RESEARCH TIPS: WHEN TO APPLY The Mann–Whitney U test

Mann Whitney U test is applicable when the researcher wants to compare between two independent groups data which has a not normal distribution or is in an ordinal scale. It is the nonparametric equivalence of the independent samples t-test. When samples are of small sizes, or the normal disstribution assumption is broken, Mann Whitney U test is used. Mann Whitney U test is used when the data is a comparison of ranks or medians not the mean. For example compared satisfaction levels across 2 groups of students.

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Background to the Study

It is worth noting that social support also has a big impact on how the academic experience of a student unfolds as well as the decision he makes. Social support can be defined as help given to an individual by family members, peers, teachers, and other significant persons in terms of emotion, information, and material. The impact of social support in the university setting is felt on how well a student performs and adjusts to university life ( OlugbekO & Lana, 2025).

For instance, in Nigeria, especially in urban education environments like the Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, university students encounter numerous academic challenges in making career choices. A number of students choose careers based on parental and peer advice, financial capability, social pressures, and job prospects, but not necessarily because of individual interest. This external pressure is what constitutes social support which can be helpful to the students or force them to choose wrong academic careers. Various researches have shown that peer relationships and family pressure affect academic choice and adjustment in Nigeria universities. (Odeyemi & Afonja, 2026; Olusina, 2025) .

Selection of discipline is an important consideration in the education of a student since it is what will dictate his/her career path and future job prospects. Many students at some Nigerian universities change their courses owing to wrong selection of discipline based on lack of proper guidance and influence from outside. This indicates that social systems are indeed important in enabling students make informed decisions about their studies. Well-guided students who have been encouraged properly are likely to choose disciplines suited for them. (Ogbeide et al., 2022)

In Lagos Mainland universities, including the University of Lagos, among others, there are different kinds of social environments which have an impact on the choice of academic pursuits made by students. For example, peer influence is very strong in the first year of education when students are still adapting to the university environment. There are family expectations as well, which could be very influential, especially when it comes to fields like Medicine, Law, or Engineering, which some families consider more prestigious or lucrative.

However, social support is not always beneficial. Sometimes, too much pressure from parents or peers can lead students to make bad choices academically, lack motivation, and be dissatisfied with their areas of study. On the other hand, constructive social support like academic counseling, mentoring, and encouraging behavior makes students more confident and better decision-makers. Based on recent research, social support systems play an important role in the academic adaptation and well-being of university students in Nigeria (OlugbekO & Lana, 2025). Thus, an appreciation of how social support influences the choice of discipline by students is important in improving guidance and counseling systems within universities. This will enable universities to provide counseling services that aid students in making good academic choices.

      Statement of the Problem Though there is provision of academic counseling services in Nigerian universities, many students in Lagos Mainland still engage in poor disciplinary behavior that causes them to change their courses, perform poorly academically, and be dissatisfied. Social support, which is sometimes lacking or misguided by families, friends, and society, is one cause of the poor disciplinary behavior. The students are normally forced to join disciplines they do not have interest in and those that they are not good at, hence their poor performances academically. It is necessary to examine the effect of social support on discipline choice. Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this study is to examine social support and the choice of discipline among university students in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area. The specific objectives are to:

1.         Discuss the various types of social support that are accessible to students; 2.         Discuss the impact of family support on choosing a discipline; 3.         Discuss the role of peer support in determining the choice of academic discipline for students; 4.         Analyze the effect of social support on students’ satisfaction with the chosen discipline.   Significance of the Study

The research would be useful to students, parents, educational counselors, and the management of higher education institutions. Students will be able to choose their disciplines wisely; parents will learn how to support their children appropriately; counselors will know how to counsel students regarding choosing disciplines; and universities will learn how to orient new students properly..

Scope of the Study

The study is concerned with the relationship between social support and academic discipline choice of university undergraduate students within the local government area of Lagos mainland, Lagos state, Nigeria. This includes the impact of family support, peer support, and institutional support on academic discipline choice.