Measurement of oral communication apprehension among children: A factor in the development of basic speech skills

Abstract

Two studies were designed to investigate the development of trait oral communication apprehension among children. The Measure of Elementary Communication Apprehension (MECA) was administered orally to young children and in written form to older adolescent students. Results indicate that (1) oral communication apprehension exists from the first to the twelfth grades with consistent reliability of measurement, and (2) MECA is positively related to three existing trait measures of oral communication apprehension. Theory and research issues related to the development of basic speech skills and communication apprehension in children are also discussed.