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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Is Diesel A Dirty Word? Examing The Communication And Public Relations Challenges Faced By Auto Manufacturers Who Want To Introduce Small Diesel Engines To The American Market, Christopher Nelson
Is Diesel A Dirty Word? Examing The Communication And Public Relations Challenges Faced By Auto Manufacturers Who Want To Introduce Small Diesel Engines To The American Market, Christopher Nelson
Theses and Dissertations
Cars with small diesel engines make up a large part of the automobile market in virtually every region of the world but the United States. In this study, the researcher sought to determine if there are preexisting attitudes toward diesel fuel and engines among American consumers and whether those attitudes affect consumers' expressed opinions (i.e. buying habits) which contribute to that disparity. The researcher carried out two studies. The first was a modified Delphi study of public relations professionals in the automotive field. Respondents were given several basic questions regarding diesel engines in the American market followed by a series …
The Effects Of Daycare On Children's Socialization In The First Three Years Of School, Alison Pomykacz
The Effects Of Daycare On Children's Socialization In The First Three Years Of School, Alison Pomykacz
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to investigate the role that daycare may play in a child's socialization during his/her first three years of school (K-2). In particular, this study focused on the time spent in daycare per week compared with various social and academic realms. Information was obtained through parent and teacher questionnaires. While there appeared to be a wide variation among the children's hours per week spent in class, when these numbers were compared to the teacher observations, there was no apparent significance.
Birth Order And Its Effect On Depression In Adults, Sambul Zaidi
Birth Order And Its Effect On Depression In Adults, Sambul Zaidi
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to find the relationship between birth order and depression. It hypothesized that first-borns are more susceptible to depression than laterborns. Subjects were male and female undergraduate students from Rowan University. These students were over the age of 18 and were kept anonymous. The study collected data from fifteen participants by using a Birth Order survey which included questions about personality traits that pertain to a certain birth order position. Each subject was asked to indicate the exact birth order rank and if they have experienced depression or signs of depression. Results showed that differences …
An Evaluation Of The Writing Abilities Of Entry-Level Public Relations Practitioners And The Industry Demand To Effectively Write For New Media, Diana Gervasi
Theses and Dissertations
The purposes of this exploratory investigation were to (a) evaluate the current writing abilities of entry-level public relations practitioners (b) determine the industry's demand to effectively write for new media and (c) identify educator's perceptions of entry-level public relations practitioners' writing abilities and current curriculum changes as well as future industry projections. The researcher conducted Web-based surveys of management level public relations practitioners who were all members of PRSA and telephone interviews with educators in college and university public relations programs across the country. The data collected from Web-based surveys showed a slight improvement in the perception of entry-level practitioners' …
The Loss Of Neighborhood Secondary Schools: How The Distance A Student Lives From Their School Can Affect Their Academic Achievement, Gillian Armstrong
The Loss Of Neighborhood Secondary Schools: How The Distance A Student Lives From Their School Can Affect Their Academic Achievement, Gillian Armstrong
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study is to examine whether the distance a student lives from their school influences their academic achievement. In detail, this study has correlated the distance in miles a student lives from his or her school with their grade point average at the end of their freshman and junior years. Data has been collected from 100 participants at two private high schools in southern New Jersey, Our Lady of Mercy Academy and Saint Augustine College Prepatory School. Both schools are grades ninth through twelfth. Both schools are Catholic schools but you do not have to be Catholic …
The Effect Of Media Bias On Legislation: A Case Study Of Arizona's Senate Bill 1070 On Immigration, Rachael Burgess
The Effect Of Media Bias On Legislation: A Case Study Of Arizona's Senate Bill 1070 On Immigration, Rachael Burgess
Theses and Dissertations
In order to understand the relationship between government, media and public opinion in the case of Arizona Senate Bill 1070, Arizona's bill to combat illegal immigration. The purpose of this study was to (a) examine whether the media coverage of Arizona Senate Bill 1070 initiated government action and (b) examine whether the media coverage presented emotional or legal arguments supporting or not supporting the bill. Examining tone, use of emotional and legal arguments, subjectivity and objectivity in two national newspapers and interviewing four communications directors for the state of Arizona, the study showed the existence of media bias and subjectivity, …
