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The study assessed communication related organizational conflicts in agricultural
research institutes in south west Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used to select
139 researchers from seven research institutes in the study area. A structured questionnaire was
used to elicit information from the researchers. Data obtained were analyzed using frequency
counts, percentages, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square analysis and ANOVA. Findings showed
that 70.0% of the researchers were male, 30.0% were female, while 68.4% had masters degree
and 79.2% of the researchers had less than 10 years working experience. Findings also indicated
that 55.4% of the researchers noted that inadequate information as a communication barrier
occasionally resulted in organizational conflict in their research institutes while 26.6% were of
the view that it occurred always. Also, majority (92.1%) of the researchers noted that physical
combats/fights never occurred in their institutes while, ignoring each other (69%), open
disagreements regardless of issues (66.1%), petition writing, (65.4%) and lack of respect for
constituted authority (61. 9%) were other expressions of conflict that occurred occasionally in
their research institutes. Results further show that reduction in cooperation/teamwork ( x = 4.6),
reduction of individual productivity at work ( x = 4.4) and interference with organization’s operations
( x = 4.4) were the main negative effects of organizational conflict in the institutes. Significant
associations were established between researchers’ age (X2 =13.5, df = 3, p < 0.05), educational
level (X2 =10.2, df = 2, p < 0.05) and the perceived effects of organizational conflict. It was
recommended that adequate information about job specifications and assignment should be provided
to the researchers in their daily activities.

Communication, organization, conflict, agricultural, institute.