SOCIAL COMPETENCE AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN RELATION TO THEIR GENDER AND TYPE OF INSTITUTION

Abstract

This research attempted to study the social competence among senior secondary school students in relation to their gender and type of institution. A Descriptive Survey method of research has been employed. A standardized tool namely the Social Competence Scale by Sharma and Rani (2013) contains 47 items consisting of three dimensions (Personal Adequacy, Interpersonal Adequacy and Communication Skills) has been used. A sample of 200 students studying in the eleventh class has been selected through the Simple Random Sampling Technique. The data collected were analyzed by using Percentage and Two-Way ANOVA. The results of the study revealed that the majority of the senior secondary school students have average to low levels of social competence for all the dimensions of SCS as well as for overall scores of SCS. The main effect of gender is significant for the Interpersonal Adequacy dimension of SCS and female senior secondary school students were found to have better social competence than male senior secondary school students. The students studying in private senior secondary schools are found to possess better social competence for all dimensions of SCS. The combined effect of gender and type of institution is significant on the Interpersonal Adequacy dimension as well as overall scores of SCS. Furthermore, the male students studying in private senior secondary schools were found to possess better social competence as compared to male students studying in government senior secondary schools.