In light of inconsistent research findings, a study examined the relationship of traitlike public speaking apprehension to the competence of public speakers, as well as the mediating role of gender in that relationship. Subjects, 105 students from a variety of majors and enrolled in 7 sections of a public speaking fundamentals course at a southern…

While many strategies have been suggested to treat communication apprehension (CA), no research has accounted for potential gender differences in the treatment of CA. Further, no research has documented the effect on CA of self-modeling. A study identified differences in CA remediation across gender among the following treatment conditions: video…

Indicates that males were more likely than females to use (1) violence against a noncompliant male persuasive target in a noninterpersonal relational context, and (2) direct coercion against persistently noncompliant and noninterpersonal persuasive targets in relational contexts with short-term consequences. (JD)

A study examined students' perceptions of nonverbal cues as they affected the listening process during interviews with someone from a culture outside of the United States. Subjects were 129 American students in a senior level cross cultural communication course at a midwestern state university; they each interviewed an international person…

American college students (N=46) were asked to assign grades to a series of words and phrases used in describing college work. The variables of sex, GPA and cognitive/semantic consistency were correlated with 30 descriptor words. The results revealed that the first canonical root was significant. Using regression to explore individual patterns, it…

A study compared the communication apprehension of basic studies (underprepared) and nonbasic studies college students in four contexts: (1) group, (2) interpersonal, (3) meetings, and (4) public communication. Subjects were 238 male and 209 female undergraduate students enrolled in the required basic communication course at the University of…

An exploratory study was conducted to define and differentiate interruptions structurally and tactically. The participants were 60 college students assigned to female-female, female-male, and male-male conversational dyads. The dyadic conversations were recorded for 14 minutes, during a period of "getting to know each other" and during a…

A study was conducted to test the hypothesis that "really communicating" would be identified as a positive experience for communicators, as represented by the use of the positive factor clusters of the Joel Davitz model of affective experience (i.e., moving toward others, enhancement, comfort), and that a greater proportion of females…

A study examined the relationship between self-reported communication apprehension and psychological sex type as measured by the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI). The BSRI identifies people as masculine (high in masculinity, low in feminity), feminine (high in femininity, low in masculinity), androgynous (high in both femininity and masculinity), and…

This essay is a propositional analysis of the literature on the interrelationship of communicator style and gender as evidenced in the organizational setting. Pavitt's (1989) notion of the prototype is extended to the realm of organizational communication in developing five propositions: (1) the prototype of the effective manager is more likely to…

Reframing, (redirecting or changing the perceptual experience of a situation by placing it in another frame that fits the facts equally well or better) is a relatively unique approach to interpersonal problem solving. A study was conducted to determine whether reframing could be taught as a self-help interpersonal problem-solving skill and to…

A study investigated the extent to which members of a state agency reported that they are comfortable talking about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and the attendant topics of sex, homosexuality, intravenous drug use, death, and disease and the extent to which they use direct talk and indirect talk when they communicate about these…

Compares genders' style and quality in written communication. Finds no significant differences, and suggests any gender-specific markers might be limited to verbal and nonverbal communications. (MS)

Changing from a teacher-centered to a student-centered approach and trying to use the principles of critical pedagogy are not enough to teach writing--both male and female students need to go beyond prescribed gender roles and social roles. Some women students in peer response groups act as though they have composed a secret etiquette guide: they…

Two experiments involving 49 male and 49 female college students were conducted to determine the effects of physician physical attractiveness on the patients' disclosures of personal information (symptoms). In the first experiment, subjects rated pictures of physicians for physical attractiveness and reported their willingness to disclose and…