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Strategic communication related to academic performance: Evidence from C hina
Author(s) -
Zhao Li,
Chen Lulu,
He Luwei,
Heyman Gail D.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
british journal of developmental psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 2044-835X
pISSN - 0261-510X
DOI - 10.1111/bjdp.12190
Subject(s) - prosocial behavior , psychology , strategic communication , eleventh , social psychology , public relations , political science , physics , acoustics
We examined a range of forms of strategic communication relevant to academic performance among 151 seventh‐ and eleventh‐grade adolescents in C hina. Participants were asked to rate the frequency of their engagement of strategic communication and to evaluate the possible motives for each strategy. The most commonly adopted strategy was to give a vague response about one's own performance, and the predominant motives for strategic communication were the desires to outcompete others, to be prosocial, and to be modest. Males were more likely than females to focus on gaining social approval, and eleventh graders were more likely than seventh graders to focus on being prosocial and modest when engaging in strategic communication. These findings provide insight into the development of strategic communication beyond W estern culture.Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject?Adolescents in the W est often hide their effort to appear more competent or to gain social acceptance. Little is known about other communication strategies related to academic performance. Little is known about the development of these strategies in non‐ W estern samples.What does this study add?
We show that in C hina, as in Western cultures, children often engage in strategic communication. We demonstrate links between different forms of strategic communication and specific motives. We demonstrate that strategic communication can be motivated by outcompeting others, by being prosocial, and by being modest.