The Effect of Perceived Teacher Burnout on Credibility

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of perceived teacher burnout on perceived teacher credibility. One hundred eighty-two college students were randomly exposed to a written scenario manipulating the level of perceived teacher burnout (high or low) and responded to a scale measuring perceived teacher credibility in reference to the scenario. Results of one-way multivariate analyses of variance indicated that perceived teacher burnout has a negative impact on perceived teacher competence, caring, and trustworthiness. Low-burnout teachers are perceived as more credible than high-burnout teachers.

Keywords:

• Caring
• Competence
• Credibility
• Teacher Burnout
• Trustworthiness

Notes

^a Lower score represents higher credibility.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Qin Zhang

Qin Zhang (PhD, University of New Mexico, 2005) is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT.

David Alan Sapp

David Alan Sapp (PhD, New Mexico State University, 2001) is an associate professor in the Department of English at Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT.