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Zoo Communication: A Study Of Stewardship With Animal Conservation In Zoos Across The United States, Abby Rachelle Lester
Zoo Communication: A Study Of Stewardship With Animal Conservation In Zoos Across The United States, Abby Rachelle Lester
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
This thesis investigates the communication strategies employed by zoo professionals to promote engagement and advanec animal conservation education. Through in-depth interviews with zoo experts, the stidy explores the intricate connections between communication practices and stewardship princliples within zoo facilities. Findings from this study contribute to the understanding of effective communication in the realm of animal conservation, with implications for both zoo practitioners and conservation educators. The study delves into the effective strategies for identifying and fostering relationships with environmental stewards, alongside encouraging their involvement in zoo-based animal conservation initiatives. The theoretical implications highlight gaps in existing models, emphasizing the need …
Evaluating Social Media As A Medium Of Private Communication Through Steganographic Images, Kendall Weldon Coles
Evaluating Social Media As A Medium Of Private Communication Through Steganographic Images, Kendall Weldon Coles
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Social media is a vastly used communication tool with billions of users worldwide. These social networks provide users the ability to share their ideas and thoughts through the messages, videos, and images that they post. The images that are shared can possibly be embedded with private messages through the use of a steganographic tool. The messages are embedded in a fashion that doesn’t change the visual appearance of an image. This allows for these types of images to hide in plain sight, which creates the possibility of someone communicating privately in a public social media setting. This project proved how …
Discrimination And Behavioral Responses To Communication Signals Compared Across Apteronotids., Danielle Leigh Dillon-Seeger
Discrimination And Behavioral Responses To Communication Signals Compared Across Apteronotids., Danielle Leigh Dillon-Seeger
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Sensory systems are often uniquely tailored to encode behaviorally relevant signals and comparative studies across species can thus reveal how evolutionary changes shape sensory functions. The structure of communication signals varies widely between ghost knifefish species. Recent findings suggest that the nervous system co-adapted to the various signal structures observed across species to support different sensory behaviors. The aim for this thesis was to compare the sensory behavior of 3 species of ghost knifefish to contrast their behavioral performance with the known differences in neurophysiology. We hypothesize that for the different signal types and species, the ability to discriminate small …
Amazon Nights Ii: Electric Boogaloo-Neural Adaptations For Communication In Three Species Of Weakly Electric Fish, Kathryne M. Allen
Amazon Nights Ii: Electric Boogaloo-Neural Adaptations For Communication In Three Species Of Weakly Electric Fish, Kathryne M. Allen
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Sensory systems have to extract useful information from environments awash in noise and confounding input. Studying how salient signals are encoded and filtered from these natural backgrounds is a key problem in neuroscience. Communication is a particularly tractable tool for studying this problem, as it is a ubiquitous task that all organisms must accomplish, easily compared across species, and is of significant ethological relevance. In this chapter I describe the current knowledge of what is both known and still unknown about how sensory systems are adapted for the challenges of encoding conspecific signals, particularly in environments complicated by conspecific-generated noise. …
Active Consumerism: Measuring The Importance Of Crowdfunding Factors On Backers' Decisions To Financially Support Kickstarter Campaigns, Kevin M. Duvall
Active Consumerism: Measuring The Importance Of Crowdfunding Factors On Backers' Decisions To Financially Support Kickstarter Campaigns, Kevin M. Duvall
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
The purpose of this research is to explore what factors of projects on Kickstarter, a popular crowdfunding website, are most influential in the decision to financially support a project. This study used triangulated research methods to explore these factors. An online survey of people who had financially contributed to one or more Kickstarter projects was conducted to better understand what aspects of projects backers found most important. A series of in-depth interviews with people who have financially supported one or more Kickstarter campaigns was also conducted to add perspective about the reasons people had for backing the campaigns. Findings suggest …
Exploring The Use Of Social Media And Its Effect On Policy In Community Colleges, S. Dianne Davis
Exploring The Use Of Social Media And Its Effect On Policy In Community Colleges, S. Dianne Davis
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
The use of online social media websites has grown exponentially in past years. Recent studies show faculty use of social media is also growing. This study examined how faculty are using social media websites with students and if they are aware of issues that violations of the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act could cause. The research questions were: How are faculty using social media for teacher-student communication; Are there privacy concerns faculty should be aware of because of the Federal Education Rights to Privacy Act; and what social media is being use by faculty to communicate with students. Participants …
