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Articles 1 - 30 of 60
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Exploring Political Consumerism: Its Antecedents And Mediating Role Between Family Communication And Political Activity, Hannah Swarm
Exploring Political Consumerism: Its Antecedents And Mediating Role Between Family Communication And Political Activity, Hannah Swarm
Master's Theses (2009 -)
Viewed as an unconventional approach to politics, political consumerism is a rising form of political action that allows citizens to make political statements with their wallets. However, more research is warranted examining its motivating factors, as well as its connection to other forms of political activity. The family unit is the primary antecedent examined in this study, as it is regarded as one of the most important socializing agents for children, especially when it comes to political development. Conducting a national survey of 523 U.S. adults, the present study explored how one’s family communication environment during childhood affects their likelihood …
Community Journalism In Zambia: The Case Of Chikuni Radio, Vincent Tilimboyi Nchimunya
Community Journalism In Zambia: The Case Of Chikuni Radio, Vincent Tilimboyi Nchimunya
Master's Theses (2009 -)
Community journalism is steadily gaining prominence in most African nations. It is a conduit through which different communities develop social interaction. It is also a platform through which the public create connections among themselves to identify and resolve local and national problems that affect citizens. The goal of this study was to examine how community journalists at Chikuni Radio practiced their craft in an effort to build a sense of community in southern Zambia. The study presents a qualitative thematic content analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews with three Chikuni Radio editors and six journalists. The journalists’ community journalism experience ranged …
Populism And The Civil Sphere: A Textual Analysis Of The Photographs Of The “War On Drugs” In The Philippines, Nathaniel Lubanga
Populism And The Civil Sphere: A Textual Analysis Of The Photographs Of The “War On Drugs” In The Philippines, Nathaniel Lubanga
Master's Theses (2009 -)
A poignant photograph on the front page of a leading newspaper in the Philippines showing a woman cradling the lifeless body of her dead partner drew both local and international attention and outcry over the new president’s approach to the “war on drugs.” The purpose of this study was to determine the overarching story told by the photographs of the “war on drugs” in the Philippines. A textual analysis drawing upon both narrative and semiotic analysis was used to examine the settings, characters, plots, and symbolism in 143 photographs of “Killings” and “Protests” drawn from various news media agencies. Key …
Understanding The 1918-1920 Cultural Narrative Of The Spanish Flu As Told Through The New York Times And The Wall Street Journal, Gertrude Misornu Ofori-Parku
Understanding The 1918-1920 Cultural Narrative Of The Spanish Flu As Told Through The New York Times And The Wall Street Journal, Gertrude Misornu Ofori-Parku
Master's Theses (2009 -)
Global pandemics have become one of the major health crises that happen to society from time to time. Past occurrences, including disasters and pandemics, are events that we learn from and draw upon to better understand current happenings. One way by which we build and understand historical trends and events, including pandemics, is through press coverage of those events. One significant pandemic in history was the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. This thesis explores the cultural narrative about the Spanish Flu as told through The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal between 1918 and 1920. Through the constant comparison …
Not Stranger Or Friend: The Role Of Self-Disclosure In Personal-Service Provider Relationships, Sarah Elizabeth Devereux
Not Stranger Or Friend: The Role Of Self-Disclosure In Personal-Service Provider Relationships, Sarah Elizabeth Devereux
Master's Theses (2009 -)
The process of self-disclosure was examined through a type of relationship that has not been studied significantly in previous research, the personal-service provider and client relationship. Most research regarding self-disclosure has looked at either close, intimate relationships or that of strangers. Self-disclosure between people who are not members of the groups mentioned above requires further research to fully understand how often it occurs, why it happens, what type of information is shared and more. Eight semi-structured qualitative interviews with hairstylists who have been working for two years or more and have built relationships with clients were conducted to answer the …
Extending The Theory Of Planned Behavior With Ego-Network Social Capital To Examine Chinese Women's Tampon Use Intentions, Yin Yang
Master's Theses (2009 -)
Building on the theory of planned behavior and ego-network social capital, this study tested how different levels of network closure and brokerage influenced Chinese women’s tampon use intentions. Results from an online survey (N = 766) showed that network density was associated with positive attitudes, and high levels of injunctive norms and descriptive norms of tampon usage. Furthermore, results of a path analysis demonstrated that network density had indirect impacts on tampon use intentions through attitudes, descriptive norms, and perceived behavior control. This study extends the theory of planned behavior by incorporating ego-network social capital. Practically, the findings shed light …
