Development and validation of a multidimensional effective communication scale for senior high school graduates

Abstract

Senior high school graduates often face emotional barriers, such as speaking anxiety and fear of judgment, even when they possess adequate language skills. To address this gap, this study developed and validated a multidimensional scale to evaluate effective communication among Grade 12 graduates, anchored in the Transactional Model of Communication and the "6 Cs" of message construction. Through Exploratory Factor Analysis, three core dimensions emerged: Authenticity, Empathy, and Sensitivity, which were subsequently refined through Confirmatory Factor Analysis into an 18-item scale demonstrating strong model fit (CFI = 0.91, TLI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.0716). The final instrument showed high internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients exceeding 0.80 across all factors. At the same time, correlation analyses indicated that authenticity is strongly related to empathy, which in turn is moderately related to sensitivity. By addressing cognitive, relational, and emotional dimensions, this validated tool provides a structured framework for assessing graduate outcomes and guiding instructional practices aligned with 21st-century skill requirements.