THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PUBLIC RELATIONS PRACTICE IN THE OIL SECTOR (A CASE STUDY OF AFRICAN PETROLEUM PLC PORT-HARCOURT)

ABSTRACT

African petroleum Plc, a Marketer of petroleum products and chemicals, knows that public support and goodwill as well as good corporate image are very important for business success. Tends to be influenced by their publics which includes, its staff, shareholders, customers and of course members of the press.

The company is actually very much interested to know its public problem areas and opportunities with the aim to improving the organizations overall performance to enable them know what their public thinks about African petroleum public Relations programmes and quality of services of the organization to its publics.

The researcher therefore decided to embark on this study with the objectives.

The objectives of the study are:

To determine the extent of APS public Relations messages accessibility to their publics and also find out whether APs public relations practices influence the opinion of their publics.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page i

Approval Page ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Abstract v

Table of Content vii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study 1

1.2 Statement of problem 4

1.3 Objective of the study 6

1.4 Formulation of Hypothesis 6

1.5 Scope of the study 7

1.6 Significance of the study 8

1.7 Definition of terms 9

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 What is public relation 11

2.2 Role of public relations executives in

commercial out fit 26

2.3 Strategy and scope of public relations programmes28

2.4 Frame work of public relations programme 37

2.5 Importance of public relations in all oil industry. 39

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

3.1 Sources of data 45

3.1.1 Primary data 45

3.1.2 Secondary data 46

3.2 Area of study 46

3.3 Research instrument 46

3.4.1 Questionnaire design/ interview questions 47

3.4.2 Dichotomous questions 48

3.4.3 Multiple choice questions 48

3.4.4 Openended questions 48

3.5 Sampling method used 48

3.5.1 Sample size and sampling techniques 49

3.5.2 Sample procedure 52

3.6 Pilot survey 50

3.7 Validity of the instrument 51

3.8 Method of investigation 52

3.9 Validation of instrument 53

3.10Method of data analysis 54

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Part A. a table of responses to sex 56

4.2 Indication of free access to APs public

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary 72

5.2 Summary of findings 74

5.3 Conclusions 75

5.4 Recommendations 76

5.5 Limitations of the study 77

Bibliography 78

Appendix 1 83

Appendix 11 84