Perceptions of speech events and nonverbal behavior in social and personal relationships

Abstract

This study replicates and extends previous diary research on everyday interaction. It attempts to determine how conversational evaluation, nonverbal behavior evaluation, and gender relate to the speech event construct. The replication results partially confirm previous findings by Baxter and Goldsmith (1995). Few gender effects were found. Event clusters accounted for significant differences in both conversation and nonverbal behavior evaluation. Vocalic, kinesic and appearance cues were rated more positively during some informal, mundane speech events but not others. ‘Nonverbal behavior evaluation appeared to be linked more closely to conversations rated as “upbeat” rather than important.’