Thesis

Question: How comfortable are you speaking in front of a group regarding your topic?

Rating Scale: ( 0 = Very Uncomfortable and 10 = Very Comfortable)

Out of 235 people who presented at the conference, 65 completed the pre-conference survey and 45 completed the post-conference survey. However out of the data submitted only 39 records were usable.

Participant	Pre-Conference Survey (12)	Post-Conference Survey (8)	Because of your experience at the Student Academic Conference, did your comfort level with public speaking (Increase, Decrease, No Change) (Post 9.)	Briefly explain how speaking at the Student Academic Conference either made you feel more comfortable or less comfortable: (Post 10.)
02	7	10	increase	I felt more comfortable because I knew what I was talking about, and people asked me questions that made me look at my information from a different perspective.
03	6	10	no change	I was very comfortable speaking because it was a friendly atmosphere and the audience was made up mostly of my peers.
04	8	9	no change
05	7	9	increase	I was able to present in front of a friendly audience of students, faculty and friends. However, even though they were a "friendly" audience, I still had to communicate my information effectively.
06	10	10	no change
07	7	9	increase	more comfortable - there was a set time limit, so I know I had to just "go to it". I had to present my information as quickly and clearly as possible in a set time frame.
08	7	8	no change	It was no more difficult than any other public speaking event I have been involved in.
09	7	7	no change	just more practice
10	7	9	no change
11	8	8	no change	I was less comfortable because I didn't know anyone there.
12	5	4	no change	My teacher basically told us to read our paper- he said we didn't have to prepare for it. So, I felt dumb just reading it, but that is what he told all of us to do. I was fine and then the power point wasn't working when i went to use it. So, that was emb
13	8	9	no change
14	9	10	increase	It gave me a chance to show off my knowledge of the subject I presented. This boosted my confidence
15	10	9	no change	It made me more comfortable in front of people who had no idea what I was about to do. I usually am performing things in front of people who have a small idea as to what I am about to do.
16	8	9	increase
17	9	9	no change	I feel very comfortable presenting what I have done to others. If this sparks an intrest in my feild then I have accomplished a lot, if I can get one student (or anyone else for that matter) to stop and ask a question then what I have done has been worth
18	10	8	no change
19	7	0	no change	none
21	10	10	no change	I felt about the same because I had given that speech almost every weekend for the past competetive season (October-April). My topic was well-researched and I had just finished giving the speech at a national competition.
22	7	8	increase	After speaking at the conference, I recieved alot of positive feedback. This gave me a better confidence level for the next time I speak.
23	8	0	no change	I felt comfortable before speaking at the conference, because I had done the presentation before.
24	10	8	increase	Two days before the conference my teacher held a practice session for me and the another peer of mine to present our speeches in class. I was a wreck! I thought I was organized, but I got up in front of my class, people that I know and am comfortable wi
25	10	9	increase	practice makes perfect
26	7	8	increase
28	5	6	increase	It made me confortable about speaking about my research to an area not familiar with the jargon involved in my major. I got experience
29	6	8	no change
30	9	10	no change	Public Speaking is what I will be completing my master studies in so I was comfortable before and after my speech.
31	7	9	increase	I was able to interact with those that stopped by to talk to me about my poster display comfortably.
32	8	1	no change	I was in the final poster session so I had no one come to my poster to talk to me. So my comfort level remained the same.
33	9	10	no change
34	1	5	no change	It didn't change. I still don't like speaking in front of people I don't know.
35	7	8	no change	My comfort level did not significantly change because of the Academic Conference. I have previous experience speaking to groups and this was much the same. I was nervous, but no more or less than other experiences.
36	6	8	no change	It made me feel neither more or less comfortable. I think it was good practice for speaking in public, but seeing as how very few people attending my presentation, it did not increase my comfort level.
37	8	8	increase	realize that ppl often don't even care what you say or if you screw up....they don't know if you mess up
38	10	10	increase	It helped to make me more comfortable, I think everytime you speak in front of people it makes you more comfortable
39	6	9	increase	I knew my material since I had spent numerous hours on it. It was just as easy as telling most people what I knew about it since I was the expert on the subject
40	8	9	increase	It was neat to get up and present on a topic I knew my audience knew very little about so I could teach them something about it.
41	8	8	no change	There wasn't much change. I was a little embarrassed as I did freeze at one spot but the audience was forgiving.
42	7	8	increase	Each time I present it is a learning experince. I learn to present that specific material and become more comfortable with presenting in front of people.