Gender, School Sector, School Level, Job Security and Optimism as Predictors of Organizational Citizenship Behaviour of Teachers

Abstract

The study was based on individual and job characteristics, organizational behaviours, and job attitudes of teachers as employees of the education system.  It investigated gender, school sector, school level, job security and optimism as predictors of organizational citizenship behaviour of teachers in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria.  A total of 294 professional teachers participated in the study, of which 117 (40%) were male, while 177 (60%) were female; 81 (28%) were primary school teachers, while 213 (72%) were secondary school teachers; and 99 (37%) taught in private schools, while 195 (63%) taught in public schools.  Multi-stage sampling technique at three levels was used: purposive sampling for different types and levels of schools in Enugu East, simple random sampling for the seven schools selected, and convenience sampling for the individual participants.  A questionnaire comprised of three instruments was adapted to measure the variables – Job Security, Optimism and Organizational Citizenship Behaviour.  The research design was cross-sectional survey.  Factorial analysis of variance in scores from the study provided evidence that gender, school sector and school level had significant influence on organizational citizenship behaviour of teachers; and hierarchical multiple regression analysis of the scores from the study revealed that job security did not significant predict organizational citizenship behaviour, while optimism significantly and positively predicted organizational citizenship behaviour.  Implications of the findings and limitations of the study were discussed, and suggestions for further study were given.