ABSTRACT

This research was conducted to investigate the influence of hypercompetitiveness and birth order on interpersonal relation. Hypotheses were generated from Karen Horney and Alfred Adler s’ theories about hypercompetitveness and birth order respectively. Birth order was defined in terms of three groups only: first, middle and last borns. Participants (N= 300) students sampled from Yaba College of Technology and University of Lagos. The instruments that were used are Hypercompetitive attitude scale by Ryckman, Hammer, Kaczor & Gold (1990) and Index of peer relation by Hudson, Nuris, Daley & Newsome, (1986).A cross sectional survey was used in collecting data using randomization and accidental sampling technique. Hypercompetitiveness has a significant negative correlation with interpersonal relation (r=-0.215*, at p, <0.05). Middle borns were not more hypercompetitive than other birth positions but had poor interpersonal relation. Gender difference was also examined and the result showed no gender difference in terms of hypercompetiveness. Explanations were proffered for the findings based on theoretical and empirical literature. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                                                                                                    i          

Certification                                                                                                                ii

Dedication                                                                                                                  iii

Acknowledgement                                                                                                      iv

Table of Contents                                                                                                       v

Abstract                                                                                                                       vii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study                                                                                4

1.2       Statement of problem                                                                                      6

1.3       Aims and Objective                                                                                        7         

1.4       Significance of the study                                                                                7         

1.5       Scope of Study                                                                                               8

1.6       Operational Definition of Variables                                                               8

1.7       Literature Review                                                                                           9

1.8       Research Questions                                                                                        25

1.9       Hypotheses                                                                                                     25

CHAPTER TWO:  METHOD

2.0       Introduction                                                                                                    26

2.1       Research Design                                                                                             26

2.2       Research Setting                                                                                             26

2.3       Study Population                                                                                            26       

2.4       Sampling and Sampling Method                                                                    27

2.5       Research Instruments                                                                                     27

2.6       Procedure                                                                                                        28

2.7       Data Analysis Technique                                                                                29

CHAPTER THREE: RESULT

Result                                                                                                              30

CHAPTER FOUR: DISSCUSSION

Discussion                                                                                                       34

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION

5.1      Implication of the study.                                                                                 42

5.2      Recommendation                                                                                             42

5.3      Suggestion for Future Research                                                                       43       

5.4       Limitation                                                                                                       44       

            References                                                                                                      45

Appendix I                                                                                                      55

Appendix II                                                                                                    60