SOUTH AFRICAN GENERATION Y STUDENTS’ CONFLICTRESOLUTION STYLES

Abstract

Conflict is typically the product of differences in values, attitudes and expectations, together with clashes over resources and power. These factors are often also used to explain conflict between different generations. With more and more members of Generation Y entering the workforce and working alongside members of Generation X and the younger cohort of the Baby Boomer generation, so it is becoming increasingly important to understand their conflict-resolution styles. This study focused on discerning South African Generation Y university students’ predominant conflict-resolution approach. A self-reporting questionnaire was distributed to a convenience sample of 279 Generation Y students registered at two South African higher education institutions situated in the Gauteng Province. The questionnaire included the extended five-component Dutch Test for Conflict Handling (DUTCH). Data analysis involved principle component analysis, reliability and validity analysis, descriptive statistics and an independent-samples t-test. Principle component analysis yielded a fivecomponent solution in accordance with the literature. The Cronbach alpha values for the five components ranged between 0.69 and 0.81, thereby suggesting internal-consistency reliability. The mean inter-item correlations ranged from 0.36 to 0.51 for each extracted factor, and the Pearson's Product-Moment correlation coefficients between factors were low to medium, which suggests that convergent and discriminant validity may be assumed. The findings indicate that Generation Y students’ predominant conflict-resolution style is the problemsolving approach, whilst their least favoured approach is yielding to others. Concerning gender differences, the only statistically significant difference between male and female participants was on the forcing conflict-resolution approach, with males scoring a higher mean. South African Generation Y students’ preference towards the problem-solving conflict-resolution approach suggests that they have a high concern for both themselves and others, and that, as much as a situation allows, they will seek to create a win-win agreement, whereby both their own and the aspirations of others are met.