A Factor Analytic Study of the Items in the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension and the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule.

A study was undertaken to determine the relationship between assertiveness and communication apprehension by examining common factors that exist between the items on the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule and the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension. The two instruments were administered to students at a large midwestern university. Responses to the two instruments were submitted to a principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation. The six factors that emerged were: (1) apprehension about public speaking, (2) apprehension about interpersonal communication, (3) preventing others from taking advantage, (4) candidness, (5) contentiousness, and (6) the making of complaints in restaurants. The first factor came exclusively from the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension, the second factor came from both instruments, and the remaining factors came exclusively from the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule. Since the linkage between assertiveness and apprehension about communication as measured by these instruments appears to be the common factor of apprehension about interpersonal communication, the recommendation of assertiveness training for persons suffering from anxiety in interpersonal situations appears valid. (MKM)