Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Going Viral: A Qualitative Analysis Of The Anti-Vaccine Movement & Social Media, Corinn Evancho Schumacher

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

In the recent years of the rise of Web 2.0, health information has become more accessible. With this shift has come a reliance on social media to inform and educate the masses on vaccines. With the introduction of the Covid-19 vaccine, the conversation surrounding vaccines moved to the forefront of the United States’ zeitgeist from late 2021 to early 2022. In this research, I conducted a case study on the communication surrounding vaccines on social media while examining specific Facebook groups that advance the misinformation surrounding vaccines. I examined over 300 posts from four public Facebook groups in order to …

Rural Embodiments Of Femininity: An Autoethnographic Approach To Gender Narratives, Randi Wichman

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The socialization one experiences throughout their lifetime informs their communication behaviors with others around them. Coming of age in a rural, Westernized geography instilled in me a unique sense of femininity that was constructed to complement the narratives significant to the cultural context of Rural America. This research discusses multiple dominant and marginalized forms of gender and these identities’ relationships to the gendered experiences that I had growing up in rural Montana. This autoethnography is composed of narrated experiences, pre-teen assessments, and poetic descriptions of the disciplining I was confronted with throughout my childhood in my small, ranching community. I …

Translating Risk Information To Protective Action: Examining Household Response To Information About Earthquake Hazards And Risk, Carson C. Macpherson-Krutsky

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Natural hazards have been a part of the landscape since its existence, but they are becoming more devastating as they intersect with growing populations and as climate change increases their frequency and intensity. As these changes occur, the need to understand how to reduce disaster impacts becomes paramount. Despite growing concern and increasing costs of disasters over the past decade, household preparedness, which is at the foundation of disaster readiness, has seen little to no improvement. Using two research experiments, we adopt the Protective Action Decision Model (PADM; Lindell & Perry, 2004; 2012) as a framework to investigate what motivates …

(Re)Discovering I Am Worthy: A Black Feminist Autoethnographic Confrontation Of Abuse, Sarah Elizabeth Keeton

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis is a Black Feminist Autoethnographic confrontation of white supremacist, racist ideology. I assert that Black people are in an abusive relationship with America. Utilizing the Cycle of Violence, the relationship abuse framework, Critical Race theory and Black Feminist Thought, this thesis explores the violent ways America abuses Black bodies and how that abuse affects our very beings. Utilizing autoethnography to record what others have erased, I confront my abusers in all of their different forms, including the internalized abuse of self. This writing is a process of uncovering and (re)covery. This recovery process will examine the convergence …

Cancel Culture: A Qualitative Analysis Of The Social Media Practice Of Canceling, Samantha Haskell

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Unlike previous forms of public shaming, canceling is a product of Web 2.0 and the boom of social media. The act of canceling is inherently tied to the word “canceled,” however, how the public defines a cancellation is not static. Instead, how those on social media partake and understand canceling is due to consistent strategies that emerge during a cancellation. In this research, I conducted a case study of the cancellation of Kevin Spacey that took place in 2017. Over 1700 tweets discussing Kevin Spacey’s cancellation were captured in order to determine the process of canceling. Through qualitative content analysis, …

No Dogs Allowed: A Qualitative Study About Invisible Barriers Faced By Those With Disability, Kory Gaona

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Service Animals (S.As.) are becoming more common throughout the United States and are seen more frequently on college campuses. This study uncovers the lived experiences of S.A. handlers on college campuses nationwide, to further understand the exclusion or inclusion that S.A. handlers experience throughout their everyday life. Utilizing Critical Disability Theory and Organizational Communication lenses through a series of open-ended questions, this study analyzes a handler’s experience with their S.A. Adopting a qualitative lens, I conducted one on one interviews. It filled a need for academia as present research on S.As. typically focuses on quantitative research. I was able to …

Redeeming The Monster: The God Of War Subreddit's Narrative Of Rebirth For Hegemonic Masculinity, Mario Sanders

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

In a 2019 documentary on the development of the video game God of War (2018) for the Playstation 4, Cory Barlog, the game’s creative director, openly discusses his desire to give the toxic, hypermasculine protagonist, Kratos, a “second chance” after nearly a decade since the franchise’s previous installment. In giving Kratos his second chance, Barlog decided to make him a father, claiming that becoming a father changes one’s perspective on everything. Video games scholars have argued that games are a noteworthy element of players’ identities and interactions due to their promotion of the manufacture of player narratives. The following research …

Critical Race Theory And The Impact Of Oppression Narratives On The Identity, Resilience, And Wellness Of Students Of Color, Gerdonna J. Ellis

