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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
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Articles 1 - 30 of 285
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Experiences Of Dyslexic Students Learning A Second Language: A Review Of The Literature, Lauren Ricci
Experiences Of Dyslexic Students Learning A Second Language: A Review Of The Literature, Lauren Ricci
Senior Honors Theses
A systematic review of the literature was conducted to explore the experiences that college students with dyslexia face learning a second language in the classroom setting while studying at a private institution in Central Virginia. This literature review offers an analysis of the scholarly research related to this topic. The processability theory is discussed in the first section, followed by a review of recent literature on how dyslexia affects the brain’s processing, specific experiences of students, and how to best support these students in second language acquisition (SLA). Lastly, the literature surrounds phonological processing, working memory, specific struggles in the …
Charge The Cockpit Or Die: An Anatomy Of Fear-Driven Political Rhetoric In American Conservatism, Daniel Hostetter
Charge The Cockpit Or Die: An Anatomy Of Fear-Driven Political Rhetoric In American Conservatism, Daniel Hostetter
Senior Honors Theses
Subthreshold negative emotions have superseded conscious reason as the initial and strongest motivators of political behavior. Political neuroscience uses the concepts of negativity bias and terror management theory to explore why fear-driven rhetoric plays such an outsized role in determining human political actions. These mechanisms of human anthropology are explored by competing explanations from biblical and evolutionary scholars who attempt to understand their contribution to human vulnerabilities to fear. When these mechanisms are observed in fear-driven political rhetoric, three common characteristics emerge: exaggerated threat, tribal combat, and religious apocalypse, which provide a new framework for explaining how modern populist leaders …
Claiming The Crown — The Agency And Fandom Of “The Woman King”, Cibonay R. Dames
Claiming The Crown — The Agency And Fandom Of “The Woman King”, Cibonay R. Dames
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This content analysis study aimed to understand the culture-sharing pattern of The Woman King fans on X and the film’s impact on Black popular culture. The specific problem that was addressed is the need to explore Black popular culture artifacts, such as The Woman King, to understand how Black culture is produced and reproduced by Blacks and the social commentary it creates. This qualitative dissertation was guided by cultural studies and fandom theories and employed a Critical Technocultural Discourse Analysis (CTDA) to analyze 1,469 public posts on X during the film's opening weekend and a content analysis of the film. …
Transgenderism And Pronouns: Assessing The Communication Practices Of Christian College Students, Danielle Malanowski
Transgenderism And Pronouns: Assessing The Communication Practices Of Christian College Students, Danielle Malanowski
Senior Honors Theses
The issue of transgenderism has been part of prominent public and academic discussions in recent years, and ought to be addressed by communication scholars. One area of communication research that is missing from the current body of literature is the use of preferred pronoun usage among religious groups, particularly Christians. This study offers insight into this issue through a qualitative survey of the perspectives of Generation Z college students attending a Christian university. This survey was then analyzed via thematic coding through the lens of Communication Accommodation Theory. Results indicate these students have varying approaches to communicating with and about …
A Qualitative Investigation Of The Technology Acceptance Model In The U.S. Cooperative Extension Service On The Adoption Of Customer Relationship Management Systems, Aaron Weibe
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This research investigates the technology acceptance model (TAM) in the U.S. Cooperative Extension Service (CES) regarding the adoption of customer relationship management (CRM) systems to improve communications, outreach, and engagement with the publics and communities it serves. The CES comprises land-grant universities throughout the United States and offices in nearly every county in the country. It provides research-based educational programming to help communities of all sizes meet the challenges they face. However, many CES organizations have yet to adopt CRM technologies, leading to potential missed opportunities in improving client engagement, outreach, and communications. A thorough review of the literature of …
Applying Cultivation Theory In Determining The Relationship Between Sns Use And Optimism/Pessimism Of Adults In The United States And The Moderating/Mediating Effects Of Platform, Content, And Connections On This Relationship, Joshua A. Senne
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between degree of social networking site (SNS) use and optimism/pessimism means scores from the optimism/pessimism instrument (OPI) for SNS users who are age 18+ and live in the United States. The purpose of the study was also to determine how the main type of platform used, main type of content viewed, and number of connections mediated and/or moderated this relationship. The research problem was that SNSs are becoming a prominent form of media and little research has examined how the degree of exposure to SNSs cultivate psychological states, especially in …
Over-The-Top (Ott) Networks' Influence On Shared Cultural Memory, Michael Jelani Akil Brown
Over-The-Top (Ott) Networks' Influence On Shared Cultural Memory, Michael Jelani Akil Brown
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The digital landscape underwent a profound transformation in the Over-The-Top (OTT) network era, significantly altering media consumption. This study delved into the intricate and multifaceted impact of OTT networks on society, communication theory, and socio-cultural traditions, specifically emphasizing their influence on shared cultural memory. The research was rooted in a robust methodology that combined a Qualtrics online survey disseminated across various social media platforms and in-depth interviews with 25 carefully selected participants. This rigorous approach aimed to shed light on the profound influence of OTT networks on shared cultural memory while investigating how these platforms shaped perceptions, beliefs, attitudes, and …
The Jonestown Appeal: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Jim Jones’ “The Death Tapes”, Lindsey E. Wright
The Jonestown Appeal: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Jim Jones’ “The Death Tapes”, Lindsey E. Wright
Senior Honors Theses
