Fuel for Motivation: The Impact of Empathy in an Educational Setting

Honorable Mention Winner According to Merriam Webster, empathy is defined as “the action of or capacity for understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another.” While research related to empathy has mainly focused on the importance of teaching empathy to students, little is known about the relationship between instructor empathy and student outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of empathy on motivation and student outcomes in a sample of undergraduate and graduate students at the University of North Florida. Focus groups were conducted via zoom to investigate students’ perceptions of faculty empathy as well as their views of the impact of faculty empathy on student motivation. Nineteen students participated in the focus groups, 4 males and 15 females. Three major themes were identified from the focus groups: students were able to define empathy, empathy is personal, and students felt that empathy is extremely important in the classroom/virtual setting. Based on the assumption that people thrive in empathetic environments, an evidence-based correlation between faculty and student perceptions of empathy could be utilized to develop and improve upon pedagogical standards and student outcomes. The study findings will help to provide specific ways that empathy in an educational setting can drive motivation and improve student outcomes