THE INFLUENCE OF COUNSELLING STRATEGIES ON DEVIANT BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

The study investigated the influence of counselling strategies on deviant behaviour modification among secondary school students in Nigeria, with focus on Imo state as a study area. The population of study was Guidance Counselors in secondary schools in Imo State totaling - one thousand and sixteen (1,016) counselors. The sample for the study was drawn from the population using Taro Yamani formula, which amounted to four hundred (400) respondents. Social learning theory was adopted for better explanation of the study. The instrument for data collection was 27 – items. The instrument for data collection was rated on four modified Likert format, and analyzed using standard deviation for research questions. The result of the findings revealed that counseling strategies have great influence on modification of deviant behaviour using cognitive restructuring, and time-out, thereby indicating significant relationship between the counseling strategies and modification of deviant behaviour. Base on the findings, recommendations were made that government through the organization of Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON) should organize seminars and workshops annually where school guidance counselors should receive adequate orientation and professional update on the strategies for modifying deviant behaviour, and also ensure the institutionalization of guidance counseling through the employment of guidance counselors and establishment of guidance counseling units in secondary schools.