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis I explore the different stories students of color draw from and internalize to understand their identities in relation to oppression and resilience. Through reviewing critical race theory (CRT) and critical whiteness literature, I identify what I call the “oppression narrative”, in which students of color are often discussed as being oppressed and disadvantaged. Stories are powerful, and in many ways the stories we hear and believe about ourselves make us who we are. Eight narrative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with students who attended a predominately white institution (PWI) and identified as black or Latinx. Seven themes emerged …

Overcoming Stigma With Dialogue: My Experiences As A Parent Of An Opiate Addict, Melissa Dee Lemar

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Opioid addiction has reached crisis levels in the United States. While as many as 20 million Americans have Substance Use Disorder (SUD), often drug addiction is seen as an immoral choice rather than a medical condition. Little research has been done from the perspective of the parent with an addicted child, and thus there is an absence of scholarly literature on how parents might negotiate the challenges faced when seeking help for a child with SUD. In this thesis, I use autoethnography as a method to tell the story of my eight-year journey with my daughter’s addiction. I reveal my …

Dis/Organizing Social Capital: Tension In A U.S. National Park, Blake Allen Harms

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The National Park System in the United States is a unique work environment filled with tension, organizational complexity and challenges. Scholars often argue that these types of organizational complexities should be addressed by increasing social capital. Social capital scholars direct practitioner attention toward relational connection as a means of increasing social capital, however without delving into the communicative processes of connecting with others. In this thesis, I embrace a communication as constitutive of organization (CCO) perspective with a focus on dis/organization to investigate “messiness” of employee expressions of social capital in a large western national park. Engaging in qualitative analysis …

Public Spheres Of Influence And The Effects Of The Alt-Right: A Qualitative Study Of Conservative Counter Spheres Through Representative Media Outlets, Luke Yeates

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Contemporary understanding of Habermasian public spheres of influence points to a conglomeration of competing counter-spheres all vying for hegemonic control. The interaction of these spheres creates dynamic and shifting landscapes through which individuals and news media outlets maneuver. One of the larger influential groups in the United States is the establishment conservative counter-sphere, but recent political developments have given rise to a new counter-sphere, one that is increasingly racist and violent. The alt-right has grown in its political influence since the 2016 presidential election and its presence is likely having an effect on larger, more established groupings as it vies …

"Just Call Me Poe": An Autoethnographic Look At Codeswitching And Passing, Paola Andrea Joya

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis is an autoethnographic look at codeswitching and passing in the children of immigrants. Specifically, this thesis uses methods of poetry, frameworks of re-photography, and narrative to investigate my personal experiences with these cultural phenomena over a lifetime. Grounding my work in theories on identity, culture, and co-cultural understandings, I investigate the evolution of my name from Paola, Paula, to Poe, as a representation of the length at which I attempted to assimilate and accommodate to the dominant group (U.S). It is my hope that this thesis helps to create community amongst those who have shared similar experiences …

Everyday Talk: Perpetuating Cultures Of Sexual Violence On College Campuses, Sara Collins

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

While sexual violence on college campuses has always been present, recently, there has been heightened interest in ways that individuals can resist against this problematic and harmful culture. This study employs a communicative perspective grounded in social construction and relationships between power, language, and subjectivity to gain insights into the everyday talk that perpetuates rape culture. Specifically, four focus groups were conducted to understand how college students talk about dating, relationships, and sex. Qualitative analysis of the focus group transcripts revealed how women and men conceptualize the process of dating and critical analysis reveals how the talk about relationships and …

Disclosing Romantic Relationship Conflicts With A Third Party: A Test Of The Disclosure Decision-Making Model, Michelle Marie Jimenez

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized Greene’s (2009) health disclosure decision-making model (DD-MM) to better understand the process of romantic relationship conflict (RRC) disclosures to a confidant outside the relationship. In doing so, I investigated the changes in relational quality between the discloser and their romantic partner/confidant, while also proposing that the DD-MM would be valid for use in RRC disclosures. Results indicated that while relational quality does not change significantly between the discloser and their romantic partner/confidant after an RRC disclosure, the depth of disclosure is significantly correlated with greater relational quality with the confidant. The relational quality an individual had with …

Keep Your Voice To Yourself: The Experiences Of Women Of Color In Higher Education, Shanna Hagenah

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This study provides insight into the experiences of women of color in higher education classrooms. Embracing recent literature on the politics of education, the double discrimination experienced by women of color, and the tenets of critical pedagogy, I engaged in qualitative interviews to gain insights into the experiences of women of color in higher education classrooms and reveal suggestions from women of color for improving their classroom experiences. The findings of this study reveal women of color experience appropriation of knowledge and bodies, acceptance of classroom ignorance, and social capital. Further, women of color suggest that if professors/instructors use explicit …

