Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Strange Women: The Evaluation And Comparison Of Female Characters In Akira Kurosawa's Films, Alice Jiron Jang

History

The successes of Akira Kurosawa’s films have shaped and influenced Western views on Japan after World War II. While the male characters in Kurosawa’s films have been analyzed extensively, there is a focus on the subservience of this female characters. With the growing number of independent working women in a seemingly patriarchal society, it is important to study what has caused these women to break free from their traditional roles as housewife and mother. While some of Kurosawa's female characters are designed to be powerful and independent, others are submissive and obedient. The events that occur in postwar Japan have …

The Relationship Between Nonverbal Communication And Patient Willingness To Comply In Framed, Low-Risk Medical Settings, Rachael A. Katz

Communication Studies

This study discusses framing and communication tactics in the medical field. It specifically aims to understand whether expertise and empathetic nonverbal communication impacts patient willingness to comply with physician directives in gain- and loss-framed medical settings. Framing has been studied in many settings, including medical situations, and has been found to impact decision-making. This experiment utilizes college-aged individuals to examine Meningitis, a disease where the most at-risk group is college aged young adults. Participants were exposed to one of six conditions to examine whether perceived expertise/empathy in their scenario impacted willingness to comply with the doctor directives. Although no mediation …

Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo’S New Dream Center: Bringing Awareness And Increasing Student And Staff Outreach Through Social Media, Brenda Itzel Garcia

Journalism

The following study investigates how using social media as a platform for Cal Poly’s new Dream Center will increase the percentage of outreach and promote awareness among students and staff.

The number of undocumented students on campus continues to grow every year since 2012 when former President, Barak Obama, first introduced introduced DACA. However out of 65,000 undocumented students who graduate high school in the United States, only 10% continue to pursue a higher education, and only 8% of those students actually complete and undergraduate degree.

The purpose of having a dream center is to increase the graduation rates, have …

A Survey Of Addictive Software Design, Chauncey J. Neyman

Computer Science and Software Engineering

The average smartphone owner checks their phone more than 150 times per day. As of 2015, 62% of smartphone users had used their phone to look up information about a health condition, while 57% had used their phone to do online banking. Mobile platforms have become the dominant medium of human-computer interaction. So how have these devices established themselves as our go to connection to the Internet? The answer lies in addictive design. Software designers have become well versed in creating software that captivates us at a primal level. In this article, we survey addictive software design strategies, their bases …

Working Bodies: A Photo Essay On Tulare County Citrus Workers, Isamar Hernandez-Ramos

Agricultural Education and Communication

Many a times, when people think about their food, they think about origins. Where did it come from? Was it hygienic? Were the animals treated humanely? They seldom include the workers in their thought process, though the workers of the Ag industry provide what is arguably a vital part of the Ag industry. They do back-breaking labor in often lethal conditions for little pay (NFWM). The families of these workers often suffer economically, physically, and emotionally. In Tulare County, one of the top Agricultural counties in the country, the agricultural worker is often below the poverty line (Taylor, 2015). They …

Let's Get Real: Problematizing The Use Of The Real Food Calculator In Large-Scale Food Systems And Exploring Alternatives, Stacey Kathleen Olson

Social Sciences

Food is an essential part of the human existence, because of both nutritional necessity and cultural relevance. Recently, food systems have shifted from their historically local scale to an industrial, global market. In light of shifting consumer consciousness and subsequent demands, there has been an ongoing effort on the part of universities across the United States to make campus food systems more sustainable and just. In 2014, the California State University enacted a system-wide goal of spending 20 percent of campus food procurement budgets on sustainable food by 2020 as per the guiding principles of the Real Food Challenge. This …

A Geospatial Assessment Of Social Vulnerability To Sea-Level Rise In Coastal San Luis Obispo, Jesse A. Carpentier

