Computer Anxiety and Communication Apprehension: Relationship and Introductory College Course Effects

Abstract

College students enrolled in either an introductory level computer course or a basic public speaking course completed the Computer Attitude Scale (measuring computer anxiety, liking, confidence, and usefulness) and the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension — 24 (a measure of communication apprehension) during the first and last weeks of a semester. Pre-and post-course measures were obtained from 181 students (90 speech and 91 computer students). Among the major results of the study were the following. A small significant positive relationship ( r = .22) was found between computer anxiety and communication apprehension. The examined introductory computer and public speaking courses appear to have no effect on common elements between the two types of anxiety. However, completion of the basic public speaking course lowered communication apprehension; completion of the basic computer course increased computer anxiety. A recommendation is made that the issue of anxiety be acknowledged and addressed in introductory computer courses.