The effects of audience interest, responsiveness, and evaluation on public speaking anxiety and related variables

Abstract

This study examines potential sources of public speaking anxiety stemming from the audience. Based on work by Buss (1980) and Motley (1991), three sources of anxiety were identified: the degree of formal evaluation, level of audience interest in the topic, and the audience's responsiveness to the speaker. In addition to public speaking anxiety, measures were taken of willingness to speak and expected speech quality. Interest, responsiveness, and formal evaluation showed effects on all of the anxiety‐related variables. Perhaps surprisingly, evaluation showed some of the weakest effects. Results are discussed in terms of Motley's distinction between performance and communication orientations toward public speaking.