Accuracy decoding of nonverbal behaviour based on verbal descriptions of nonverbal signs

Abstract

Nonverbal communication literacy is a system of knowledge and skills that enables a person to understand (decode) nonverbal signs in various communication situations and to use (encode) appropriate nonverbal signs. Nonverbal signs decoding accuracy is one of the nonverbal communication literacy indicators. The questionnaire of Reading NonVerbal Signs was used. The sample consists of 172 undergraduate engineering students. The students decoded nonverbal behaviour described verbally in a different way than the experts did (experts’ assessment as a criterion). The decoding nonverbal signs accuracy coefficient is low. These variations in the students’ nonverbal behaviour decoding and low accuracy reflect a holistic approach to the coding of nonverbal behaviour described verbally which emphasized the importance of the impression of nonverbal behaviours rather than the cognitive processing.