Thinspiration: New Media's Influence On Girls With Eating Disorders, Victoria Stonebridge
Thinspiration: New Media's Influence On Girls With Eating Disorders, Victoria Stonebridge
Theses and Dissertations
The use of thinspiration and social networking by girls with eating disorders on social media websites and through user-generated content aids the disease in general. The purpose of this research exploration is to find out how influential these specific forms of new media are on girls with eating disorders. A content analysis will serve as the primary quantitative measure for this study. A survey, via SurveyMonkey.com, will be used to find what kind of impact new media has on girls with eating disorders. The researcher will also conduct a personal interview with an expert in the field of psychology and …
Increasing Students Self-Esteem Through The Implementation Of The Bucket Filler Lesson Plans, Jenna Norton
Increasing Students Self-Esteem Through The Implementation Of The Bucket Filler Lesson Plans, Jenna Norton
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to examine the ways in which positive psychology can impact the educational system. Twenty-three second grade students enrolled in Berlin Community School, located in Berlin New Jersey participated in this study. All students were enrolled in a regular education classroom and assumed to be learning at the appropriate age group level. The Piers-Harris 2 Self-Concept Scale was used to measure student's self-esteem as a pre-test and a post-test assessment. The experimental group received the implementation of the Bucket Filler Lesson plans in hopes that their self-esteem would improve upon completion of the lessons. The …
Public Relations And Marketing Techniques Used By Assisted Living Communities To Attract And Retain Residents, Brianne Rabouin
Public Relations And Marketing Techniques Used By Assisted Living Communities To Attract And Retain Residents, Brianne Rabouin
Theses and Dissertations
The purposes of this study were to determine the public relations and marketing techniques used by assisted living facilities (ALFs) to attract and retain senior residents, investigate the perception of effectiveness in PR and marketing practices among assisted living administrators and identify the role of community relations within ALFs. Consistent with previous research, interviews and surveys with assisted living professionals reveal communities operate using traditional techniques and channels including, but not limited to, newspaper ads, facility tours, community events, word-of-mouth promotion, direct-mail marketing/materials, newsletters, facility websites and professional referral development. Respondents report minimal use of new media, yet maintain an …
Redefining The Agency Model: The Benefits Of An Imc Approach, Rebecca Gatto
Redefining The Agency Model: The Benefits Of An Imc Approach, Rebecca Gatto
Theses and Dissertations
This study will seek to find out if full-service agencies are more effective than agencies that focus on only one marketing component or separate components. While some companies and agencies have fully embraced integrated marketing communications (IMC), others think the cons outweigh the pros. Many companies do not think the process of getting the individual functional groups to work together is worth the effort. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with one full service agency, one advertising agency and one public relations agency to gain insight into the perceptions and effectiveness of IMC. A content analysis of the company websites of …
Men In Public Relations: Saving An Endangered Species, Nancy Long
Men In Public Relations: Saving An Endangered Species, Nancy Long
Theses and Dissertations
It has been 25 years since the publication of The Velvet Ghetto, the seminal work on gender in public relations. Looking ahead, the study forecast a field that was "ghettoized" as the workforce became increasingly female. Has that been the case? Since the mid-eighties, women have solidified their hold at nearly all levels in the public relations industry. While the advancement of women is to be applauded, is this imbalance a good thing? The industry, to date, has ignored this trend. What strategies should be employed to make the field more diverse and balanced from a gender perspective? Now that …
The Influence Of Layout And Design On Purchasing Behavior: Examining Print Advertisements For Sneakers, Nancy Reighn-Garron
The Influence Of Layout And Design On Purchasing Behavior: Examining Print Advertisements For Sneakers, Nancy Reighn-Garron
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this exploratory investigation is to ascertain the influence layout and design of print advertisements has on consumers and how this influence affects purchasing behavior. This research further examines the difference in design preferences between men and women. Information acquired assists in the understanding of relationships between advertisers, marketing representatives and public relations practitioners and a targeted audience. The research findings support that men and women process advertising differently, that consumers are influenced by visual cues and provides information that is beneficial to better serve and persuade audiences to achieve successful product promotion.
