Facing the Fear: An Analysis of Speech-Anxiety Content in Public-Speaking Textbooks

Abstract

Communication apprehension is arguably the largest problem facing novice public speakers. To succeed in the basic communication course, students must learn to overcome or lessen the communication apprehension they feel. Because students learn about communication apprehension largely through the texts they use, the coverage that top ten selling public-speaking textbooks provide has an effect on students' perceptions on the subject. A content analysis of five aspects of CA was conducted, and chi-square analysis was used to determine significant differences among the terms and the texts.

Keywords:

• Basic Course
• Communication Apprehension
• Textbooks
• Public Speaking

Notes

Note

∗1 = Negative CA descriptions, 2 = Positive CA descriptions, 3 = CA causes, 4 = Research-based solutions to CA, and 5 = Practical solutions to CA.

The top ten books, while all best-sellers, were not in the same order. Lucas continues to be the market leader but the other nine books shifted in the overall order of their market share.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Judy C. Pearson

Judy C. Pearson (Ph.D., Indiana University, 1975) is a professor and associate dean at the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5075.

Lori DeWitt

Lori DeWitt (M.A., Loma Linda University, 2004) is a Ph.D. student and teaching associates in the Department of Communication at North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5075.

Jeffrey T. Child

Jeffrey T. Child (B.S., Wayne State College, 2002) is a Ph.D. student and teaching associates in the Department of Communication at North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5075.

David H. Kahl

David H. Kahl, Jr. (B.A., Concordia College, 2002) is a Ph.D. student and teaching associates in the Department of Communication at North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5075.

Vijay Dandamudi

Vijay Dandamudi (B.S., Dr. M.G.R., North Dakota State University, 2001) is a Ph.D. student and teaching associates in the Department of Communication at North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5075.