COMM ASSESS III

C ommunication Apprehension If you have ever experienced a bit of stage fright, then youve experienced communication apprehension (CA), which is fear or anxiety associated with either ongoing or anticipated communication with another person or persons.l0 To become awarq-of your level of CA, complete the communication apprehension measure in Rating Scale 5,2.

RA.1NGr rr Personal Report of Communication scALE X,Z Apprehension (PRCA'Z4)

This instrument is composed of twenty-four statements concerning your feelings about com-

municating with other people.ll lndicate in the space provided the degree to which each state'

ment applies to you by marking whether you (1) strongly agree, (2) agree, (3) are undecided, (al

disagree, or {5} strongly disagree with each statement. There are no right 0r wrong answers.

Many of the statements are intentionally similar. Work quickly and record your first impression.

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1. ldislike participating in group discussions.

2. Generally, I am comfortable while participating in a group discussion.

3. I am tense and nervouE while participating in group discussions,

4. I like to get involved in group discussions.

5. Engaging in a group discussion with new people makes me tense and nervous.

6. I am calm and relaxed while participating in group discussions.

7. Generally, I am nervous when I have to participate in a meeting.

8. Usually I am calm and relaxed while participating in meetings,

9. I am very calm and relaxed when I am called on to sxpress an opinion ata meeting.

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10. I am afraid to express myself at meetings.

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11. Communicating at meetings usually makes me uncomfortable.

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12.1 am very relaxed when answering questions at a meeting,

_ 13. While participating in a conversation with a new acquaintance, lfeelvery nervous.

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14. I have no fear of speaking up in conversations.

15. Ordinarily I am verytense and nervous in conversations.

16. 0rdinarily I am very calm and relaxed in conversations.

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17. While conversing with a new acquaintance, I feelvery relaxed.

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18. l'm afraid to speak up in conversations,

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19. I have no fear of giving a speech.

-20.

Certain parts of my bodyfeelverytense and rigid while lam giving a speech,

-21.1

feel relaxed while giving a speech.

22. Mythoughts become confused and iumbled when I am giving a speech.

23. I face the prospect of giving a speech with confidence.

24. While giving a speech I get so nervous I forgetfacts I really know.

Scoring lnstructions:fhe PRCA permits computation of one total score and four subscores. The subscores are related to communication apprehension in each of four common communication

contexts: group discussions, meetings, interpersonal conversations, and public speaking. To compute your scores, merely add or subtractthe scores for each item as indicated below

Subscore Desired

Group discussion

Scoring Formula

Add 18 to the total of your scores for items 2, 4, and 6; then

subtract your scores for items 1, 3, and 5 from this total,

t*rms,:, tjsfii--iiti*rrs Communication apprehension (GA) fear or anxiety associated with ongoing or anticipaled communication with another person or persons.

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PART oilE Communication Principles for Leadership

Meetings Add l8 to the total of your scores for items 8,9, and 12;then subtract your scores for items 7, 10, and 11 from this total,

lnterpersonal conversations Add l8 to the total of your scores for items 14, 16, and 17; then subtract your scores for items 13, 15, and 18 from this total.

Publicspeaking AUO lgtothetotalofyourscoresforitems 19, 21,and23;then subtract your scores for items 20,22, and 24 from this total.

To obtain your tota I score on the PBCA, si m ply add you r fou r su bscores together. You r total score should range between 24 and 120. lf your score is below 24, or above 120, you have made a mistake in computing it.

Scores on the four contexts {group discussion, meetings, interpersonal conversations, and public speakingl can range from a low of 6 to a high of 30. Any score above 18 indicates s0me degree of apprehension. lf your score for the public spe6king context is above 18, you are like the overwhelming majority of Americans.

Average scores on the PRCA-24 are as follows:

Total Score:

Group discussion

Meetings

lnterpersonal conversations

Public speaking

66

15

16

14

19

People who score high in CA experience fear when communicating with others in a variety of contexts, including in meetings, in small groups, one on one, or when giving a speech. People low in CA rarely experience fear when communicating with others. One situation in which most people have a degree of fear and anxiety, even those low in CA, is when speaking in front of others in more formal situations, such as giving a business presentation.

