Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PRCA-24) 
 

The PRCA-24 is the instrument which is most widely used to measure communication apprehension. It is preferable above all earlier versions of the instrument (PRCA, PRCA10, PRCA-24B, etc.). It is highly reliable (alpha regularly >.90) and has very high predictive validity. It permits one to obtain sub-scores on the contexts of public speaking, dyadic interaction, small groups, and large groups. However, these scores are substantially less reliable than the total PRCA-24 scores-because of the reduced number of items. People interested only in public speaking anxiety should consider using the PRPSA rather than the public speaking sub-score drawn from the PRCA-24. It is much more reliable for this purpose.
 

This instrument is composed of twenty-four statements concerning feelings about communicating with others. Please indicate the degree to which each statement applies to you by marking whether you: Strongly Disagree = 1; Disagree = 2;  are Neutral = 3; Agree = 4; Strongly Agree = 5 

_____1. I dislike participating in group discussions. 

_____2. Generally, I am comfortable while participating in group discussions. 

_____3. I am tense and nervous while participating in group discussions. 

_____4. I like to get involved in group discussions. 

_____5. Engaging in a group discussion with new people makes me tense and nervous. 

_____6. I am calm and relaxed while participating in group discussions. 

_____7. Generally, I am nervous when I have to participate in a meeting. 

_____8. Usually, I am comfortable when I have to participate in a meeting. 

_____9. I am very calm and relaxed when I am called upon to express an opinion at a meeting. 

_____10. I am afraid to express myself at meetings. 

_____11. Communicating at meetings usually makes me uncomfortable. 

_____12. I am very relaxed when answering questions at a meeting. 

_____13. While participating in a conversation with a new acquaintance, I feel very nervous. 

_____14. I have no fear of speaking up in conversations. 

_____15. Ordinarily I am very tense and nervous in conversations.

_____16. Ordinarily I am very calm and relaxed in conversations. 

_____17. While conversing with a new acquaintance, I feel very relaxed.

_____18. I'm afraid to speak up in conversations.

_____19. I have no fear of giving a speech.

_____20. Certain parts of my body feel very tense and rigid while giving a speech. 

_____21. I feel relaxed while giving a speech. 

_____22. My thoughts become confused and jumbled when I am giving a speech. 

_____23. I face the prospect of giving a speech with confidence. 

_____24. While giving a speech, I get so nervous I forget facts I really know. 
 

SCORING: 

Group discussion: 18 - (scores for items 2, 4, & 6) + (scores for items 1,3, & 5) 

Meetings: 18 - (scores for items 8, 9, & 12) + (scores for items 7, 10, & 11) 

Interpersonal: 18 - (scores for items 14, 16, & 17) + (scores for items 13, 15, & 18) 

Public Speaking: 18 - (scores for items 19, 21, & 23) + (scores for items 20, 22, &24) 

Group Discussion Score: _______ 

Interpersonal Score: _______ 

Meetings Score: _______ 

Public Speaking Score: _______ 

To obtain your total score for the PRCA, simply add your sub-scores together. _______ 

Scores can range from 24-120. Scores below 51 represent people who have very low CA. Scores between 51-80 represent people with average CA. Scores above 80 represent people who have high levels of trait CA. 

NORMS FOR THE PRCA-24: (based on over 40,000 college students; data from over 3,000 non-student adults in a national sample provided virtually identical norms, within 0.20 for all scores.)

                                    Mean               Standard Deviation                   High                             Low 

Total Score                   65.6                            15.3                             > 80                             < 51 

Group:                          15.4                             4.8                              > 20                             < 11 

Meeting:                       16.4                             4.2                              > 20                             < 13 

Dyad (Interpersonal):   14.2                              3.9                             > 18                             < 11 

Public:                          19.3                             5.1                              > 24                             < 14 

Source: 

McCroskey, J. C. (1982). An introduction to rhetorical communication (4th Ed). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

(Also available in more recent editions of this book, now published by Allyn & Bacon.)