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Theses/Dissertations

2009

Communication

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Hispanics Communication Experiences In The Organizational Setting, Nicole Abeyta Dec 2009

Hispanics Communication Experiences In The Organizational Setting, Nicole Abeyta

Communication ETDs

The purpose of this study is to explore the organizational communication experiences of some Hispanic employees. In this thesis, I employ a narrative analysis method, and share the interviews and standpoint of twelve Hispanic employees to help advance the understanding of how Hispanic employees feel about integrated communication practices in the workplace. I also uncover how Hispanics feel about their work environment, what type of communication practices are utilized, and how Hispanics use technology in the organizational setting. The personal experiences help establish a general understanding of the influences of Hispanic culture, language, values, beliefs, and traditions in organizations, specifically …


Reading Between The Lines: Reactions To Gendered Managerial Communications, Melissa Waitsman Dec 2009

Reading Between The Lines: Reactions To Gendered Managerial Communications, Melissa Waitsman

All Theses

Some of the earliest research on women in the workplace demonstrated that women are not perceived as competent leaders and managers. Several decades have passed since that time, but, on average, American women still earn less than their male counterparts, and women still occupy only 12 Chief Executive Officer positions in Fortune 500 companies, up from 2 in 2007 (Fortune, 2008). Recent research suggests that negative stereotypes about women's managerial competence persist, particularly in regards to their assertiveness and forcefulness, two core managerial characteristics.
Current research on gender differences indicates that females are significantly more concerned with social relationships in …


The Bridge To Postsecondary Education For Students With Disabilities: Perceptions Of Emerging Best Practice In Preparation To Access Accommodations And Communication Across Systems, Sandra Fritton Dec 2009

The Bridge To Postsecondary Education For Students With Disabilities: Perceptions Of Emerging Best Practice In Preparation To Access Accommodations And Communication Across Systems, Sandra Fritton

Theses and Dissertations

Perceptions of college Disability Support Services (DSS) and school system personnel regarding emerging best practices, adequacy of preparation of students with disabilities to access accommodations in college, and communication across systems were examined in this study. Once in college, students with disabilities have a lower rate of completion/success than their peers. Accommodations promote success in college, yet students with disabilities are not accessing them, thereby reducing their success. Adequacy of student preparation to access accommodations and communication across systems affects the access of accommodations by college students with disabilities. This study is qualitative, with 43 participants. It includes DSS personnel …


The Development Of Technological Management Model: A Conceptualization Of Computer Technology In The Workplace, Paul E. Madlock Aug 2009

The Development Of Technological Management Model: A Conceptualization Of Computer Technology In The Workplace, Paul E. Madlock

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The purpose of this dissertation was to develop a model that would serve to assist scholars, business professionals, and employees manage the influence of computer technology in the workplace. This study also focused on mandated use environments given the paucity of research in this area. In doing so, Technology Management Model (TMM) was developed. Actor Network Theory (ANT; Callon, 1986; Latour, 1987; Law, 1987) and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT; Bandura, 1986) provided support for the multifactor design of TMM. As a result, TMM was comprised of three latent variables of technological, personal, and organizational factors though to influence the attitudes …


Understanding The Expression And Implications Of Deceptive Affectionate Messages, Sean M. Horan Aug 2009

Understanding The Expression And Implications Of Deceptive Affectionate Messages, Sean M. Horan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Affectionate messages are important in romantic relationships as they are linked to multiple emotional, physical, and relational benefits (e.g., Floyd, 2006a). When examining affection, it is important to distinguish that feelings of affection and the communication of affection are two unique processes that theorists argue covary. Yet, deception researchers have found that individuals routinely lie to their non-married romantic partners about their feelings (DePaulo & Kasy, 1998; DePaulo, Kashy, Kirkendol, Wyer, & Epstein, 1996). This dissertation, composed of two studies, examined how individuals in non-married romantic relationships communicated deceptive affection and the implications of such messages. Study one used a …


A Cross-Cultural Study Of Intergenerational Communication In Workplace, Yan Guan Aug 2009

A Cross-Cultural Study Of Intergenerational Communication In Workplace, Yan Guan

Dissertations

This study investigates intergenerational relationships in organizational settings and uses Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) to examine the influence of age, power, culture, and self-construal on young workers' perceptions of intergenerational communication. According to CAT, communication is stereotypical due to outgroup bias, people favor their own age or power group more than other age or power groups. CAT research showed that young Asians' perceptions of intergenerational communication may be more negative than their Western counterparts. Self-construal was studied to understand the nature of culture's influence. Research and theory supported nine hypotheses and three research questions.

