Measuring High School Students\u27 Communication Readiness: Does Communication Apprehension, Writing Ability, and Speaking Ability Correlate with Students\u27 Perceptions of Professional Appearance?

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to illustrate the way communication apprehension and communication performance inform professional physical appearance perspectives of high school students. Method: Students at a traditional and a non-traditional high school were surveyed to assess their communication apprehension and ability to assess professional appearance. Their teachers were also surveyed to assess students\u27 communication aptitudes. Results: The results of the study were consistent with expectations that students experiencing different educational conditions would have different communication abilities, anxieties, and expectations of professional physical appearance. Key terms: communication apprehension, writing ability, speaking ability, professional appearance