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West Virginia University

2013

Communication

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Alternative Breaks: The Impact Of Student-To-Student Connections In Non-Classroom Service-Learning Experiences, Zac D. Johnson Aug 2013

Alternative Breaks: The Impact Of Student-To-Student Connections In Non-Classroom Service-Learning Experiences, Zac D. Johnson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Alternative breaks represent a new tradition in collegiate service learning (Campus Connect, 2011), wherein students forego traditional break activities (e.g., vacations) to participate in community service with their peers through university sponsored programs. Despite their growing popularity these programs are understudied. Research that has examined alternative breaks has arrived at claims based on anecdotal data (e.g., DuPre, 2010; Noll, 2012). This dissertation investigated two claims found in alternative break literature: students forge connections (e.g., DuPre, 2010, McElhaney, 1998) and alternative break experiences have a long reaching impact on students (e.g., Barclay, 2010; McElhaney, 1998; Noll, 2012). This was accomplished through …


How Do They Think Differently?: A Social Media Advertising Attitude Survey On Chinese Students In China And Chinese Students In America, Anan Wan May 2013

How Do They Think Differently?: A Social Media Advertising Attitude Survey On Chinese Students In China And Chinese Students In America, Anan Wan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This study explored whether Chinese students in both China and in America had different attitudes toward social media advertising, and how their attitudes are different, through a survey of Chinese students in these two countries. The survey determined how they used social media, whether the different social media networks in the two countries affected their social media use, and what their attitudes are about social media advertising in terms of sources, content, and level of trustworthiness. It also tested the relationship between the students' the social media diet (amount, frequency, and duration) and attitude toward social media advertising.


The Role Of Geography, Demographics, Bandwidth Speed And Internet Availability In Rural West Virginia Communities: A Multiple Case Study Of The 2012 Cards Of Hope Fundraiser, Rebecca Diehm May 2013

The Role Of Geography, Demographics, Bandwidth Speed And Internet Availability In Rural West Virginia Communities: A Multiple Case Study Of The 2012 Cards Of Hope Fundraiser, Rebecca Diehm

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Today, social media has become a popular public relations tool in the promotion of campaigns and fundraisers. While this new addition may be a key tool in the promotion of certain fundraisers and campaigns, this study was designed to focus on what public relations methods successfully promote events, campaigns and fundraisers in rural areas, such as those in West Virginia. The objective of this master's thesis is to support the notion that press releases are still the foundation of public relations methods not only in West Virginia, but in rural communities throughout the United States. In order to support this …


The Effects Of Student Behavior Alteration Techniques On Student Motives To Communicate, Student Talk, And Student Learning, Christopher J. Claus Jan 2013

The Effects Of Student Behavior Alteration Techniques On Student Motives To Communicate, Student Talk, And Student Learning, Christopher J. Claus

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This dissertation addressed the effects of students' perceived effectiveness of and likelihood to use student behavior alteration techniques (BATs) on students' motives to communicate with their instructors, student talk (i.e., willingness to talk, out-of-class communication), and student learning (i.e., cognitive learning, affective learning, state motivation, and student communication satisfaction). Results revealed that student perceived effectiveness of, and likelihood to use, student BATs did not influence, student talk or student learning, but indicated some significant relationships with the students' motives to communicate with their instructors. Specifically, the relational, functional, participatory, and sycophancy motives were generally related to the perceived likelihood to …


Investigating The Effect Of Humor Communication Skills Training On Pro-Social And Anti-Social Humor Styles, Cognitive Learning, Self-Efficacy, Motivation, And Humor Use, Lori E. Vela Jan 2013

Investigating The Effect Of Humor Communication Skills Training On Pro-Social And Anti-Social Humor Styles, Cognitive Learning, Self-Efficacy, Motivation, And Humor Use, Lori E. Vela

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Humor is an important aspect of interpersonal interactions as it is linked to the development and maintenance of relationships (Merolla, 2006). The purpose of this dissertation was to test the effect of a humor communication skills training program on the ability to minimize anti-social humor (i.e., aggressive, self-defeating) and enhance pro-social humor (i.e., affiliative, self-enhancing) in interpersonal interactions. Working from the framework of Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1986, 2001), the effect of the humor skills training on self-efficacy, motivation, positive and negative humor use, and cognitive learning were also examined. Data were collected at baseline, post-training, and at a two …