The strategies of fault concealment from others

Abstract

          This research aimed to analyze the strategies of fault concealment from others and the relationship between the strategies of fault concealment and educational levels of strategy users. The data were collected through a discourse completion test (DCT) completed by 120 respondents selected using purposive sampling based on their educational levels. They were classified into 5 levels: primary education, secondary education, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctoral degree, respectively. The data, analyzed by means of percentage, revealed 16 strategies of fault concealment from others: giving reasons, refusing, asking questions, accusing, avoiding discussion, expressing dissatisfaction, referring to witnesses, diverting, offering an alternative, trying to show responsibility, advising, praising, requesting, giving answer, taunting and showing politeness. Educational levels were found to influence the selection of strategies of fault concealment. People with lower educational levels used a larger number of strategies of fault concealment than those with higher educational levels.