A study using self-report measure was …


Stay Or Leave? The Effects Of Communicative Infidelity On Relationship Outcomes, Colleen C. Malachowski Aug 2009

Stay Or Leave? The Effects Of Communicative Infidelity On Relationship Outcomes, Colleen C. Malachowski

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of communicative infidelity (CI) motives on relationship outcomes. CI motives include jealousy, vengefulness, sexual self-esteem, sexual depression, and sexual preoccupation, while outcomes included forgiveness, reparation, voice, exit, loyalty, and neglect responses. Additionally, this study tested the relationship of commitment and satisfaction to relational outcomes. Participants were 215 undergraduate students currently involved in a romantic relationship. Participants were instructed to answer questions measuring their commitment and satisfaction levels, as well as read and respond to a CI scenario. Results indicated that commitment is positively related to voice responses and negatively related …


Factors Of Effective Teaming Of Special Education Paraprofessionals And Special Education Teachers., Heidi Zisla Jul 2009

Factors Of Effective Teaming Of Special Education Paraprofessionals And Special Education Teachers., Heidi Zisla

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that lead to effective teaming of special education teachers and special education paraprofessionals. These teams face many challenges in teaming effectively. Teachers and paraprofessionals were surveyed and interviewed to gather their perspectives. Communication, clear roles and expectations, demonstrating appreciation and respect emerged as some of the main factors leading to effective special education teaming.


Improving Ad-Hoc Team Performance Using Video Games, Jeff David Craighead Jul 2009

Improving Ad-Hoc Team Performance Using Video Games, Jeff David Craighead

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined the effects of distributed, multiplayer training video games on the performance of distributed teams of robot operators. Two hypotheses were tested, the first hypothesis stated that online, game-based team training will improve the performance of an ad-hoc team versus an ad-hoc team formed of individually trained teammates. The second hypothesis stated that the fractal dimension of a robot's path can be used as an indicator of its operator's skill. Forty-one volunteers participated in an experiment in which they played a distributed, online training game which showed them the basics of operating an Inuktun Extreme VGTV for a …


An Organizational Communication Perspective On The University: Understanding How Individuals Constitute Organizations, Charles Ritchie Woffinden Jul 2009

An Organizational Communication Perspective On The University: Understanding How Individuals Constitute Organizations, Charles Ritchie Woffinden

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Change in the university has been the topic of recent discussion in contemporary business, popular, and academic literature. This thesis uses organizational communication theory and literature to examine how communication constitutes what we know as the university. This perspective provides an analytical lens to confront the organizational questions central to contemporary ideas surrounding the university. Furthermore, it generates new ways of viewing current issues, debates, and contestation regarding its constitution. This thesis examines the role of communication as a powerful process, and the agency of each individual in creating, recreating, and transforming the university.

To understand the constitution of the …


A Poem, A Fervid Lyric, In An Unknown Tongue: Translation, Multilingualism, And Communication In Charlotte Brontë'S Shirley, Amanda Bishop Erdmann Jun 2009

A Poem, A Fervid Lyric, In An Unknown Tongue: Translation, Multilingualism, And Communication In Charlotte Brontë'S Shirley, Amanda Bishop Erdmann

Theses and Dissertations

In this essay, I will argue that looking at translation and multilingualism both as a mode of storytelling and as a theme of Brontë's second published novel Shirley can help to uncover previously untapped moments of connection and understanding in the novel. Brontë's exploration of translation and use of multilingualism reveals a sincere urge to connect in spite of tremendous difficulties—connect her characters to each other, connect her narrator to her readers. It is an ambitious, over-reaching goal, which Brontë did not ultimately attain. Yet, for Brontë, her (especially female) characters, and her narrator, translation in all its forms represents …


