Explores a new concept, listening fidelity, and a procedure for measurement. Defines listening fidelity as the degree of congruence between the cognitions of a listener and the cognitions of a source following a communication event. Finds sufficient support for the concept of listening fidelity to be considered a meaningful variable that merits…

Conducts a meta-analysis of 23 manuscripts containing information on 30 experiments that examined communication apprehension and cognitive performance. Finds a statistically significant negative correlation between communication apprehension and cognitive performance. (MG)

Examines the relationship between state anxiety and three parameters defining individuals' learning curves. Finds highly anxious individuals were slower at the outset of the message trials, had lower rates of skill acquisition, and greater variability in performance quality. (SR)

Noting that communication scholars have devoted considerable attention to communication apprehension, this 27-item annotated bibliography, however, focuses on receiver-based anxiety or communication apprehension. The journal articles, conference papers, and theses listed were published between 1975 and 1988. Sections of the annotated bibliography…

Clarifies the nature of communication avoidance through a structural analysis grounded in facet theory. Presents evidence for a duplex model of avoidance in which theoretical distinctions among modalities of approach-avoidance and context proved empirically relevant. Discusses implications of these findings for the explication, treatment, and…

Investigates whether all three components of performance visualization (education, guided imagery, and modeling) are necessary to help people enhance speech performance and reduce public speaking apprehension. Finds that the education component appears to be unnecessary. Speculates that cognitive processing differences with regard to language and…

Examines the relationships among receiver apprehension, teacher clarity, and teacher immediacy in the instructional context. Examines the relationships between state receiver apprehension and student motivation, affect, and cognitive learning. Finds that, although state receiver apprehension is significantly related to negative instructional…

Explores the relationships among immediacy, communication apprehension, and learning outcomes between two class formats: mixed-size sections (i.e., large-lecture/break-out sections) versus self-contained sections. Indicates that students' cognitive learning outcomes were slightly greater in the mixed-size sections versus self-contained sections.…

Tested an expectations-based model of the cognitive processes leading to communication apprehension. Found that expectations are a significant predictor of communication apprehension as measured by self-reports. Also important were communicative goals and the interaction of expected outcome and goal importance. (PD)

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The seven titles deal with the following topics: (1) the effects of a seven-hour communication training program on participant utilization of six components of communication style; (2) communication skills and cognitive processes in…