Time-Condensed Instruction of Fundamental Communication Skills

Abstract

The effectiveness of a communication skills training program designed to teach basic skills was evaluated. Findings from basic and advanced communication skills studies have supported the effectiveness claims of communication skills training. A common finding is that basic skills require less time to learn than advanced skills (Kuntze, Van der Molen, & Born, 2007). However, the specific rates of skill acquisition and the amount of time needed to train specific skills have not been systematically investigated. In this exploratory study, Fundamental Communication Skills (FCS) were taught to thirty two counseling psychology graduate students using randomized treatment and control groups in a three-hour training session. The frequency of use of the FCS were measured multiple times after training and at a ten week follow up. Participants increased their frequency of use of FCS after training and maintained those skills over time. However, skill acquisition trends suggested: (a) some communication skills are less amenable to time-condensed training than others and, (b) some interpersonal behaviors that previous research identified as "fundamental" may contain multiple social-cognitive elements that might be more accurately conceptualized as part of an "advanced" skills continuum.