In this essay, we move towards theorizing an asexual-affirming communication pedagogy. We position asexual-affirming (or ace-affirming) communication pedagogy as having two core commitments: (1) challenging allonormativity and (2) creating ace-affirming spaces. In developing pedagogical praxis points for these commitments, we address the tensions…

In the current study, we applied self-determination theory within a cross-sectional research design to test a latent variable model in order to explore how peer relationships in the classroom might impact students' autonomous motivation. Using a sample of 342 U.S. college students, we investigated how student-to-student confirmation might…

The transition from high school to college life presents a number of challenges to young adults, including new living arrangements, new social circles, increased independence, and the pressures of academic responsibilities. As a result, college students face a number of health concerns, including but not limited to sleep deprivation, lack of…

This study examines how different social interdependence structures influence students' perceptions of anticipated affective learning, motivation, classroom communication apprehension, and classroom climate. Participants were randomly assigned one of three conditions (cooperative, competitive, and individualistic) and were asked to complete a…

Three studies (N = 1,346) detail the development of three theoretically grounded instruments operationalizing "instructor strictness." Using open-ended questionnaire data (n = 427), study 1 inductively derives an understanding of the instructor behaviors that students perceive as strict. These patterns of behavior are then condensed into…

In the current study, we applied self-determination theory to explore a potential explanation for how instructors' intellectually stimulating behaviors might influence student motivation. Undergraduate student participants (N = 418) responded to a questionnaire regarding their instructors' teaching behaviors and perceptions of their own of…

In this response, Scott Titsworth analyzes similarities among the forum essays and then offers ideas for how instructional communication scholars might adopt greater situational awareness in research, theory, and application of their work. [Other essays in this forum include: (1) FORUM: Interpersonal Communication in Instructional Settings: The…

Public-speaking instructors are uniquely positioned to foster a culture of accommodation in their basic course classrooms. A communication course is one that can cause specific types of apprehension, and it is important to recognize that a distinction exists between this and other, broader anxieties that students may be facing. Given this, the…

This study employed Brehm's psychological reactance theory (PRT) to understand why students do or do not choose to follow classroom cell phone policies. Results (N = 750) from this study demonstrate that when instructors discourage cell phone use for noninstructional reasons, students feel their autonomy has been threatened. These perceptions of…

This study investigated the relationship between public-speaking state anxiety (PSA) and verbal communication performance when delivering a speech. In Study 1, participants delivered an extemporaneous five-minute classroom speech behind a lectern, and in Study 2, to increase cognitive load, participants delivered an extemporaneous five-minute…

In this study, we investigated how various teaching behaviors influence student interest as a situational variable. Specifically, we studied how behaviors related to "catch" interest (i.e., ephemeral aspects of the learning environment such as instructor humor, nonverbal immediacy, intellectual stimulation) and "hold" interest…

This study examined how student perceptions of math/statistics instructors' argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness are related to student perceptions of classroom communication climate, student state motivation, and student math anxiety. A total of 216 completed questionnaires were returned by the student participants (96 males and 120…

The results of this study compile convergent validity evidence for the Student Interest Scale and Student Engagement Scale through associations among emotional support, emotion work, student interest, and engagement. Confirmatory factor analysis indicates that the factor structures of the measures are stable, reliable, and valid. The results…

This study investigated the reliability and validity of Myers and colleagues' Classroom Citizenship Behavior scale, as well as the relationship between student personality traits (extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, and communication apprehension) and CCBs. Two hundred and thirteen students completed…

Building on previous rapport research, Hofstede's dimensions of culture, and calls for culture-centered instructional research, this study examined instructor-student rapport in U.S. and Turkish college classrooms. U.S. participants (N = 143) and Turkish participants (N = 185) completed measures of rapport, state motivation, participation, and…