Narguesse Saliminia - Ph.D. Lecturer in Islamic Azad University Karaj Branch and psychotherapist in private office, Tehran, Iran

The purpose of this study was to determinate the effectiveness of socio-psychodrama therapy for a college-aged group of students on their human values’ scores. Method was quasi-experimental with pre-test, post-test, a two-months-follow-up design and one control group. The statistical population were female TESOL freshmen in a public university in Penang, Malaysia. The sample consisted of 03 students whom were divided and matched into two groups of 51 as experimental and control groups. The experimental group received 55 sessions of socio-psychodrama intervention once a week with duration of 03 minutes while the control group remained in the waiting list. The instruments were Schwartz Value Inventory (SVI, 5001) and a researcher made questionnaire for written interview questions. Data were analysed using repeated measurement analysis for the effect of socio-psychodrama on their individual value set. For the qualitative data from the written interview questions, transcendental phenomenological approach was applied to explain how did they experience the socio-psychodrama sessions and what did they experience during those sessions . Repeated measurement analysis revealed significant differences between the groups. In this way, the null hypothesis on Individual value scores among female freshmen were rejected. The socio-psychodrama intervention involved them with one of the Schwartz’s Human Values (SHV) during every session. In the qualitative method of analysis, it was revealed that they were enjoying the intervention and role playing. This intervention could built-up their self-confidence, problem solving skill, analytical thinking and empathy towards the others which was predicted by working on the Human Values in the research objectives. Conclusion, socio-psychodrama intervention was an effective therapy to affect on freshmen participants’ Individual Human Values in both quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis.

Socio-psychodrama, Schwartz Human Values, Freshmen