Why And How Organizational Members Encourage Their Peer Coworkers To Voluntarily Exit The Organization: An Investigation Of Peer-Influence Exit Tactics, Michael Sollitto
Why And How Organizational Members Encourage Their Peer Coworkers To Voluntarily Exit The Organization: An Investigation Of Peer-Influence Exit Tactics, Michael Sollitto
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Previous scholars have found that organizational members use various tactics to encourage their peer coworkers to voluntarily exit their organizations. These tactics are known as peer-influence exit tactics. What has been missing from the literature is clarity about the factors that influence organizational members' use of peer-influence exit tactics. This dissertation explored the construct of peer-influenced exit to develop greater clarity about the motives for encouraging peer coworkers to leave, the characteristics of the peer-influence exit tactic source and receiver, and the organizational influences on peer-influenced exit. Study 1 used an open-ended survey design to explore the motives, process, and …
Male-Female Workplace Friendships: Third Party Coworkers' Perceptions Of And Behavior Toward Organizational Peers In Cross-Sex Workplace Friendships, Hailey G. Gillen
Male-Female Workplace Friendships: Third Party Coworkers' Perceptions Of And Behavior Toward Organizational Peers In Cross-Sex Workplace Friendships, Hailey G. Gillen
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Workplace relationships range from professional working relationships, to workplace friendships, to romantic relationships at work. Cross-sex (male-female) workplace relationships, including friendships, are especially important for women, as research suggests they may help women to break through the "glass ceiling." Cross-sex workplace friendships are often perceived as romantic (e.g., Elesser & Peplau, 2006; Marks, 1994) and workplace romances are generally perceived negatively (Cowan & Horan, 2014, in press; Gillen & Chory, 2014a; Horan & Chory, 2009, 2011, 2013; Malachowski, et al., 2012). Guided by equity theory (Adams, 1965) and feminist organizational communication theorizing (Buzzanell, 1994), it is therefore hypothesized that organizational …
User-Generated Content And Television News, Eva M. Buchman
User-Generated Content And Television News, Eva M. Buchman
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
The purpose of this master's thesis is to investigate the relationship between television news stations and user-generated content. With the technological growth our society has experienced over the last several years, user-generated content has become a popular way for television stations to gather news. This relationship was investigated through a national online survey of news directors/executive producers at television stations. Also studied were policies at television stations regarding the use of user-generated content, whether they are formal, written policies, or informal policies, to determine how user-generated content is integrated into television news broadcasts. Findings suggest that television news stations exercise …
Creative Idea Generation: How To Incorporate Plussing Into Your Creative Thinking Sessions, Whitney Godwin
Creative Idea Generation: How To Incorporate Plussing Into Your Creative Thinking Sessions, Whitney Godwin
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
The goal of this master's thesis is to evaluate Disney's "plussing" as a form of idea-generation for every type of organization and business. This method was assessed through a case study of two nonprofit organizations in Morgantown, West Virginia after developing three original plussing methods. Both organizations participated in plussing sessions. Sessions were followed up with a survey of each participant. Findings suggest "plussing" has proven more beneficial to the organizations than traditional brainstorming methods. Several participants stated that plussing provides a more effective way for organizations to produce the best idea and product possible without the fear of criticism …
Addressing The Role Of Health Literacy In Social Science: The Revision And Validation Of The Perceived Oral Health Literacy Scale, Sara Labelle
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
The purpose of this dissertation was twofold. The first purpose was to develop a valid and reliable measurement of health literacy appropriate for use in social science. The second purpose was to determine whether health literacy is a skill set that can be increased through the intervention efforts of communication studies scholars. These purposes were addressed across four studies. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis provided support for a 26-item revised Perceived Oral Health Literacy Scale (LaBelle & Weber, 2013) which assesses individuals' Motivation and Ability to gain access to, understand, and use health information in order to …
Extradyadic Communication With Friends About Negative Relational Events In Romantic Relationships: Development Of A Measure And Implications For Friendship And Romantic Relationship Functioning, Jessalyn I. Vallade
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Interpersonal relationships, and the communication that takes place within them, do not exist in a vacuum (Milardo, 1982). Extant research provides much useful information about the importance of perceived network support and interference for romantic relationships, yet there is limited information regarding why and how people engage in extradyadic communication with network members when they experience negative relational events in their romantic relationships. The purpose of the current dissertation was to (a) develop and validate measures of the motives and content of romantic partners' and friends' extradyadic communication about negative relational events in romantic relationships, (b) investigate relational and partner …
