Evaluation of Social Intelligence and Communication Skills Levels in terms of Music Education

Abstract

This study aims to determine high school students’ social intelligence and communication skills and the effect of music education on these variables. A survey method was used in the study. Two data collection tools were used in the study. These are Tromso Social Intelligence Scale developed by Silvera et al. (2001), adapted into Turkish by Doğan and Çetin (2009), and Communication Skills Scale created by Korkut Owen and Bugay (2014). The study group consists of students in five high schools in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, in the 2021-2022 academic year. The data collection process was completed in two months (April-May). The study shows that high school students have good social intelligence and communication skills. The scores obtained do not differ according to gender and grade level variables. At the same time, a positive and significant relationship was found between social intelligence and communication skills scores. The scores of the group that received extra music education outside the school were compared with those that did not. According to these results, the social intelligence and communication skills scores of the group that received music education were higher. While this difference was not significant in the case of social intelligence, it was significant in the case of communication skills.