Social skills at first acquaintance: Moderators of the relationship between self-and other-ratings of social skills

Social skills are an important aspect of interpersonal interaction in the workplace. While much of the current research focuses on self-reports of social skills, how others view social skills is also important. I explored the relationship between self-ratings and other-ratings of social skills using the context of a mock employment interview. Additionally, I tested the moderation effects of social desirability, extraversion, narcissism, state anxiety, and impression management. I believed these variables would change the relationship between self-reported and other-reported social skills by affecting either the ability of participants to a) execute social behaviors or b) accurately rate their own skills. Results from the sample did show a correlation between self-and other-ratings of social skills (r = .42), but failed to support evidence of moderation effects. Potential explanations for the null results are explored, focusing on an under powered sample and the strength of the situation creating little opportunity for participants to perform socially. The results encourage further exploration of the relationship between how one views their own social skills and how others perceive them.