Effects Of News Media Consumption On Political Partisanship, Identity And Issue Stances, Dalton Bouzek
Effects Of News Media Consumption On Political Partisanship, Identity And Issue Stances, Dalton Bouzek
Master's Theses (2009 -)
This research sought to identify to what extent news media consumption plays a role in forming an individual’s political identity and their views on individual stances. The subsequent novel quantitative study asked students of various disciplines at Marquette University questions in regards to how much they pay attention to various news sources, to what extent they trust those news sources, and their views on individual issues as they relate to their chosen political identity. Results from the study found basic trends in regards to selected news sources and one’s political disposition. Furthermore, stances on certain issues, like border security, were …
Sensemaking And Identity In Complementary Alternative Medicine: Communication Study On Reiki, Caroline Reese
Sensemaking And Identity In Complementary Alternative Medicine: Communication Study On Reiki, Caroline Reese
Master's Theses (2009 -)
Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) is rising in popularity, in particular, the practice of Reiki. While there is substantial research that focuses on the medical benefits of Reiki, little work has been done that addresses what Reiki means to participants and how it impacts an individual's sense of self. This study seeks to fill that void. To explore this, I argue that Reiki practice should be viewed through a communication lens that draws from theories of identity and sensemaking. Results show that identity is not seen as an individualistic concept but rather as a social process that shifts to a more …
Side Effects Of Self-Referential Discussion: The Impact And Interaction Of Deductive And Inductive Routes Of Identity, Chandler Macswain
Side Effects Of Self-Referential Discussion: The Impact And Interaction Of Deductive And Inductive Routes Of Identity, Chandler Macswain
Master's Theses (2009 -)
Studies of group communication and group identity rest on two competing theoretical concepts of the group, one that prioritizes examining the relationships between members and one that examines the group as a gestalt construct. For live groups, it is not always clear which style, individual or gestalt, is most appropriate or provides more insight into any specific group because groups’ identities and communication behaviors are sometimes explicable by both theoretical concepts. This occurs because in real-world groups the formation process typically involves an amalgamation of both influences. In other words, live groups form identities built around both members’ individual traits …
Faculty And Staff Members' Awareness Of Inclusive Policies At Higher Educational Institutions, Reece Harty
Faculty And Staff Members' Awareness Of Inclusive Policies At Higher Educational Institutions, Reece Harty
Master's Theses (2009 -)
The identity of a person has many different layers from sexual orientation to race, morals and values, to even gender. As times progress, many individuals are finding that their identities are not easily defined and that their gender cannot be categorized into the current boxes that society has. This forces many to struggle with discerning who they really are and where they fit into societal structures. As more people explain how one may not subscribe to all of the gender expectations of the one identity, some have decided to identify as non-binary. Non-binary means that a person does not identify …
A Content Analysis Of Caregiver's Computer-Mediated Communication On Loneliness, Meaghan Kaupe
A Content Analysis Of Caregiver's Computer-Mediated Communication On Loneliness, Meaghan Kaupe
Master's Theses (2009 -)
Loneliness is a mental health epidemic that affects all generations, genders, and cultures. Loneliness is an emotional and social state that requires social interaction to alleviate the symptoms, but meaningful social interaction can be hard to find. Lonely people are stigmatized, which can inhibit self-disclosure, and other stigmatized conditions (e.g., AIDS, depression) can add more barriers in self-disclosure. Communication technologies (e.g., social media, online forums) are positioned to connect remote, isolated people, by providing space for like-minded people to connect. One such group that is vulnerable to loneliness is family caregivers. Due to the inordinate amount of time and energy …
Neutral Reportage Privilege: The Libel Defense Needed In A Struggling Democracy, Christina Mazzeo
Neutral Reportage Privilege: The Libel Defense Needed In A Struggling Democracy, Christina Mazzeo
Master's Theses (2009 -)
This study aimed to understand the U.S. courts reasoning for either accepting or rejecting the neutral reportage privilege, a libel defense that protects individuals who republish defamatory statements for a newsworthy purpose. A systematic analysis of federal and state court cases regarding the privilege was performed to determine how the courts view neutral reportage and what their rationales were for their decisions. The analysis showed the courts' unnecessary reliance on Supreme Court precedent and an inconsistent application of the privilege. This paper offers a proposal for how the courts, journalists, other citizens, and social media platforms should view and utilize …