Using Social Stories And Behavior Skills Training Involving Family Members To Increase Social Skills For A Child With Autism, Jamie Leigh Powell Jun 2009

Using Social Stories And Behavior Skills Training Involving Family Members To Increase Social Skills For A Child With Autism, Jamie Leigh Powell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study compared the effectiveness of a social story intervention with a social story plus behavior skills training intervention involving family members for a child with autism. A multiple baseline across siblings design was used to assess the impact of the intervention on social interaction of the child with autism, as well as the social interaction of the child's siblings. The siblings implemented both phases of the intervention. Social validity measures were taken from the siblings and parents, treatment integrity and generalization were assessed as well. The results indicated that the social interactions of the child with autism and the …


How Do College/University Teacher Misbehaviors Influence Student Cognitive Learning, Academic Self-Efficacy, Motivation, And Curiosity?, Sara R. Banfield May 2009

How Do College/University Teacher Misbehaviors Influence Student Cognitive Learning, Academic Self-Efficacy, Motivation, And Curiosity?, Sara R. Banfield

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between teacher misbehaviors and a variety of outcome variables, including cognitive learning, motivation, curiosity, and academic self-efficacy. Research has yet to directly address how teacher misbehaviors affect cognitive learning. It is important to assess actual learning as opposed to perceived learning to truly measure how a students' learning is influenced by the negative behaviors. Motivation, curiosity, and academic self-efficacy have been found to have a positive relationship with learning. When misbehaviors were present cognitive learning and motivation were not found to be significantly influenced by misbehaviors. Academic self-efficacy and curiosity …


Nietzsche's Ubermensch In The Hyperreal Flux, Anthony Pate May 2009

Nietzsche's Ubermensch In The Hyperreal Flux, Anthony Pate

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Analyzes how Nietzsche's philosophy of the Ubermensch and Baudrillard's ideas about simulation and hyperreality apply to the journeys undertaken by the protagonists of the films, Blade Runner, Fight Club, and Miami Vice. Explores how the protagonists adapt and master their unique worlds through self-awareness, self-reliance, and strength resulting from radical self-exposure to hardship.


Latinos' Collectivism And Self-Disclosure In Intercultural And Intracultural Friendships And Acquaintanceships, Audrey Liz Schwartz May 2009

Latinos' Collectivism And Self-Disclosure In Intercultural And Intracultural Friendships And Acquaintanceships, Audrey Liz Schwartz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Self-disclosure is the process of sharing personal information with others and varies according to relationship intimacy, cultural norms, and personal values. Collectivism, defined as the tendency to define oneself in terms of social/cultural roles, may impact self-disclosure in intercultural relationships. The present study investigated whether Latinos/as reliably self-disclose more in intracultural versus intercultural friendships and acquaintanceships. An additional question was whether cultural variables such as collectivism, ethnic identity, and acculturation are related to self-disclosure differences. Data were collected via an online survey from internationally born Latinos and Latino Americans. Results of linear mixed effects model testing revealed that relationship type …


Placement And Range Assignment In Power-Aware Radio Networks., Gautam Kumar Das Dr. Feb 2009

Placement And Range Assignment In Power-Aware Radio Networks., Gautam Kumar Das Dr.

Doctoral Theses

Due to the extraordinary growth of demand in mobile communication facility, design of efficient systems for providing specialized services has become an important issue in wireless mobility research. Broadly speaking, there are two major models for wireless networking: single-hop and multi-hop. The single-hop model [110] is based on the cellular network, and it provides one-hop wireless connectivity between the host and the static nodes known as base stations. single-hop networks rely on a fixed backbone infrastructure that interconnects all the base stations by high speed wired links. On the other hand, the multi-hop model requires neither fixed wired infrastructure nor …


What Do We Know About Interpersonal Skills? A Meta-Analytic Examination Of Antecedents, Outcomes, And The Efficacy Of Training, Cameron Klein Jan 2009

