The relationship between self-concept and communication skills towards academic achievement among secondary school students in Johor Bahru

The article reviews empirical studies which emphasize that the relationship of self-concept and interpersonal communication skills to academic achievement. 320 students from eight schools in Johor Bahru were picked at random using the simple random method. The assessment instruments used in this study were the “Tennessee Self??Concept Scale” (TCS) and “Interpersonal Communication Skills Inventory” (ICSI). The reliability level of the assessment instruments is 0.7498 (TSCS) and 0.7587 from the pilot study done on a group of twenty respondents. The data was analyzed using the Pearson’s correlation and descriptive statistics. The students’ levels of dimension of self-concept (physical, personal, moral and ethic, behavior, social satisfaction and identity) and interpersonal communication skills were identified. The students’ PMR examination results were used as the academic achievement indicator. The results indicated that the majority of the students possessed the moderate level of self-concept and interpersonal communication skills. Self-concept was found to correlate quite significantly with interpersonal communication skills but it was found that self-concept does not correlate significantly with academic achievement. Suggestions were put to improve the students’ interpersonal communication skills and their self-concept. One of the suggestions is that communication skills should be introduced as a subject in the school curriculum from the primary level. This will not only develop a student’s self-confidence but also enhance his self-concept

Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal Communication relies on, and adapts, with gratitude, materials from the following Open Educational Resources: Communication in the Real World: An Introduction to Communication Studies published by the University of Minnesota Libraries.https://touroscholar.touro.edu/opentextbooks/1000/thumbnail.jp

Interpersonal communication

Husband and wife, parent and child, priest and penitent, supervisor and employee, the \u27happy hour\u27 regulars at the corner pub - almost all of us communicate interpersonally every day. Important decisions can depend on success or failure in carrying out this process. Ultimately, it probably is of far more practical importance than mass media communication. But what do we really know about it? As the author of this issue points out, only three of the last forty issues of Trends have focussed on topics which can be labelled \u27interpersonal communication\u27. Most of the other\u27s have been devoted to various aspects of mass communication. While trying to rectify this neglect, we have to recognize some obstacles. Those studying interpersonal communication often are not able to define just where it ends and other categories of communication begin. The field is handled differently in different countries. In the United States it has been welcomed within the fold of communication science, although others, such as psychologists and anthropologists, have long been interested in it. In Europe and elsewhere it is most often a part of psychology. To describe the study of interpersonal communication on a worldwide basis therefore is a challenging task. We have elected, for the sake of coherence, to limit our survey to the North American perspective: interpersonal communication treated as a subfield of communication studies. The references, bibliography and current research sections do try to suggest the broader geographic and disciplinary range of relevant efforts, and hopefully a future issue of Trends will be able to deal with the same topic as it is more characteristically studied in other academic traditions

Technology in Practice (Section 2.31 of the Comprehensive Clinical Psychology: Vol. 2. Professional Issues)

The contemporary practice of psychology requires a prudent balance of traditional and emerging communication methods. Interpersonal interactions in the context of human relationship (e.g., speech, emotional expressions, and nonverbal gestures) have been a vital part of emotional healing throughout many centuries, and research findings in the 1990s underscore the importance of relational factors in effective psychological interventions (Whiston & Sexton, 1993). In addition to the time honored interpersonal communication methods of professional psychology, rapid technological advances have propelled psychologists into another sphere of communication. Today\u27s professional psychologist is increasingly expected to attain mastery in both of these communication methods-the very old and the very new

The effect of public communication campaigns on family communication and behaviour : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Business Studies in Communication Management at Massey University

