Assessing Your Communication Apprehension Level
Name:____________________________________ Date:____________
McCroskey’s Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PRCA-24)
Directions: This instrument is composed of twenty-four statements concerning
feelings about communicating with others. Work quickly, record your first
impression. Please indicate in the space provided the degree to which each
statement applies to you by marking:
(1) STRONGLY AGREE. (2) AGREE. (3) ARE UNDECIDED. (4) DISAGREE. (5) STRONGLY DISAGREE.
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
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10.
11.
12.
13.
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14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
I dislike participating in group discussions.
Generally, I am comfortable while participating in group discussions.
I am tense and nervous while participating in group discussions.
I like to get involved in group discussions.
Engaging in a group discussion with new people makes me tense and nervous.
I am calm and relaxed while participating in group discussions.
Generally, I am nervous when I have to participate in a meeting
Usually I am calm and relaxed while participating in a meeting.
I am very calm and relaxed when I am called upon to express an opinion at a
meeting.
I am afraid to express myself at meetings.
Communicating at meetings usually makes me uncomfortable.
I am very relaxed when answering questions at a meeting.
While participating in a conversation with a new acquaintance, I feel very
nervous.
I have no fear of speaking up in conversations.
Ordinarily I am very tense and nervous in conversations.
Ordinarily I am very calm and relaxed in conversations.
While conversing with a new acquaintance, I feel very relaxed.
I’m afraid to speak up in conversations.
I have no fear of giving a speech.
Certain parts of my body feel very tense and rigid while I am giving a speech.
I feel very relaxed while giving a speech.
My thoughts become confused and jumbled when I am giving a speech.
I face the prospect of giving a speech with confidence.
While giving a speech, I get so nervous I forget facts I really know.
Scoring and Interpreting Your Scores
Scoring: To compute your scores, please add or subtract your scores for each item
as indicated below. (Please note that “18” is a constant, so all your subscores will be
computed by starting with a total of “18” and adding to or subtracting from that.)
Subscore (Context)
Scoring Formula
Group Discussions:
18 plus scores for items 2___, 4___, & 6___; minus(-) scores for
items 1___, 3___, & 5___ = *____.
Meetings:
18 plus scores for items 8___, 9___, & 12___; minus(-) scores for
items 7___, 10___, & 11___ = *____.
Interpersonal
Conversations:
18 plus scores for items 14___, 16___, & 17___; minus(-) scores
for items 13___, 15___, & 18___ = *____.
Public Speaking:
18 plus scores for items 19___, 21___, & 23___; minus(-) scores
for items 20___, 22___, & 24___ = *____.
Overall:
Add all four subscores: *Group Discussions + *Meetings +
*Interpersonal Conversations + *Public Speaking =_____.
Using the scoring formulas, please compute your five scores above and write them in
the following chart under “YOUR SCORE.”
YOUR PRCA SCORES CHART
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Overall & context
YOUR SCORE
“Checkmark” YOUR Level/Range
Low
Average
High
Group
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Meetings
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Interpersonal
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Public Speaking
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Overall
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NOTE: To interpret your scores, you can compare your scores with the thousands of
people who have also completed the PRCA-24 (see Norms Chart below).
Norms Chart for the PRCA-24
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Context
Average Score
Average Range
High CA Scores
Group
15.4
11-20
21+
Meetings
16.4
12-21
22+
Interpersonal
14.5
10-18
19+
Public Speaking
19.3
14-24
25+
Overall
65.6
50-80
81+
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Now return to the “Your PRCA Scores Chart” above and checkmark the level for each of
your scores in comparison to the “Norms Chart.” This chart will give you a good
assessment of your overall and context CA levels. If your overall CA score and/or
context scores are in the HIGH CA range, you should discuss your scores with your
instructor to get additional suggestions for reducing CA. Additionally, you should try to
learn and practice Cognitive Restructuring Techniques (especially Positive Coping
Statements) and Deep Abdominal Breathing Exercises.
Adapted from: Dwyer, K.D. (2002). Public Speaking Workbook, 7th Edition. Boston:
McGraw-Hill Primis Custom.