Background
Jerry Seinfeld once noted that most people at a funeral would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy. Fear of public speaking, sometimes called public speaking anxiety (PSA), or glossophobia, is one of the most commonly held fears. PSA is a specific sub-category of general Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). It is distinct from PSA since PSA is experienced by individuals who do not have issues communicating in other social situation. These are individuals who may not pursue formal treatment for this type of anxiety because it affects only a small part of their lives, and perceived that PSA is best dealt with by avoidance.
One study (Grieve et al., 2021) found PSA was one of the top three fears held by college students, affecting 64% of respondents. More remarkably, 80% of respondents indicated that public speaking was a source of anxiety that had negatively affected their well being. This is a significant concern for a number of reasons. First, as researchers have determined, fear of public speaking was listed as the top fear by 20% more respondents than a similar survey done in a 1970s study, suggesting PSA has become more pervasive. Second, it has been noted that, for individuals with PSA, there is the potential that the desire to be “perceived favourably becomes a greater priority than participating in a learning opportunity or communicating with the group” (Grieve et al., 2021, p. 1285). Moreover, and thirdly, public speaking is an important job skill that is tied to job success and advancement.
Not surprisingly, PSA has been one of the most researched topics in communication studies over the last century. In terms of formal treatment, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is considered the “gold standard” for SAD and PSA. However, between 25% and 50% of those individuals treated for more general SAD with CBT did not respond to treatment . This has led to the consideration of alternatives.
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Study Overview
One potential alterative is improvisational theatre (improv). there is a good deal of anecdotal evidence supported by a limited body of research regarding the efficacy of improvisation theatre (improv) in reducing social anxiety. Second City Chicago, for example, offers 5 levels of courses entitled “Improv for Anxiety”. This is backed by studies reflecting a variety of positive psychological impacts from improv including a reduction in social anxiety. This research has even spilled over into the popular press, spawning a number of improv̵-based self-improvement books such as Katzman and O’Connor’s Life unscripted: Using improv principles to get unstuck, boost confidence, and transform your life and Clay Drinko's Play yourself sane.
Despite the apparent success of improv in helping individuals deal with their social anxiety, the only two studies to date applying improv specifically to PSA have been inconclusive. This study proposes to take a different approach to examining the impact of improv on PSA. While the study will use similar methods to measure the level of PSA being experienced by its participants, it's focus will be on the participants' experiences, both in the class and in their everyday lives. Through the use of interview, observation and journalling, participants will have an opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences as they progress through the class.
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Why Participate?
You will get to take an improv class at no charge with an experienced instructor who regularly teaches paid classes to the public. Additionally, studies have suggested that taking improv classes may provide a number of indirect benefits including increased creativity, increased tolerance of uncertainty, improved social skills, improved cognitive flexibility, improved self-esteem and strengthened social connections. Plus improv is, frankly, a ton of fun and an interesting way to spending an evening out.
While there may not be any direct benefit to you, including any reduction in you public speaking anxiety, results from this study may help us learn about the impact of improv on PSA and may benefit others in the future.
Study Details
The study will be a qualitative study.
It will focus on the lived experience of the participants through journalling and interviews. Participant feedback will be contextualized through a number of other collection strategies: participant self-report surveys, observations, field notes and two opportunities for participants to do a short speech.
Increased confidence will be determined based on self-perceptions.
Perceptions of anxiety levels when speaking and observable behavioural PSA will be evaluated throughout the course of the intervention program. As noted, this will be contextualized by instruments such as the Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety and the Behavioural Assessment of Speaking Anxiety.
Analytical framework and reflective participant engagement.
Although the sample size will be too small to justify statistical analysis, this data will be reviewed for effect size and will explored during the interviews. As part of the qualitative data collected, students will be provided with an opportunity through journalling to reflectively explore and review their attitudes to public speaking in the context of the indirect learning provided by improv training. Additionally, there will be interviews conducted with the participants prior to intervention implementation and at the end of the intervention period.
Join the Study
Please fill out your details below to participate in our research study. All fields are required to ensure accurate data collection.
Please note that this study is being conducted on an in-person basis
in Calgary, Alberta.
View full survey details