Robert Sidelinger

Professor & Communication Program Director
Office: 306A Wilson Hall
Phone: (248) 370-4126
Email: [email protected]

Research and Teaching Interests:

Dr. Robert Sidelinger earned his B.S. in mass communication from Towson University. He earned his M.A. in communication theory and research, and his Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction from West Virginia University. He teaches a variety of communication courses, including Interpersonal Communication, Nonverbal Communication and Instructional Communication. His previous experience also includes serving as a first-year experience adviser at Towson University.

His research interests include interpersonal and instructional communication, and his work has been published in Communication Education, Communication Quarterly, Communication Research Reports, Communication Studies, and Human Communication. His current research focuses on student involvement in the college classroom, mate value and partner baggage, dating anxiety, and hurtful teasing in romantic relationships. See a sample of Dr. Sidelinger's research on mate value or on classroom connectedness. For further publication details, see below, or email Dr. Sidelinger for a full list of publications.

Dr. Sidelinger is an editorial board member of Communication Education and Communication Teacher. He also is on the editorial review board of Language and Communication Quarterly and the associate editorial board of Communication Studies.

Selected Publications:

Sidelinger, R. J., Frisby, B. N., & Heisler, J. (2016). Students' out of the classroom communication with instructors and campus services: Exploring social integration and academic involvement. Learning and Individual Differences, 47, 167-171.

Sidelinger, R. J., & Bolen, D. M. (2016). Instructor credibility as a mediator of instructors’ compulsive communication and communication satisfaction. Communication Research Reports, 33, 24-31.

Frisby, B. N., Sidelinger, R. J., & Booth-Butterfield, M. (2015). No harm, no foul: A social exchange perspective on individual and relational outcomes associated with relational baggage. Western Journal of Communication, 79, 555-572.

Sidelinger, R. J., Nyeste, M. C., Madlock, P. E., Pollak, J., & Wilkinson, J. (2015). Instructor privacy management in the classroom: Exploring instructors’ ineffective communication and student communication satisfaction. Communication Studies, 66, 569-589.

Sidelinger, R. J., & Bolen, D. M. (2015). Compulsive communication in the classroom: Is the talkaholic teacher a misbehaving instructor? Western Journal of Communication, 79, 174-196.

Sidelinger, R. J., Bolen, D. M., McMullen, A. L. & Nyeste, M. C. (2015). Academic and social integration in the basic communication course: Predictors of students’ out-of-class communication and academic learning. Communication Studies, 66, 63-84.

Sidelinger, R. J. (2014). Using relevant humor to moderate inappropriate conversations: Maintaining student communication satisfaction in the classroom. Communication Research Reports, 31, 292-301.

Sidelinger, R. J., Bolen, D. M., Frisby, B. N., & McMullen, A. L. (2012). Instructor compliance to student requests: An examination of student-to-student connectedness as power in the classroom. Communication Education, 61, 290-308.

Sidelinger, R. J., Frisby, B. N., & McMullen, A. L. (2012). Mediating the damaging effects of hurtful teasing: Interpersonal solidarity and nonverbal immediacy as mediators of teasing in romantic relationships. Atlantic Journal of Communication, 20, 71-85.

Sidelinger, R. J., Frisby, B. N., McMullen, A. L., & Heisler, J. (2012). Developing student-to-student connectedness: An examination of instructors’ humor, nonverbal immediacy, and self-disclosure in public speaking courses. Basic Communication Course Annual, 24, 81-121.

Sidelinger, R. J., Bolen, D. M., Frisby, B. N., & McMullen, A. L. (2011). When instructors misbehave: An examination of student-to-student connectedness as a mediator in the college classroom. Communication Education, 60, 340-361.

Sidelinger, R. J., Myers, S. A., & McMullen, A. L. (2011). Students’ communication predispositions: An examination of classroom connectedness in public speaking courses. Basic Communication Course Annual, 23, 248-278.

Sidelinger, R. J. (2010). College student involvement: An examination of student characteristics and perceived instructor communication behaviors in the classroom. Communication Studies, 61, 87-103.

Sidelinger, R. J., & Booth-Butterfield, M. (2010). Co-constructing student involvement: An examination of teacher confirmation and student-to-student connectedness in the college classroom. Communication Education, 59, 165-184.

Sidelinger, R. J., & Booth-Butterfield, M. (2009). Starting off on the wrong foot: An analysis of mate value, commitment, and partner “baggage” in romantic relationships. Human Communication, 12, 403-419.

Sidelinger, R. J., Frisby, B. N., & McMullen, A. (2009). The decision to forgive: Sex, gender, and the likelihood to forgive partner transgressions in romantic relationships. Communication Studies, 60, 164-179.

Sidelinger, R. J., & Booth-Butterfield, M. (2007). Mate value as a predictor of jealousy and forgiveness in romantic relationships. Communication Quarterly, 55, 1-17.