Communication apprehension in the dating partner context

This research project focused upon an inconsistency in the structure of a context specific instrument measuring communication apprehension in dating relationships. A parsimonious, single‐factor, solution for Dating Partner Communication Apprehension (DPCA) emerged from the analysis. Principle component analysis produced a 13‐item solution that maintains high reliability and validity. As hypothesized, validity checks indicated that the DPCA unidimensional model was moderately and significantly correlated with dyadic communication apprehension, interpersonal solidarity, interpersonal communication satisfaction, and a series of relational perceptions in the dating context. A variety of potential applications and explorations of communication apprehension within dating relationships are discussed.     

Communication apprehension and shyness: Conceptual and operational distinctions

A conceptual distinction is drawn between communication apprehension and shyness, two constructs which some writers previously have treated as interchangeable. In two studies, measures of these constructs were examined for both relationship and independence. The results of the studies indicated validity of the conceptual distinction between these constructs.     

Communication apprehension and cognitive learning: An experimental analysis

This 2×3 factorial design was employed to test the relationship between communication apprehension and cognitive learning. The results of this quasi‐experimental study indicate that highly apprehensive students scored higher on an objective (written) test than they scored on an equivalent oral test. Scores on the objective exam did not differ across levels of communication apprehension. In addition, a small negative correlation between communication apprehension and learning was observed in the oral testing condition. The expected curvilinear relationship between communication apprehension and learning under the oral testing condition was not observed. A negative linear relationship between communication apprehension and learning was observed.     

Coping with writing apprehension

Students with high writing apprehension (WA) were exposed or not exposed to visualization (a procedure designed to encourage positive thinking). Those exposed to visualization reported enjoying writing more than those who were not trained to visualize, both immediately and over time. The paper ends with a discussion of these and other results.     

Correlates between communication apprehension and listening style preferences

Research suggests that initial impressions are important and set the tone for future interactions; however, little is known about which teacher communication behaviors create positive initial judgments by students. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among a set of teacher relational communication behaviors and students' early judgments about the future outcomes of the course. Specifically, students reported perceptions of their instructors' use of power, confirmation, nonverbal immediacy, and communication skills in the beginning of a semester and their predictions about future interactions with that instructor. Results indicated that teachers' use of coercive and legitimate power were negatively related to students' predicted outcome value (POV) judgments, whereas the use of reward, referent, and expert power, along with confirmation and communication skills, were positively correlated with students' POV judgments. Hierarchical regression further revealed unique relational message predictors of these judgments.     

Antecedents of communication apprehension: A reaffirmation

This study examines the relationship between communication apprehension (CA) and students’ self‐reports of their communication experiences in interpersonal, small group, and public circumstances with peers, parents, and teachers. Questions concerning these experiences were posed from reinforcement, modeling, and social comparison perspectives. The strongest relationships were found between CA and reinforcement oriented questions that involved teachers in public speaking settings. Those with high CA found giving speeches with teachers present to be non‐rewarding The study also found support for a relationship between modeling and CA.     

Facets of Pavlovian temperament as correlates of communication apprehension

Recently, communication scholars have become interested in relationships between communication apprehension and the underlying biological predispositions for behavior called temperament. The resulting communibiological paradigm is said to account for individual differences in communicative behavior and adaptation to speaking situations. Because temperament is conceived as a multidimensional construct, the precise biologically determined predispositions influencing temperamental expression are yet to be discovered. In this research, Strelau's Pavlovian temperament theory is applied to this problem. Facets of the Pavlovian Temperament Survey were related to McCroskey's (1978) Personal Report of Communication Apprehension. Results suggest a moderate level of interdependence between communication apprehension and several facets of Pavlovian temperament.     

Testing a screening procedure in the treatments for communication apprehension

This study tested whether a screening procedure was effective in the treatments for communication apprehension (CA). Accordingly, individuals who were identified as having cognitive, affective, and behavioral source of CA were exposed to Visualization (cognitive). Systematic Desensitization (affective). Skills Training (behavioral), and Multiple treatment (combination of the three). Results indicated that exposing people to the matching intervention was slightly more effective in reducing CA than exposing them to other treatments.     

The end of the life span: Determinants of communication apprehension

While communication researchers have expressed an interest in communication development, an area still relatively untouched by the field is the study of communication with the terminally ill. This study was designed to examine this capstone of human development and to provide a framework for future research in an area which affects so many. It was hypothesized that having knowledge of the effects of the illnesses in terms of psychological status and familiarity with the dying individual would affect the level of communication apprehension experienced by a person. A research question also investigated the relationships between fear of death and levels of situational communication apprehension. Results indicated that having knowledge of the psychological status did not significantly affect an individual's level of CA. However, familiarity with the terminally ill individual was found to increase the level of CA experienced by a healthy person. Given these findings, the general premise that uncertainty is negative is brought into question.     

