The Influence of Textual Cues on First Impressions of an Email Sender

Shannon L. Marlow Rice University ; Christina N. Lacerenza University of Colorado Boulder ; Chelsea Iwig Johnson Space Center

Abstract

The present study experimentally manipulated the gender of an email sender, closing salutation, and sending mode (i.e., email sent via desktop computer/laptop as compared with email sent via a mobile device) to determine if these specific cues influence first impressions of the sender’s competence, professionalism, positive affect, and negative affect. Although no effect of sending mode was found, closing salutation influenced perceptions; females were viewed as less professional when using “Thanks!” as opposed to using “Best,” “Thank you,” or no salutation. However, in general, females were viewed as more professional than males, and “Thanks!” elicited perceptions of positive affect.

Journal
Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
Published
2018-06-01
DOI
10.1177/2329490617723115
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
Export

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

  1. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  2. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly

References (53) · 3 in this index

  1. 10.1037/a0020763
  2. 10.1016/S0378-7206(98)00091-3
  3. 10.7551/mitpress/3304.003.0018
  4. Sociological theories in progress: New formations
  5. 10.1089/cpb.2007.9994
Show all 53 →
  1. 10.1177/002194369703400106
  2. 10.1016/j.pragma.2010.11.002
  3. Burg N. (2013, December 10). How technology has changed workplace communication. Forbes. Retrieved from http:…
  4. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  5. 10.1108/13563281311294100
  6. 10.1016/j.obhdp.2011.06.002
  7. 10.1287/orsc.12.3.346.10098
  8. 10.1016/j.dcm.2013.07.002
  9. Communities in cyperspace
  10. Dreyer K. (2015, April 13). Mobile internet usage skyrockets in past 4 years to overtake desktop as most used…
  11. 10.4324/9780203783252
  12. 10.1111/0022-4537.00241
  13. 10.1177/0146167289154008
  14. The developmental social psychology of gender
  15. 10.1007/s10919-014-0189-x
  16. Virtual teams that work: Creating conditions for virtual team effectiveness
  17. 10.1111/1471-6402.t01-2-00073
  18. 10.1016/j.chb.2015.11.003
  19. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  20. 10.1016/j.hrmr.2005.01.002
  21. 10.1089/cpb.2007.0020
  22. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  23. 10.1002/ejsp.36
  24. 10.5688/ajpe759179
  25. 10.1287/isre.10.4.287
  26. 10.1080/10919399209540190
  27. 10.1146/annurev.psych.51.1.93
  28. 10.1080/03637759909376464
  29. 10.1016/j.pragma.2015.06.012
  30. 10.1097/00001888-199009000-00045
  31. Handbook of psychology, industrial and organizational psychology
  32. 10.1111/j.1744-6570.2000.tb00206.x
  33. Reading digital culture
  34. 10.1002/j.0022-0337.2006.70.8.tb04148.x
  35. 10.1177/1461445610392138
  36. Radicati S. (Ed.). (2013). Email Statistics Report, 2013-2017. Retrieved from http://www.radicati.com/wp/wp-c…
  37. 10.1016/j.chb.2010.07.008
  38. Society for Human Resource Management. (2012). Virtual teams. Retrieved from https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/tr…
  39. 10.1111/j.1468-2958.2002.tb00811.x
  40. 10.1126/science.185.4157.1124
  41. 10.1111/j.1460-2466.2011.01617.x
  42. 10.1037/a0018628
  43. 10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00333.x
  44. 10.1177/009365096023001001
  45. 10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1063
  46. Wheeler K. R. (2011). Word choice, sentence structure, and tone in e-mails on shared message understanding (U…
  47. 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2008.03176.x
  48. 10.1111/j.1083-6101.1997.tb00192.x