Emoticons in student-professor email communication

 Alenka Baggia, Maribor (Slovenia)

 Anja Žnidaršič, Maribor (Slovenia)

 Alenka Tratnik, Maribor (Slovenia)

https://doi.org/10.3916/C73-2022-10

Keywords

Communication skills, communication, digital communication, emoticons, gender, email

Abstract

Emoticons have become a common phenomenon in email correspondence between students and professors. Even though the use of emoticons in formal writing is considered inappropriate and unprofessional, more and more students are using these nonverbal communication tools to add context or emphasis to their email messages to professors. This paper examines the association between the use of emoticons and professors’ perceptions of higher education students’ email messages with and without emoticons in two countries, Serbia and Slovenia. The students’ emails were collected and assessed on several levels. The students’ messages were examined with particular attention to the appropriateness of the students’ writing style. In addition, the students’ level of digital literacy, their attitude toward a professor, and gender differences in the use of emoticons were examined. Furthermore, an online questionnaire was used to identify characteristic differences between students who use emoticons and students who do not. The results show that messages with emoticons are rated lower on several dimensions than messages without emoticons. In addition, students who use emoticons show lower digital literacy and perceive their professors as more understanding and helpful. Emoticon use is not related to gender. The results suggest that students should avoid using emoticons even if they have a positive attitude toward their professor.

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Slovenian Research Agency under Grant numbers P5-0018 and BI-RS/18-19-054.

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Technical information

Received: 03-02-2022

Revised: 18-04-2022

Accepted: 12-05-2022

OnlineFirst: 30-06-2022

Publication date: 01-10-2022

Article revision time: 73 days | Average time revision issue 73: 43 days

Article acceptance time: 97 days | Average time of acceptance issue 73: 88 days

Preprint editing time: 194 days | Average editing time preprint issue 73: 185 days

Article editing time: 239 days | Average editing time issue 73: 230 days

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