Evaluation of body language behavior in a class debate

The purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which students taking part in class discussions were affected by their fellow debaters’ nonverbal behavior. Senior year Faculty of Education students were surveyed for the study. Data collection was done during class discussion sessions. Results showed that: (1) students were negatively affected by facial expression, gesture and physical appearance of other debaters and highly negatively affected by their intonation; (2) female debaters were negatively influenced to a greater degree by nonverbal behavior than males were; (3) four dimensions of nonverbal behavior all had significantly positive relationships with another; and (4) there was a significant relationship between the family environment in which students were raised and the degree to which they were affected by other debaters’ intonation.