The Role Of Public Relations Strategies And Tactics In Building Symmetric Donor Relationships, Justine Spack
The Role Of Public Relations Strategies And Tactics In Building Symmetric Donor Relationships, Justine Spack
Theses and Dissertations
This study researched relationships between nonprofit organizations and their donors. The researcher looked into the different public relations strategies and tactics that nonprofits use to build and maintain relationships with their donors, and then examined the effectiveness of those strategies and tactics. The study required a content analysis of nonprofit websites to determine the strategies and tactics that nonprofit organizations use to build relationships with their donors. It also included a focus panel of nonprofit donors who discussed which strategies and tactics donors need to establish and maintain and mutually beneficial relationship with a nonprofit organization and which strategies and …
Social Media, Fan Relations And The Music Industry: A Coalition Of Unsigned Artists And Record Labels, Heather Aponte
Social Media, Fan Relations And The Music Industry: A Coalition Of Unsigned Artists And Record Labels, Heather Aponte
Theses and Dissertations
The purposes of this investigation were to (a) provide the music industry with the research it seems to lack in order to understand (b) how social media will change its field and (c) how it can utilize it. To provide the knowledge necessary to adapt to the shift in musical power, the author will conduct both qualitative and quantitative research. This research includes a preliminary content analysis of comment tone on social media profiles and in-depth interviews. The researcher aims to further the understanding of social media networks and the independent musicians who use them. This will provide the music …
Mixed Messages: Assessing Communication In Architectural Education And Practice, Amanda Weko
Mixed Messages: Assessing Communication In Architectural Education And Practice, Amanda Weko
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of communication in both the academic and professional architecture communities. The author addressed (a) whether profession-specific communication skills are part of any National Architectural Accrediting Board-accredited U.S. undergraduate architecture program; (b) how architectural educators feel about communication studies; and (c) how registered architects feel about communication skills in their practice. Research findings pointed to a dichotomy in academic and professional perceptions of the importance of communication training in undergraduate architecture education. While only 13.8 percent of academic programs require communication coursework directly related to architectural practice, 94 percent of architects surveyed …
School Resource Officer Programs: Implementation's Effect On Student Perceptions Of Safety, Stephen Clipper
School Resource Officer Programs: Implementation's Effect On Student Perceptions Of Safety, Stephen Clipper
Theses and Dissertations
School Resource Officer (SRO) Programs are a widely implemented community policing initiative in schools. The limited research on SRO Programs suggests that there are implementation differences between programs. This study explores the effect that implementation style has on program effectiveness as measured by student perceptions of safety as well as student reporting behaviors. This study found mixed results. Direct analyses revealed students who attend schools with community-oriented SRO programs feel slightly safer. Multi-level modeling was utilized to determine the effects that individual and school level variables have on perceptions of safety and on the ability of SRO programs to affect …
Minority Disproportionality In New Jersey, Shannon Kemp
Minority Disproportionality In New Jersey, Shannon Kemp
Theses and Dissertations
This study sought to examine whether New Jersey districts exhibited minority disproportionality, or the overrepresentation of minority students in special education eligibility categories and placements. A dataset with a random sample of 200 school districts was compiled with special education data from the New Jersey Department of Education. Through analyses of four ethnicities, White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian, it was discovered that Black and Hispanic students were significantly more likely to be placed in special education as compared to their peers. Asian students were significantly less likely to be represented in special education in comparison to their non-Asian counterparts. Black …
An Exploratory Investigation Of Family Structure And Adult Attachment Orientation, Alison Rossi
An Exploratory Investigation Of Family Structure And Adult Attachment Orientation, Alison Rossi
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to examine the possible role family structure plays on adult attachment orientation. Eighty-six students enrolled in introductory level psychology courses at Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey, participated in this study. Indicated in previous studies as valid to measure experiences in romantic relationships, the personality traits of attachment-related Anxiety and attachment-related Avoidance were analyzed by the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised questionnaire (ECR-R). Independent t-Tests were used to determine if differences exist in young-adult participants of both the intact-families (n=66) or divorced-families (n=20) groups, as particularly measured by the attachment-related Anxiety and attachment-related Avoidance scales of …
