Public Comment Sentiment on Educational Videos: Understanding the Effects of Presenter Gender on YouTube TED Talk Comments

• In Event: 31.060 - Perspectives on Educational Technologies

Abstract

Little research exists on the differential sentiment that educators may face online and on the factors that may lead some people to face different types of sentiment than others. We address this problem by examining the strength of positive and negative sentiment expressed in response to talks posted on YouTube (n = 655) and the effect that gender may have on comment and reply sentiment (n = 774,939). We found that most comments and replies were neutral in nature. Videos of male presenters showed greater neutrality, while videos of female presenters saw significantly greater positive and negative polarity. Animations neutralized this effect. Gender influenced the sentiment of replies and not just the initial comments that were directed toward the video.

Authors

• George Veletsianos, Royal Roads University

• Royce Kimmons, Brigham Young University

• Ross Allen Andrew Larsen, Brigham Young University

• Tonia A. Dousay, University of Idaho

• Patrick R. Lowenthal, Boise State University