The Funny Thing Is, Instructor Humor Style Affects Likelihood of Student Engagement

Abstract

Instructors often use humor in teaching their classes. Research suggests that humor can affect how instructors and their teaching are perceived. The current study examined whether the type of humor used by a hypothetical instructor and instructor gender affected the perceived likelihood of engaging with the instructor. College students read a vignette describing the teaching and humor used by a hypothetical instructor. The likelihood that students would engage with the instructor was highest when the instructor’s humor style was good-natured and lowest when it was hostile and sarcastic. Instructor gender had no effect on students’ likelihood of engaging with the instructor.