The Search for Valid Measures of Social Competence: The Variability and Consistency of Component Behaviour

Abstract

Measures of component behaviour have been put forward as valid and reliable predictors of social competency. This study assessed the consistency of verbal and nonverbal component behaviours across situations and time. Thirty-seven people participated in an informal conversation with a confederate and a mock job interview with a second confederate. This scenario was repeated three weeks later. Social competency ratings were obtained from the confederates and subsequently from two observers along with specific measures of nine component behaviours. While nonverbal component behaviours were quite consistent across settings and time, verbal behaviours were less so, although none consistently predicted competency ratings across settings and time. Subjects who received high competency ratings were found to behave more variably across settings than those who received low ratings. The findings support the notion that evaluation of social skills training will require measurement of functionally equivalent, rather than topographically defined, classes of behaviour.