With the goal of identifying the characteristics or traits students bring to the classroom that predispose them to panic when faced with the threat of presenting in front of an audience, this study introduced a subtype of public-speaking state anxiety--anxious arousal. Specifically, this study examined the extent to which trait anxiety and…

This investigation included two studies relating anticipatory public speaking anxiety to the nature of the speech assignment. Based on uncertainty reduction theory, which suggests that communicators are less comfortable in unfamiliar or unpredictable contexts, two hypotheses were advanced on the presumption that various types of assignments in a…

In the present study, it was hypothesized that (1) changes in (1) state anxiety from rest to the beginning of a speech (sensitization), in (2) changes in state anxiety during the first minute of the speech presentation (habituation 1), and in (3) state anxiety during the last minute of the speech presentation (habituation 2) are all significant…

Investigates gender differences in anticipatory state anxiety and narrowband trait anxiety patterns among college students. Finds significant gender-based pattern differences, with higher anxiety patterns reported by female speakers. Finds that both female and male speaker groups exhibited the hypothesized quadratic v-shaped pattern of mean…

Examines the efficacy of using immediate and delayed feedback in generating improvement on a subsequent public speaking performance, for tasks which vary in information processing requirements. Indicates that immediate feedback intervention is more effective when automatic processing occurs, while delayed feedback produces greater change with…

Finds that both state and trait anxiety levels during three pre-performance events were ordered in a quadratic, v-shaped episodic pattern; the highest level of anticipatory anxiety occurred just before speaking, the second-highest level occurred at the time the assignment was announced and explained, and the lowest level occurred during the time…

Describes a teacher-to-student feedback system consisting of a television typewriter which allows for spontaneous and direct transmission of teacher comments to students during their speech performance. (MH)

Defines confidence testing and describes several formats which permit student selection and weighting of test items thereby enhancing student-teacher participation in the testing process. (MH)

Describes how a computer can be used to help instructors evaluate classroom speaking. Discusses the value of a computerized system of speech criticism. (PD)

Investigates the relationship between beginning public speakers' self-reported performance anxiety and audience perception of that anxiety. Indicates that audiences perceive speaker anxiety levels to be lower during performance than the speakers themselves report. (AEW)

Reports on research into the communication of speech state anxiety between adjacent speakers in the speaking order in a public speaking setting. Finds, based on classical response contagion theory, that public speaking state anxiety in an educational setting is contagious. Discusses possible consequences, and advances suggestions for future…