An investigation of receiver apprehension and social context dimensions of communication apprehension

This study discusses the nature of communication apprehension and self‐report instruments designed to measure it. The Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PRCA) and a 45‐item instrument focusing on apprehension in the reception of communication were used. Two independent factors related to source versus receiver apprehension were discovered. No dimensions of communication apprehension related to social contexts (formal versus informal) were discovered. An initial 20‐item self‐report instrument labeled the Receiver Apprehension Test (RA T) was developed.