ABSTRACT
The most popular and most valid measure of trait-like communication apprehension (CA) is J. C. McCroskey’s Personal Report of Communication Apprehension. This 24-item, Likert-type instrument assesses individuals’ communication apprehension across four contexts: public, small group, meeting, and dyadic or interpersonal encounters. A number of instruments have been developed that purportedly measure individuals’ trait-like communication apprehension, including earlier versions of the PRCA-24. Most of those instruments are merely parallel forms of this one. While some measures may tap different contexts or target different persons or groups, the PRCA-24 continues to be the instrument of choice. With its repeatedly high reliability estimates and its well-documented validity, the PRCA-24 is highly recommended as a means of assessing persons’ trait or generalized-context CA. Conceptualized originally and in more writings as the level of fear or anxiety associated with either real or anticipated communication encounters, CA refers to oral communication encounters only.
