The Relationship of Self-Concept And Communication Skills Towards Academic Achievement Among Secondary School Students In Johor Bahru

ABSTRACT- The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of self-concept and interpersonal communication skills to academic achievement. 320 students from eight schools in Johor Bahru were picked at random using the simple random method. The assessment instruments used in this study were the “Tennessee Self-Concept Scale†(TCS) and the Malay version of “Interpersonal Communication Skills Inventory†(ICSI). The reliability level of the assessment instruments was 0.7498(TSCS) and 0.7587 from the pilot study done on a group of twenty respondents. The data was analyzed using the Pearson’s correlation and descriptive statistics. The students’ levels of self-concept and interpersonal communication skills were identified. The levels of students’ self-concept were positive, average or negative while the student’s interpersonal skills were high, average or low. The students’ PMR examination results were used as the academic achievement indicator. The results indicated that the majority of the students possessed the average level of self-concept and interpersonal communication skills. Self-concept was found to correlate quite significantly with interpersonal communication skills but it was found that self-concept does not correlate significantly with academic achievement. Suggestions were put forth to improve the students’ interpersonal communication skills and their self-concept. One of the suggestions is that communication skills should be introduced as a subject in the school curriculum from the primary level. This will not only develop a student’s self-confidence but also enhance his self-concept. (Keyword- self-concept, interpersonal, communication skills and academic achievement)