Master's Theses

This project is an assessment of social vulnerability to sea-level rise in the unincorporated coastal area of the County of San Luis Obispo (County) using geospatial and statistical analysis. The intention of this assessment is to inform local climate adaptation efforts now required by state legislation. A social vulnerability index was generated at the Census block group level using 32 variables positively correlated with social vulnerability. The social vulnerability score for each block group is the sum of scores generated for the following principle components: (1) race/ethnicity and disability status, (2) social isolation and age, (3) income, and (4) housing …

Taco Bell "Live Bién" Campaign, Briana Rubalcava

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

Innovative Dance Music Productions: Social Media Marketing Campaign, Savannah M. Smith, Julia P. Melmon

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

Rock The Runway Event Proposal, Jamie R. Foxen, Hayley Silva

Communication Studies

EVENT OVERVIEW

We will host a fundraiser to raise money for the non-profit Do It for the Love, by putting on a concert and fashion show. The concert and fashion show not only represent our passions, but will be an effective way to raise as much money as possible while making it an enjoyable experience for our guests. We will have 15-20 silent auction items for guests to bid on. Additionally, we hope to generate funds from the sale of Sextant wine by the glass at the event. This event will be a perfect and unique way to bring together …

Effects Of Para-Social Presence On The Consumer Decision Journey, Ayda Tahmasbi

Communication Studies

Para-social presence is investigated in this research study to determine its effects on the consumer decision journey. Attachment styles are also taken into consideration as a possible influence on establishing para-social presence. This study specifically looks at an internet personality’s social media platforms, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and her social media marketing efforts for the release of her new book, Almost Adulting. This study found statistically significant relationships between increasing level of para-social presence across Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Further, the study found that para-social presence has a positive correlation with consumers’ initial consideration, purchase decision, and post-purchase experience. Finally, …

The Failure Of News Media Agenda-Setting On Cannabis, Amanda Cranston

Journalism

This study uses the agenda-setting theory (McCombs & Shaw, 1972, p. 176) to examine the various aspects of cannabis coverage in the news media and how news media have presented cannabis and the numerous debates over cannabis uses. Cannabis has been a focus of U.S. news media since the 19th century and has been historically misrepresented in national and local news media. More recently, the U.S. has seen a great shift in the public’s attitude towards cannabis. With more and more states legalizing medical and even recreational use, news media are surging to meet the demands of its publics, even …

Pr Day 2017: Building Campus Relationships: Awareness And Participation For Multidisciplinary Interaction, Jackie Steele

Journalism

The following study investigates the building and maintaining of sustainable relationships between different on-campus department and entities through the collaborative efforts and execution of PR Day. The event was both an awareness and educational campaign aimed at demonstrating what can be done with public relations. The public relations concentration within the Cal Poly Journalism Department, along with the student run PR firm, Central Coast PRspectives (CCPR) are for the most part unknown on campus. The revival of PR Day was developed to raise awareness amongst students on an interdisciplinary level of what public relations is and how it’s relevant to …

Promoting Beneficial Social Media Use In Lonely College Students With Film, Francesca P. Ricapito

Journalism

This study explores the relationship between loneliness and approaches to social media in relation to college students at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Understanding why and how individuals engage with social networks can provide avenues into which they can establish online habits that are beneficial to their overall wellbeing. Qualitative data was gathered from interviews with two members of faculty and staff as well as four students, their responses recorded and interpreted as an essay film. Respondents expressed the need for awareness and mindfulness when approaching social media by periodically assessing their own activities and feelings while …

Modernizing A Podcast Media Organization Via Social And New Media Rebranding Methods, Randi A. Hair

Journalism

The following study and subsequent public relations campaign is intended to explore the difficulties, opportunities, caveats and all facets of transitioning a traditional travel media organization to new media. It unearths the pitfalls/barriers that naturally occur and aggregate over time when an organization or journalist (specifically “Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer” in this scenario) has not adapted nor altered their practices for changing common practices in the media industries. In this campaign, journalist Thomas Wilmer is seeking to increase his podcast audience and digital presence.

