Tool-Description

The Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety (PRPSA-34) is a tool designed to assess anxiety related to public speaking. It consists of 34 items aimed at capturing the feelings and symptoms experienced by an individual when speaking in front of an audience. The scale measures the severity of public speaking anxiety, focusing on various aspects of anxiety, such as fear of negative evaluation and general discomfort during presentations.

Data Analysis and Usage

Data Analysis:
Descriptive Statistics: Calculate means, variances, and other descriptive statistics to understand the distribution of scores.
Internal Consistency: Evaluate the reliability of the scale using Cronbach’s alpha.
Factor Analysis: Examine the structure of the scale to determine if the data supports underlying factors related to public speaking anxiety.
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA): Analyze differences between groups to understand the effects of public speaking anxiety across variables such as age, experience, etc.
Data Usage:
Anxiety Assessment: Determine the level of anxiety an individual experiences during public speaking.
Guiding Interventions: Design intervention or treatment programs to address public speaking anxiety based on the results.
Progress Monitoring: Track progress in individuals undergoing therapy or training for public speaking.

Purpose

The primary goal of the PRPSA-34 is to accurately measure anxiety related to public speaking. This includes capturing the intensity of anxiety, related emotions, and symptoms, and providing information for developing coping strategies.

Calibration

The calibration of the PRPSA-34 involves evaluating the reliability and validity of the scale. Key steps include:
Reliability: Checking internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha and evaluating the stability of the tool through test-retest reliability.
Validity: Assessing whether the scale effectively measures public speaking anxiety, through comparisons with other anxiety scales and studies of its relevance to clinical or practical parameters.

References

McCroskey, J. C. (1970). Introduction to the PRPSA: A measure of public speaking anxiety. Speech Monographs, 37(4), 269-277.
McCroskey, J. C., & Richmond, V. P. (1982). Anxiety and communication: A comprehensive review of research. Communication Monographs, 49(4), 357-372.
Feldman, R. S. (2003). The Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety: A review of its development and psychometric properties. Journal of Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, 16(1), 91-103.