Can meeting by Zoom affect a first impression? Study examines difference between in-person and videochat perceptions

Researchers at UBC’s Okanagan campus have good news for anyone who has suffered from Zoom fatigue or has anxiety about meeting someone for the first time via videoconferencing.

Dr. Lauren Human, an Associate Professor of Psychology in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, studies interpersonal impressions, focusing on how they can impact well-being.

Her latest research paper, published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, examines whether first impressions through a video screen can properly indicate someone’s personality.

Videoconferencing platforms have risen globally to facilitate face-to-face communication since COVID-19, Dr. Human explains. The researchers wanted to determine whether first impressions formed on a platform like Zoom compare fairly to those formed in a first in-person meeting.

“The pandemic abruptly shifted in-person interactions to videoconferencing for first impressions like meeting classmates, job interviews and doctor’s appointments,” Dr. Human says, noting how we “feel” differently about virtual interactions.

“For example, via Zoom, people might feel they can’t quite ‘get a read on’ new acquaintances and don’t feel as connected to them as they might in person,” she adds. “Is this subjective experience grounded in reality? Or are first impressions through videoconferencing different from in-person?”

To better understand how video conferencing affects those important first impressions, the team divided their study into three research aims. First, they examined whether people view new acquaintances’ personalities accurately and in a normative, positive light when videoconferencing.

Second, they examined whether accurate and normative impressions lead to stronger positive connections during videoconferencing compared to in-person interactions.

“Finally, we looked at whether poor audio and video quality—a challenge specific to videoconferencing—affects how accurately people perceive each other, how typical those perceptions are, and how much they end up liking each other,” Dr. Human explains. “To explore this, we ran two Zoom studies where people got to know each other—one exploratory and one a preregistered replication—and then compared the results to an in-person version of the same study.”

Dr. Human admits she was surprised that the results were similar regardless of whether that first meeting was in person or online.

“We thought they would differ,” she says. “However, we didn’t see any overall difference between the two, so we are just as accurate about assessing personalities when we meet people for the first time on Zoom versus in person.”

Dr. Human also says that when people were asked to assess the personality of the individual they were meeting for the first time—whether on Zoom or in person—their impressions were just as positive.

She says there are two things to note about first-time interactions through video. Although the overall levels of accuracy were similar in person and on Zoom, the levels of accuracy for some specific traits, such as extraversion and neuroticism, differed.

This suggests people might be using different information on Zoom. For example, study participants might pay attention to the other person’s background—maybe clutter, a wall of books or art—which might tell them something different about their personality than you would see in person.

Even though you might be just as accurate about someone’s personality on Zoom, you might be correct about different things.

And, if the connection was poor, the virtual meeting negatively affected the participants.

“This is interesting because often it is something outside of our control, so we wouldn’t necessarily expect that we would like someone less just because their computer froze during the interaction,” she adds. “But we think it creates some frustration or negative affect, tainting the impression they form of their interaction partner. This seems unfair, but it’s also important to know.

“So, don’t be afraid of technology, but ensure you have a good internet connection.”