Date of Award

1-1-2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Specialization

Communication and Leadership

School or Department

School of Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Dr. Pavel Shlossberg

Abstract

This project developed an assessment instrument testing student communication apprehension in the online environment. The instrument assessed communication apprehension that might be linked to online written communication, computer, and self-regulated learning readiness skills. The development of the instrument is informed by recent scholarship, as well as qualitative research on a community college campus, which sought to investigate and surface the communication apprehension that online students negotiate. This qualitative project utilized two research methods: focus group research of ten online students (five females and five males ranging in age from 18 to 60) and field research interviews of four online teachers (two females and two males ranging in age from 25 to 50) from Sandhills Community College. The data analysis consisted of performing an analysis of descriptive responses about communication apprehension and online written communication, computer, and self-regulated learning readiness skills in online courses. Based on the categorical concept results, a new communication apprehension assessment instrument was produced based on three previous models: Richmond, Wrench, and Gorham’s (2001) Classroom Anxiety Measure; Richmond, Smith, Heisel, and McCroskey’s (1998) Fear of Physician; and Richmond’s (1978) Situational Communication Apprehension Measure. Further recommendations for this project would be to test the communication apprehension assessment instrument for reliability and validity.

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