Meaning, relevance and prospects of psychology: A survey of undergraduate students of University of Ibadan

Abstract

Psychology is defined as the scientific study of human and animal behavior including mental processes. Psychology as a discipline of study was first introduced to the Nigerian University fifty years ago. Although the discipline has grown and diversified in the relative terms, little is known among non-psychologists and even psychologists themselves about its relevance and prospects. This study set out to fill this knowledge gap. The study surveyed the views of 83 psychology and non-psychology undergraduate students of the Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan on the meaning, relevance and prospects of psychology. Participants were students of a second-year social psychology course. The class has 51 males and 32 females students. Participants’ written responses are being quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. It is hoped that findings of this paper will add up to existing literature on the prospects and relevance of psychology in the national development. As well, findings of the study will serve as a useful guide for non-psychologists and intending psychology students that may be willing to learn about prospects and relevance of psychology in the national development. N. A. Shenge1, R. A. Adu1 Affiliation: 1Department of Psychology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Corresponding Author: Richard Akinjide Adu, Department of Psychology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Email: adurichard3@gmail.com Received: 15 March 2017 Accepted: 07 June 2017 Published: 30 June 2017