This thesis examines how mass communicated messages from a public communication campaign affect interpersonal communication within families. It also considers how interpersonal communication among family members flows on to affect behaviours in the family. The study uses McDevitt and Chaffee's five-stage sequence of behavioural activation within families to examine two pro-environmental campaigns: the Big Clean Up and Clean Up NZ. Seven families exposed to the messages of the communication campaigns were interviewed to gain an understanding of what communication process occurred as a result of these interventions. "Downward" (parent to child), and "upward" (child to parent) flows of communication were examined. The results suggest that communication among family members has a substantial bearing on a family's behavioural response to campaign messages. However, the person who engenders the discussions also plays a major role in the success or otherwise of the communication outcomes. The campaign messages had different effects on children than they did on parents. There were no significant behaviour changes in families where the parent was the initial message receiver; however where the child provided the initial intervention behaviour changes tended to occur. While children received new information, and developed new behaviours based on the campaign messages, parents tended to have existing beliefs and patterns of behaviour endorsed. The relationship between interpersonal family communication, campaign messages and changes in behaviour has implications for communicators developing campaigns that aim to change behaviour

Interpersonal communication pattern of farmers through key communicators regarding some selected Gram Panchayat activities

Devolution of power to the grassroot organisations has increasingly been supported in recent years within the context of participatory development. The role of interpersonal communication to actualise such development has also become an area of fresh enquiry. To explore the pattern of interpersonal communication regarding the functioning of panchayati raj institutions (PRI), hence, was taken up for the present study. Key communicator network of farmers was studied as neighbourhood, friendship and discussion group pattern to explore farmers’ interpersonal communication pattern regarding PRI activities. Sociometric technique was employed to identify the key communicators and their networks. Neighbourhood pattern of interaction showed least dense key communicator network and least dependence of farmers on these key communicators for securing information. Friendship pattern of interaction featured higher number of respondents seeking information from more than one key communicator; whereas, discussion group pattern of interaction showed least number of key communicators and highest inter-key communicator interaction. These networks can be fruitfully used to identify and facilitate information flow regarding PRI functioning; at the same time capacity building of key communicators can contribute towards the smooth functioning of these grassroot organisations.Panchayati Raj Institutions, interpersonal communication, key communicator, key communicator network

Interpersonal communication pattern of farmers through key communicators regarding some selected Gram Panchayat activities

Devolution of power to the grassroot organisations has increasingly been supported in recent years within the context of participatory development. The role of interpersonal communication to actualise such development has also become an area of fresh enquiry. To explore the pattern of interpersonal communication regarding the functioning of panchayati raj institutions (PRI), hence, was taken up for the present study. Key communicator network of farmers was studied as neighbourhood, friendship and discussion group pattern to explore farmers’ interpersonal communication pattern regarding PRI activities. Sociometric technique was employed to identify the key communicators and their networks. Neighbourhood pattern of interaction showed least dense key communicator network and least dependence of farmers on these key communicators for securing information. Friendship pattern of interaction featured higher number of respondents seeking information from more than one key communicator; whereas, discussion group pattern of interaction showed least number of key communicators and highest inter-key communicator interaction. These networks can be fruitfully used to identify and facilitate information flow regarding PRI functioning; at the same time capacity building of key communicators can contribute towards the smooth functioning of these grassroot organisations.Panchayati Raj Institutions, interpersonal communication, key communicator, key communicator network

Framework for technical communication skills content development for students in Malaysian Vocational Colleges: a fuzzy delphi study

Developing technical communication is vital to ensure employability of graduates in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. However, limited studies are available to guide its development in Malaysian Vocational Colleges. Hence, this study is aimed at proposing a framework for technical communication development for effective implementation in Malaysian Vocational Colleges. This study employs Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) with 17 experts from industry and TVET institutions in identifying the prominent content of learning for technical communication skills development of students in Malaysian Vocational Colleges. Generally, the findings suggest that all clusters of technical communication skills (oral technical, written technical, interpersonal and researching skills) are important to be emphasised as the content of learning, with a high percentage of agreement (>75%). However, a number of items under Content of Learning components were omitted. For instance, two items under Oral Technical Communication, eight items under Written Technical Communication, two items under Interpersonal and one item under Researching Skills achieved percentage of agreement below 75%. The proposed framework is a relevant reference in introducing technical communication in Malaysian Vocational Colleges

