ERIC Number: EJ1053626
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1942-2504
EISSN: N/A
Exploring Predictability of Instructor Ratings Using a Quantitative Tool for Evaluating Soft Skills among MBA Students
Brill, Robert T.; Gilfoil, David M.; Doll, Kristen
American Journal of Business Education, v7 n3 p175-182 2014
Academic researchers have often touted the growing importance of "soft skills" for modern day business leaders, especially leadership and communication skills. Despite this growing interest and attention, relatively little work has been done to develop and validate tools to assess soft skills. Forty graduate students from nine MBA courses completed the McCann Soft Skills Assessment Tool--a paper-pencil test designed to measure leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, logical reasoning, communication, and holistic thinking. These students were also rated by their instructors on the same six dimensions in an attempt to validate the soft skills instrument. Results showed significant correlations between leadership and communication assessment scores and faculty ratings of students on the same dimensions; however none of the other four soft skill dimensions were empirically validated. Data also indicated moderate test-retest reliability for the assessment tool. While some limitations are acknowledged in the current study, findings suggest that further refinement and empirical validation of the McCann Soft Skills Assessment Tool can better aid practitioners in understanding and developing these important dimensions of business competency.
Descriptors: Student Evaluation, Masters Programs, Business Administration Education, Leadership, Communication Skills, Scores, Teamwork, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills, Correlation, Graduate Students, Measures (Individuals), Test Validity, Test Reliability, College Faculty, Predictor Variables
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A