The Relationship between Social Identity and Interpersonal Relationship of Addis Ababa University Students: The Case of Main Campus
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Date
2010-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Social Identity is playing a significant role in influencing people's interactions
either in favorable or unfavorable directions. In view of this fact, therefore, this
study was intended to examine the linkage between social identity and
interpersonal relationship among Addis Ababa University students as the main
objective. To realize the above set objective different components of social identity
such as gender, ethnicity, and religion were taken as independent variables and
interpersonal relationship as a dependent variable. Hence, the researcher has
set research questions to check whether there is relationship between the
independent and dependent variables and to determine the prediction power of
each predictor variable on the criterion variable. The study was conducted on
338 (113 of them are females) Third and Fourth year undergraduate regular
students attending their studies at the main campus of Addis Ababa University
during the Academic Year of 2009/2010. The participants were selected by the
use of simple random and purposive sampling techniques. The study also relied
on quantitative method of data collection and analysis. And the researcher used
questionnaires as a data collection tool. The participants ' social identity was
measured using a 26 items adapted from Aspects of Identity Questionnaire
(Cheek, 2002), and their Interpersonal relationship is also measured by a 26
items which was adapted from intergroup interaction scale (Plant, Butz &
Taratakovsky.2009). The data were analyzed by Pearson Product Momentum
Correlation and Step-wise regression statistical techniques analyzed with the
help of Statistical package for social scientists (SPSS) version 13. O. The study
revealed that positive and significant relationships were found between all
independent variables and the dependent variable. Moreover, gender, ethnic,
and religious identities were independent significant predictors of interpersonal
relationship. However, among the three independent variables ethnicity was
found to be the most prominent determinant of interpersonal relationship among
the subjects. Hence, interpersonal relationship of students was mainly
dependent on similarity of ethnic background. Finally, the study had suggested
some recommendations to address the identified problems.
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Keywords
Interpersonal Relationship