ERIC Number: ED278078
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1986-Nov
Pages: 30
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
General and Context Dependent Relationships between Communication Apprehension and Gender Role Orientation.
Strohkirch, C. Sue; Parks, Malcolm R.
The purpose of this study was to replicate and extend previous research on the relationship between communication apprehension (CA), biological sex, and psychological gender. With the objective of reducing the potential for instrument bias, the possibilities for context dependent effects were explored to a greater degree than in past studies and multiple measures were employed. Analysis of a survey completed by 291 undergraduate subjects indicated clear differences in the overall level of CA experienced by subjects of differing self-reported psychological genders. Feminine individuals reported higher levels of CA across all measures than did androgynous or masculine individuals. Findings supported the theoretical rationale that sex-typed individuals experience greater apprehension than androgynous individuals because their communication skills and expectations restricted them to a narrower range of situational competencies. Results showed that the measures of psychological gender were more powerful predictors than biological sex. Moreover, results indicated that the relationship between CA and psychological gender is predominantly cross-situational and relatively free of context dependent interaction. Individuals who were undifferentiated in terms of psychological gender were found more likely to experience the greatest overall CA. In general, individuals were found to experience the least CA in dyadic situations, more apprehension in group contexts, and the most CA in public speaking contexts. A three-page reference list is provided. (JD)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A