Testing the affective social competence questionnaire The process of development and exploring the evaluation

Abstract

The basic aim of the study was to develop and test a training program designed for university students. The exercises in the programme develop emotional elements of social competence. The framework for the affective social competence model by Halberstadt, Denham and Dunsmore(2001a, 2001b) serves as the theoretical background for theresearch. This model also provides the basis for the questionnaire. The present paper describes how to test this tool. The questionnaire measures the sending, receiving and experiencing of emotional signals through responses received. The sample (N=60) consists of students from faculties of music and science. Their responses were evaluated by nine independent coders. The raters’ consistency and the temporal stability of the evaluations were examined. The study confirmed the applicability of the questionnaire for our training.