The relationship between self‐report measures of communication apprehension and trained observers' ratings of communication competence

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between self‐reported communication apprehension (CA) and trained observers’ ratings of competence. Participants (N= 274) completed self‐report measures of CA and were assessed for listening competence. For 103 participants, trained raters also assessed interpersonal competence, public speaking competence, and behavioral indicators of CA during an informative speech and an interpersonal encounter. Self‐reported CA was not significantly associated with interpersonal competence, public speaking competence, listening competence, or behavioral indicators of CA. Behavioral indicators of CA during the informative speech were not significantly associated with public speaking competence, although behavioral indicators of CA during the interpersonal encounter were negatively related to interpersonal competence.