Inviting Mindful Silence Into Pedagogy: Supporting Agency, Voice, And Critical Engagement Through Silence, Sarah Lausch

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Across pedagogical approaches, silence and speech are rarely recognized as equally important ways to demonstrate knowledge. Favoring speech in the classroom indicates a specific set of assumptions that shows what formal teaching and learning settings should look like. I will approach silence in this study as an opportunity to create space for silent voices and invisible notions of agency. Through an exhaustive literature search and interpretive review of how contemporary pedagogical approaches currently assess silence, I invite the concept of mindful silence into pedagogy as a way to better address the ways that silence - not just speech - can …

Invisible Dis/Abilities: To Disclose Or Not Disclose?, Julia Roma Broderick

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 56.7 million people currently live with a disability in the United States (United States Census Bureau, 2012). Many of these disabilities are invisible to others, which make disclosure necessary to gain support. Through the analysis of open-ended questionnaires, I investigated disclosure decision-making factors and outcomes for individuals living with invisible disabilities. Factors considered for disclosure included: (a) support; (b) fear of negative response; (c) perceived appropriateness; and (d) no choice or perceived obligation. Disclosure outcomes included: (a) relief; (b) closeness in relationship; (c) loss of relationship; (d) differential treatment; and (e) no change or negative outcome. Theoretically, the findings …

Media Members’ Expectations Of A High-Quality Sports Information Director, Michael Walsh

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: The traditional role of communications and media relations professionals within intercollegiate athletics has changed. The profession, often referred to as sports information, is making an effort to redefine its role within the athletics industry and be viewed more as a strategist than a practitioner. In order to advance the profession and each professional, research must be carried out to give individuals the tools to better support their institution's communications goals in a strategic manner, while also building the base of data-driven methods and best practices. PURPOSE: This study aims to define behavioral traits and methods of a high-quality sports …

Decoding Nonverbal Ability: A Theoretical Model For The Acquisition Of Nonverbal Decoding Skill, Julia Berger

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Nonverbal communication adds multiple layers of meaning to social interaction above that conveyed by words. The comprehension of these nonverbal messages depends on individual ability which varies greatly between individuals. Variation in nonverbal communication ability and the variables of influence that have been associated with it over decades of research are the topic of this research project. Variables that have been correlated to nonverbal communication skill were used to develop a theory for the development of this skill and construct an evidence-based theoretical model that provides an explanation for nonverbal skill acquisition and variability. This model was also analyzed for …

Students' Experiences Of Othering: Recommendations For Inclusive Classroom Climates, Stela Saltaga

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

As universities in the United States become increasingly diverse, the problem of “othering” in classrooms becomes an important issue to explore. Othering is the process of treating or perceiving one as different from ourselves, and can result in alienation and other challenges for students succeeding in higher education. Embracing a qualitative research approach, this study explores the experiences of “othering” through the stories of twelve students who have been treated differently than others in the classroom. The findings of this study provide insights into the complex relationships between “othering” and students’ experiences in the classroom, and contributes to more informed …

Higher Education: The Impact On Bosnian Women Who Came As Refugees To The United States, Belma Sadikovic

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the impact college education has on Bosnian refugee women who resettled to the United States. The research findings help us better understand the effect higher education has on female students who came to the United States as refugees, their self-sufficiency and their overall integration into their new society. Using Kunz’s refugee theory and Bourdieu’s theory on social and cultural capital as a theoretical framework, the study explores socio-cultural factors that enable and constrain the ability of Bosnian women to navigate the facets of higher education, and how those factors affect their self-sufficiency and overall integration. The participants …

Two-Way Symmetric Communication Between Public Utilities And The Public, Maria Willacy

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This paper presents a multi-disciplinary examination of literature from the fields of public policy and participation, media and public relations, and technical communication as it relates to two-way symmetric communication and how it applies to public utilities and the public. Differences between two-way symmetric communication and other communication/public relations methods are examined, as well as the specific merits of two-way symmetric communication, including its ethical benefits, and criticisms and constraints. Current forms of communication between public utilities and the public are examined, including whether these forms are two-way symmetric. Planning events and those that involve public participation are highlighted as …

Romantically Themed Media And The Development Of Children's Understanding Of Love, Tiffani Noelle Isaacson

