A Master of Science Thesis by Lynn Schnoor March 21, 2012

 Research pilot The study is a research pilot in which a questionnaire was developed and a field study executed.  Purpose The purpose is to ultimately study the ability of Project Managers to interpret nonverbal communication.

The Standish Group shows an increase in project failure. What are factors could contribute to this increased trend in project failure?

 Verbal (oral, aural)  Written (e.g. notes)  Nonverbal (body language) Accounts for 70% of ALL communication

Body Language Posturing Back-Channel Feedback Facial Expressions

 What is the gap between Project Managers and Law Enforcement Officers’ perceptions of their knowledge of nonverbal communication such as body language, backchannel feedback, facial expression and posturing, and their actual understanding of nonverbal communication?

 H1. Project Managers will have more ability to interpret nonverbal communication than will the Law Enforcement Officers.  H2. Project Managers will have more ability to interpret nonverbal communication than will the Control Group.  H3. The Law Enforcement Officers will have more ability to interpret nonverbal communication than will the Control Group.

 Research Methodology Field Study was chosen

 Section I – Demographic information What is your gender? (Please check one) ___Male ___Female  Section II – Self-reported analytic skills I pay attention to detail. ___Not at all like me ___Not much like me ___Somewhat like me ___A lot like me ___Completely like me

 Section III – Level of experience in interpreting different types of communication Facial expression ___Not at all experienced ___Not very experienced ___Somewhat experienced ___Quite experienced ___Completely experienced  Section IV – Nonverbal communication and job performance. Has the knowledge of body language helped you in your job performance? ___Yes ___No

1. This is an indication of low confidence. 2. This is an indication that the female is uncomfortable with the situation. 3. This is an indication of a display of territorial body language, showing the female can “stand her ground”. 4. This is an indication that the female is intently listening to others. 5. It is impossible to tell from this photo. 6. Other, please explain __________________________________ ___  Section V – Photo Interpretation

 Section VI – Allocation of communication types Please include a percent for each of type communication Verbal ______% Written______% Body Language movements______% Etc.  Section VII – Training Have you received formal training in reading body language? If so, what type of training did you receive?

 Project Managers  Police Officers  Control Group

 Descriptive Statistics  Self-reported skills in reading or understanding nonverbal communication  Self-reported interpretation of levels of experience in reading body language  Self-reported assessment of analytic skills, e.g. Attention to detail Confidence Tested individual assertions

GenderFrequencyPercent Male Female AgeFrequencyPercent

Some CollegeFrequencyPercent Yes49.52 No College DegreeFrequencyPercent Yes No

Some Graduate SchoolFrequencyPercent Yes37.14 No Master of Science or Master of ArtsFrequencyPercent Yes No Some Doctorate WorkFrequencyPercent Yes37.14 No

EnglishFrequencyPercent Yes No12.38 Ethnic groupFrequencyPercent White Asian-American12.38 Other12.38

I analyze situations carefully. 42 responded “A lot like me” or “Completely like me” I pay attention to detail. 42 responded “A lot like me” or “Completely like me” I am good at doing my job. 42 (all) responded “A lot like me” or “Completely like me” I am careful and deliberate when making a decision. 39 responded “A lot like me” or “Completely like me” I am not a detail-oriented person. (used for validation of answers.) 39 responded “Not at all like me” or “Not much like me”

Back-channel feedback 38 chose “Somewhat” or “Quite” experienced Body language 41 chose “Somewhat” or “Quite” experienced Facial expressions 42 chose “Somewhat” or “Quite” experienced Posture (Posturing) 38 chose “Somewhat” or “Quite” experienced

Consider the following scenario: You are talking with an individual. The individual is seated at a table across from you. All parts of the person’s body are visible to you. Question: What part of the individual’s body will most likely reveal what the person is probably thinking?

The Legs and Feet!

Consider the following scenario: You are talking with an individual. The individual is seated at a table across from you. All parts of the person’s body are visible to you. Question: What part of the individual’s body will most likely conceal what the person is probably thinking?

Face

Do you remember this photo?

1. This is an indication of positive body language from both participants. 2. This is an indication that the male wants to exit. The direction of his exit is indicated by the foot pointing away from the female. 3. This is an indication that the male wants the female to stay because of his arm placement. 4. This is an indication that both participants want to leave. 5. It is impossible to tell from this photo. 6. Other, please explain ___________________________

The correct answer is number 2. This is a photo illustrating the male’s wish to exit.

1. This is an indication of negative body language from both participants. 2. This is an indication that the male wants to leave, while the female wants the conversation to continue. 3. This is an indication that the female wants to leave, while the male wants the conversation to continue. 4. This is an indication that both participants are comfortable and in agreement. 5. It is impossible to tell from this photo. 6. Other, please explain ________________

The correct answer is 4 The photo indicates that both participants are comfortable and in agreement.

1. This is an indication of fear in the face of a threat. 2. This is an indication low status or confidence. 3. This is an indication of self- assurance or competence. 4. This is an indication of high stress or concern. 5. It is impossible to tell from this photo. 6. Other, please explain _______________________________

The correct answer is 3. Steepling is an indication of self-assurance and confidence.

1. This is an indication of low confidence. 2. This is an indication that the female is uncomfortable with the situation. 3. This is an indication of a display of territorial body language, showing the female can “stand her ground”. 4. This is an indication that the female is intently listening to others. 5. It is impossible to tell from this photo. 6. Other, please explain ________________________________

The correct answer is 3. This is an indication of territorial body language, showing the female can stand her ground.

 Project Managers Age is significantly related to the self-reported knowledge that back-channel feedback knowledge helps in job performance (P =.03).  Law Enforcement (Police Officers) A significant relationship (P =.01) exists between the ability to analyze situations carefully and the belief that knowledge of body language helps in job performance.

There was a statistically significant relationship between self-reported ability to analyze situations carefully and the level of experience with body language and facial expressions. The PM group also interpreted the photo on ventral fronting photo 2 accurately. There was a statistically significant relationship between self-reported confidence in personal abilities and the incorrect answers for the first photo (foot shift position) and the third photo (steepling).

 Significant correlation between self-reported levels of analytical ability and the ability to interpret nonverbal communication (P=.02 for Project Managers, P=.03 for Police Officers and P=.01 for the Control Group).  Lower than expected level of actual ability to read nonverbal communication.

Project ManagersControl GroupPolice Officers Reveal (legs) Percent Correct Answers 0% Conceal (face) Percent Correct Answers 31%37%26% Photo 1 Percent Correct Answers 24%23%18% Photo 2 Percent Correct Answers 90% 73% Photo 3 Percent Correct Answers 44%39%28% Photo 4 Percent Correct Answers 74%73%68%

 H1. Project Managers will have more ability to interpret nonverbal communication than will the Law Enforcement Officers.  Unsupported  H2. Project Managers will have more ability to interpret nonverbal communication than will the Control Group.  Unsupported  H3.The Law Enforcement Officers will have more ability to interpret nonverbal communication than will the Control Group.  Unsupported

 Not generalizable  Self-selected  Limited number of subjects  Limited ethnic diversity

 Transform pilot study into large-scale research project  Expand categories of different types of nonverbal communication  Expand subject pool and randomize  Pre-test, training, and Post-test

Questions??