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BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF

HOME ECONOMICS STUDENTS

PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL

2022
Volume: 6
Pages: 23-29
Document ID: 2022PEMJ406
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7424082
Manuscript Accepted: 2022-10-12
Psych Educ, 2022, 6: 23-29, Document ID: PEMJ406, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.7424082, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

Business Communication Skills of Home Economics Students

Jonel C. Garma*, Rey Francis T. Nacorda


For affiliations and correspondence, see the last page.

Abstract
Employability and managerial skills start at school. This study aimed to determine the personal
performance rating of business communication skills among Home Economics (H.E) students in
Maghaway National High School. A descriptive research design was utilized in this study with 17
respondents. For the data analysis, this study utilizes a weighted mean of the responses gathered.
Based on the results the respondent’s business communication skills were categorized as developing
which implies that students’ competence is limited. It is clearly presented that the respondents
categorized their skills in terms of public speaking skills, active listening, collaboration skills, and
decision-making skills was developing while written communication was categorized as a beginning.
The researchers concluded that the business communication skills of the students must be given
corresponding attention by developing interventions and teaching strategies that will help to
enhance the student’s business communication skills and to prepare them for real-life work settings.

Keywords: interventions, employment, teaching strategies, business communication skills, real- life
work settings

Introduction undergraduate and postgraduate levels. However, the


teaching of applied business communication skills at
The QS (2019) points out that problem-solving, the postgraduate level in the discipline of auditing is
communication, and teamwork are the three key usually minimal or non-existent (Fourie, 2005).
competencies that employers around the world look Furthermore, audit practitioners stated that new
for. Future graduates should prioritize developing accounting and auditing trainees are not adequately
these essential skills before joining the job market. prepared to communicate with clients, staff, and
Being proficient in English is therefore viewed as management (Fourie,2005). According to Kurtz,
being vital since it fosters effective business Silverman, and Draper (2005), even when
communication, creates chances for employment and communication skills programs have been
business, fosters the development of international implemented, they are not always taught effectively.
partnerships, and aids in the expansion of an They also state that communication programs must
enterprise. This is particularly true considering that the result in lo n g - term ch anges in stu d en ts'
majority of firms place a high value on employees' commu nication skills (Kurtz et al., 2005).
verbal skills in presentations, conversations, and
conferences. The industrial and business worlds are In this study, the researchers aim to determine the
rapidly developing, and it is expected that all human p erson al p erfo rm an ce rating of bu siness
resources will follow. In light of these changes, the communication skills among Home Economics (H.E)
industry requires skilled, knowledgeable, and students in Maghaway National High School to
competitive human resources (Atwijuka & Caldwell, develop intervention and teaching strategies that will
2017). A highly competitive individual is an absolute enhance their business communication skills and
necessity in the industrial world. Furthermore, the prepare them for real-life work settings.
industry anticipated a shortage of other skills. This is a
problem because skills outside of one's field of Research Questions
expertise allow the industry to operate efficiently.
Other skills are required of both vocational school The study aimed to determine the personal
graduates and current employees (Plant et al., 2019; performance rating of business communication skills
Herbert et al., 2020). of grade 12 Home Economics (H.E) students in
Maghaway National High School, Maghaway Talisay
Teaching business communication skills at the tertiary City, Cebu as a basis for the proposed interventions to
level is a common occurrence (Laster & Russ, 2010; improve the business communication skills of the
Newberry & Conrad, 2010). Various disciplines students. Specifically, this study sought to provide
include knowledge and skills in business answers to the following questions:
communication in their curricula at both the
1. What is the personal performance rating of the

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Psych Educ, 2022, 6: 23-29, Document ID: PEMJ406, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.7424082, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