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the influence of romantically themed media on children's understanding of love and romantic relationships. By reviewing literature on relevant media influence theories, learning theories, and the consequences of learning through media, I review how children gain understandings of their world through the media. I then argue that as children identify and internalize meanings through exposure to romantically themed media, such as iconic Disney films, understandings of romantic relationships are shaped. By engaging in qualitative interviews of young children, this thesis investigates whether children can identify iconic Disney images and explores the ways children explain what it means …

Meet Me Monday: Case Study On A Community Health Program Through The Lens Of The Elaboration Likelihood Model, Joshua Schlaich

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This case study employs the Elaboration Likelihood Model as a framework for understanding one Idaho/Oregon Health System's community health program and weekly walking event. Meet Me Monday, a program started in 2013 due to many organizational and federal goals to improve patient population and community health, has been perceived to have struggled with influencing increased and sustained participation. This study focuses on the communicative efforts of the Meet Me Monday community health program, and looks to gain a fuller understanding of the influences and moderating variables to participation.

Utilizing data sources such as semi-structured interviews with program organizers, surveying of …

A Structurational Approach To Organizational Change: Exploring Idaho’S Students Come First Initiative, Matthew Aaron Mccarter

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This study embraces a structuration approach to explore how the staff at the Idaho State Education Agency (SEA) reacted to implementing a unique and sweeping K-12 education reform package commonly known as “Students Come First.” By embracing a communicative perspective to studying change in public education, this study provides insights to how public sector employees at an SEA who work in a field governed by a unique set of features (politically-driven policies from elected officials and outcome expectations from the electorate), and who are driven by a passion to serve children engaged in changes that challenged their everyday understandings of …

Approaching Communication With Marx: On The Symbolic Reproduction Of Social Relations, Shannon K. Jacobs

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This critical examination approaches communication with Marx to uncover the implications of the symbolic reproduction of social relations. The social reproduction of the past is characterized through an onset of parallel themes that run with depictions of the experience of people. Marxist inspired critical research illustrates the perpetuation of the internalization and normalization of ideological principles of the social sphere. Significance emerges from the dialectical questioning of the values and principles of the social. Overall, this collective reflection demonstrates the importance of the critical aspect in the current discussion of the dynamics of the social sphere.

Self-Actualization On Steroids: An Exploration Of Social Skills, Dating, And Lifestyle Training For Heterosexual Men In A Western Cultural Context, James Daniel Wolfe

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

In 2005, Rolling Stones editor and New York Times writer Neil Strauss published a New York Times bestselling book titled The Game outlining his experience infiltrating the pick-up artist community in Los Angeles. The launching of this popular book was followed by the formation of companies that teach heterosexual men dating and relationship skills. From manipulation tactics to true social skills and personal growth, these companies are numerous and varied in what they teach men about dating and relationships. Masculinity norms of Western culture have been shown to discourage men from seeking help, especially for romantic relationships. These new forms …

Dialectic Of Enlightenment: Fragments From The Past For Contemporary Communication Studies, Saša Kampič

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The book Dialectic of Enlightenment is relevant to the study of communication in society. Originally written in the 1940s, its twenty-first century reissue is re-edited and newly translated with the subtitle “Philosophical Fragments.” The book is explored in the thesis as a contribution to a reinterpretation of the study of communication in society. As a defining work of the Frankfurt School of Critical Theory, it shows that reason guides practice and the culture of the social world through distorted, illusionary operations, operations that are reductive, instrumental practices supported by conceptions of them. Reason-in-practice is an instrumental logic inherited from the …

I Bake, He Grills: Relationships In The Kitchen, Megan Boatman

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Food and communication are equally vital to the human experience. They are essential to nourishment and growth. Both can be complex and rich, or rudimentary and straightforward. Food and food preparation as a lens for study has recently expanded within the communication field. This study attempts to add to the existing body of research and specifically focuses on a complex interpersonal setting: meal preparation. The author posits that a greater understanding of roles and expectations in developing romantic relationships can be gained by examining the ways in which partners communicate while working together to prepare a meal. The author employs …

Organizing Livelihoods: An Examination Of Political Discourses Organizing A Public Park, Jared Kopczynski

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Organizational communication scholars have a history of challenging previous understandings of organization and complicating the ways organizations are understood and practiced. As organizations have been studied from communicative perspectives, some scholars have suggested moving beyond the organization to apply the rich insights gained to new problems and phenomena. Guided by the call to take organizational communication insights beyond the “organization,” this thesis examines constitutive communicative interactions and lived experiences within a public park. Public parks are frequently overlooked as mundane places in contemporary Western society, but this study demonstrates how that they are important places for meaning making and organizing. …