The Impact of Gender, Success and Planning of Humor on Public Speaking Apprehension

Authors:

• Sarah E. Ubel (Washburn University)
• Tracy R. Routsong (Washburn University)
• Cindy Turk (Washburn)
• Joy Koesten (University of Kansas)
• Hwa Chi Liang (Washburn University)

Abstract:

This study examined the impact of planned and unplanned humor, successful and unsuccessful humor and gender on the communication apprehension of public speaking students. Using humor did not increase the level of communication apprehension of speakers, even when the humor was not successful. In all conditions except for the planned/unsuccessful humor, the communication apprehension was significantly lower than in the nonhumorous pretest scenario. Success of humor was a significant predictor of a speaker's communication apprehension. There was also a sigificant difference between male and females' levels of humor self-efficacy and humor expectations from self, other and the public speaking instructor.