Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology
Adaptive soft-skills: Orientation course as an opportunity to develop social skills
Martina Blažková 1 *
More Detail
1 University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Education
* Corresponding Author
Open Access Full Text (PDF)
ARTICLE INFO

Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, 2024 - Volume 6 Issue 2, pp. 1-16
https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202424951

Article Type: Research Article

Published Online: 19 Mar 2024

Views: 346 | Downloads: 169

ABSTRACT
Orientation courses help pupils and students make the transition to higher education. The purpose of the courses is to allay fears associated with this situation. We aim to look at orientation courses as an opportunity for development, focusing on the development of the social competence of the participants. The aim is to identify and describe which social skills the orientation course develops. The research sample includes 46 students aged 15-16. The research design uses a mixed design, the main part of the research uses the Q-methodology technique, for which we use Q-factor analysis, which produces clusters of respondents based on a common factor. The research findings suggest that the orientation course environment offers an opportunity to develop empathy and social sensitivity to self and others, as well as the ability to diagnose and provide social support. The orientation course offers the potential for increased participant motivation, including motivation for further self-development. We refer to these skills as 'adaptive soft-skills'. Focusing on their development provides the basis for successful adaptation at the beginning of the student's studies and dispels social concerns.     
KEYWORDS
In-text citation: (Blažková, 2024)
Reference: Blažková, M. (2024). Adaptive soft-skills: Orientation course as an opportunity to develop social skills. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, 6(2), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202424951
In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Blažková M. Adaptive soft-skills: Orientation course as an opportunity to develop social skills. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology. 2024;6(2), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202424951
In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Blažková M. Adaptive soft-skills: Orientation course as an opportunity to develop social skills. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology. 2024;6(2):1-16. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202424951
In-text citation: (Blažková, 2024)
Reference: Blažková, Martina. "Adaptive soft-skills: Orientation course as an opportunity to develop social skills". Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology 2024 6 no. 2 (2024): 1-16. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202424951
In-text citation: (Blažková, 2024)
Reference: Blažková, M. (2024). Adaptive soft-skills: Orientation course as an opportunity to develop social skills. Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, 6(2), pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202424951
In-text citation: (Blažková, 2024)
Reference: Blažková, Martina "Adaptive soft-skills: Orientation course as an opportunity to develop social skills". Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, vol. 6, no. 2, 2024, pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.33902/jpsp.202424951
REFERENCES
  • Albrecht, K. (2005). Social Intelligence: The new science of sccess. Pfeiffer.
  • Argyle, M. (1967). The psychology of interpersonal behaviour. Penguin.
  • Beavers, A. S., Lounsbury, J. W., Richards, J. K., Huck, S. W., Skolits, G. J. & Esquivel, S. L. (2013). Practical considerations for using exploratory factor analysis in education research. Practical Assessment Research & Evaluation, 18, Article 6. https://doi.org/10.7275/qv2q-rk76
  • Bendová, A. (2016). Třídní učitel v sociálních vztazích se svými žáky: případová studie [A classroom teacher in social relations with his pupils: a case study]. Pedagogická orientace, 26(2), 252-271. https://doi.org/10.5817/PedOr2016-2-252
  • Bureau of Personnel Administration. (1930). Partially standardized tests of social intelligence. Public Personnel Studies, 8, 73-79.
  • Coogan, J., & Herrington, N. (2011). Q methodology: an overview. Research in Secondary Teacher Education, 1(2), 24-28.
  • Driskell, T., Driskell, J. E., Burke, S., & Salas, E. (2017). Team roles: A Review and Integration. Small Group Research, 48(4), 482-511. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496417711529
  • Duru, E. (2008). The predictive analysis of adjustment difficulties from loneliness, social support, and social connectedness. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 8, 849-856.
  • Dziuban, C., & Shirley, E. (1974). When is a correlation matrix appropriate for factor analysis? Some decision rules. Psychological Bulletin, 81, 358-361. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0036316
  • Erikson, E. H. & Erikson, J. M. (1998). The life cycle completed. W. W. Norton & Company.
  • Gardner, H. (1999). Intelligence reframed: multiple intelligences for the 21st century. Basic Books.
