Award Date

1-1-1993

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Communication Studies

First Committee Member

Anthony J. Ferri

Number of Pages

69

Abstract

Self-directed work groups are a new innovation in the workplace involving small group interaction. A by-product of working in a group environment is often increased communication between group members. This study investigated members' perceptions of their own communication competence and communication apprehension as a result of self-directed work group involvement. Surveys were given to employees participating in self-directed work groups and a comparable group not participating in work groups at a government defense contractor. Results of the study indicated no statistical differences between groups for perceived communication competence and communication apprehension, although the scores were in the predicted direction. A strong negative correlation was found for measures of competence and apprehension, indicating that as competence rises, apprehension lowers for both groups. Factors limiting the study included the relatively short time since the work groups were introduced and the government institution within which the experiment was conducted.

Keywords

Apprehension; Communication; Competence; Directed; Employee; Exploratory; Group; Participation; Relationships; Self; Study; Work

Controlled Subject

Mass media; Industrial management

File Format

pdf

File Size

2048 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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