Presenter(s)
Kylie Nelson
Abstract
One of the most common questions a student might ask a professor is, do you have a dog? Self-disclosures from college professors have become commonplace in a classroom, but as perceptions and norms shift, teacher self-disclosure has yet to be understood in a modern context. The purpose of this study is to understand how teacher self-disclosure affects students’ perceptions. Using a survey research design, this study aims to test associations between appropriate self-disclosure and student satisfaction. Effects of frequency, negativity, and relevance of self-disclosure aim to be correlated with student affect for the class and professor. Results are expected to find that the more appropriate a teacher’s self-disclosure is perceived to be, the higher student satisfaction will be.
College
College of Liberal Arts
Department
Communication Studies
Campus
Winona
First Advisor/Mentor
Adam Gaffey
Location
Kryzsko Great River Ballroom, Winona, Minnesota; United States
Start Date
4-23-2026 1:00 PM
End Date
4-23-2026 2:00 PM
Presentation Type
Poster Session
Format of Presentation or Performance
In-Person
Session
2a=1pm-2pm
Poster Number
41
Do You Have a Dog?: Investigating How Teacher Self-Disclosures Affect Student Perceptions
Kryzsko Great River Ballroom, Winona, Minnesota; United States
One of the most common questions a student might ask a professor is, do you have a dog? Self-disclosures from college professors have become commonplace in a classroom, but as perceptions and norms shift, teacher self-disclosure has yet to be understood in a modern context. The purpose of this study is to understand how teacher self-disclosure affects students’ perceptions. Using a survey research design, this study aims to test associations between appropriate self-disclosure and student satisfaction. Effects of frequency, negativity, and relevance of self-disclosure aim to be correlated with student affect for the class and professor. Results are expected to find that the more appropriate a teacher’s self-disclosure is perceived to be, the higher student satisfaction will be.
Comments
Nelson, Kylie B