Student Perceptions of Communication Skills and Styles at a Predominately White University

One of the greatest issues currently facing higher education is minority enrollment and retention. The literature has attributed several factors to differences between Black and White students' involvement in and completion of higher education such as socioeconomic status, motivation, and previous academic experience; however, thus far no known studies have included communication. This study broadly explored communication skills as a potential factor influencing retention rates in higher education. Using mixed methodology, Black and White undergraduate students at a predominately White university were asked to provide self perceptions of high school and college communication skills and styles. Findings revealed no significant differences between Black and White students' perceptions of their communication personality or communication skills in high school or college, no significant differences between freshmen and sophomores' communication skills in high school or college, and no differences between the perceptions of students of parents with more or less education. All students reported that they were unprepared for the academic demands of college. Implications for future research are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Speech and Hearing Science

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Armstrong, Jennifer L.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ruth Watkins

• Health Sciences, Speech Pathology

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3242783

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/85215