Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

1994

Abstract

Research has shown that communication apprehension is seen as a negative effect of speaking in public as well as in other situations. The nervous and anxious feelings experienced in these contexts take away from understanding and add to the breakdown of interpersonal relationships. On the other hand, humor is found to be an excellent coping mechanism to deal with embarrassing and fear-related anxieties and it adds to group cohesiveness. The relationship between CA and humor was of investigated to determine what effects CA has on humor and how well the use of humorous messages alleviates the problems associated with CA.

Results of this study showed that there was a substantial link between CA and humor. Subjects were 566 undergraduate student volunteers at Eastern Illinois University who were enrolled in a variety of classes across the curriculum. Each participant was given a questionnaire containing the PRCA-24 and the Humor Orientation Scale along with a computerized sheet for recording responses. Data were collected during one month. Descriptive analyses were conducted and correlations, T-tests, and post hoc analyses were computed, and offer support for the the conclusion that CA and humor orientation are significantly related. There was substantial evidence to reject the null hypothesis suggesting no relation between CA and an individual's level of humor orientation. Specifically, people who reported using humor in their communication with others regularly (humor frequency) and effectively (humor effectiveness) have lower levels of CA. By contrast, people who do not report using humor in their communication with others regularly and effectively have higher levels of CA.

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