Generic Skills in the Reasoning and Interpersonal Domains.

Generic skills are those overt and covert behaviors which are fundamental to the performance of many tasks and sub tasks carried out in a wide range of occupations and which are basic to job specific skills. Generally included in the term are: mathematics, communication, reasoning, interpersonal and manipulative skills. Excluded from generic skills are job specific skills obtainable as part of occupational orientation. In February, 1973, the Training Research and Development Station commenced a three phase pilot study directed to the formulation of generic skills. Phase one, March to July, 1973, examined mathematics and communication skills based on data obtained from 27 occupations. Phase two, May to September, 1973, examined reasoning and interpersonal skills using data from 35 occupations. Phase three, still in the planning stage, deals with the formulation of manipulative skills. The following sequential steps were identified for the formulation of generic skills for each of these phases: (1) taxonomy of skills, (2) data collection instruments, (3) data collection, (4) data analysis, (5) develop specifications and (6) dissemination. The intent of this report is to summarize the curriculum development which has been achieved for the mathematics and communications skills and outline the results which have been achieved to date in the reasoning and interpersonal skills. (MW)