The Relationship Between Gender And Writing Style In Busine

This study investigates how written business communication styles differ between men and women, and whether combinations of style variables are specific to either gender. The subjects were 108 Colorado State University business students enrolled in an undergraduate business communications class. All...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of business communication (1973) 1988-10, Vol.25 (4), p.17
Main Author: Sterkel, Karen S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Communication
Differences
Management styles
Men
Speaking
Statistical analysis
Studies
Women
Writing
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Summary:This study investigates how written business communication styles differ between men and women, and whether combinations of style variables are specific to either gender. The subjects were 108 Colorado State University business students enrolled in an undergraduate business communications class. All had limited experience in business and no previous classroom instruction on writing business communications. Students were randomly asked to write a persuasive request, collection letter, or sales letter. Raters evaluated 20 areas, with 3 of these areas coded by computer. Results show no difference between males and females in the number of words -- passive or negative -- or the number of cliches they used, or in their use of direct/indirect plan or action demanded/requested. Further, no difference between sexes existed on the use of contractions, abbreviations, specific references, courtesy words, intensifiers, qualifiers and disclaimers, superlatives, extravagant adjectives, and hostile verbs, or on average sentence length.
ISSN:2329-4884
2329-4892