The research conducted for this study is two-fold. Firstly, the research demonstrates best practices …

From Print Propaganda To Meme Activism: The Evolution Of Graphic Communication And Its Effect On Socio-Political Climates And Methods Of Activism, Morgan Grace Gutierrez

Graphic Communication

This project will assess mediums of communication used to create and spread political propaganda, namely from print to digital. The development of graphic communication may provide interesting correlation of how values and ideas are visually represented in society and how the people have reacted to shifting politics. This project is inspired by the recent political climate in the United States, and the continuous impact the media has on the public throughout the many visual forms of communication. Inspiration is also drawn from the advancement of technology in the graphic communication industry. This allows for greater ease of access for the …

The Effect Of Gender And Veteran Status On The Level Of Perceived Stigma Surrounding Ptsd, Ryan E. Lubock

Master's Theses

This paper explores how gender and veteran status effects the level of stigmatization around Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Participants were randomly assigned to one of four vignette conditions, which were distinguished by gender and veteran status. Participants were then asked to rate how they perceived the individual depicted in the vignette. The researchers analyzed the results by examining how the participants own report of gender, and masculinity, effected how each of the vignettes were judged. This paper addresses the stigma surrounding mental health in general, and more specifically how that stigma affects individuals suffering from PTSD across multiple domains. For …

The Varying Views Of Sexual Assault From Cal Poly's Campus Community, Kristen A. Tabone

Social Sciences

This paper examines the various opinions of members of Cal Poly’s community about sexual assault. Sexual assault has increasingly become a topic of discussion not only in the media, but on Cal Poly’s campus. This project shall focus on the views of students in varying grade levels and those associated with Greek Life, along with various members of the administration, including campus resource providers. A review of the literature suggests that while previous studies have gathered an abundance of data, more research studies need to be conducted to become fully aware of the scope of problems concerning sexual assaults. Through …

Understanding Increasing College Anxiety: The Need For Anxiety Awareness Campaigns, Taylor Mosher

Journalism

The following study investigates national trends toward increasing anxiety among the college student demographic with particular attention paid to the ways in which public awareness campaigns may be implemented as a method for reducing stigma, increasing awareness of anxiety conditions, and connecting students to critical resources.

In order to improve understanding surrounding student anxiety, the following research was conducted in two parts. First, secondary national research was conducted analyzing relevant literature surrounding anxiety trends among college students, the response of universities across the nation, and potential methods by which to relieve student anxiety. Following the conclusion of this research, primary …

The Benefits Of Prison Art: Providing Rehabilitation And Positive Implications, Eliese Maxwell

Social Sciences

This research paper aims to examine how artists in prison have been impacted from creating art while incarcerated. Previous research has shown that participating in the arts while incarcerated can help the individual create a new identity for themselves. The formation of this new identity can help the individual with rehabilitation because they find a new purpose for their actions and future, and they change their behavior to be accepted to the artist subgroup. Art also provides other benefits that help with improving their personal skills, interpersonal skills, and character improvement. To demonstrate how the arts help incarcerated individuals cope …

A Study Of Nature Versus Nurture While Diagnosing Anxiety Or Conduct Disorders In Adolescents, Austin Laura Schnur

Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

Revalume: Configurable Employee Evaluations In The Cloud, Terrence Zone Li

Master's Theses

The software industry has seen a shift from annual to more frequent quarterly and even weekly employee reviews. As a result, there is a high demand for employee evaluations to be less costly and less time-consuming, while providing key insights for richer interactions between employees and their employers or managers. Tech com- panies are constantly looking for methods of producing high quality evaluations to prevent costly turnover. In an industry where software engineers are in high demand, tech companies face a challenging problem. Issues with employee evaluations typi- cally include the lack of performance transparency, unhelpful feedback, lack of metrics, …

