Competence, Personality, and Self-Efficacy: Relationships in an Undergraduate Interpersonal Course

Abstract

Interpersonal communication competence is an evaluative impression of the quality of interaction (Spitzberg & Cupach, 1984 Spitzberg, B. H. and Cupach, W. R. 1984. Interpersonal communication competence, Beverly Hills, CA: Sage. [Google Scholar]). Such impressions derive from enacting skills associated with effectiveness and appropriateness in interactions. Andersen (1987) Andersen, P. A. 1987. “The trait debate: A critical examination of the individual differences paradigm in interpersonal communication”. In Progress in communication sciences, Vol. 8 Edited by: Dervin, B. and Voight, M. J. 47–82. Norwood, NJ: Ablex. [Google Scholar] included communication competence in his discussion of communicative predispositions, which he defined as constructs that “explain and predict communication behavior and attitudes” (p. 50). Although developing students' skills is a goal for many professors in interpersonal communication, several stable traits or personality factors also appear to influence acquisition (Daly & Bippus, 1998 Daly, J. A. and Bippus, A. M. 1998. “Personality and interpersonal communication: Issues and directions”. In Communication and personality: Trait perspectives, Edited by: McCroskey, J. C., Daly, J. A., Martin, M. M. and Beatty, M. J. 1–40. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press. [Google Scholar]; Greene, 2003 Greene, J. O. 2003. “Models of adult communication skill acquisition: Practice and the course of performance improvement”. In Handbook of communication interaction skills, Edited by: Greene, J. O. and Burleson, B. R. 51–92. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. [Google Scholar]). In addition, students' self-perceived efficacy in respect to developing competence might also relate to their ability to focus on certain skills. The purpose of this research project was to determine the relationships among interpersonal communication competence, personality traits, and self-efficacy for students who have nearly completed an interpersonal communication course.

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