Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: : Can a simple handshake on the first day of class change student impressions of the instructor and the course? We compared students who received a handshake to those who did not at the first class meeting and evaluated teaching skills, instructor’s ability to motivate student interest, and instructor’s support of students as a function of touch group and instructor gender. Our findings revealed significantly higher ratings for female instructors than for male instructors when they shook hands, with these differences specific to ratings of instructor skills and instructor’s motivation of students. In addition, students with whom male professors shook hands actually rated their professors lower on teaching skill and ability to motivate than those with no handshake. Thus, female professors may establish immediacy through the touch of a handshake, but male professors should avoid this seemingly innocuous touching of students.
Authors: Janie H. Wilson, Jonathan R. Stadler, Beth M. Schwartz, Dennis M. Goff
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1703607845