the data. The result of the study revealed that principals often used domination, avoidance, collaboration and compromise conflict management strategies, but principals do not frequently use accommodation conflict
management strategy. The study also revealed that the entire conflict management strategies are effective but accommodation conflict management strategy is the most effective. The study concluded that conflict is inevitable in schools, and the selection of appropriate conflict management strategy is prerequisite to effectiveness of these conflict management strategies because each of the conflict management strategy has advantages and disadvantages therefore principals need to have knowledge and experience of conflict management. Therefore, the study recommends that principal should use appropriate conflict management strategy in conflict management and principal should adopt accommodation conflict management strategy in conflict management because it very effective among others.