The Contributions of Humor in Classroom Interactions

• In Event: A Review of Effective Instructional Communication Practices

Abstract

The effective communication of humor has been widely commended in classroom contexts, benefiting students, instructors, and the learning process itself. Understanding that humorous communication may not always be productive, this paper reviews research on what constitutes humorous communication, source/receiver perspectives, and theoretical underpinnings of humor. We also describe research on humor-produced benefits, and review frameworks examining how humor is communicated and measured. New directions in studying humor and communication are discussed.

Authors

• Melanie Booth-Butterfield, West Virginia University

• Melissa Wanzer, Canisius College