Analyzing Creditability

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Analyzing Credibility: A Study Examining
Demographic Factors and Personality Traits
that Influence Military Public Affairs' Credibility

Appendix (Measurement Scales)

Appendix A

Source Credibility Scale—McCroskey:
12-Item Semantic Differential*

Instructions: On the scales below, please indicate your feelings about _____________________. Circle the number between the adjectives which best represents your feeling about_______________________. Numbers “1” and “7” indicate a very strong feeling. Numbers “2” and “5” indicate a fairly weak feeling. Number “4” indicates you are undecided or do not understand the adjectives themselves. Please work quickly. There are no right or wrong answers.

Authoritativeness

                        Reliable    1    2    3    4    5    6    7    Unreliable*
                  Uninformed    1    2    3    4    5    6    7    Informed
                  Unqualified     1   2    3    4    5    6    7     Qualified
                     Intelligent     1    2    3    4    5    6    7     Unintelligent*
                      Valuable     1    2    3    4    5    6    7     Worthless*
                     Inexpert      1    2    3    4    5    6    7     Expert

Character

                       Honest      1    2    3    4    5    6    7     Dishonest*
                  Unfriendly      1    2    3    4    5    6    7     Friendly
                  Pleasant       1    2    3    4    5    6    7    Unpleasant*
                       Selfish       1    2    3    4    5    6    7     Unselfish
                       Awful       1    2    3    4    5    6    7      Nice
                    Virtuous       1    2    3    4    5    6    7      Sinful*

Note. Items presented here grouped by dimension. Users should randomly order the bipolar adjectives to avoid response set error variance. Reverse scoring should be performed for items with asterisks.

__________________________________________________________________

15-Item Semantic Differential**

Instructions: On the scales below, pleas indicate your feelings about _____________________. Circle the number between the adjectives which best represents your feeling about_______________________. Numbers “1” and “7” indicate a very strong feeling. Numbers “2” and “5” indicate a fairly weak feeling. Number “4” indicates you are undecided or do not understand the adjectives themselves. Please work quickly. There are no right or wrong answers.

Sociability

               Good-natured     1    2    3    4    5    6    7     Irritable*
                       Cheerful    1    2    3    4    5    6    7     Gloomy*
                    Unfriendly    1    2    3    4    5    6    7      Friendly

Extroversion

                           Timid     1    2    3    4   5    6    7      Bold
                          Verbal     1    2    3    4    5    6    7     Quiet*
                      Talkative     1    2    3    4    5    6    7     Silent*

Competence

                         Expert      1    2    3    4    5     6    7    Inexpert*
               Unintelligent     1    2     3    4    5    6    7     Intelligent
                  Intellectual     1    2     3    4    5    6    7     Narrow*

Composure

                       Poised      1    2    3    4     5    6    7     Nervous*
                        Tense       1    2    3    4     5    6    7     Relaxed
                         Calm       1    2    3    4     5    6    7     Anxious*

Character

                  Dishonest      1    2    3    4    5    6     7      Honest
          Unsympathetic      1    2    3    4    5    6     7      Sympathetic
                         Good       1    2    3    4    5    6     7      Bad*

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Appendix B

Self-Rated Communicative Competence Scale

Instructions: Complete the following questionnaire/scale with yourself in mind. Circle one of the sets of letters before each numbered questions based upon whether you strongly agree (SA), agree (A), are undecided or neutral (?), disagree (D), or strongly disagree (SD). Always keep yourself in mind as you answer.

Strongly Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly
Agree or neutral disagree

