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THE EFFECTS OF POWER DISTANCE, AND GENDER ON THE USE OF NONVERBAL IMMEDIACY BEHAVIORS IN SYMMETRICAL AND ASYMMETRICAL POWER CONDITIONS: A CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY

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Date Issued:
2010
Abstract/Description:
Previous cross-cultural research in nonverbal immediacy indicates that nonverbal immediacy behavior varies across cultures, and some researchers have suggested that power distance might serve as a moderating variable, however no research has systematically set out to determine whether that is the case. This study assessed the perceived use of nonverbal immediacy under symmetric and asymmetric power conditions, as well as gender, in three cultures: Brazil, Kenya, and the United States. Quantitative data was collected from 527 participants who completed a nonverbal immediacy measure and an individual power distance measure under either a symmetric or an asymmetric power condition. Results related to power distance partially supported the idea that cultural power distance may act as a moderating variable with regard to the use of nonverbal immediacy behaviors. Related to gender, results revealed that: (a) female participants perceived more nonverbal immediacy behaviors than males, (b) under symmetric power conditions females were perceived to use more nonverbal immediacy than males, and (c) under asymmetric power conditions there was no statistically significant difference between use of nonverbal immediacy behaviors between females and males. Implications of results, limitations, and suggestions for future research are presented.
Title: THE EFFECTS OF POWER DISTANCE, AND GENDER ON THE USE OF NONVERBAL IMMEDIACY BEHAVIORS IN SYMMETRICAL AND ASYMMETRICAL POWER CONDITIONS: A CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY.
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Name(s): Santilli, Vincent, Author
Miller, Ann, Committee Chair
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2010
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Previous cross-cultural research in nonverbal immediacy indicates that nonverbal immediacy behavior varies across cultures, and some researchers have suggested that power distance might serve as a moderating variable, however no research has systematically set out to determine whether that is the case. This study assessed the perceived use of nonverbal immediacy under symmetric and asymmetric power conditions, as well as gender, in three cultures: Brazil, Kenya, and the United States. Quantitative data was collected from 527 participants who completed a nonverbal immediacy measure and an individual power distance measure under either a symmetric or an asymmetric power condition. Results related to power distance partially supported the idea that cultural power distance may act as a moderating variable with regard to the use of nonverbal immediacy behaviors. Related to gender, results revealed that: (a) female participants perceived more nonverbal immediacy behaviors than males, (b) under symmetric power conditions females were perceived to use more nonverbal immediacy than males, and (c) under asymmetric power conditions there was no statistically significant difference between use of nonverbal immediacy behaviors between females and males. Implications of results, limitations, and suggestions for future research are presented.
Identifier: CFE0003043 (IID), ucf:48368 (fedora)
Note(s): 2010-05-01
M.A.
Sciences, Nicholson School of Communication
Masters
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): nonverbal communication
best-friends
instructor
immediacy
gender
power distance
symmetric power
asymmetric power
cross-cultural
culture
emotion
emotional
expression.
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003043
Restrictions on Access: public
Host Institution: UCF

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