Interactions between text content and emoji types determine perceptions of both messages and senders

Hand, C. J. , Burd, K., Oliver, A. and Robus, C. M. (2022) Interactions between text content and emoji types determine perceptions of both messages and senders. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 8, 100242. (doi: 10.1016/j.chbr.2022.100242)

[img] Text
282191.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

1MB

Abstract

Emoji increasingly feature alongside written language in interpersonal communication. Boutet et al. (2021) showed that negative-face emoji led to a negativity effect on perceptions of message tone and senders' mood. We extended their design, considering the role of non-face emoji and the impact of text content and emoji on message clarity. We utilised a 3 (sentence valence: negative, neutral, positive) × 5 (emoji type: no emoji, negative face, neutral face, positive face, object emoji) quasi-experimental design and online survey method. Sixty participants each processed 60 stimuli counterbalanced across conditions, rating messages' emotional tone and clarity, and senders’ warmth and emotional state. Cumulative link mixed models were used to analyse responses. We found that sentence valence and emoji type interact, influencing message emotionality and clarity, and perceived sender warmth and state. The congruency of text and emoji was particularly important; results showed that incongruent emoji detracted from message clarity vs. no emoji (or congruent emoji). Congruent emoji typically amplified emotional perceptions of messages and senders. Object emoji were most influential when text was either neutral or positive. Results were consistent with models such as the EASI framework (Van Kleef, 2009), and suggest that compositionality extends to representations of text + emoji.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Hand, Dr Christopher
Authors: Hand, C. J., Burd, K., Oliver, A., and Robus, C. M.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Education
Journal Name:Computers in Human Behavior Reports
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:2451-9588
ISSN (Online):2451-9588
Published Online:13 October 2022
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2022 The Author(s)
First Published:First published in Computers in Human Behavior Reports 8: 100242
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record