THE ROLE OF STATISTICS ON STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING IN FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, UGEP, CROSS RIVER STATE

This study examined the role of statistics in staff development and training at Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State. The research adopted a descriptive survey design with a population of 285 academic and non-academic staff, from which a sample of 165 respondents was selected using Taro Yamane's formula. A structured questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.84 was employed for data collection. Data were analyzed using mean scores, standard deviation, and chisquare statistics. The findings revealed that statistical analysis significantly influences needs assessment for training programs (mean = 3.68), effectiveness evaluation of training interventions (mean = 3.72), and decision-making processes in staff development initiatives (mean = 3.65). The chi-square results showed significant relationships between statistical application and training outcomes at p < 0.05 level of significance. The study concluded that statistics plays a crucial role in identifying training needs, evaluating program effectiveness, and informing policy decisions regarding staff development. It was recommended that the institution should establish a dedicated statistical unit for human resource development, invest in statistical software and training for HR personnel, and adopt data-driven approaches in designing and implementing staff development programs.