Teaching Communication/Interviewing Skills to Urban Undergraduate Social Work Students

Abstract

This paper describes one instructor's experience in using the Interpersonal Communication Inventory with several different classes of urban undergraduate social work students to facilitate the students' recognition and mastery of the components of interpersonal communication. The Interpersonal Communication Inventory is an instrument that measures the patterns, characteristics, and styles of communication along the dimensions of: (1) self-concept, (2) listening, (3) clarity of expression, (4) coping with angry feelings, and (5) self-disclosure. Utilization of the instrument in conjunction with presentations of various theories of communication results in improved interpersonal communication and enhanced readiness to learn interviewing skills.