Perceptions of an Instructor: Dress and Students' Characteristics

Abstract

This study examined the influence of a female instructor's clothing style on students' perceptions of an instructor's characteristics. Social perception provided the theoretical framework. Formality of clothing style, students' clothing interest, and students' gender were the independent variables. Perception of the instructor's characteristics was the dependent variable. A 25-item questionnaire was administered to 216 college students from three universities. Perceptions of the instructor's characteristics varied significantly with formality of clothing style. The students' clothing interest influenced perceptions to some extent; gender of students did not.