Occupational desirability and choice as a function of communication apprehension.

Abstract

Research on vocational desirability and choice has seldom examined the role of either perceived communication requirements or communication apprehension in career decisions. Communication apprehension, the apprehension an individual has about interpersonal communication, was hypothesized to affect both the perceived desirability of a number of occupations and the actual job choice made by subjects. Both hypotheses received support. High apprehensives perceived low-conuriunication occupations as significantly more desirable than high-communication occupations. Low apprehensives, on the other hand, perceived high-communication occupations as significantly more desirable than low-communication occupations. Occupational choices of high apprehensives were significantly lower in perceived communication requirements than those selected by low apprehensives.