Speech preparation processes and speech apprehension

This study compared self‐reports of speech preparation activities by high and low public speaking apprehensive individuals. Due to an aversion to communication for high communication apprehensives (CA), it was predicted that high CAs would spend proportionally more time on non‐communication‐oriented preparation activities (e.g., note preparation) than would low CAs with the reverse being true for communication‐oriented preparation activities (e.g., rehearsing). As anticipated, high communication apprehensives reported spending proportionally more of their preparation time on non‐communication‐oriented activities than low CAs. In contrast, low CAs spent proportionally more of their preparation time on communication oriented activities than did high CAs. In addition, high apprehensives reported spending more time preparing their speeches but received lower grades than low apprehensives.