Chapter 16

Article 1: Russ, T. L. (2012). The Relationship Between Communication Apprehension and Learning Preferences in an Organizational Setting. Journal of Business Communication, 49(4), 312–331. doi:10.1177/0021943612456035

Questions that apply to this article:

1. The author quotes McCroskey (1977) in defining communication apprehension as “an individual’s level of fear or anxiety associated with either real or anticipated communication with another person or persons.” This certainly applies to the concept of communication apprehension discussed in Chapter 16, but extends the definition to include situations that are not related directly to public speaking. How would communication apprehension differ between that in a public speaking situation and that in everyday communication?
2. Locate and read the section of the article regarding traitlike communication apprehension and context communication apprehension. This information suggests that some people experience communication apprehension only in certain contexts. Do you see public speaking as a context in which someone who otherwise might not experience communication apprehension would experience it? 
3. The author concluded that this study advanced a broader understanding of the relationship between communication apprehension and learning preferences in an organizational setting. By confirming a link between these variables, this study revealed a number of implications for practitioners and academic alike. Do you see the link as useful in both academic settings and organizational settings? Which do you think might benefit more from this research?

Article 2:  Griffin, Z. M., & Bock, K. (2000). What the Eyes Say About Speaking. Psychological Science, 11(4), 274–279. doi:10.1111/1467-9280.00255

Questions that apply to this article:

1. Locate the section in which the authors first discuss “extemporaneous” and “prepared” speakers. Do you equate their definition of “extemporaneous” with the definition provided by in your textbook? How are Griffin and Bock making a differentiation between “extemporaneous” and “prepared” speakers?
2. Read the “participants” section of the article. Do you think this number of participants in each of the categories is ample to arrive at meaningful conclusions in this study?
3. Focusing on the conclusion section of the article, do you agree with the researcher regarding their findings from this study? Should we be accepting their conclusions as valid or do we need to see more work in the same area to further validate their findings? How did you arrive at your conclusion?