The Impact Of Celebrity Endorsements On The Buying Behavior Of Rowan University Students Age 18-24, Reginald Esangbedo
The Impact Of Celebrity Endorsements On The Buying Behavior Of Rowan University Students Age 18-24, Reginald Esangbedo
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to determine the persuasiveness of celebrity endorsements on the purchase decisions of Rowan University students age 18-24, with specific regard to digital media players. The hypothesis of the study is that majority of Rowan students age 18-24 are persuaded to buy digital media players that are endorsed by celebrities they view favorably. The information gathered in the secondary research was used to develop questions for focus groups. The author of the study conducted two pre-test focus groups, after which the questions were modified. Once the questions were refined and finalized, the author conducted eight …
Parent Efficacy And Parent Involvement In Parents Of Preschool Children, Jennifer Murkli
Parent Efficacy And Parent Involvement In Parents Of Preschool Children, Jennifer Murkli
Theses and Dissertations
The present study examined the relationship between parent involvement and parent efficacy in parents of preschool children. Twenty parents from a suburban, a predominantly White private preschool participated in the study. Parent self-reports of involvement and efficacy beliefs as they pertain to their preschooler's learning and development were assessed. On average, parents reported medium parent efficacy and medium parent involvement. Results of the study demonstrated a significant relationship between parent involvement and parent efficacy. The relationship was moderate with a positive direction. Thus, the relationship demonstrated to a modest degree that greater parent efficacy is related to greater parent involvement, …
The Relationship Between Nighttime Reading With Children By Their Caregivers And Reading Achievement, Ashley Williams
The Relationship Between Nighttime Reading With Children By Their Caregivers And Reading Achievement, Ashley Williams
Theses and Dissertations
The hypothesis of this research project was to determine if there was a significant relationship between children who were read to by their caregivers in previous years and children who were not read to by their caregivers in previous years. The relationship between reading achievement and gender was also examined in this research study. Twelve fourth grade students (six male, six female) were asked to complete a questionnaire about their reading practices and take a brief two part reading assessment, consisting of word recognition and reading comprehension. A two way between groups ANOVA revealed that there was not a significant …
The Importance Of Cultural Competence When Evaluating Bilingual Students, Maria-Ines Castro
The Importance Of Cultural Competence When Evaluating Bilingual Students, Maria-Ines Castro
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of language and culture on Hispanic student test taking performance. Specifically, the researcher hypothesized that Hispanic students' test taking performance would be impacted by the language used on the assessment given, and the test administrator's awareness, knowledge, and skills related to cultural competence. Twelve bilingual-Hispanic students from Rowan University-Camden completed a Nelson-Denny Reading Test for the purpose of this research project. The same test was presented to all students in an English version and a Spanish version. A Mixed Design with repeated measures indicated that there was no significant difference …
Abnormal Eating Patterns And The Relationship To Dissociative Experiences, Gionna Botto
Abnormal Eating Patterns And The Relationship To Dissociative Experiences, Gionna Botto
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this investigation was to determine if a relationship exist between abnormal eating patterns and dissociative experiences, as well as if a relationship exist between bulimia nervosa and food preoccupation symptomatologies. This study used a non-clinical non-diagnosed population of university students (n=100) to determine results. The participants were given two self-report scales, the Eating Attitudes Test and the Scale of Dissociative Activities in order to provide data to the researcher. The data was correlated, using Pearson's Correlation to determine results. The results in this study indicated that there is a statistically significant relationship between dissociative experiences and abnormal …
Vision Accuracy: Comparisons, Mark Roman
Vision Accuracy: Comparisons, Mark Roman
Theses and Dissertations
Solomon Asch conducted a Line Judgment Task in the 1950s that led researchers to believe that conformity can be assessed through experimentation. The purpose of this study was to modify that of Asch's experiment and to assess the answers that college undergraduate students would give. Twelve trials of line comparison tasks were utilized as well as answers from five confederates. It was hypothesized that out of the 47 participants, more of them would answer incorrectly to the incorrectly answered trials of the confederates than those to those trials that the confederates answered correctly. There were a total of five incorrect …