  • Gass, M. A., Garvey, D. E., & Sugerman, D. (2003). The long-term effects of a first-year student wilderness orientation program. Journal of Experiential Education, 26(1), 34-40. https://doi.org/10.1177/105382590302600106
  • Hanuš, R. (2004). Probudit se a jít – Hnutí GO! [Wake up and go - The GO! Movement]. Gymnasion, 1, 55-61.
  • Jirásek, I. (2019). Zážitková pedagogika [Experiential pedagogy]. Portál.
  • Jung, C. G. (2014). Analytical psychology, its theory and practice. Routledge.
  • Kalkusová, L. (2020). Přínos adaptačního kurzu pro rozvoj sociálních vztahů ve školních třídách [The benefit of the adaptation course for the development of social relations in school classes]. Univerzita Karlova.
  • Kaplánek, M. (2013). Animace: studijní text pro přípravu animátorů mládeže [Animation: a study text for training youth animators]. Portál.
  • Klieme, E., Maag-Merki, K., & Hartig, J. (2010). Kompetence a jejich význam ve vzdělávání [Competences and their importance in education]. Pedagogická orientace, 20(1), 104–119.
  • Kocmánková Menšíková, L. (2011). Sociální a kulturní kapitál lokálních aktérů v rozvoji venkova [Social and cultural capital of local actors in rural development]. Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze.
  • Krstić, K. (2015). Attachment in the student-teacher relationship as a factor of school achievement. Inovacije u nastavi, 28(3), 167-188. https://doi.org/10.5937/inovacije1503167K
  • Maslow, A. H. (1958). A Dynamic Theory of Human Motivation. In C. L. Stacey & M. DeMartino (Eds.), Understanding human motivation (pp. 26–47). Howard Allen Publishers. https://doi.org/10.1037/11305-004
  • Másilka, D., & Zappe, P. (2007). Seriál Ze života gymnazistů, 3. díl, Vstupní adaptační kurz GO! [Series From the life of high school students, 3rd part, Introductory adaptation course GO!]. Gymnasion, 4(7), 67-70.
  • Másilka, D. (2006). Jevy ovlivňující život vybrané sociální skupiny (zakotvená teorie v kinantropologické praxi) [Phenomena affecting the life of a selected social group (an anchored theory in kinanthropological practice)] [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Fakulta tělesné kultury UP, Olomouc.
  • McCann, D., & Margerison, C. (1985). Team management profiles—their use in management development. Journal of Management Development, 4(2), 34-47. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb051580
  • Piaget, J. (1999). The psychology of intelligence. Taylor & Francis.
  • Rabušic, L., Soukup, P., & Mareš, P. (2019). Statistická analýza sociálněvědních dat (prostřednictvím SPSS) [Statistical analysis of social science data (using SPSS)]. Masarykova univerzita.
  • Rose-Krasnor, L. (1997). The nature of social competence: a theoretical review. Social Development, 6(1), 111-135. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9507.1997.tb00097.x
  • Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional inteliggence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9(3), 185-211. https://doi.org/10.2190/dugg-p24e-52wk-6cdg
  • Sarason, B. R., & Sarason, I. G. (2006). Close relationships and social support: Implications for the measurement of social support. In A. L. Vangelisti & D. Perlman (Eds.), The Cambridge handbook of personal relationships (pp. 429-443). Cambridge. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511606632.024
  • Shapiro, L. E. (1998). Emoční inteligence dítěte a její rozvoj [Child's emotional intelligence and its development]. Portál.
  • Škaloudová, A. (2010). Faktorová analýza [Factor analysis.]. Univerzita Karlova – Pedagogická fakulta.
  • Smith, G. J. (2006). The impact of different parenting styles on first-year college students´ adaptation to college [Paper presentation]. 15th Biennial Conference of the Society for Research in Human Development, Fort Worth, TX, Mar 30-Apr 1.
  • Stainton Rogers, R. (1995). Q methodology. In J. A. Smith, R. Harré, & L. Van Langenhove (Eds.), Rethinking methods in psychology (pp. 178-192). Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446221792.n12
  • Thompson, B. (2004). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis: Undestanding concepts and applications. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10694-000
  • Výrost, J., Slaměník, I., & Sollárová, E. (2019). Sociální psychologie [Social psychology]. Grada.
  • Weinstein, E. A. (1969). The development of interpersonal competence. In D. A. Goslin (Ed.), Handbook of socialization theory and research (pp. 753-775). Rand McNally.
  • Wolfe, B. D. & G. Kay. (2011). Perceived impact of an outdoor orientation program for first-year university students. Journal of Experiential Education, 34(1), 19-34. https://doi.org/10.1177/105382591103400103
  • Zagata, L. (2008). Systémy komunitních měn jako zdroj regionálního a sociálního rozvoje [Community currency systems as a source of regional and social development] [Unpulished doctoral dissertation]. Czech University of Agriculture, Prague. https://q-sort.pef.czu.cz/about
  • Žák, M. (2012). Jaký má vliv úvodní soustředění (neboli adaptační kurz) na kvalitu sociálních vztahů v třídním kolektivu? [What effect does the initial concentration (or adaptation course) have on the quality of social relations in the class group?]. Gymnos Akadémos, 1(2), 28-42.
LICENSE
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.