ERIC Number: ED347151
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1992-Jun
Pages: 29
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Effect of Teacher Dress on Student Perceptions.
Phillips, Pamela A.; Smith, Lyle R.
Research indicates that clothing is a significant form of nonverbal communication that affects the perceptions of others. Fourth, seventh, and ninth graders (27 males and 33 females) from the Lincoln County Public Schools (Georgia) were shown three photographs of a female model in casual, moderate, and conservative attire. A modified Likert scale was used to measure student perceptions of eight teacher traits for each of the stimulus photographs. Results indicate that students' perceptions of teacher attributes are affected by teacher attire. In addition, different modes of dress tend to elicit certain perceptions while simultaneously decreasing the probability of other perceptions. Casual clothing was perceived by students to convey teacher friendliness, fairness, and interestingness. Moderate attire conveyed teacher friendliness, organization, interestingness, understanding, and discipline. Conservative dress elicited perceptions of teacher organization, knowledge, and disciplinary skills. Although differences in perceptions were evidenced at varying grade levels, no pattern of differing perceptions due to student gender emerged. (IAH)
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A