The Effect Of Postpartum Depression On Child Cognitive Development, Joshua Lees
The Effect Of Postpartum Depression On Child Cognitive Development, Joshua Lees
Theses and Dissertations
The incidence of postpartum depression (PPD) in Western societies is approximately 10-15% and its cause is multi-faceted. Because mothers largely constitute infants' social environment and mediate their experience of the external world, it is imperative to investigate the effects of PPD on child growth and development. Within this paper, the author explores previously conducted Post-Partum Depression research, in regards to its effects on child cognitive development. Following this literature review, a brief experimental study is conducted and explained on a sample population of mothers' of special needs children, serviced by an Early Intervention provider. During this experimental analysis, the researcher …
The Relationship Between Locus Of Control And Birth Order In College Students' Academic Success, Shannara Williams
The Relationship Between Locus Of Control And Birth Order In College Students' Academic Success, Shannara Williams
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationship between locus of control and birth order. Does your birth position predict your locus of control? Also, does birth order have an effect on the academic achievement of college students (n=54)? A few subjects were disqualified from the study based on the fact that they were the only child. A demographics survey was designed to determine the academic success based on grade point average. The Rotter's Locus of Control survey was used to determine the locus of control of the college students. Neither hypothesis investigated yielded the predicted results. This …
Interactive Software And Its Effects On Hostility, Warren Shya
Interactive Software And Its Effects On Hostility, Warren Shya
Theses and Dissertations
The researcher will be exploring the relationship between violence in video games and the emotional responses to them. The goal of the study is to confirm the previous body of research that a short term increase in aggression and hostility exists after a violent video game is played. The study will also expand on the current existing body of data by examining other variables such as gender, age, typical time spent in a week playing videogames, overall familiarity with video games, the game genre that is normally played, and what consoles and systems are typically used to be played on. …
Rate Changes In Risky Behavior & The Role Of Sibling Influence, Julian Bajczyk
Rate Changes In Risky Behavior & The Role Of Sibling Influence, Julian Bajczyk
Theses and Dissertations
This study is based on research performed in 2006 by Laura Argys, Daniel Rees, Susan Averett, and Benjama Witoonchart. The 2006 study investigated relationship between the birth order and an adolescent's likelihood of engaging in certain risky behaviors. For the purpose of this study these behaviors include things like drug use, sexual activity and violent or antisocial offenses. The initial study found a trend implicating that adolescents with older siblings more likely to engage in certain risky behaviors than adolescents who did not have older siblings (eldest and only children). The Argys, et al. study used data collected from the …
Individual Case Study: Verbalizing Emotions To Reduce Aggressive Outbursts In An Autistic Adult, Samantha Levine
Individual Case Study: Verbalizing Emotions To Reduce Aggressive Outbursts In An Autistic Adult, Samantha Levine
Theses and Dissertations
The purposes of this individual case study were to (a) to decrease the maladaptive behaviors displayed by the participant and (b) have the participant verbalize his feelings before they build up to cause the maladaptive behavior. The study used positive reinforcement and rewards to reinforce the positive behaviors displayed by the participant as well as to deter negative behaviors. The participant made vast improvements in expressing his emotions and also showed great improvement in controlling his maladaptive behaviors. Implications of a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder are discussed as well as an explanation of other studies performed for individuals with …
Sports And Media Relations: An Assessment By Sports Journalists Regarding Public Relations Professionals Of Professional Sports Teams Effectively Controlling The Flow Of Information, Jeffrey O'Connor
Theses and Dissertations
The study's primary goal was to determine if beat reporters who covered professional sports teams believed that PR professionals effectively controlled the flow of information to the media. To ascertain this answer, the researcher used in-depth interviews. The in-depth interviews were conducted with 24 members of the media who cover the four main professional sports leagues, namely the NHL, MLB, NBA and MLB. Results show that most beat reporters believe that the PR professionals of the teams they cover effectively control the flow of information.