students in business communication skills in terms of: 2012) have found that graduates from rural areas face
1.1 public speaking skills, difficulties because they have less exposure to English
1.2 active listening, speaking; in fact, the majority of them prefer to use the
1.3 collaboration skills, national language because it is the medium of
1.4 decision-making skills, and instruction at public universities. According to Wahi,
1.5 written communication? Musa, Mohdali, and Hassan's (2019) study on the
2. Based on the findings, what interventions should be literacy abilities of undergraduate students identified
crafted? as "at-risk" (having a low-income economic
background and low English proficiency), the students
have developed skills in problem-solving, teamwork,
Literature Review and technology. In contrast to the QS (2019), this
study shows that students still lack communication
Employees in tourism and hospitality should be skills despite taking a number of university-provided
carefully selected and receive ongoing training, as communication and English courses that are required
their communication skills are an important indicator in order to prepare them for employment.
of how well they interact with customers (Tankovic,
The Philippines has the highest unemployment rate in
2020). The ability to communicate effectively is one of
the world. The second-highest among Association of
the most important skills for tourism employees
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries,
because it has become an essential part of the tourism
with Indonesia having the highest at 8.4 percent
business's daily operations (Brownell, 2016; Lolli,
(Adriano, 2009). This is indeed high, especially when
2013).
compared to Thailand's, Singapore's, and Malaysia's
Although Stevens (2005) emphasizes that oral end-of-year unemployment rates of 1.4 percent, 2.6
communication skills are lacking in young employees, percent, and 3.3 percent, respectively. Employability
these skills are undoubtedly the foundation of literacy can mean different things to different people,
and a prerequisite of any business communication. according to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). It
From the perspectives of various professions and describes the employment rate of graduates in relation
stakeholders, multiple scales for written and oral to their characteristics (Harvey, 2003). Some people
communication skills were developed. However, it associate employability with how quickly a graduate
appears that these skills are insufficient to meet finds work. As a result, the waiting period for seeking
modern business needs, necessitating an expansion of employment is the most important indicator of whether
the previously used communication skill set. Listening or not a school is capable of producing qualified
communication skills imply the process of receiving, graduates for the labor market (Syafiq & Fikawati,
interpreting, and responding to the message received 2008). However, given the broad definition of
by the sender (Bisen & Priya, 2009) and is regarded as employability, it is important to recognize that the
the most important and frequent communication quality of a university graduate is not solely a
activity in business (Keyton et al., 2013). Listening reflection of the curriculum and its supporting
skills are undervalued because the process is natural: academic environment; there may be other factors that
while hearing is purely physical, listening is a mental contribute to employability and unemployment.
process that involves interpreting and comprehending Business graduates were in short supply in the
a message (Krizan et al., 2008). Listening efficiency is Philippines, as evidenced by the 22 percent who
estimated to be between 25% and 50%, implying that graduated. In 2004, many people with business
50% to 75% of spoken information is ignored, degrees were unemployed (Ramota, 2005). According
forgotten, or misunderstood (Guffey & Loewy, 2016). to the findings of a UNESCO survey (Graduate
Employability in Asia, 2012), communication between
In a study by Ismail (2011), graduates who are both graduates and employers did not place a high
proficient in English and have leadership and technical value on skills. Mechanisms for matching labor
abilities are more likely to find employment than demand and supply, on the other hand, such as
graduates who lack these qualities. As a result, the providing access to public services and job-matching
researchers have been motivated to investigate the technologies (e.g., job fairs, career or job placement
English language competency and communication services), as well as implementing measures to ease
abilities of final-year degree students majoring in the school-work transition, such as linkages between
business at a public university for workplace academe and industry/employers (Laguador & Ramos,
preparedness. Studies on the characteristics of 2014; Laguador, 2015; Orence & Laguador, 2013), are
graduates and unemployment (Musa, Lie, & Azman, viewed as more beneficial.

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Psych Educ, 2022, 6: 23-29, Document ID: PEMJ406, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.7424082, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

Brownell (1996) developed a framework for listening Results and Discussion


skills that includes six major components of the
listening process and can be used as a suitable
measurement tool for listening assessment. Although This section presents the findings based on the study’s
Forsyth et al. (1999) developed a model for assessing research question. To determine the personal
general communication and interaction skills (ACIS), performance rating of business communication skills a
weighted mean was utilized in this study.
assessing business communication, particularly in
tourism, necessitates a more focused approach. To fill
Respondents’ Personal Performance Rating of
this void, this study brings together all of the most
Business Communication Skills
important categories of communication skills based on
a review of scientific literature and attempts to This part is composed of the different tables for the
integrate them into a single measuring instrument. level of the personal performance rating of business
communication skills. It includes 5 tables, Table 1-5
shows the students’ business communication skills in
Methodology
terms of public communication, active listening,
collaboration skills, decision-making skills, and
The design used in this study is the survey method written communication.
which is under the descriptive research design. The
Table 1. Students’ business communication skills in
researchers used a descriptive approach to determine
the business communication skills of the participants terms of public communication skills
of the study.

