SOCIETAL INFLUENCES AND ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT AS DETERMINANTS OF MORAL DECADENCE AMONG STUDENTS WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT IN FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION (SPECIAL), OYO

The research entitled "Societal Influences and Academic Environment as Determinants of Moral Decadence among Students with Hearing Impairment in Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo" investigates the effects of societal and academic factors on the moral conduct of students with hearing impairments. The study adopted a descriptive survey research approach, sampling 300 students using purposive sampling and utilising three measures to assess moral decay, societal values, and academic influences. The findings indicated a significant prevalence of moral decline, characterised by behaviours such as academic dishonesty and substance addiction. The research indicated that societal values exhibited a negative correlation with moral decay, whereas the academic environment demonstrated a substantial positive impact. Statistical investigations, encompassing Pearson’s correlation and multiple regressions, validated a significant combined effect of societal and academic influences on students’ moral behaviour, explaining 98.4% of the variation. The study finds that addressing these elements is essential for mitigating moral decline among students with hearing impairments.