What Do We Know About Interpersonal Skills? A Meta-Analytic Examination Of Antecedents, Outcomes, And The Efficacy Of Training, Cameron Klein

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite extensive statements about the importance of possessing good interpersonal skills, little quantitative evidence has been brought forth to investigate these claims. At the same time, training in soft, or interpersonal, skills continues for organizational managers, customer service representatives, and members of formal work teams. Based on these considerations, the current research was guided by five broad questions. First, are gender and the Big Five personality variables important predictors in the use and effectiveness of interpersonal skills? Second, what is the relationship between various interpersonal skills and important personal and workplace outcomes? Third, given that training in interpersonal skills is …


Struggling, Coping, And Thriving: Sense-Making In Stepfamily Couples' Narratives About Coparenting, Andrea L. Smtih Sisk Jan 2009

Struggling, Coping, And Thriving: Sense-Making In Stepfamily Couples' Narratives About Coparenting, Andrea L. Smtih Sisk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The term coparenting implies a bioparental dyad that often excludes the stepparent's role in sharing parenting across joint-custody households. Focusing solely on this dyad also precludes gaining an understanding of how stepfamily couples manage together the communication and sharing of parental responsibilities with the parent(s) in the shared children's other home. In a departure from this bioparental dyad-focused approach, this study locates the stepfamily couple at the center of an inquiry into managing coparenting across households. This mixed methods design study included in-depth interviews of 32 stepfamily couples whose narratives about coparenting were analyzed using grounded theory methods. Forty-one percent …


Characterization Of The Electromagnetic Fields Inside A Wire Mesh Cage For Biotelemetry, Johnny Bernard Lienau Jan 2009

Characterization Of The Electromagnetic Fields Inside A Wire Mesh Cage For Biotelemetry, Johnny Bernard Lienau

Master's Theses (2009 -)

A wire mesh cage composed of thin conductive wires will influence the behavior of electromagnetic fields within it. Theory suggests that the cage will behave like a low Q cavity. Many researchers have investigated electromagnetic field behavior in solid walled cavities and waveguides, but little of this work has probed into the effects of a wire mesh. Additionally, few studies have investigated RF communication in these types of environments. The primary goal of this work is to research wireless communication inside a low Q wire mesh cavity in the 200-700 MHz range. Through simulated and experimental results, ideal antenna locations …


Communicative Strategies Used In The Introduction Of Spirituality In The Workplace, Matthew Alan Condon Jan 2009

Communicative Strategies Used In The Introduction Of Spirituality In The Workplace, Matthew Alan Condon

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Many organizational leaders and employees have become increasingly interested in implementing some form of spiritual practice or orientation into the fabric of the workplace. A burgeoning field of research and practice has emerged in the past two decades that attempts to address this growing interest. This field is diverse and identified with various titles, the most common being “spirit at work,” “spirituality in the workplace,” “faith at work,” and “faith in the workplace.” Because any cognates of the words “spirit” and “faith” are universally associated with religion, implementing any form of spiritual practice or orientation into a workplace setting comes …


Cultures In Residence: Intercultural Communication Competence For Residence Life Staff, Bridget Eileen Flaherty Jan 2009

Cultures In Residence: Intercultural Communication Competence For Residence Life Staff, Bridget Eileen Flaherty

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Despite a recent plateau in the number of international students coming to the U.S., international students still make up a significant portion of the student body at institutes of higher education. Along with attendance at schools, many international students live in campus housing, such as residence halls, and are often placed with a U.S. roommate. Previous research has shown that international and U.S. students may have cultural conflicts, particularly when living together. Since many younger students may not be interculturally competent, it is left to the staff of Residence Life offices, such as resident assistants, to counsel students through their …


A Feasibility Study Of An Intervention Designed To Create Cooperative Communication For Couples: A Sociolinguistic Approach To Cognitive Behavioral Couple Therapy , Lee Wood Morand Jan 2009

A Feasibility Study Of An Intervention Designed To Create Cooperative Communication For Couples: A Sociolinguistic Approach To Cognitive Behavioral Couple Therapy , Lee Wood Morand

