Assessment of the Characteristics of Interpersonal Communication Competence among Postgraduate Students from Different Cultures

Dr. Abdul Qahar Sarwari; Mohammad Nubli Wahab; Mohammad Hilmi Mat Said; Noor Ashikin Abdul Aziz

doi:10.36923/jicc.v18i2.762

Open Access Article Cultural Studies Intercultural Communication

Dr. Abdul Qahar Sarwari ⁽¹⁾ , Mohammad Nubli Wahab ⁽²⁾ , Mohammad Hilmi Mat Said ⁽³⁾ , Noor Ashikin Abdul Aziz ⁽⁴⁾

1. Center for Modern Languages and Human Sciences (CMLHS) University Malaysia Pahang (UMP)

2. University Malaysia Pahang

3. University Malaysia Pahang

4. University Malaysia Pahang

https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v18i2.762

Issue
Vol. 18 No. 2 (2018)

Submitted
2016 September 22

Published
2018 July 10

Keywords:

Intercultural Communication, Interpersonal Communication Competence, Asian Context of Communication

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Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the characteristics of interpersonal communication competence among postgraduate students from different cultures at a Malaysian public university. This study applied the mixed methods research design with the participation of 130 postgraduate students from 18 different countries. The Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire (ICQ) was used as the main instrument of this study. Based on the results from this study, their interactions with their peers from different cultures helped the participants to improve the contact initiation, disclosure and conflict management skills of their interpersonal communication competence and gain some new personal and cultural skills and information. However, the participants were struggling to learn how to manage probable conflicts during their interactions with their peers from different cultures. The results from this study illustrate that the level of education variable affect interactions among individuals from different cultures in the Asian context of communication.

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Authors

Dr. Abdul Qahar Sarwari

qaharesarwari@gmail.com (Primary Contact)

Mohammad Nubli Wahab

Mohammad Hilmi Mat Said

Noor Ashikin Abdul Aziz

Author Biographies

Dr. Abdul Qahar Sarwari

Dr. Abdul Qahar Sarwari is senior lecturer in Journalism at Alberuni University of Afghanistan; he has his Bachelor degree in Journalism from Kabul University of Afghanistan, his MA degree in English Language and Professional Communication from University Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and has his PhD in Communication and Humanities Technology from University Malaysia Pahang. Dr Abdul Qahar Sarwari’s research focuses on the ways that enable individuals to conduct fruitful interactions in multicultural environments.

Mohammad Nubli Wahab

Dr. Mohammad Nubli Abdul Wahad is Associate Professor in Human Sciences, and the Dean for Center for Modern Language and Human Sciences at University Malaysia Pahang (UMP). He has his MSc degree in Extension Education and his PhD in Management Information Systems from University Putra Malaysia (UPM).

Mohammad Hilmi Mat Said

Dr. Mohamad Hilmi Mat Said is senior lecturer at Center for Modern Languages and Human Sciences, University Malaysia Pahang. He has his BA degree in Shariah from Al-Azhar University of Egypt, his MA in Shariah from UKM, Malaysia and his PhD in Islamic Studies from USM, Malaysia.

Noor Ashikin Abdul Aziz

Nor Ashikin Abdul Aziz is a senior lecturer in the Center for Modern Languages and Human Sciences at the Universiti Malaysia Pahang. She has her B.Sc. in English language and Education from Southern Illinois University, USA, and her MA in Teaching English as Foreign Language from Southern Illinois University, USA. She teaches English, presentation skills and interpersonal effectiveness.

Sarwari, D. A. Q., Wahab, M. N., Said, M. H. M., & Abdul Aziz, N. A. (2018). Assessment of the Characteristics of Interpersonal Communication Competence among Postgraduate Students from Different Cultures. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 18(2), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v18i2.762

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