Sexy Robots: A Perpetuation Of Patriarchy, Ashlyn Des Roches

Communication Studies

This feminist critique looks into the way that gender, specifically females, are portrayed in some of Hollywood's top films involving Artificial Intelligence: Blade Runner, Her, and Ex Machina. These movies work as a perpetuation of patriarchal ideologies while maintaining the objectification and hypersexuality of women as normalized behaviors. Additionally, while some forms of empowerment are conveyed, the features illustrate women merely on a spectrum of extreme behavior; due to Heuristics and Cultivation Theory, these misrepresentations can be associated with women outside the surrealist realm of the depicted artificially intelligent worlds.

The Effects Of Time Spent On Rapport Building: A Predictive Analysis Of A Higher Education Call Center, Alyssa L. Crary

Communication Studies

The forming of a relational connection between a caller and prospective donor in telephone fundraising is a vital step in successful engagement of charitable participation. This study aimed to fill a gap in current fundraising research by analyzing the direct connection between time spent building rapport and fundraising success. Data from a higher education call center in the Western United States was used to conduct a standard linear regression analyses. The amount of time spent building rapport was found to significantly influence payment type and amount of a philanthropic donation. A greater amount of time spent building rapport lead to …

A Rhetorical Criticism Of Waiting For Superman, Jordan L. Baxter

Communication Studies

This project analyzes the documentary Waiting for Superman in order to better understand the rhetoric surrounding public education in America. I perform a close textual analysis of the documentary and explore the rhetorical strategies the film uses to persuade its audience. Through my analysis I argue that Waiting for Superman employs rhetorical appeals of ethos, pathos, and logos to successfully characterize the public school system as a failing institution. This failure is largely blamed on teachers unions who are vilified throughout the film and shown to be preventing progressive reforms from passing. Lastly, through the use of identification Waiting for …

Media Coverage On Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Students Of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo And Its Surrounding Community, Melissa Eraclea Nuñez

Journalism

The following study focused on media coverage of the socioeconomically disadvantaged student population at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA and its immediate surrounding community. Specifically, this study pointed out the gaps in the existing coverage and it looked for ways to fill in those gaps. In additional to filling the gaps, the study emphasized the agenda-setting theory, to bring more awareness and understanding of the struggles and existence of the mentioned student demographic in a city most commonly known as an affluent and not so diverse area of California. To bring this awareness and understanding, four interviews were …

Reducing Partisan Bias In Political Reporting For A Better Informed Public, Emily Holland

Journalism

This study focused on bias in political journalism, attempting to find how political journalists today can improve the quality of their work for a better informed public. By collecting data from the literature currently available, gaps within said literature were found. Therefore, three experts within the relevant fields of political communications research, political journalism, and editing were asked the same questionnaire in an individual interview setting in order to resolve the unanswered questions. These interviews were used to further the information already available in the literature, while also attempting to fill in the research question gaps.

After the data was …

Transitioning College Media From Print Focused Business Models To Digitally Focused Business Models, Celina Oseguera

Journalism

The noticeable downturn in print advertising indicates a need for change in the news industry business model. College media is not immune to this decline and need for change. A change in business model calls for transitioning to an alternative system that does not primarily rely on print products and advertising — a digitally focused business model. Many college media organizations around the United States have started to pursue this type of model, changing the way they produce and present news in the process. Taking into account the state of print focused business models in the general and collegiate news …

The Effects Of Social Media On Public Consumption Of News, Journalism And Relationship Building In Public Relations, Heather E. Fissel

Journalism

This study presents information regarding the effects social media has had thus far on the consumption and understanding of news and current events in today’s society. It analyzes how social media has altered traditional news media and what literature predictions are for the future of the journalism profession. This study also presents information regarding how social media has affected public relations and the formation of relationships with stakeholders and publics. It analyzes what literature states on the subjects and takes a closer look at how technology has impacted journalism and public relations curriculum as well. Journalists are facing challenges because …