Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Mindful Communication In A Crisis: Communication Behaviors Of Shared Mindfulness And Effective Pilot Decision Outcomes In Crisis Situations, Janice L. Krieger

Masters Theses

Despite the high reliability of current aeronautical technology and safety improvements, human error continues to be a factor in 60-80% of all aviation mishaps. Training to diminish potential errors is often based on analysis of faulty procedures, or lack of procedures without a systemic view including human factors such as communication, decision-making and interaction dynamics. This research explores the existence of the psychological construct of shared mindfulness and examines how it is communicatively constructed and enacted in a high reliability environment such as the aviation industry. The present qualitative study examines shared mindfulness in 10 aviation student dyads in a …

Evaluating Violence In Slasher Films: Similarity And Social Identification With The Final Girl, Felicia L. Sanders

Masters Theses

Prior research has shown that the media can have an impact on behavior, perception, and gender roles. This study examines violence against women in slasher films through the lenses of similarity theory and social identity theory. Both theories suggest we are attracted to others who are similar to ourselves. In slasher films, the final girl is depicted as a strong character that exemplifies many qualities viewers may see in themselves. Thus, it was hypothesized that as viewers' perceived similarity with the final girl the more they would like her character and the film. Results suggest that viewers perceived similarity the …

Communicating With Female Philanthropic Donors: How Various Methods Of Thanking Women And Informing Them Of The Use Of Their Gifts Impact Giving, Amber M. Kleopfer

Masters Theses

This study was designed to test the impact of two separate variables – (1) thanking philanthropic donors through varying degrees of one-way and two-way interpersonal interaction and (2) informing donors about usage of previous similar gifts – on the philanthropic giving behaviors of two separate populations of female patients who were asked to contribute to a breast cancer research fund via an annual solicitation mailing method.

The first portion of the study examines the thanking variable by comparing the annual giving behaviors of a population of female breast cancer donors before and after the donors are thanked through various methods: …

Tilting Copyright Balance: Two Sections Of The Digital Millennium Copyright Act And The Progress Of Science And Useful Arts, Robert Wilton Fox

Masters Theses

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998 was the latest substantial revision of U. S. Copyright Law. Implemented largely as a response to the Internet, the DMCA has become a central target in a struggle over the power of copyright law--a law the first Congress designed in 1790 in keeping with the language of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States to promote the "Progress of Science and the useful Arts." But how is that progress best assured? Increasingly over the years, the promotion of science and useful arts has become a single claim encompassing …

Turning Toward Or Away From God: Religious Coping Strategies Activated In Times Of Crises, William Andrew Robinson

Masters Theses

This study, which consists of two phases, explores the relationships between religion and coping with stress within the framework of interpersonal and intrapersonal communication. Both pastors and congregational members (n = 855) were surveyed about their perceptions of the role of religion in managing and coping with stress. A focus group involving five members of the clergy was implemented to conduct phase II of the research. This thesis examines how church relationships (i.e. with God, the pastor, and among congregational members) affect our abilities to function through stressful times. For phase I, a modified RCOPE survey (Pargament, Smith, Koenig, & …

The Use Of Silence As A Political Rhetorical Strategy, Timothy J. Anderson

Masters Theses

Existing research on the rhetorical strategies of politicians has mainly focused on the speeches, appearances, and debates of political figures. Yet the absence of a clear response when expected, or silence, is a significant and frequently utilized rhetorical strategy. More directly, Erickson and Schmidt (1982) posit that, even though it is important to study, the topic of political silence has only received meager attention. Various politicians including President Clinton and California Congressman Gary Condit have both used political silence as responses to situations, and each instance had a different outcome. The focus of this study is on how the strategy …