Study of Conflict Management Styles of University Teachers at Post-graduate Level: The Impact of Gender and Marital Status

Abstract

The objective of the study was to identify the conflict management styles of Pakistani teachers teaching at the post-graduate level. The study also aimed to investigate differences, if any, between male and female as well as married and un-married teachers regarding the use of conflict management styles. The sample of the study consisted of 300 male and female teachers from five public universities of Lahore district.
 We found that collaborating conflict management style is used most frequently by teachers who participated in this study. In this regard, the majority of teachers were found to use the avoiding technique “keep yourself away from conflict” to resolve the conflict. There was a significant difference between married and un-married teachers regarding their competing and compromising conflict management styles. However, no significant difference was found between male and female teachers regarding their conflict management styles. More research may be conducted in academic institutions regarding conflict management skills among teachers. The study suggested that educational institutions may also formulate their teams of expert teachers, which may work effectively during the times of conflicts or crisis.