New faculty members' emotions: a mixed-method study^†

† This research was presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association in San Francisco, CA, 29 April 2013.

Abstract

The current study developed when new faculty members spontaneously reported discrete emotions during focus groups exploring the factors affecting their success. Qualitative analysis using the framework of Pekrun's control–value theory of emotions revealed 18 different emotions with varying frequencies. A follow-up survey of 79 new faculty members showed significantly more enjoyment, pride, and boredom regarding teaching, whereas more anxiety, guilt, and helplessness were found concerning research. Sixteen of the 20 emotions significantly correlated with perceived success. Regressions revealed that several emotions (enjoyment, pride, and boredom) played a role in teaching success by mediating value; conversely, numerous emotions (enjoyment, pride, shame, and helplessness) mediated the predictive effect of control on research success. Implications for new faculty development and emotion research are discussed.

Keywords:

• faculty
• emotions
• control
• value
• mixed methods

Notes

† This research was presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association in San Francisco, CA, 29 April 2013.

1 Reports of general positive (‘feeling good') and negative (‘feel terrible') affect were also found, but were excluded from the current analysis.

2 In the qualitative analysis, enjoyment and happiness were counted as separate emotions because enjoyment typically occurs during an activity (i.e. activity focused), whereas happiness typically occurs after an outcome (i.e. outcome focused; Pekrun 2006).

3 Other prominent constructs that have been measured by single items included student ratings of instructors (Abrami and d'Apollonia 1991), self-esteem (Robins, Hendin, and Trzesniewski 2001), course interest (Ainley and Patrick 2006), quality of life (Zimmerman et al. 2006), self-reported health (DeSalvo et al. 2006), and job satisfaction (Wanous, Reichers, and Hudy 1997).