Investigation on effective communication and group cohesiveness in the outdoor recreation program curriculum at the Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, UiTM

The purpose of this research is to compare the difference between level of education on effective communication and group cohesiveness through outdoor recreation program curriculum at the faculty of sports science and recreation, UiTM. The study investigate two key components of effective communication: external perception, which includes clarity and information distribution, and internal disseverance, which focusses on solving conflicts. The lack of effective communication and group cohesiveness among students in the Outdoor Recreation Program at UiTM appears to adversely affect their academic engagement, collaborative performance, and overall learning experience. Furthermore, the analysis of group cohesiveness includes an examination of four dimensions: individual attraction to the group in social contexts (ATG-S), individual attraction to the group in task-oriented settings (ATG-T), group integration-social (GI-S), and group integration-task (GI-T). A set of questionnaires based on Interpersonal Communication Skills (ICS) and Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ) was completed by 233 students who took an outdoor recreation program. The findings underscore the complex interplay between external factors (such as perception) and internal group dynamics (such as conflict management) in shaping overall group cohesiveness and member engagement. These findings may provide valuable insights for both students and academics regarding the components of group cohesiveness, potentially leading to enhanced group collaboration and enriched learning experiences that foster improved educational outcomes.