Personal Report of Communication
Apprehension (PRCA-24)*

DIRECTIONS: This instrument is composed of twenty-four statements
concerning feelings about communicating with other people. Please indicate the
degree to which each statement applies to you by marking whether you
(1) strongly agree, (2) agree, (3) are undecided, (4) disagree, or (5) strongly disagree.
Work quickly; record your first impression.

  1. I dislike participating in group discussions.

  2. Generally, I am comfortable while participating in group discussions.

  3. I am tense and nervous while participating in group discussions.

  4. I like to get involved in group discussions.

  5. Engaging in a group discussion with new people makes me tense and nervous.

  6. I am calm and relaxed while participating in group discussions.

  7. Generally, I am nervous when I have to participate in a meeting.

  8. Usually I am calm and relaxed while participating in meetings.

  9. I am very calm and relaxed when I am called upon to express an opinion at a meeting.

10. I am afraid to express myself at meetings.

11. Communicating at meetings usually makes me uncomfortable.

12. I am very relaxed when answering questions at a meeting.

13. While participating in a conversation with a new acquaintance, I feel very nervous.

14. I have no fear of speaking up in conversations.

15. Ordinarily I am very tense and nervous in conversations.

16. Ordinarily I am very calm and relaxed in conversations.

17. While conversing with a new acquaintance, I feel very relaxed.

18. I'm afraid to speak up in conversations.

19. I have no fear of giving a speech.

20.Certain parts of my body feel very tense and rigid while giving a speech.

21. I feel relaxed while giving a speech.

22. My thoughts become confused and jumbled when I am giving a speech.

23. I face the prospect of giving a speech with confidence.

24. While giving a speech, I get so nervous I forget facts I really know.
 

SCORING: The PRCA permits computation of one total score and four
subscores. The subscores are related to communication apprehension in each of four
common communication contexts: group discussions, meetings, interpersonal conversations,
and public speaking. To compute your scores merely add or subtract your scores for each
item as indicated below.

Subscore Desired Scoring Formula

Group discussion 18 + scores for items 2, 4, and 6;
- scores for items 1, 3, and 5.

Meetings 18 + scores for items 8, 9, and 12;
- scores for items 7, 10, and 11.

Interpersonal conversations 18 + scores for items 14, 16, and 17;
- scores for items 13, 15, and 18.

Public speaking 18 + scores for items 19, 21, and 23;
- scores for items 20, 22, and 24.
 
 

To obtain your total score for the PRCA, simply add your four subscores together.
Your score should range between 24 and 120. If your score is below 24 or above 120,
you have made a mistake in computing the score.

Scores on the four contexts (groups, meetings, interpersonal conversations, and
public speaking) can range from a low of 6 to a high of 30. Any score above 18 indicates
some degree of apprehension. If your score is above 18 for the public speaking context,
you are like the overwhelming majority of Americans.
 

*See http://www.roch.edu/dept/spchcom/ca_links.htm