dc.description.abstract | In everyday life, many people easily communicate with others, creating good
relationships, but when we talk about communication in professional relationships, it
becomes the main tool for achieving professional goals. Its use is particularly significant
for employees in those departments which characteristics are to have direct contact
with people in different kinds of trouble and suffering (health workers, psychologists,
special educators etc.). Communication in professional relationships cannot be seen
as something that is taken for granted, because there is a big difference between
unconscious communication and communication with a specific purpose that is taught.
In this regard, an investigation of the level of assertiveness in the profession of
special educators, as well as the connection between the level of assertiveness and sociodemographic
and economic structure of the respondents, was conducted.
Research Methodology – it involved 70 special educators who work with deaf and
hard of hearing people from the territory of the Republic of Serbia. The aim of the study
was to examine the extent to which assertiveness is present in this specified group of
respondents, and to examine the impact of socio-demographic and economic structure
of special educators on the level of assertiveness. The following hypothesis was set: A
greater representation of assertive respondents compared to those who are not assertive
or assertive below average is expected. We expect the existence of differences in the level
of assertiveness, depending on differences in gender, marital status, number of children in
the family of respondents, age, and years of employment, housing situation and financial
situations of respondents. Research instruments: According to the subject of the research
a questionnaire measuring assertiveness – RAS (The Rathus Assertiveness Schedule,
Rathus, S. A. 1978) and a special questionnaire prepared for this survey, containing
general information about the respondents was used in the study.
Conclusion – The findings of this study confirmed the first hypothesis, the greater
representation of assertive respondents. This is not only extremely important, having in
mind that the training of the deaf and hard of hearing people toward establishing better
relations within the family and social milieu is a major challenge for a special educator
working with these persons, but also presents a great success for our profession. With
regard to gender, marital status, number of children in the family, years of service,
financialsituations, the results showed they are not correlated to the level of assertiveness.
We can point out that all persons have equal chances to build their communication skills
in life, keeping in mind that assertiveness, as interpersonal communication style, is being
acquired, learned, improved and changed during the lifetime. | sr |