Different salves for different sores: International research remedies for a South African communication context.

Abstract

A fact, so widely accepted as to be considered common sense, is that communication is influenced by the context in which it functions. It is for this reason that there is no communication-related measurement scale suitable for all circumstances (Le Roux 2008:264; Devlin 2003:27). Yet, communication researchers continually make use of existing communication research methods in order to strengthen reliability and validity in research. These methods, tested within specific circumstances, in most cases, originate in the international arena. The question that can be asked is, therefore, how applicable are these methods to the South African context and communities?

In order to answer this question, Le Roux (2008) proposed methods for adapting Communication Satisfaction and Relationship scales to the South African, third-world context specifically for use within the Mining industry of South Africa (which has one of the most unique communities of workers). The validity and reliability of the newly adapted questionnaires were tested in isolation (removed from the original questionnaire items) at one South African mine.

In this article, the findings resulting from a study at the Gautrain project (an organisation that falls within both the mining as well as construction industry of South Africa (Van Tonder 2008)) will be discussed. This study saw the testing of Le Roux’s (2008) adapted versions of the two abovementioned questionnaires alongside those of the original questionnaires. Here, respondents’ answers as related to the two different (yet correlated) sets of questions can be evaluated to explore the validity of the adaptations suggested by Le Roux (2008) in this context and this unique community of workers. This done, the article will serve as a vantage point to view and compare the international communication research methods with that of its adapted South African version in the mining and construction communities.