Public Speaking Anxiety Scale: Preliminary psychometric data and scale validation

Abstract

Public speaking anxiety (PSA) is one of the most prevalent forms of anxiety and effects approximately one in five people. There are a handful of scales used to measure PSA, but these scales have limited psychometric data, bringing their validity into question. In addition, few of these scales include both positively and negatively worded items, making them susceptible to acquiescence. Many are limited to measuring a single aspect of anxiety (e.g., cognitive) and do not address the three components of anxiety (i.e., cognitive, behavioral, and physiological). Valid, empirically based psychological assessment is a vital predecessor to successful treatment and tracking treatment outcomes. This paper describes preliminary psychometric data of the Public Speaking Anxiety Scale (PSAS), an instrument measuring cognitions, behaviors, and physiological manifestations of speech anxiety. Results of this study suggest that the PSAS is a highly reliable and valid measure to assess public speaking anxiety.