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ERIC Number: ED349018
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1992-Jun
Pages: 13
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Librarian Humor in Classroom and Reference.
Osborne, Nancy Seale
A brief questionnaire was sent to a random selection of 70 librarians in the State University of New York Librarians' Association Directory to determine the frequency of their use of humor at the reference desk and in the library instruction classroom, their perceptions of classroom humor, and their reasons for using humor in these situations. There were 43 respondents. The study also examines the use of humor as a strategy for putting students at ease, getting their attention, and creating a classroom environment and reference desk interaction more conducive for learning, as distinguished from its use as a pedagogical strategy. Analyses of the responses indicate that: (1) reference and instruction librarians have a great deal of respect for the students with whom they work in classrooms and at the reference desk; (2) they are also respectful of the possibilities and power of the use of appropriate humor; (3) they are concerned about the inappropriate use of humor; (4) they feel that use of appropriate humor makes them more approachable by students; and (5) they consider that the most important reasons for using humor are to put people at ease and facilitate relaxation, with establishing rapport the next most important. This report contains the letter explaining the study and asking the recipient to participate in the study; a copy of the questionnaire; a statistical analysis of the responses received; additional comments from the respondents; and a brief discussion of the findings. (BBM)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A