Spilling the Tea: Investigating the Effects of Gender and Topic on Perceptions of Gossip
- UNCP Author/Contributor (non-UNCP co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Noël Bradford (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP )
- Web Site: http://www.uncp.edu/academics/library
- Advisor
- Dr. Kelly Charlton
Abstract: Gossiping is a commonly used form of conversation in both the workplace and everyday life. Previous research has shown that perceptions of individuals can be influenced by how often they engage in gossip at work. Specifically, that people who gossip in high quantities tend to be perceived in more negative ways (Farley, Timme & Hart, 2010). The current study sought to investigate the differences in the perception of gossip that occur when the gossiper is male or female, as well as when the topic is work related or about personal matters. We hypothesized that both the type of gossip and the gender of the gossiper would affect the perception of the gossiper. Participants for this study were 103 individuals (40 male and 63 female) undergraduate students with ages ranging from 18 to 40. Participants read a hypothetical scenario about a male or female gossiping about another colleague in the workplace. Results indicate the type of gossip makes a difference in how we perceive gossipers. Additionally, women and men are perceived differently according to the type of gossip they engage in.
Spilling the Tea: Investigating the Effects of Gender and Topic on Perceptions of Gossip
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Created on 6/14/2018
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Honors Project
- Esther G. Maynor Honors College
- Language: English
- Date: 2018
- Keywords
- Psychology, Gossip, Gossipers, Perceptions, Workplace, Gender, Men, Women