Effect of teleconferencing variables on faculty impression of mock residency applicants

A Review of Virtual Impression Management Behaviors and Outcomes

“…Yet, not all vocal cues may be beneficial. Research on the effect of vocal cues in virtual interactions has revealed that muffled audio in video interviews was linked with reduced candidate ratings (Huang et al, 2022). Another area of emerging research that is likely relevant to virtual impression management is the impact of internet lags or latency on video conference interactions, which can interrupt the flow of conversations (Boland, Fonseca, Mermelstein, & Williamson, 2022), potentially amplifying or dampening the effects of vocal cues in video or phone communications.…”

“…To make eye contact in video interactions, one must look in the direction of the webcam rather than at the target on the screen, which can easily be inhibited by poor webcam placement, on-screen distractions, and a lower intensity stimulus to draw and maintain eye contact (a webcam/screen rather than a live person). Studies of video interviews (Basch et al, 2021; Huang et al, 2022; McColl & Michelotti, 2019), video conferencing (Fauville, Queiroz, Luo, Hancock, & Bailenson, 2022), instructors (Guerrero & Miller, 1998), physicians (Helou et al, 2022), therapists (Pfender & Caplan, 2022), and customer service avatars (Cafaro, Vilhjálmsson, & Bickmore, 2016; Fukayama, Ohno, Mukawa, Sawaki, & Hagita, 2002) revealed positive effects of virtual eye contact on impressions of both warmth and competence. Breil and Böckler (2021) replicated these findings yet also found that the negative impact of averted eye gaze on impressions was mitigated when actors were listening to a negative autobiographical story (an effect they theorize stems from perceptions that the actor was regulating their own emotions, providing an alternative attribution for the negative behavior).…”

“…Video communications uniquely enable people to form impressions based on their camera positioning and chosen backgrounds (e.g., the office or home setting behind the actor). Whereas virtual interview candidates were rated more negatively when they had awkward camera angles (McColl & Michelotti, 2019) or backlighting (i.e., light shining behind the candidate that makes it more difficult to see them; Huang et al, 2022), candidates were perceived as more likable when they used high camera angles, although there were no effects of actor distance from the camera (Fauville, Queiroz, Luo, Hancock, & Bailenson, 2022).…”