Validity of the PRCA as an index of oral communication apprehension

This paper reviews the research which has employed the PRCA to measure the construct of oral communication apprehension. It is concluded that the PRCA is a reliable and valid measure of that construct.     

Measuring patients' communication apprehension about interacting with physicians: Instrument development

The purpose of these studies was to develop an instrument to measure patients' perceived communication apprehension in patient/physician interactions. In the first stydy, a five item Patients' Report of Communication Apprehension with Physicians (PRCAP) was developed. The scale appears to be a reliable, unidimensional scale which shows a moderate positive correlation with the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PRCA), a moderate negative correlation with willingness to communicate (WTC), and a moderate negative correlation with self‐perceived communication competence (SPCC). In the second study, designed to assess the predictive validity of the PRCAP, those who scored one standard deviation above the mean on the PRCAP reported being less satisfied with their interactions with physicians than those who scored one standard deviation below the mean on the PRCAP. It appears the PRCAP is a reliable and valid instrument that can be employed to pursue issues involving the role of CA in patient/physician interactions.     

Effects of communication environment,immediacy, and communication apprehension on cognitive and affective learning

This study explores relationships among immediacy, communication apprehension, and learning outcomes between two class formats: mixed-size sections (i.e., large-lecture/break-out sections) versus self-contained sections. The results indicated that students' cognitive learning outcomes were slightly greater in the mixed-size sections versus self-contained sections. In addition, affective learning decreased for all students from the first day of class, though it decreased slightly more for students in the large-lecture/break-out sections. When the teacher was perceived as highly immediate, however, there was no difference in affective learning due to format.     

Pediatricians and speech disorders

The authors present the results of personal interviews with several practicing pediatricians relative to their information about speech disorders and their disposition of speech defective children presented to them.     

Teaching assistant communication apprehension,willingness to communicate,and state communication anxiety in the classroom

This study investigated the nature of teaching assistant communication apprehension in the university classroom. Teaching assistants were given a survey assessing their general level of communication apprehension and their general willingness to communicate. Additionally, teaching assistant state anxiety specifically associated with teaching in the classroom was assessed. Analyses revealed significant negative correlations between teaching assistant communication apprehension and teaching experience, training in content, and training in teaching. Teaching assistant willingness to communicate was positively correlated with teaching experience and training in content. Teaching assistant state anxiety in the classroom was negatively correlated with training in content and training in teaching.     

The impact of communication apprehension and fear of talking with a physician on perceived medical outcomes

This study examined the relationships among trait CA, state CA (fear of interacting with a physician), and patient perceived satisfaction with quality of medical care and physician. The results indicated that trait CA and fear of the physician were positively related. However, trait CA was not significantly related to patient perceived satisfaction with quality of medical care or physician. State CA, in contrast, was significantly negatively related to both patient perceived satisfaction with medical care and satisfaction with physician. It is concluded that future research should investigate the impact of physicians’ engaging in positive communication behaviors on patients’ apprehension and medical outcomes.     

An assessment of the role of communication apprehension in communicating with the terminally ill

Students who reported being high or low communication apprehensives in interpersonal encounters were asked to read a letter from a terminally or not terminally ill patient and write a letter in reply. These students also completed a variety of self‐report measures. In essence, high CAs were found to be less willing to communicate, less willing to volunteer, less willing to work with terminal patients, and felt less confident about their communication than low CAs. High CAs also disclosed less to terminal patients than did people in any other circumstance. Further, terminal patients who were depicted as quiet received less self‐disclosure and less communication that was sensitive to their perspective than did those in any other circumstance.     

German speech education

Following is a report of German Speech Education based on two visits to Europe, one from January to June 1939 and one from August 1954 to September 1955. It is the hope that these observations may add to what others have found and help to encourage an exchange of philosophies and methods.     

The extemporaneous method and speech contests

This article argues that current contest competition in extemporaneous speaking and oratory contradicts classroom instruction and should be modified to coincide with it.     

Effects of anticipating listening (state) anxiety on the stability of receiver apprehension scores

The concept of stability is an important criterion for trait anxiety measures. In the present study the stability of the Receiver Apprehension Test (RAT) was investigated.