Abstract
Classroom communication apprehension (CA) affects roughly 70% of undergraduate college students (Bowers, 1986, p. 373). After a discussion of CA as a theory, a survey tool is presented to measure if there is a difference in the amount and type of CA experienced by deaf and hard-of-hearing college students when compared to their hearing peers. The survey includes McCroskey's PRCA-24 tool for measuring CA and several additional questions on how the presence of a sign language interpreter influences levels of classroom CA. The survey's 155 respondents report a statistically significant difference in the amount and type of CA experienced. Limitations and possibilities for future research are discussed.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Communication in education; Deaf college students--Means of communication; Interpreters for the deaf; Deaf college students--Psychology; Classroom environment--Social aspects; Interaction analysis in education
Publication Date
8-10-2011
Document Type
Thesis
Department, Program, or Center
Department of Communication (CLA)
Advisor
Hickerson, Andrea
Advisor/Committee Member
Siple, Linda
Recommended Citation
Williams, Jenna, "Opening doors or creating barriers?: The Influence of interpreters on levels of communication apprehension among deaf and hard-of-hearing students" (2011). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from
https://repository.rit.edu/theses/3053
Campus
RIT – Main Campus
Comments
Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: LB1033.5 .W45 2011