Fair Or Foul: Analysis Of 2017 Baseball Hall Of Fame Voting, Michael Dane Peppers
Fair Or Foul: Analysis Of 2017 Baseball Hall Of Fame Voting, Michael Dane Peppers
Master's Theses (2009 -)
Professional baseball writers play the main role in deciding if former Major League Baseball players will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. This time-honored tradition has become more complex now that several players from the “Steroids Era” have become eligible for consideration. This issue has divided writers and baseball fans across the country. In the end, the Hall of Fame offers subjective rules for writers to follow, leaving them to figure it out for themselves and in many ways the entire nation. This study sought to determine how baseball writers legitimized their voting decisions for Barry Bonds and Roger …
Crowdfunding And Non-Profit Charities: Crafting Legitimate Profiles, Ashley Krysik
Crowdfunding And Non-Profit Charities: Crafting Legitimate Profiles, Ashley Krysik
Master's Theses (2009 -)
Crowdfunding has revolutionized non-profit charity fundraising strategies. The development of web-based, crowdfunding platforms has increased direct communication and transparency between non-profit charities and potential donors. The non-profit fundraising marketplace is highly competitive; therefore, organizations must demonstrate their legitimacy in order to raise and maximize fundraising dollars. In order to determine how organizations build legitimacy on crowdfunding platforms, a rhetorical analysis was conducted on 18 donor request profiles from Globalgiving.com, the largest web-based crowdfunding platform for non-profit charities. Non-profit charities soliciting donors through crowdfunding platforms focus their rhetorical strategy on building three legitimacy claims: cause, organization and platform.
How And Where To Respond? Testing The Effectiveness Of The Base Crisis Response In The Different Media Contexts, Erika Jen Schneider
How And Where To Respond? Testing The Effectiveness Of The Base Crisis Response In The Different Media Contexts, Erika Jen Schneider
Master's Theses (2009 -)
Crisis response strategies require preparation. In order to equip organizations with the most effective crisis response strategy, this research aims to understand the most appropriate message and media context to utilize when responding to a crisis. This study applies factors driven from theoretical groundings to evaluate the impact on practical outcomes. Applied to realistic crises in two crisis-prone industries, results capture how crisis response strategies are perceived by stakeholders when an organization becomes the subject of an accidental and preventable crisis. This experimental study found preventable crises causing the most detrimental reputational damage, evaluated with corporate reputation and supportive behavioral …
Facebook And Wechat: Chinese International Students' Social Media Usage And How It Influences Their Intercultural Adaptation, Yumin Yan
Master's Theses (2009 -)
This study examines how Chinese international students’ Facebook and WeChat usage patterns influence their process of intercultural adaptation. It shows that Facebook (the host social media) and WeChat (the ethnic social media) usage both have positive impacts on Chinese international students’ successful adaptation (especially their psychological adaptation) to the United States. This study also takes additional variables of interest: host language proficiency, ethnic identity, and the intention to stay in the United States (the host country) into consideration. Consistent with previous studies, host language proficiency has positive influences on Chinese international students’ sociocultural adaptation, and ethnic identity is a critical …
The Highest Form Of Like: Snapchat, College Students And Hyperpersonal Communication, Timothy L. Cigelske
The Highest Form Of Like: Snapchat, College Students And Hyperpersonal Communication, Timothy L. Cigelske
Master's Theses (2009 -)
The purpose of this study explores how college students engaged with others on Snapchat and how that differed from other Social Networking Sites (SNS). Social Information Process (SIP) Theory was applied as a framework for understanding the effects of time-limited (disappearing) messages and extended conversations that can lead to “hyperpersonal” communication, a form of Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) that surpasses the level of affection and emotion of Face to Face (FtF) interaction. In a series of focus groups, college students explained how they used Snapchat and other SNS and the effects it had on interpersonal communication. The participants described emotional …
Broadening The Focus: Women's Voices In The New Journalism, Mary C. Wacker
Broadening The Focus: Women's Voices In The New Journalism, Mary C. Wacker
Master's Theses (2009 -)
The New Journalism Movement chronicled a decade of social turbulence in America by breaking the rules of traditional journalism and embracing narrative elements in the writing and publication of literary nonfiction. The magazine publishing industry was controlled by men, and the history of this transitional time in journalism has been chronicled by men, neglecting to recognize the significant contributions of women working in their midst. This study shines a light on the historical narrative that defines our understanding of the significance and key contributors to the New Journalism Movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. To better understand the …
