DATA SET - The Eloquence of Gentleness: An Ethnography of Sundanese Nonverbal Communication in Mental Health Counseling
Description
This dataset contains anonymized interview transcripts and reflective notes collected as part of a qualitative study on nonverbal communication and gentleness in counseling practice within a cultural context in Indonesia. The data include: 1. Interviews with four counselors (pseudonyms: IR, SR, VN, AN), 2. One interview with a counselee (pseudonym: AY), and 3. Contextual notes and reflections written by the researcher after each session. All information that could identify individuals or institutions has been removed. The dataset focuses on how counselors and clients describe nonverbal communication, emotional presence, and the importance of calmness and cultural sensitivity during counseling sessions. The materials provide insight into professional interaction styles, communication behavior, and counseling dynamics in an Indonesian higher-education setting. They may be useful for research and teaching in communication, counseling, psychology, and cultural studies.
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Steps to reproduce
The dataset was collected through a qualitative interview process focusing on counselors’ and clients’ experiences of nonverbal communication and gentleness in counseling practice within an Indonesian context. Data collection followed these steps: 1. Participant Selection: Five participants were selected through purposive sampling — four counselors (IR, SR, VN, AN) and one counselee (AY). All participants were active in counseling practice or had recently undergone counseling sessions. 2. Ethical Approval and Consent: Each participant received a written explanation of the study’s purpose and signed an informed consent form. Participants were informed that their identities would be anonymized and their data used for academic purposes only. 3. Interview Process: Semi-structured interviews were conducted in settings comfortable for participants, such as office spaces or public cafés. Each session lasted between 25–40 minutes and was audio-recorded with permission. 4. Data Recording and Transcription: Interviews were transcribed verbatim and checked for accuracy. Notes on nonverbal behavior and contextual observations (e.g., tone, posture, environment) were added after each session. 5. Researcher Observation and Reflection: In addition to interviews, the researcher conducted direct observations of everyday communication and counseling-related interactions in Bandung, where cultural nuances of politeness and gentleness were prominent. These observations were recorded as first-person reflections, serving as interpretive context for understanding nonverbal communication within the local cultural frame. Selected reflective passages were integrated directly into the writing of the study rather than treated as separate data. 6. Anonymization and Data Preparation: All identifying details were removed or replaced with pseudonyms. Sensitive or potentially identifying information (e.g., names of institutions or locations) was modified. The final dataset consists of anonymized text files containing interview transcripts and contextual notes. 7. Storage and Curation: The data were reviewed for quality and ethical compliance before being uploaded to Mendeley Data. Only anonymized versions are shared, while full transcripts are stored securely by the author. This dataset can be referenced to understand the qualitative approach and interpretive framework used in “The Eloquence of Gentleness” study, but it cannot be exactly reproduced due to confidentiality restrictions and the context-specific nature of the reflections.