Experts explain: The role of hand gestures in effective communication is greater than thought

A group of scientists from Canada and the US have examined the power of hand gestures in verbal communication. The comprehensive study conducted shows that people who use their hands consciously during conversations are often perceived as more knowledgeable and articulate. Gestures, which make it easier for the listener to understand what is being described, can sometimes be even more effective than words themselves.

In a joint study by the universities of British Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Southern California, it was found that the visual support provided by a speaker's hand gestures makes the person appear more competent and persuasive. Prof. Mi Zhou summarizes these findings by stating, "People who use their hands to visualize the topic they are speaking about are perceived by listeners as more knowledgeable and explanatory."

ANALYZED WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Researchers supported this result with a two-stage investigation. In the first stage, 2,184 TED talks were analyzed using advanced artificial intelligence techniques. A total of more than 200 thousand hand gestures were detected from the videos, and the speeches were divided into ten-second segments. The relationship between the movements on stage and interaction rates such as likes, shares, and watch time was examined. Additionally, variables such as the speakers' gender, language, profession, and the duration of the video were also taken into account.

In the second stage, subjects were shown sales presentations where the same text was read but the gestures were different. Here, it was observed that gestures that support the meaning being conveyed—such as using hands to show the size of something—increased the speaker's credibility and the persuasiveness of the presentation.

Within the scope of the research, hand gestures were grouped under three main headings. Among the gestures examined, it was determined that hand movements in the "narrator" role left the most positive impact on the audience. Presenters who supported their speech with these gestures were evaluated by those they were addressing as more confident and clear. On the other hand, hand gestures that were merely emphatic or random, while adding dynamism to the speech, did not make a meaningful contribution to the effectiveness of the message.

These findings show that, whether in public speaking or one-on-one communication, the correct use of hands offers important clues for increasing the power of persuasion.