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Researchers and clinicians recognize relationship distress as one of the most frequently presented problems in psychotherapy. Relationships themselves depend on language and sociolinguistic skills. However, despite the passionate interest and relevance imparted to success in relationships, little attention is paid to sociolinguistic skills. This study is an evaluation of a feasibility study designed as a couple’s communication program. Overcoming communication problems and improving marital satisfaction is the intent of this program. The design of this program is to overcome communication problems and improve marital satisfaction. Cooperative communication is the framework for the communication skills training. One voluntary couple participated in …


Music In The Lives Of Two Children With Autism : A Case Study, Elizabeth Ron Fang Jan 2009

Music In The Lives Of Two Children With Autism : A Case Study, Elizabeth Ron Fang

Master's Theses

This thesis is a qualitative case study about two children with autism spectrum disorder and the role of music in their lives. It explores how music serves as a non-threatening medium for learning and developing skills necessary to function successfully in life. The stories of the children and their parents are shared through their personal account and the author's observations. The literature in the field reveals that a structured/functional use of music helps communication, social interaction, appropriate behavior, motor skills, and academics in children with autism. Each child is able to actively participate in music-making within varied and appropriate settings …


The Effects Of Leadership And Authority On Cross-Boundary Information Sharing In Response To Public Health Crises : A Comparative Study Between The United States And Jordan, Fawzi H. Mulki Jan 2009

The Effects Of Leadership And Authority On Cross-Boundary Information Sharing In Response To Public Health Crises : A Comparative Study Between The United States And Jordan, Fawzi H. Mulki

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Regardless of national context, cross-boundary information sharing is inevitably entangled with issues of jurisdiction, leadership, and authority. This study answers the question: "to what extent do officials in the United States and Jordan share key leadership characteristics and how are officials' uses of authority similar or different?"


Parental Involvement In A Northwest Georgia School District, Veronica T. Hunter Jan 2009

Parental Involvement In A Northwest Georgia School District, Veronica T. Hunter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For decades, parental involvement has had a direct impact on the success of children. Portions of the No Child Left Behind Act include important requirements for schools, districts, and states to organize programs for parental involvement and to implement ways to communicate with parents and the public about student achievement and the quality and performance of schools. According to Gonzalez (2002), teachers and administrators struggle with the lack of parental involvement on a daily basis. He concludes that finding ways to make parents feel more comfortable and welcome would improve the communication and relationship between parents and schools. The purpose …


When Two Become One: Marital Couples' Public Performances And Couple Identity, Carrie D. Kennedy-Lightsey Jan 2009

When Two Become One: Marital Couples' Public Performances And Couple Identity, Carrie D. Kennedy-Lightsey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Communication researchers know little about marital couples' public performances, or how marital couples communicate as a nonsummative whole when in the presence of important others (e.g., friends, family, co-workers). Two studies were conducted to examine marital couples' public performances from a Communication Theory of Identity (CTI) (Hecht, 1993) framework. In the first study, 153 marital couples completed self-report measures to assess how marital couples' attachment styles and relationship awareness are related to identity gaps during public performances as well as how identity gaps relate to a variety of outcomes including communication satisfaction, feelings of being understood, conversational appropriateness, relationship satisfaction, …


Notions Of Distance: Communication Constraints In Long-Distance Dating Relationships, Jenny Marie Farrell Jan 2009

Notions Of Distance: Communication Constraints In Long-Distance Dating Relationships, Jenny Marie Farrell

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study addressed communication constraints perceived by individuals in long-distance dating relationships (LDDRs) and how these constraints are managed. Internal constraints are identified within the boundaries of the individual or relationship and external constraints are those that originate from outside the boundaries of the individual or relationship. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 27 participants; ages ranged from 18-35. Participants reported perceiving 11 internal constraints (mediated communication, avoidance, talk habits, physical absence, emotions, view of outsiders, uncertainty and expectations, effort, notions of distance, visits, and miscellaneous) and five external constraints (schedules, social network, finances, and technology, miscellaneous). Participants reported managing …