Social skills of beginner and senior undergraduates evaluation

Abstract

The process of entering and remaining in college demands from the undergraduates the development of social skills which promote a better adaptation and preparation for the market. The purpose of this study was to characterize and compare the repertoire of social skills from beginners (second semester) and senior students (tenth semester) from different graduation courses and identify sociodemographic and occupational factors related to social skills. Undergraduates (n = 165) enrolled in Psychology, Law and Civil Engineering schools at a private institution from Minas Gerais participated in the study and responded to the Social Skills Inventory (IHS-Del-Prette) and an occupational and sociodemographic questionnaire. Except for Civil Engineering students, we observed that seniors showed a more developed social skills repertoire when compared to beginners. Besides, students that concluded secondary school in public institutions and had their own income showed themselves as the more skilled ones. Regarding gender, men and women showed a more developed repertoire in distinct social skills. New researches that evaluate changes in social skills repertoire from undergraduates during graduation period are recommended, enabling the intervention planning which promotes a better adaptation and preparation for the market via acquisition and improvement of these skills.

Keywords: social skills; undergraduates; vocational training.