Personal Construct Theory

The aim of the hypothesis testing was to ascertain the basis for accepting the observed relationship effects or observed group differences using appropriate statistics. For this study, the hypotheses developed for this study were statistically tested using percentile analysis, and ANOVA. This was to establish if any relationship exists between the predictor variables and the independent variables.

4.5.1 Testing Hypothesis 1

Hypothesis 1 states that the use of in-vehicular musical communication will significantly be high among commercial drivers in South-East Nigeria. In the above alternate and directional hypothesis, the prevalence rate of in-vehicular musical communication among commercial drivers in South-East Nigeria was sought. In testing this hypothesis, frequency and percentile

analysis was adopted because the statistical tool used for analyzing the hypothesis was descriptive statistics.

Descriptive analysis deployed to analyze the data obtained, confirmed that prevalence rate is high in South-East Nigeria. To test hypothesis one, key indices that imply high prevalence rate was extracted for this hypothetical testing. First, consider the descriptive statistics as demonstrated in tables 4a-d; ownership of in-vehicular musical gadgets was high at 246 (76.64%) of 321 participants, regularity of playing in-vehicular music was high at 33.6% for those who played radio all the time, 25.5% for playables and 28.1% and 42.4% for those who played it most of the time for radio and playables respectively. It is also considered that the descriptive statistics showed that 73.52% of the 321 participants equally have other sources of in-vehicular music communication other than radio. Therefore higher percentages of these data are evidence that the hypothesis tested is accepted, confirmed and upheld.

Consequently, this study accepts the higher percentage rate recorded as evidence of high rate of prevalence in line with the basis of accepting and adopting hypothesis 1 as an empirical finding.

4.5.2 Testing Hypothesis 2

Hypothesis 2 which states that recorded playable will be a more preferred in-vehicular music communication channel among Nigeria commercial drivers than radio channel sources was also accepted. Data confirmed that the descriptive statistics was in favour of recorded playables than radio. In testing this hypothesis, descriptive statistics using frequency and percentile analysis was also adopted because the statistical tool used for in analyzing the hypothesis was descriptive statistics.

Consider the percentage rate of preference for radio channel source and recorded playables which stood at 65.4% for a mean of 3.27 for radio and 76.6% for a mean point of 3.83 for recorded playables. The above showed a higher descriptive frequency for recorded playables than the radio; hence, was accepted because the alternate hypothesis tested and confirmed

significantly achieved higher frequency which is the norm of frequency statistics. The basis of accepting and adopting hypothesis 2 as an empirical finding is statistically confirmed.

4.5.3 Testing Hypothesis 3

Hypothesis 3 states that ―in-vehicular music communication will serve Nigerian commercial drivers more of relaxation/therapeutic needs than concentration/alertness needs while driving‖. In the above alternate and directional hypothesis, what was sought was evidence for group differences on the utility purpose of in-vehicular musical communication using descriptive statistics and 2 way analysis of variance as the appropriate design and statistics.

To test the alternate and directional hypothesis above, table of descriptive statistics was observed and mean and standard deviations on participants‘ response to their utility preference of in-vehicular music communication for either relaxation or concentration purposes showed a discriminate observation among the groups. Hence, the need for use of between subjects‘ effect (2-way ANOVA) to determine if the observed difference in the table of descriptive statistics reached significant proportion using the calculated value and critical t-value significance at appropriate degrees of freedom for the factors. Mean responses for question items 12, 15, 16, 19 for concentration utility and 13,14,17,18 for relaxation utility were reported as 12.38 and 15.14 respectively. Having observed this difference, the ANOVA test further confirmed that this difference is significant at .001*, p < .05. F = 7.057, (n = 321).

Based on the findings, the observed differences in mean and consequent significance in F ratio which are the basis of validating ANOVA tests as an empirical finding was ascertained and confirmed.

4.5.4 Testing Hypothesis 4

Hypothesis 4 states that ―Commercial drivers in Nigeria who are more experienced are likely to be more aware of the hazards of in-vehicular music communication than less experienced ones.

In the above alternate and directional hypothesis, what was sought was evidence for group differences on the awareness and knowledge hazards associated with the use of in-vehicular music communication while using descriptive statistics and 2-way analysis of variance as the appropriate statistics.

To test the alternate and directional hypothesis above, table of descriptive statistics was also observed to measure the mean and standard deviations on participants‘ responses to knowledge of the hazards associated with playing music while driving. Significant mean differences were observed and test of between subjects effects in the ANOVA further confirmed that this difference is significant at .000* p < .05. Based on the findings, the observed differences in mean and consequently significance in F ratio which are the basis of validating ANOVA test as an empirical finding was ascertained and confirmed.

4.5.5 Testing Hypothesis 5

In hypothesis 5, the assumption that Nigeria commercial drivers will still practice in-vehicular music communication despite being aware of its hazards was confirmed and accepted using descriptive analysis as statistical method of analysis. Consequently, it was equally tested with an aid of descriptive analysis. From the findings in table 11, it was observed that a mean response of 3.84 was obtained on a scale of 1-5. This implies a 76.8%

affirmation rate from the participants on the occurrence of the behaviour in the future.

Therefore the basis of descriptive statistics is to accept higher frequency which is achieved by the test result of this hypothesis. The basis of accepting and adopting hypothesis 5 as an empirical finding is statistically confirmed because the alternate hypothesis tested and confirmed, significantly achieved higher frequency which is the norm of frequency statistics.

In summary, five hypotheses were tested in the course of the study with the use of appropriate statistical tools and analysis. The use of descriptive statistics and ANOVA tests examination was used to test the true relationship effects and significant differences observed in the hypothesis. The descriptive statistics adopted higher frequency norm in either percentile distribution or simple observation to accept or to reject hypothetical statements

tested whereas mean differences and significant values of F tests were used as norm for accepting or rejecting test of between subjects effects or ANOVA tests used in the study. All hypothetical tests confirm that the hypotheses tested in the study were accepted based on statistical norms used and hence can be extrapolated as empirical finding worthy of scientific attributes such as replicability and generalizability of result. Therefore, findings can be adopted as reliable.

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