Communicative Competence Scale (CCS)
Wiemann (1977) — 36 items, 5-point Likert, self-perceived communication competence
The Communicative Competence Scale (CCS) by Wiemann (1977) is the first standardized self-report measure of interpersonal communication competence. 36 items assessing your perception of your own ability to communicate effectively across social situations. ~5 minutes. Based on Wiemann (1977) and subsequent validation studies.
What Is the Communicative Competence Scale?
The Communicative Competence Scale (CCS), developed by Wiemann in 1977, is the first standardized self-report tool for measuring how competent you feel as a communicator. It doesn't measure what you say in one specific situation — it measures your overall sense of whether you can navigate different social contexts effectively.
The scale covers several dimensions: interaction management, affiliation/support, social relaxation, empathy, and behavioral flexibility. It takes about 5 minutes to complete.
Note: This is a self-report measure. It reflects how you see your own communication ability, which may not match how others perceive you.
References:
- Wiemann, J. M. (1977). Explication and test of a model of communicative competence. <em>Human Communication Research</em>, 3(3), 195–213.
- Mehralian, G. et al. (2023). Communication competence, self-efficacy, and spiritual intelligence. <em>BMC Nursing</em>, 22, 99.
Scoring Guide
5-point Likert (1=Strongly Disagree, 5=Strongly Agree). Reverse-scored items: 4, 8, 11, 12, 28. Total = sum of all 36 items (after reversal), range 36–180. Higher scores = greater self-perceived communication competence.Result Interpretation
After completing the 36 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.