Memorable messages in times of uncertainty: Communicative strategies to encourage motivation and connection

ABSTRACT

In times of uncertainty, the messages we receive can be long-lasting and influential. This study sought to understand what memorable messages students recalled receiving from their instructors at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and what kind of impact those messages had on them. Based on open-ended responses, students (N = 297) recalled emotional support messages most frequently, followed by motivational, solidarity/unifying, compliment/praise, and tangible/informational support messages. Students described how these messages influenced them in a variety of ways, including impacts on their motivation and performance, the instructor–student relationship, and their level of confidence and morale. The majority of these messages had the most significant associations with perceptions of the instructor–student relationship. Results highlight the influential role of instructor messages and provide important implications for instructors’ future communication practices, whether in times of uncertainty or stability.

KEYWORDS:

• memorable messages
• COVID-19
• instructional communication
• pandemic
• uncertainty

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Renee Kaufmann

Renee Kaufmann (Ph.D., University of Kentucky) is an Assistant Professor in the School of Information Science at the University of Kentucky.

Jessalyn I. Vallade

Jessalyn I. Vallade (Ph.D., West Virginia University) is an Assistant Professor in the School of Information Science at the University of Kentucky.

Brandi N. Frisby

Brandi N. Frisby (Ph.D., West Virginia University) is an Associate Professor in the School of Information Science at the University of Kentucky.