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Investigating The Role Video Game Players’ Supportive Communication Plays In Moderating The Effects Of Toxicity In Online Gaming, Duy Pham May 2021

Investigating The Role Video Game Players’ Supportive Communication Plays In Moderating The Effects Of Toxicity In Online Gaming, Duy Pham

Theses and Dissertations

Online video games are perceived as a hostile space that welcomes aggression and verbal abuse based on biological sex, gender, race, and sexual orientation. Therefore, video game players may choose to communicate in a supportive fashion toward other players or engage in toxic behaviors due to increased aggression and masculine norms. While scholars have been investigating supportive messages in a computer-mediated context, past research inquiries into supportive communication and video gaming have remained separate. The present study will connect these disparate lines of research. This study explores different levels of verbal person-centeredness (VPC) of support messages, combined with the sex …


“It Was Too Many People To Like: ” How Romantic Relationship Partners Of Bisexual Or Pansexual Individuals Express Jealousy, Emily Jae Mason Apr 2021

“It Was Too Many People To Like: ” How Romantic Relationship Partners Of Bisexual Or Pansexual Individuals Express Jealousy, Emily Jae Mason

Theses and Dissertations

Jealousy expression has been the topic of academic research for several years. As reflected by their Communication Responses to Jealousy Scale, Guerrero et al. (2011) determined 11 communicative responses to jealousy that fell into four distinct categories. However, the study of jealousy expression has yet to be applied to several underrepresented identities. Utilizing queer theory, this study aimed to explore which communicative responses to jealousy bisexual and pansexual individuals report receiving in dyadic romantic relationships with a monosexist partner and whether they perceived these responses to be related to their gender identity or sexual orientation. An online questionnaire was completed …


Who Said It First? : Linguistic Appropriation Of Slang Terms Within The Popular Lexicon, Rachel Elizabeth Laing Apr 2021

Who Said It First? : Linguistic Appropriation Of Slang Terms Within The Popular Lexicon, Rachel Elizabeth Laing

Theses and Dissertations

Linguistic appropriation is an area of study that has been under-researched, even as it has become all the more relevant due to the rapid dissemination of slang and linguistic trends during the digital age. There are clear ties shown between individuals’ and groups’ identity and language. This study specifically examines the appropriation of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and LGBT language by creating an Acceptability of Appropriation scale and assessing potential relationships between linguistic appropriation, intercultural tolerance, and LGBT tolerance. These results are then examined through the lens of the communication theory of identity (CTI) and potential identity gaps that …


"I Thought That We Could Nurture The Nature Out Of Our Son": Making Meaning Of Parenting In The Narratives Of Parents Of Children In Residential Treatment, Jared V. Worwood Mar 2021

"I Thought That We Could Nurture The Nature Out Of Our Son": Making Meaning Of Parenting In The Narratives Of Parents Of Children In Residential Treatment, Jared V. Worwood

Theses and Dissertations

This study implements relational dialectics theory to explore the meaning of parenting from the perspective of parents who had enrolled a child in a residential treatment program. Contrapuntal analysis of six interviews revealed two discourses competing to make meaning of parenting. The Discourse of Demanding Parenting Ideals (DDPI) consisted of two themes: relentless sacrifice and complete responsibility, whereas themes of boundary-setting and acceptance compose the Discourse of Realistic Best Effort (DRBE). Discursive interplay between these discourses occurred in the forms of diachronic separation, synchronic interplay, and discursive transformation to make meaning of parenting and hold theoretical and practical implications.


Exceptional Paternal American Heroes Triumph Over Big Bad Terrorists ( Again ): The Storied Episodes Of Three Presidential Addresses Announcing The Elimination Of Another Middle Eastern Terrorist Threat, Maura Freeman Mar 2021

Exceptional Paternal American Heroes Triumph Over Big Bad Terrorists ( Again ): The Storied Episodes Of Three Presidential Addresses Announcing The Elimination Of Another Middle Eastern Terrorist Threat, Maura Freeman

Theses and Dissertations

In 2001, the United States of America was the target of a vicious terrorist attack. In 2003, President George W. Bush announced that Americans were the mighty heroes responsible for capturing Saddam Hussein and bringing him to justice, even though Hussein was not the terrorist responsible for 9/11. Eight years later, President Barack Obama broke the news that Americans succeeded in assassinating Osama bin Laden, the true villain who orchestrated 9/11. One administration later, President Donald Trump proclaimed Americans had intervened to protect the world by eliminating another terrorist threat, Qasem Soleimani. I analyze these three presidential addresses as episodes …


Turning The Page: Using Foucauldian Rhetorical Criticism To Evaluate Literacy Center Communication, Sarah Monsma Mar 2021

