Verbal Communication Differences Between Male And Female Medical Biology Students

This study aims to examine the extent of validity of the reviewed verbal communication differences between men and women. Both male and female Medical Biology students were tested on their verbal communication styles to identify and validate the differences. The verbal communication differences were organized into 3 categories – Interpersonal Relationship, Class Participation, and Group Work. The researchers noted that male students are generally expected to be more impersonal. They do not share personal concerns nor insights, and because the focus is task accomplishment, their leadership is transactional, their approach is commanding, and their focus is on key discussion points. On the other hand, female students are typically expected to be the opposite, in that they are very personal. They share concerns and insights, and because maintaining good relationships is treated equally as task accomplishment, requests are made politely and others’ opinions are acknowledged. Based on the key results of the study, actual ones which match and validate expected verbal communication differences are mainly on the willingness to share concerns and insights (more so for female students than male ones), and the value given to relationships in the process of accomplishing tasks (highly considered by female students but compromised by male ones). Results that significantly diverged from the expected verbal communication differences is that female students are inclined to provide solutions, while male students exhibit empathy.

Introduction

Nature and Scope of the Problem

In the past, people communicate with others through direct conversations, handwritten letters, and different signals. The way how people communicate back then was different. Even men and women have different ways of speaking, thinking and communicating. Every individual has its own means to express their emotions and thoughts to others. Through communication, humans have the ability to use words and language to convey information which makes them distinct to other living things. According to Nordguist (2018), “Communication is the process of sending and receiving messages through verbal or nonverbal means, including speech, or oral communication; writing and graphical representations and signs, signals, and behavior.” In other terms, communication is defined as “the creation and exchange of meaning.” Current studies suggest that there are differences on how men and women communicate with others. Just think of how someone would respond to a particular stimulus and how someone of the opposite sex might respond if faced with the same situation. For example, “men are more likely to communicate as a way to maintain their status and independence, while women tend to view communication as a path to create friendships and build relationships.” For men, communication is a way to negotiate for power, seek wins, avoid failure and offer advice, among other things. For women, communication is a way to get closer, seek understanding and find equality or symmetry.

Scope of the Study

This study will focus on the verbal communication differences between male and female medical biology students in De La Salle University, Dasmariñas. It also aims to determine the assertiveness of male and female Medical Biology students in a classroom setting in terms of group work, classroom participation, and their interpersonal relationship to others. The respondents of the study are limited only to Lasallian Medical Biology students. The researchers will give questionnaires to one block section consisting of 28 students (10 men and 18 women).

Review of Relevant Literature

Overall, research has shown that, in general, women are more socially emotional in their interactions with others, whereas men are more independent and unemotional or attached in conversations.

Deborah Tannen, a professor of sociolinguistics, wrote a book about language and gender entitled You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation. According to Tannen, women talk about their problems with other women to foster a bond with them and to create and maintain intimate relationships and they expect men to react in the same fashion. However, when men hear women talking about problems, they offer solutions and quickly move to dismiss the problem (1990).

Female leaders are inclined to use a transformational leadership style (aspiring to positively transform teams, groups, and workers individually people by engaging with others on a deeper level) more than males. This often creates more exchange in relationships with subordinates or employees to achieve goals.

In asking for a request, men and women have their own different ways in addressing it. According to Lakoff (1975), women state requests, but men issue commands.

Approach used in the Study

This study is a comparative design under qualitative research method. It is designed to be comparative because the purpose of this study satisfies the goals of a comparative research study stated by Hantrais (1995), “Comparative research methods have long been used in cross-cultural studies to identify, analyze, and explain similarities and differences across societies.” Hence, the comparative design is suitable to determine and evaluate the differences in the verbal communication between men and women based on the results acquired from the conducted survey.

Results

Results show that male students tend to keep their concerns to oneself rather than sharing it with others. On the other hand, female students are most likely to share their personal concern with others. Both male and female students tend to become socially emotional during personal conversations with others. The male students show empathy in comforting other people, whereas the female students are most likely to give solutions. With these results, it contradicts the claims made by the literature.

Additionally he opinions of both male and female students are usually acknowledged by their fellow classmates and professors. When accomplishing group works, male students are willing to compromise relationships for the completion of projects. On the other hand, female students still consider relationships even at the risk of not completing the project.

Results also show that male students utilize the transformational technique, whereas 50% of the female students tend to use transformational and the other half are most likely to use a transactional leadership style. Male students are more likely to compound their request by asking politely. On the other hand, 30% of the female students tend to make a request by issuing commands and with these results, there is a contradiction with the previous literature.

Discussion and conclusions

The study aimed to determine the extent of validity of the reviewed verbal communication differences. Understanding these differences would allow a person to see the point of view of the counterpart sex in their preferred communication style. This could also prevent possible conflicts in communication related to gender differences, and enables a person to make adjustments for a better relationship, especially in the workplace and school. Students would be able to appreciate the information provided by this research. The reality of the results may still vary from each person but knowing the generalizations of the verbal communication differences is a something that they can consider when dealing with gender conflicts.