Alternative Breaks: The Impact Of Student-To-Student Connections In Non-Classroom Service-Learning Experiences, Zac D. Johnson
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
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
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
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
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 …
Rhetorical Bridges: How Rhetoric Affects The Gap Between Knowledge And Behavior Change, Allison Matlack Pranger
Rhetorical Bridges: How Rhetoric Affects The Gap Between Knowledge And Behavior Change, Allison Matlack Pranger
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Health-communication campaigns have long operated according to the belief that individuals can be persuaded to change hazardous health practices through education about the risks or benefits of certain behaviors. Health-communication scholars and practitioners have ascribed to a theory of behavior change that posits acquiring knowledge about certain health issues leads to changes in attitudes and, ultimately, changes in personal health practices. Over the past decade, however, scholars have identified a KAP-gap, as they often see a wide gulf between an individual's Knowledge and Attitudes and his or her health Practice. Recently, rhetorical scholars have begun to view this KAP-gap through …
The Role Of Narcissism On Concerns For Sns Privacy: Vulnerable Narcissism In Threatening Situations, Elizabeth A. Kwolek
The Role Of Narcissism On Concerns For Sns Privacy: Vulnerable Narcissism In Threatening Situations, Elizabeth A. Kwolek
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
This study aims to identify psychological factors that predict one's likelihood to disengage with privacy-threatening activities on Social Networking Sites (SNS). Particularly, it pays special attention to the concept of narcissism and its impact on one's response to SNS privacy-threatening situations. By evaluating narcissism in two different ways --- grandiose and vulnerable --- the study attempts to provide a better understanding of the role of narcissism in SNS usage and concerns over privacy issues. Study I shows that vulnerable narcissism has a significant influence on consumers' likelihood of disengaging with privacy-threatening activities on SNS while grandiose narcissism has no influence. …
Disaster Preparations And Relief: The Partnership Between The American National Red Cross And Amateur Radio, Bayley B. Brown
Disaster Preparations And Relief: The Partnership Between The American National Red Cross And Amateur Radio, Bayley B. Brown
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
The goal of this master's thesis is to evaluate the current state of the partnership between the American National Red Cross chapters and Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) groups. The alliance between these organizations has historically been outlined by national representatives, the most recent being the 2010 Memorandum of Understanding between the American National Red Cross and ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. This partnership was assessed through a nationwide survey of American National Red Cross chapter representatives. Findings suggest that most Red Cross chapters have current partnerships with their local ARES group, and collaboration occurs primarily for disaster …
Exploring The Effects Of Implementation Intentions And Goal Formation On Anxiety And Communication Effectiveness When Discussing Difficult Interpersonal Topics, Colleen C. Malachowski
Exploring The Effects Of Implementation Intentions And Goal Formation On Anxiety And Communication Effectiveness When Discussing Difficult Interpersonal Topics, Colleen C. Malachowski
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
This study addressed the effects of two specific types of planning (i.e., goal intention and implementation intention formation) on interpersonal discussions of difficult topics (e.g., discussing the future of a relationship, discussing past romantic partners, discussing the current status of a relationship). Goal intentions specify a certain end point (e.g., "I intend to reach x"), and implementation intentions (Gollwitzer, 1999) specify when, where, and how a goal will be achieved (e.g., "If x, then y"). In addition, four personality traits (i.e., need for cognition, cognitive flexibility, self-efficacy, and trait dyadic communication apprehension) were examined in order to further understand the …
Reputation Management: A Qualitative Analysis Of The Effective Use Of Reputation Management Techniques Applied To Personal Reputations During A Crisis, Joseph A. Saulen
Reputation Management: A Qualitative Analysis Of The Effective Use Of Reputation Management Techniques Applied To Personal Reputations During A Crisis, Joseph A. Saulen
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Understanding the concept of image has been a cornerstone of public relations since its professional beginnings in the early 20th century. However, practitioners and scholars have introduced crisis management and reputation management techniques into the repertoire of public relations relatively recently. This research study analyzes the concepts of reputation management and image and their applications in respect to people during a crisis. It uses content analysis to examine John Edwards and Eliot Spitzer; and the resultant tone of media coverage to ascertain the effectiveness of their reputation management strategies.
