Motivational Effect of Well Dressed Teachers on College Students Who are Academically Deficient

Abstract

The importance of the teacher as a role model has not been listed on students' evaluation of instruction at a local community college, but research has shown that this is a concern for the motivation of first-year deficiency-level college students. This study surveyed students in deficiency-level classes on whether their motivation to learn is improved by having a well-dressed teacher (superficial role model). Both day and night students were not significantly motivated by the described teacher's dress. Night students were, however, significantly more motivated by the teacher's qualities (including dress) than were day students.