Willingness To Speak In The Context Of Police Use Of Force, Rachel Italiano
Willingness To Speak In The Context Of Police Use Of Force, Rachel Italiano
Master's Theses (2009 -)
Police use of force has become a common phrase in the current United States society, especially in the context of law enforcement encounters with Black men. However, even with extensive media coverage of protests and incidents between police and Blacks, not much is known about peoples’ willingness to speak out about the topic. Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann’s spiral of silence theory, which states that peoples’ perceptions of others and media exposure is largely responsible for determining an individual’s willingness to speak, is uniquely positioned to examine this topic. This study utilized a Qualtrics panel of 905 participants and a questionnaire to examine …
Examining The Political Motivations Of Christian Women Following The 2016 Presidential Election, Julie Grace
Examining The Political Motivations Of Christian Women Following The 2016 Presidential Election, Julie Grace
Master's Theses (2009 -)
As research begins and continues to examine the historic nature of the 2016 presidential election, this study aims to understand the political motivations of a specific group of voters – Christian women in two Wisconsin counties that flipped from voting for a Democrat in 2012 to a Republican in 2016. Long-form, qualitative interviews were used to obtain an understanding of the participants’ faith, their view on politics, and their thoughts on the 2016 election and President Trump’s first year in office. Grounded theory was used as a theoretical framework for this study, and the constant comparative method of analysis was …
Cultivating Change: The Relationship Between Organizational Culture, Leadership Style And Communication Style With Organizational Change, Matt Hansen
Master's Theses (2009 -)
This paper presents a quantitative study on organizational change and how culture, leadership, and communication styles are related to different types of change. The objective was to understand these relationships and to provide insight for future applications centered on enabling organizational change. Respondents (N=411) from multiple organizations participated in evaluating preferences for culture, leadership and communication styles in response to different change scenarios. The study features four control groups, each representing various types of organizational change. Responses were evaluated using the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) to identify individual cultural preferences and seven-point Likert-type questionnaires for leadership and communication style …
Communicating Augmented Reality Devices Improving Technology Acceptance Among Electric Utility Field Workers, Carly M. Kroll
Communicating Augmented Reality Devices Improving Technology Acceptance Among Electric Utility Field Workers, Carly M. Kroll
Master's Theses (2009 -)
Augmented Reality (AR) is very useful for many different fields and purposes such as entertainment, education, military, navigation, industrial, or electric utility. Electric utilities find use in AR due to the flexibility of location and the real-time information sharing with visuals to keep employees safe and efficient. This exploratory study investigated the use of infographic templates as a way to introduce this new technology to line workers in the electric utility field. Infographics were used as a way to prime workers to be more aware of the technology and its possible uses as well as usefulness. Through the use of …
Buying For A Cause: Consumer Attitudes Towards Cause Marketing, Using Theory Of Planned Behavior, Katie Lynn Sloan
Buying For A Cause: Consumer Attitudes Towards Cause Marketing, Using Theory Of Planned Behavior, Katie Lynn Sloan
Master's Theses (2009 -)
This research was conducted to learn if consumer attitudes and purchase intentions of cause marketing products could be recognized and better understood by applying Icek Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Specifically, the researcher intended to learn more about consumer participation in cause marketing programs and to start a discussion about what consumers expect or hope to gain from their participation. This study applied purchase-triggered donation cause marketing to a post-test experimental design to investigate if purchase intentions are higher when a cause marketing appeal was present and to learn more about the application of TPB in cause marketing consumer …
Corporate Social Responsibility In Sports: Efforts And Communication, Daniel Erickson
Corporate Social Responsibility In Sports: Efforts And Communication, Daniel Erickson
Master's Theses (2009 -)
The practice of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has always been integral to sports organizations and is increasing rapidly in popularity. However, scholars have found that there is no true definition of CSR that describes what it is, whom it should help, and how it should be communicated to stakeholders. This thesis examines the CSR initiatives of four major U.S. sports leagues and their teams, as well as how these initiatives are communicated to fans and other stakeholders through the websites associated with these organizations. This study found these organizations make CSR information readily accessible to their stakeholders and participate in …