Father-Son Family Communication Patterns And Gender Ideologies: A Modeling And Compensation Analysis, Kelly G. Odenweller
Father-Son Family Communication Patterns And Gender Ideologies: A Modeling And Compensation Analysis, Kelly G. Odenweller
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
The purpose of this study was to advance father-son research by investigating family communication and gender ideologies. Specifically, the study assessed the specific messages fathers transmit to sons regarding gender ideologies, relationships between family communication patterns and gender ideologies, and the utility of modeling and compensation hypotheses in intergenerational transmission of these behaviors and ideologies. Finally, this study addressed the association between gender ideologies and global life satisfaction. Fathers (N = 125) completed an online questionnaire to report their living fathers' and their own communication patterns and gender ideologies, as well as their transmission of gender ideologies to their sons. …
Using Mentoring Enactment Theory To Explore The Doctoral Student-Faculty Member Mentoring Relationship, Daniel H. Mansson
Using Mentoring Enactment Theory To Explore The Doctoral Student-Faculty Member Mentoring Relationship, Daniel H. Mansson
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
The purpose of this dissertation was threefold. The first purpose was to examine the advisor-advisee mentoring relationship using Mentoring Enactment Theory (Kalbfleisch, 2002). The second purpose was to examine the relationship between advisees' use of relational maintenance behaviors and their own and their advisors' reports of relational characteristics (i.e., liking, communication satisfaction, relational satisfaction, trust, work commitment, and control mutuality). The third purpose was to examine the extent to which advisees' relational uncertainty with their advisors was related to their use of relational maintenance behaviors and their advisors' provision of career support and psychosocial support. The results of Principal Component …
Equine Assisted Activities And Therapies, Carol C. Petitto
Equine Assisted Activities And Therapies, Carol C. Petitto
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
This dissertation is composed of three essays in which each carefully examines an important aspect of the field of equine assisted activities and therapies (EAAT). In the first essay, I review how equine assisted activities and therapies should be considered as an early intervention to help facilitate communication skills in children with autism. The majority of participants in NARHA programs have autism, and therefore it is critical to appraise the validity of EAAT as a positive intervention. Respondents of NARHA centers to a survey on their use of assessments in tracking the progress of their participants indicated that only 7% …
Communicative Facework In Marital Dissolution And Post-Dissolution Processes, Brandi N. Frisby
Communicative Facework In Marital Dissolution And Post-Dissolution Processes, Brandi N. Frisby
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Divorce affects nearly 24,000 adults (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2008) and one million children yearly (Amato, 2000), often with negative consequences for those who are involved (Amato, 2000; Kiecolt-Glaser & Newton, 2001). Unlike previous research which focused on predictors of divorce, this dissertation (2 studies) focused on the communicative processes that occur when divorce is initiated and in turning points which comprise the interactions in post-divorce relationships. In study one, participants (N = 69) reported on the conversation where the decision to divorce was made, the face threats and facework which were communicated during that conversation, and the individual …
Students' Perceptions Of Classroom Justice And Their Use Of Politeness Strategies, Charles K. Rudick
Students' Perceptions Of Classroom Justice And Their Use Of Politeness Strategies, Charles K. Rudick
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
The purpose of this study was to investigate how students' use of politeness strategies differed based on their perceptions of distributive, procedural, and interactional justice when they engaged in a face threatening act (FTA) with their instructors. Participants included 76 undergraduate students enrolled in undergraduate communication courses at a large mid-Atlantic university during the summer. Results revealed that students engage in all types of politeness strategies when speaking with their instructor, with students reporting the bald-on-record strategy the most frequently. However, students' use of politeness strategies did not significantly differ based on their perceptions of distributive, procedural, and interactional justice. …
Adult Children Of Alcoholics' Perceptions Of Communicative Exchanges With Family Members And Outsiders, Kerry Byrnes
Adult Children Of Alcoholics' Perceptions Of Communicative Exchanges With Family Members And Outsiders, Kerry Byrnes
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Millions of children grow up in alcoholic homes. For these children, their lives are changed forever. As a result of being socialized in a home in which at least one parent is an alcoholic, the children suffer with a number of negative consequences. Children of alcoholics (COAs) have cognitive difficulty and often do not excel in scholastic endeavors. It is also difficult for COAs to form lasting relationships with others outside the family. Because they are often socialized in a home in which secrecy is advocated, creating relationships and fully disclosing about experiences proves to be challenging. As a result, …
Understanding The Expression And Implications Of Deceptive Affectionate Messages, Sean M. Horan
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 …
The Development Of Technological Management Model: A Conceptualization Of Computer Technology In The Workplace, Paul E. Madlock
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 …