Participants

The respondents of the study are 17 Grade 12 students


of Home Economic Strand of Maghaway National
High School. They were chosen as respondents to
prepare them for their work immersion since they will
be deployed in the following semester.

Instruments of the Study

A researcher-made questionnaire was used as an


instrument for data collection. The questionnaire was
personally crafted by the researchers and validated by Table 1 represents Students’ business communication
the experts and assessed by colleagues in academe to skills in terms of public communication skills. The
ensure its validity. The tool was divided into 5 parts, table reveals that the Grand Mean of all the indicators
first part is the public communication skills of the has a total of 1.86 which also has an interpretation of
student. Followed by active listening skills and then Developing. The table has shown that out of 5
collaboration skills. Next was decision-making skills indicators, 4 of which have an interpretation of
and lastly, written communication. Developing. The indicator I can share my ideas and
thoughts with others has the highest mean of 2.15 with
Procedure an interpretation of Developing. The indicator I can
connect automatically with classmates when I start
The collection of data followed certain steps. First, the talking got the second mean of 2.00 with the
researcher requested permission from the office of the interpretation of Developing. The indicator I can speak
principal to conduct a study at Maghaway National spontaneously in front of my classmates has a mean of
1.95 has an interpretation of Developing. The indicator
High School in a formal letter. The researchers then
I am confident about when speaking with peers and
conducted the survey. After acquiring the participant's
teachers got the fourth mean of 1.85 with an
responses, the data was analyzed in the most accurate
interpretation of Developing. Lastly, the indicator I
treatment of data by getting the mean and the level of
can conquer my stage fright has the lowest mean of
personal performance rating of business
1.35 which has an interpretation of Beginning.
communication skills of home economic students.

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Psych Educ, 2022, 6: 23-29, Document ID: PEMJ406, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.7424082, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

According to our findings, developing self-confidence when family members need to interact with each other
can be more difficult for students than learning in carrying out various functions and achieving goals.
communication techniques such as storytelling. These are put into operation in carrying out various
Speaking in front of an audience is a terrifying tasks and functions, i.e. planning, organizing,
experience for many people, including students, coaching, mentoring, facilitating, sales, negotiation,
professional scientists, and those in other professions arbitration, mediation, appraisal, interview good and
(Daly, Vangelisti, & Lawrence, 1989; Bader, 2016). well-developed listening skills are also regarded as an
Neither the self-assessments nor the external reviews essential component of other functions. These include
revealed a significant improvement in students' ability reaching agreements, making decisions, influencing,
to project self-confidence as a result of Engage motivating, dealing with grievances, solving problems,
training. However, according to the analysis presented and obtaining and disseminating information such as
in supplementary material S5, external reviewers policy, procedures, rules, regulations, feedback, and
perceived more self-confidence in pre-course marketing information (Roche, 2020).
presentations than students reported in their self-
assessments. Table 3. Students’ business communication skills in
terms of collaboration skills
Table 2. Students’ business communication skills in
terms of active listening

Table 3 represents the Students’ business


Table 2 represents the Students’ business communication skills in terms of collaboration skills.
communication skills in terms of active listening The table has shown a Grand Mean of 2.35 which has
skills. The table has a Grand Mean of 2.16 which has an interpretation of Developing. Out of 5 indicators, 4
an interpretation of Developing. All the indicators of which have an interpretation of Developing and 1 of
have an interpretation of Developing. Out of 5, the them is Proficient. The indicator I always support the
indicator I consider asking questions with my teacher goal of my classmates has the highest mean of 2.75
and classmates when I don’t understand the topic got which has an interpretation of Proficient. The indicator
the highest mean of 2.40 which has an interpretation of I encourage my classmates to work together has the
Developing. The indicator, I consider other thoughts mean of 2.45 which has an interpretation of
and ideas, got the mean of 2.35 that has interpretation Developing. The indicators, I can express myself well
of Developing. The indicator I can retain some ideas and my ideas when I am in a group and I help my
when I just listen has a mean of 2.25 that has an peers to achieve all the tasks have the same mean of
interpretation of Developing. The next indicator, I can 2.25 that has an interpretation of Developing. Lastly,
recall specific details during conversations, has a mean the indicator I prefer working with my peers rather
of 2.00 which has an interpretation of 2.00 with an than working alone got the lowest mean of 2.05 that
interpretation of Developing. Lastly, the indicator I has an interpretation of Developing. Collaboration or
seek mutual understanding with my peers got the teamwork helps to strengthen and balance
lowest mean of 1.80 that has an interpretation of communication skills. In the twenty-first century, a
Developing. Many organizational tasks and functions higher ability to collaborate leads to greater ease when
require good listening skills. These are regarded as joining a sought-after workforce (Trilling & Fadel,
crucial not only in organizations in terms of 2010). In any field-work job, collaboration skills are
knowledge acquisition in terms of job duties always required (Lowell & Ashby, 2018). This
implementation, but also within homes, particularly