Linking Heuristic-Systematic Processing To Adoption Of Behavior, Shiyu Yang
Linking Heuristic-Systematic Processing To Adoption Of Behavior, Shiyu Yang
Master's Theses (2009 -)
This study sets out to draw connections among key components within three conceptual models: the Risk Information Seeking and Processing model, the Heuristic-Systematic Model, and the Theory of Planned Behavior. Specifically, it proposes and tests the theoretical linkages among heuristic and systematic information processing, depth of processing, attitude stability, and behavioral intention. Archival data drawn from a panel survey that concerns health risks from drinking municipal tap water are used for theory testing. Findings reveal that systematic processing is positively related to number of strongly held behavioral beliefs, strength of belief outcome evaluations, and strength of cognitive structure--all indicated depth …
Can Big Whales Inspire Big Behaviors? A Study Of Environmental Communication, And Nature Immersion, Theresa Soley
Can Big Whales Inspire Big Behaviors? A Study Of Environmental Communication, And Nature Immersion, Theresa Soley
Master's Theses (2009 -)
Direct contact with wild nature is becoming harder for people to access in present times, yet research suggests that experiencing nature is important to the formation of environmental values, which may lead to conservation behaviors. My thesis experiment theorizes that direct contact with nature has the ability to impact people's behavioral beliefs and intentions toward the environment, applying Icek Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the New Ecological Paradigm Scale as measures. A questionnaire was administered post-whale watching trips in Juneau, Alaska to determine whether whales, direct experience with charismatic megafauna, could stimulate positive attitudes and behaviors toward recycling. …
Impact Of Cybvervetting On Job Seekers' Social Media Use And Identity Creation, Courtney Powers
Impact Of Cybvervetting On Job Seekers' Social Media Use And Identity Creation, Courtney Powers
Master's Theses (2009 -)
Social media has become an integral part of connecting with others and sharing personal information. As more individuals use social media to express themselves, organizations have begun using these same sites to make hiring decisions in a process called cybervetting. Although some researchers suggest that cybervetting has consequences for self-expression, currently little research has explored how cybervetting impacts job seekers’ social media use and identity creation. Accordingly, this study uses quantitative and qualitative methods to explore how cybervetting impacts job seekers’ social media use and online identity creation. By surveying job-seeking social media users, this study measures the relationships between …
An Investigation Into The Teaching Of International Public Relations To Undergraduates, Matthew Wisla
An Investigation Into The Teaching Of International Public Relations To Undergraduates, Matthew Wisla
Master's Theses (2009 -)
Currently, most U.S. multinational companies increasingly rely on international markets for revenue and growth. Public relations professionals, whether they are on assignment in a foreign land or based in the U.S. as part of an international team, must possess the skills to communicate effectively with target audiences from other cultures. The purpose of this study is to better understand the international qualifications and background of instructors teaching international public relations to U.S. undergraduates. This study is based on data collected through telephone interviews with select academic thought leaders in the field of teaching international public relations, and a broad email …
Sex Acculturation And Risk Perceptions: Information Seeking And Processing Among Chinese Students In The U.S., Jieyu Ding
Master's Theses (2009 -)
The number of Chinese students studying in the United States is increasing each year and studying in the U.S. provides them with more access to risk information of sexual activities than that of their counterparts in China. Chinese students in the U.S. have shown higher knowledge level about HIV/STI than Chinese students in China. However, their risk perceptions about HIV/STI are relatively low compared to American students due to a lack of formal sex education and a sex-conservative society. Method: this study collected 385 online surveys via Survey Monkey from Chinese students studying in the U.S. The questionnaire was designed …
Making An Audience: An Analysis Of Making A Murderer, Bree Ann Trisler
Making An Audience: An Analysis Of Making A Murderer, Bree Ann Trisler
Master's Theses (2009 -)
Steven Avery was released from prison on September 11, 2003, after serving 18 years for a sexual assault he did not commit. Avery was back behind bars in merely two years for a different crime, the murder of 25-year-old Teresa Halbach (Demos & Ricciardi, 2015). This multifaceted story is the focus of the Netflix true-crime series Making a Murderer, a serialization that became “a word-of-mouth true-crime phenomenon” (Itzkoff, 2016) upon its release on December 18, 2015. In this thesis, I aimed to reveal the meanings audience members derived from Making a Murderer and to connect these meanings to the new …