A cross-cultural comparison of instructor communication in American and French classrooms

Abstract

This study addressed patterns and influence of instructor communication in American (US) and in French classrooms. Significant differences were found for instructor use of power bases, affinity-seeking strategies, and nonverbal immediacy. Significant differences were found in student affective learning, cognitive learning, affect toward instructor, and ratings of instruction between the two cultures. In both cultures, however, student affect toward instructor, cognitive learning, and rating of instruction were significantly correlated with instructor affinity-seeking and instructor nonverbal immediacy. Likewise, instructor use of expert power was significantly correlated with student cognitive learning and ratings of instruction in both cultures.

Keywords:

• Instructor Power
• Affinity-Seeking
• Nonverbal Immediacy
• Cognitive Learning
• Affective Learning
• Student Ratings of Instruction
• Cross-Cultural Comparisons
• America
• France
• USA

Notes

K. David Roach (Ed.D., Texas Tech University, 1989) is Professor and Chair in the Communication Studies Department at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. Myrna M. Cornett-DeVito (Ph.D., University of Kansas, 1989) is Professor in the Department of Communication & Theatre and Raffaele DeVito (Ed.D., Northeastern University, 1984) is Professor of Management in the Department of Business Administration and Education at Emporia State University, Emporia, KS. The authors would like to thank Dr. René Berthon (Professor à l'IUP Management et Gestion des Enterprises, Institut Universitaire Professionnalise, Université D'Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France) for his help in gathering data for this project.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Raffaele Devito

K. David Roach (Ed.D., Texas Tech University, 1989) is Professor and Chair in the Communication Studies Department at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. Myrna M. Cornett-DeVito (Ph.D., University of Kansas, 1989) is Professor in the Department of Communication & Theatre and Raffaele DeVito (Ed.D., Northeastern University, 1984) is Professor of Management in the Department of Business Administration and Education at Emporia State University, Emporia, KS. The authors would like to thank Dr. René Berthon (Professor à l'IUP Management et Gestion des Enterprises, Institut Universitaire Professionnalise, Université D'Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France) for his help in gathering data for this project.