Research suggests that-one in five Americans experiences an abnormally high level of CA in all contexts.I2 For these individuals, CA is a disorder that prevents them from doing their best in the workplace. Highly apprehensive individuals have a tendency to behave in one of the following three ways.l3 First, they avoid communication. Rather than informally socializing with colleagues outside of work, for example, apprehensive individuals make excuses for not attending these social situations. Unfortunately, these informal situations are often opportunities for professionals to network with and influence each other. Second, when apprehensive individuals cannot actually avoid communication, they tend to with- draw from it. Rather than speaking up at a meeting and presenting their ideas, they tend to remain silent. Unfortunately, this reduces their ability to implement their ideas and influ- ence others. Because of their communication withdrawal, individuals who are high in CA are often overlooked for promotions. Third, they experience communication disruptions. Apprehensive individuals have a tendency to communicate using improper articulation and pronunciation as well as too many vocal disfluencies or interrupters, such as "uhh," "ahhi'"um," or "like." Because of these communication disruptions, apprehensive individu- als tend not to be taken seriously.

You can adapt to and lead those who are low in CA by following these guidelines: o Place them in positions with high communication demands. Matyleadership positions require

professionals who can make presentations and facilitate meetings with ease and comfort.

t Monitor the quality and quantity of their communication. Although nearly everyone experiences some degree of CA, itt important to monitor those who are low in this trait. These individuals are less guarded about their communication and may talk too much or say things they later wish they hadnt said. So a simple reminder of the possible consequences of phrasing statements carelessly or of not being discreet can help a person avoid "putting his foot in his mouthl'

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fficlrApTER 5 Adapting to Differences Here are a few recommendations for adapting to those high in CA so as to enhance work- place communication:

t Monitor how you perceive quiet people. Understand that a persorls apprehensiveness is to a large extent outside his or her control. Check your perceptions of others by focusing

on their work performance rather than their talk or lack of talk. "- r Refrain from putting highly apprehensive individuals in situations or positions requiring a high

level of communication. Goodness-of-fit is achieved when the communication demands of a

position fit a persons personality and communication traits. For example, staffing a receptionist's position with a person high in CA would not be considered a good fit.

t Provide alternative channels for communication. For example, rather than requiring all stafl members to make oral presentations at work, allow individuals options, such as communicating through memos, email, or voice mail.

t Inform highty apprehensive individuals of options for interventions. there"r. * ,ru*{., of instructional, treatment, and medical interventions for managing communication apprehension.l4 These are discussed in more detail in Chapter 12.

Argumentativeness Argumentativeness is a communication trait of people who have a tendency to advocate strongly for their own position on an issue and criticize the positions of other people.ls A person who is argumentative enjoys a good debate. To determine your own argumentative-

ness, complete the self-assessment instrument in Rating Scale 5.3. This will help you be- come more aware of this communication trait and how it may affect others'perceptions of you as well as how you perceive others.

HATINGT n scA$-E 3.J Measure of Argumentativeness This questionnaire contains statements about arguing controversial issues.16 lndicate in the

space provided the degree to which each statement applies to you by marking whether it is (1)

almost never true, (2) rarely true, (3) occasionally true, (4) often true, or {5) almost always true.

{Remembel consider each item in terms of arguing or debating controversial rssaes,'the scale

is not focusing on personal, emotional arguments.)

_ 1. While in an argument,lworrythatthe person lam arguing with willform a negative impression of me.

2. Arguing over controversial issues improves my intelligence.

3. I enloy avoiding arguments.

I am energetic and enthusiastic when I argue.

0nce lfinish an argument I promise myself that I will not get into another,

Arguing with a person creates more problems for me than it solves.

I have a pleasant, good feellng when I win a point in an argument.

When I finish arguing with someone I feel nervous and upset.

I enjoy a good argument over a controversial issue.

lgetan unpleasantfeeling when lrealize lam aboutto getinto an argument.

I enioy defending my point of view on an issue.

I am happywhen I keep an argumentfrom happening.

I do not like to miss the opportunityt0 argue a controversial issue.

_4. _5.

b.

7.

_8. _9, _ 10. _11. _12.

13.

t*rrns,ii, d*finitir:rrs

Argumentativene$s a tendency to advocate stongly for one's own position on an issue and crilicize the positions of other people.-14.

I prefer being with people who rarely disagree with me.

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15. I consider an argument an exciting intellectual challenge.

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16. lfind myself unable to think of effective points during an argument.