SA A ? D SD

1.      I find it easy to get along with others.
2.      I can adapt to changing situations.
3.      I treat people as individuals.
4.      I interrupt others too much.
5.      I am “rewarding” to talk to.
6.      I can deal with others effectively.
7.      I am a good listener.
8.      My personal relations are cold and distant.
9.      I am easy to talk to.
10. I won’t argue with someone just to prove I’m right.
11. My conversation behavior is not “smooth.”
12. I ignore other people’s feelings.
13. I generally know how others feel.
14. I let others know I understand them.
15. I understand other people.
16. I am relaxed and comfortable when speaking.
17. I listen to what people say to me.
18. I like to be close and personal with people.
19. I generally know what type of behavior is appropriate in any given situation.
20. I usually do not make unusual demands on my friends.
21. I am an effective conversationalist.
22. I am support of others.
23. I do not mind meeting strangers.
24. I can easily put myself in another person’s shoes.
25. I pay attention to the conversation.
26. I am generally relaxed when conversing with a new acquaintance.
27. I am interested in what others have to say.
28. I don’t follow the conversation very well.
29. I enjoy social gatherings where I can meet new people.
30. I am a likeable person.
31. I am flexible.
32. I am not afraid to speak with people in authority.
33. People can come to me with their problems.
34. I generally say the right thing at the right time.
35. I like to use my voice and body expressively.
36. I am sensitive to others’ needs of the moment.

Note: Items 4, 8, 11, 12, and 28 are reverse-coded before summing the 36 items. This has been modified for self-report.

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Appendix C

Rathus Assertiveness Schedule

Directions: Indicate how characteristic or descriptive each of the following statements is of you by using the code given below.

+3        very characteristic of me, extremely descriptive^a+2        rather characteristic of me, quite descriptive
+1        somewhat characteristic of me, slightly descriptive
-1         somewhat uncharacteristic of me, slightly nondescriptive
-2         rather uncharacteristic of me, quite nondescriptive
-3         very uncharacteristic of me, extremely nondescriptive

1. Most people seem to be more aggressive and assertive than I am.*
2. I have hesitated to make or accept dates because of “shyness.”*
3. When the food served at a restaurant is not done to my satisfaction, I complain about it to the waiter or waitress.
4. I am careful to avoid hurting other people’s feelings, even when I feel that I have been injured.*
5. If a salesman has gone to considerable trouble to show me merchandise which iis not quite suitable, I have a difficult time in saying “No.”*
6. When I am asked to do something, I insist upon knowing why.
7. There are times when I look for a good, vigorous argument.
8. I strive to get ahead as well as most people in my position.
9. To be honest, people often take advantage of me.*
10. I enjoy starting conversations with new acquaintances and strangers.
11. I often don’t know what to say to attractive persons of the opposite sex.*
12. I will hesitate to make phone calls to business establishments and institutions.*
13. I would rather apply for a job or for admission to a college by writing letters than by going through with personal interviews.*
14. I find it embarrassing to return merchandise.*
15. If a close and respected relative were annoying me, I would smother my feelings rather than express my annoyance.*
16. I have avoided asking questions for fear of sounding stupid.*
17. During an argument I am sometimes afraid that I will get so upset that I will shake all over.*
18. If a famed and respected lecturer makes a statement which I think is incorrect, I will have the audience hear my point of view as well.
19. I avoid arguing over prices with clerks and salesmen.*
20. When I have done something important or worthwhile, I manage to let others know about it.
21. I am open and frank about my feelings.
22. If someone has been spreading false and bad stories about me, I see him (her) as soon as possible to “have a talk” about it.
23. I often have a hard time saying “No,”*
24. I ten to bottle up my emotions rather than make a scene.*
25. I complain about poor service in a restaurant and elsewhere.
26. When I am given a compliment, I sometimes just don’t know what to say.*
27. If a couple near me in a theatre or at a lecture were conversing rather loudly, I would ask them to be quiet or to take their conversation elsewhere.
28. Anyone attempting to push ahead of me in a line is in for a good battle.
29. I am quick to express an opinion.
30. There are times when I just can’t say anything.*

^a Total score obtained by adding numerical responses to each item, after changing the signs of reversed items.

* Reversed item.

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Appendix D

Interaction Involvement Scale

Number of Questions: 18 Aprox .Time Required to Complete:6 minutes

Instructions: This questionnaire is designed to provide information about how people communicate. There are no right or wrong answers to any of the items. You only need to indicate the extent to which you feel each item describes your own behavior.

In responding to some of the items, you might say, "sometimes I do that and sometimes I don't." You should respond to each item in a way that best describes your typical manner of communication -- how you behave in most situations. If you cannot decide how a particular item applies to you circle the "not sure" alternative. however, please be sure to respond to all of the items.

Choose one alternative for each item that best characterizes your communication in general by circling your response.

1. I am keenly aware of how others perceive me during my conversations.