Turning The Page: Using Foucauldian Rhetorical Criticism To Evaluate Literacy Center Communication, Sarah Monsma

Theses and Dissertations

Literacy, or the ability to read at or above a determined level, is an important and necessary skill. Many adult education programs exist to provide adults with specific educational resources. Literacy centers and programs contribute a vital resource to their respective communities, in helping adults who struggle with reading obtain their goals. In this thesis, I focused on the one such organization in particular, the Literacy Center of West Michigan. This organization utilizes regularly updated forms of online communication, including a News & Blog site on their website with 165 articles pertaining to the experiences of learners, background of staff …


Investigating The Role Video Game Players' Supportive Communication Plays In Moderating The Effects Of Toxicity In Online Gaming, Duy (Tyler) Pham Mar 2021

Investigating The Role Video Game Players' Supportive Communication Plays In Moderating The Effects Of Toxicity In Online Gaming, Duy (Tyler) Pham

Theses and Dissertations

Video game players, especially women, find themselves victimized by verbal abuse and trash talk from their opponents in competitive online gaming. Therefore, video game players may choose to communicate in a supportive fashion toward other players or engage in toxic behaviors due to increased aggression and masculine norms. While scholars have been investigating supportive messages in a computer-mediated context, past research inquiries into supportive communication and video gaming have remained separate. The present study will connect these disparate lines of research. This study explores different levels of verbal person-centeredness (VPC) of support messages, combined with the sex of the message …


Professional Sport And Community Outreach: A Content Analysis Of Csr Messages Shared By Professional Team Sport Organizations On Twitter, Kelly E. Murphy Mar 2021

Professional Sport And Community Outreach: A Content Analysis Of Csr Messages Shared By Professional Team Sport Organizations On Twitter, Kelly E. Murphy

Theses and Dissertations

This study seeks to understand the corporate social responsibility (CSR) topics shared by professional team sport organizations on their websites and on Twitter as well as fan responses to those CSR messages. A quantitative content analysis of individual tweets from 16 teams across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL posted from October 1-30, 2020 was conducted. Results indicate that CSR topic frequencies were significantly different both on webpages and on Twitter. Replies to CSR messages on Twitter were significantly different based on topic, and replies were largely neutral. There was no significant difference in reply valence to CSR tweets that …


“They're Issuing Edicts And Proclamations About Your Life, And You're Expected To Follow Those": Living Up To Communicated Parental Expectations About College, Anjali Patel Mar 2021

“They're Issuing Edicts And Proclamations About Your Life, And You're Expected To Follow Those": Living Up To Communicated Parental Expectations About College, Anjali Patel

Theses and Dissertations

As emerging adults transition into adulthood, continued parental involvement and shared messages from parent to child creates a context ripe for research. Unrealistic and demanding messages about expectations from parent to emerging college student have the potential to harm the college students’ perceptions of their own college experiences. While research into the positive impacts of parental involvement has exemplified many constructive outcomes for the emerging adult, little research has discussed how parental overinvolvement, overparenting, and control may lead to parental messages about expectations for emerging adulthoods in their college years that may alter the students’ college experiences and perceptions of …


Lost In Translation: South Asian Muslim Women's Interpretation Of Religious Gender Role Expectations, Women's Agency, And Women's Identity, Tamanna Tasmin Mar 2021

Lost In Translation: South Asian Muslim Women's Interpretation Of Religious Gender Role Expectations, Women's Agency, And Women's Identity, Tamanna Tasmin

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates South Asian Muslim women’s interpretation of religious scripture and the women’s agency to influence the contemporary patriarchal religious culture. Previous research indicates that the religious customs of the region follow traditional orthodox Islamic scripture that promotes patriarchal practices, yielding barriers for women in the family, education, and professional sectors. Based on an understanding of the religious education system, the history of traditional orthodox Islamic practice, and traditional gender role expectations of the region, I use structuration theory to understand South Asian Muslim women’s identity negotiation and the agency they perceive regarding their ability to influence the society. …


Investigating Family Communication Patterns And Parent-Child Relationships In Homeschooling Experiences, Victoria Eleanor Padilla Mar 2021

Investigating Family Communication Patterns And Parent-Child Relationships In Homeschooling Experiences, Victoria Eleanor Padilla

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to collect quantitative data from children and parents regarding their homeschool experiences. Data is explored through the lens of instructional communication, family communication, parent-child relational satisfaction, and parent-child closeness. The present study examined the connections between education and family when learning takes place at home. Findings and recommendations for future research are discussed that explain the relationship between parents and children after homeschooling has ended.