Date of Award

12-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Arts and Communication

First Advisor

Youngju Sohn

Second Advisor

David A. Wilder

Third Advisor

Theodore G. Petersen

Fourth Advisor

Lisa A. Steelman

Abstract

Facial expressions play a crucial role in shaping communication and emotional understanding during virtual interactions. This study investigated how facial expressions influence participants’ perceptions of the speaker, perceptions of the message, emotional responses, and engagement during video conferencing across diverse cultural contexts. A hybrid experimental design was implemented using self-administered questionnaires to collect quantitative data and examine cause-and-effect relationships. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three facial-expression conditions Positive (smiling and joyful), Negative (angry or nervous), or Neutral (expressionless) and viewed speakers representing three ethnic backgrounds: White American, Black American, and Middle Eastern. Using a seven-point semantic differential scale, participants evaluated each speaker’s expression, message clarity, emotional impact, and overall engagement. Results revealed significant effects of facial expression on all dependent variables, with positive expressions producing the most favorable evaluations and negative expressions the least. Cross-cultural differences further shaped these perceptions, demonstrating that emotional tone and cultural background jointly influence how audiences interpret nonverbal cues in virtual communication. These findings contribute to the understanding of nonverbal behavior in digital settings and offer practical implications for enhancing engagement and cross-cultural communication effectiveness in global video-conferencing environments.

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