The role of interpersonal relationships in supply chain integration : a thesis by publications presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

Chapter 2 was published as: Wang, B., Childerhouse, P., Kang, Y., Huo, B., & Mathrani, S. (2016). Enablers of supply chain integration: Interpersonal and interorganizational relationship perspectives, Industrial Management & Data Systems, 116(4), 838-855. https://doi-org.ezproxy.massey.ac.nz/10.1108/IMDS-09-2015-0403 Chapter 3 was published as: Wang, B., Kang, Y., Childerhouse, P., & Huo, B. (2018). Service supply chain integration: the role of interpersonal relationships, Industrial Management & Data Systems, 118(4), 828-849. https://doi-org.ezproxy.massey.ac.nz/10.1108/IMDS-02-2017-0062 Chapter 4 was published as: Wang, B., Kang, Y., Childerhouse, P., & Huo, B. (2018). Interpersonal and inter-organizational relationship drivers of supply chain integration, Industrial Management & Data Systems, 118(6), 1170-1191. https://doi-org.ezproxy.massey.ac.nz/10.1108/IMDS-05-2017-0216Purpose –This research aims to explore the role of inter-personal relationships within a supply chain integration context. Firstly, it proposes a conceptual model addressing the interrelationships between interpersonal relationships, inter-organizational relationships, and supply chain integration. Secondly, it investigates the influence of interpersonal relationships on supply chain integration. Lastly, it examines how interpersonal relationships influence interorganizational relationships to enable supply chain integration. Methodology/approach – Based on a comprehensive literature review, the study first proposes a series of propositions and establishes a conceptual framework to illustrate the relationship between interpersonal relationships, inter-organizational relationships, and supply chain integration. Then, the study applies an exploratory/investigational approach of multiple case studies and empirically examines how interpersonal relationships affect inter-organizational relationships and supply chain integration. Findings – The study proposes that interpersonal relationships can indirectly and positively influence supply chain integration, mediated by inter-organizational relationships. Personal affection acts as a relationship initiator, and personal credibility serves as a gatekeeper while personal communication works as a facilitator and plays more important roles than personal affection and credibility. Also, interpersonal relationships can initiate and enhance interorganizational relationships to enable supply chain integration. In the formative stage of supply chain integration, personal affection and credibility play key roles, whereas personal communication becomes more significant during the operational stage. Originality/value – The study advances supply chain integration literature by extending the focus from that of firm level to the level of individuals, and introduces interpersonal relationship dimensions to explore inner mechanisms of supply chain integration. It demonstrates that interpersonal relationships are able to initiate and motivate firm level integration, which modifies the presumption that firm level relationships are predominantly established first in Western cultural contexts. It also sheds light on applying theoretical lenses in supply chain integration. It extends social exchange theory from relationships between parties that are on the same level to different levels of interpersonal and inter-organizational relationships. Meanwhile, it applies resource dependency theory by addressing how interpersonal relationships influence dependence levels on supply chain partners to form firm level relationships. Furthermore, it extends resource orchestration theory by suggesting that inter-organizational relationships and interpersonal relationships can be orchestrated to achieve supply chain integration capabilities. Implications –The study provides insights for practitioners who have limited “hard” firm level resources. Managers should be aware of the significance and characteristics of interpersonal relationships, and decide when and how to deploy both interpersonal and interorganizational relationships as resources during the integration process. In the formative stage, managers should utilise boundary spanners with good personal credibility. More physical contact with counter-partners should be encouraged to foster personal affection, thus initiating the formation of inter-organizational relationships. In the operational stage, personal communication should be strengthened to facilitate the supply chain integration process. On the other hand, managers should mitigate the conflict between primary business interests and subordinate interpersonal friendships