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Psych Educ, 2022, 6: 23-29, Document ID: PEMJ406, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.7424082, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

statement was supported by the observation that at the terms of written communication
Jombang Regency job fair, students with the ability to
collaborate were properly able to find work and
accepted in previously chosen jobs. Furthermore, this
teamwork process boosts a company's productivity
(Rohani et al.,2017).

Table 4. Students’ business communication skills in


terms of decision-making skills

Table 5 represents the Students’ business


commu nication skills in terms of written
communication. The table has shown the Grand Mean
of 1.67 which has an interpretation of the Beginning.
Out of 5 indicators, only 1 of which has an
interpretation of Developing. The indicator, I can write
Table 4 represents the Students’ business a formal letter or any written text has the highest mean
communication skills in terms of decision-making of 1.76 that has an interpretation of Developing. The
skills. The table shows the Grand Mean of 1.98 which next indicator, I write a draft first before doing the
has an interpretation of Developing. Out of 5 actual writing, has a mean of 1.70 that has an
indicators, only 1 of which has the interpretation of interpretation of Beginning. Two of the indicators, I
Beginning. The indicator, I make solid decisions, got am good at grammar and mechanics, and I can
the highest mean of 2.25 that has an interpretation of determine revisions in my work to enhance it, has the
Developing. The indicators, I consider difficult choices same mean of 1.65 which has an interpretation of
and I create meaningful decisions with the same mean Beginning. Lastly, the indicator I always review my
of 2.00 which has an interpretation of Developing. The writing for errors got the lowest mean of 1.60 which
indicator I analyze all the tasks given has the mean of has an interpretation of Beginning. Business people are
1.95 which has an interpretation of Developing. Lastly, constantly bombarded with communication messages.
the indicator I evaluate all alternative ways to make Written messages should be to the point and concise in
the task easier got the lowest mean of 1.70 that has an order to stand out, but they should also demonstrate
interpretation of Beginning. The advent of the goodwill (Sladoljev-Agejev, 2008; Smith; 2005;
participatory classroom has been predicted for some Spigelman & Grobman, 2006).
time (Crouch & Mazur, 2001). Technology supports
such strategies by allowing students to respond and Conclusion
interact through the use of small handhelds or clickers.
It allows instructors to collect student responses to a
posted question, usually of the multiple-choice variety, On a final note, the researchers concludes that the level
in real time. Answers are immediately recorded and of personal performance rating in business
displayed to all students. This method has primarily communication skills of home economics students was
been used to evaluate lectures or pre-existing levels of categorized as developing which implies that students’
understanding, as well as poll student opinions or competence is limited. It is clearly presented that the
attitudes (Caldwell, 2007). We take it a step further in respondents categorized their skills in terms of public
this paper, utilizing face-to-face CSCL (Zurita & speaking skills, active listening, collaboration skills,
Nussbaum, 2004a) for the development of and decision-making skills was developing while
communication, interpersonal, and decision-making written communication was categorized as a
skills within the classroom. beginning. The results presented clearly signify that
the students are not yet totally equipped with the
Table 5. Students’ business communication skills in needed business communication skills for employment

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Research Article

and running their own businesses. This may result in a https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2020.100378


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Tipon, F., Villanueva, A., Baluyot, M., Juan, K., Cruz, N., & Tus, J.
(2021). The Self-Efficacy and Its Relationship on the Academic
Jonel C. Garma
Motivation to the Senior High School Students from Public Schools Maghaway National High School
Amidst the New Normal Education in the Philippines. International Department of Education - Philippines
Journal Of Advance Research And Innovative Ideas In Education.
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