This review provides support for the efficacy

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the stated challenges and stated research gap and future-work section and abstract of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 1970 and 2025, spanning 4 journals. Those papers have been cited 184 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 6 representative gaps

• The Effect of systematic desensitization on speech anxiety (1970) · The Speech Teacher · cited 41× · doi

  Speech anxiety is a significant problem in the field of speech communication. Traditional speech courses do not provide adequate assistance to students with severe speech anxiety. There is a lack of evidence for the effectiveness of systematic desensitization in reducing speech anxiety in students.

  generalstated challengesevidence 5/5
  Keywords: speech anxiety significant problem field communication traditional courses
• Communication apprehension and general anxiety in the prediction of public speaking anxiety (1985) · Communication Quarterly · cited 36× · doi

  The study identifies a gap in the literature regarding the predictive power of communication apprehension and general anxiety in public speaking anxiety. The research notes that previous studies have produced inconsistent findings. The study aims to address the uncertainty surrounding the validity of the assumption that communication apprehension provides unique information.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: study identifies gap literature regarding predictive power communication
• Communication apprehension and general anxiety in the prediction of public speaking anxiety (1985) · Communication Quarterly · cited 36× · doi

  Future research should investigate the generalizability of the findings to other populations. Further studies should examine the relationship between communication apprehension and general anxiety in different contexts. Research should aim to develop interventions that target communication apprehension in the treatment of public speaking anxiety.

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 5/5
  Keywords: future research investigate generalizability findings other populations further
• Communication apprehension and general anxiety in the prediction of public speaking anxiety (1985) · Communication Quarterly · cited 36× · doi

  The study notes that the contribution of the PRCA-24, while statistically significant, was not large and may be nonsignificant in cases where the multicollinearity is more severe. The research identifies the need to address the uncertainty surrounding the validity of the assumption that communication apprehension provides unique information. The study highlights the challenge of developing interventions that target communication apprehension in the treatment of public speaking anxiety.

  generalstated challengesevidence 5/5
  Keywords: study notes contribution prca-24 statistically significant was large
• The communication of public speaking anxiety (1987) · Communication Education · cited 34× · doi

  Definitional and methodological problems may have interfered with researchers' efforts to determine how speech anxiety is communicated to audiences. Previous research may have obscured the relationship between observers' perceptions and actors' affective states by employing trait instruments to measure state variables.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: definitional methodological problems have interfered researchers efforts determine
• Review and Analysis of Successful PSA Interventions: An Applied Perspective (2025) · The Journal of Psychology · cited 1× · doi

  While this review provides support for the efficacy of psychological interventions in reducing anxiety related to public speaking, rigorous research is warranted to examine long-term efficacy, real-world implications, self-efficacy development, and individual differences in treatment assignment.

  generalabstractevidence 4/5
  Keywords: efficacy review provides support psychological interventions reducing anxiety related public speaking rigorous warranted examine long

Questions about this gap