Through the view of the Aristotelian analysis, this research identified how Jim Jones utilized rhetoric to persuade a large group of people. Pre-existing literature in the fields of psychology and communication have closely studied Jones’ manipulation tactics in both his speeches and interactions with his audiences. In addition to his persuasive tone, this study explored and evaluated the appeals of logos, pathos, and ethos tailored in Jim Jones’ final speech, Q042, now commonly coined, “The Death Tapes.” The methodology employed in this study meticulously examined the artifact by listening exclusively through the tapes for each appeal and the impacts of …
The Formation Of Tiktok’S Influencer-Led Mental Health Community: A Content Analysis Of Social Penetration Theory, Kellie Ford Stillwell
The Formation Of Tiktok’S Influencer-Led Mental Health Community: A Content Analysis Of Social Penetration Theory, Kellie Ford Stillwell
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The following research used a qualitative content analysis to explore the communicative and communal characteristics of online communities that form around the topic of positive mental health communication on the social media platform TikTok. These characteristics were analyzed in the context of social penetration theory in consideration of how TikTok influencers use thematic messaging and acts of self-disclosure to build and enhance their online communities centered on positive mental health communication. In total, 135 TikTok videos and their accompanying comment feeds were analyzed to identify emergent themes, patterns, and concepts relative to the communicative and communal characteristics that define online …
Indirect Communication As A Teaching Method For Developing Transference And Capability In Taiwanese College Students, Melynie J. Tooley
Indirect Communication As A Teaching Method For Developing Transference And Capability In Taiwanese College Students, Melynie J. Tooley
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The capacity of a student to apply knowledge in new contexts involves the ability to transfer memorized knowledge to meaning, in real-world situations. However, there are conflicting views and an overall lack of research regarding how (the process) students in higher education, in Taiwan, transfer that knowledge. This is especially apparent in highly dynamic environments where knowledge is rapidly and continuously evolving, such as in the current technology arena and business industry. This research aims to explore indirect communication as a method for teachers to assist Taiwanese college students to transfer memorized facts, and thus develop capability in new contexts. …
Fake News: Finding Truth In Strategic Communication, Anne Damisa
Fake News: Finding Truth In Strategic Communication, Anne Damisa
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Fake news is an old phenomenon that has become a new obsession and a menace to society due to technological advancement and the proliferation of social media, which has changed traditional journalism norms. As the spread of false information has increased these past few years, it has become increasingly difficult for information consumers to distinguish between facts and fakes. A comprehensive systematic literature review to extract themes revealed the major factors responsible for spreading fake news. This qualitative interpretative meta-synthesis (QIMS) aims to better understand and offer solutions to combat fake news. This Ph.D. dissertation will serve as a guide …
We Don’T Talk About Influence: An Analysis Of Disney’S Encanto & Its Influence On Viewers’ Perceptions Of Colombian Culture, Olivia Grace Keyser
We Don’T Talk About Influence: An Analysis Of Disney’S Encanto & Its Influence On Viewers’ Perceptions Of Colombian Culture, Olivia Grace Keyser
Masters Theses
The purpose of this study, “We Don’t Talk About Influence: An Analysis of Disney’s Encanto & Its Influence on Viewers’ Perceptions of Colombian Culture,” was to analyze the way Colombian culture is presented in Disney’s Encanto as well as to determine whether viewers of Encanto learn and develop a favorable view of Colombia and Colombian culture after watching the film. In this qualitative research study, 20 participants completed two questionnaires, which were used to determine their perceptions of Colombian culture prior to and after watching Encanto. The collected data was analyzed through the lens of the communication strategy of entertainment-education. …
Tiktok’S Influence On Generation Z Female’S Comparative Behavior, Brookelynn Dinkler
Tiktok’S Influence On Generation Z Female’S Comparative Behavior, Brookelynn Dinkler
Masters Theses
The purpose of this study was to address TikTok’s role in the comparative behaviors among Generation Z females. This study specifically evaluated the communication of society’s perception of beauty standards and how it resonates with and influences TikTok users. A qualitative approach was taken to gain a better understanding of the lived experiences of participants and fill the gap in qualitative media effects research. The research question being addressed was: How has TikTok influenced society's idea of physical beauty and body image concerns among Generation Z females? Through the lens of social comparison theory, the research found that the application …
Media Dependency In Gen Z Christians, Emma Jolie Best
Media Dependency In Gen Z Christians, Emma Jolie Best
Masters Theses
The purpose of the study “Media Dependency in Gen Z Christians” is to understand and explore the way Gen Z Christians utilize different forms of media as it relates to their faith. This quantitative research approach focused on the extent to which Gen Z Christians utilize extra-biblical and biblical media, which media they are more likely to consume, and which media they prefer. This research provides insight for the audience in terms of the habits of weekly Gen Z media usage and reliance in a digital media-emersed world, as well as insight into the way that Christian Gen Z learns …
Influence Of Preaching’S Rhetorical Appeal On Evangelical Listeners’ Motivation, Nicholas Anene Oji
Influence Of Preaching’S Rhetorical Appeal On Evangelical Listeners’ Motivation, Nicholas Anene Oji
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Preaching is a form of rhetorical narratology aimed at persuading its audience via sermons to experience a renewal of the mind and the transformation of their life. While previous research established the fact that listeners comprehend sermons through their rhetorical appeal, it has been unclear how this has motivated evangelical listeners to act. The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to explore how the rhetorical appeal of preaching influences evangelical listeners’ motivation at evangelical churches in Savannah, Georgia. A comprehensive approach to exploring a sermon’s rhetorical appeal was utilized by focusing jointly on individual perception and social context. The …
A New Mother’S Cry: Analyzing Traditional Social Support Versus Online Social Support In Relation To The Postpartum Crisis, Emily Hughes
A New Mother’S Cry: Analyzing Traditional Social Support Versus Online Social Support In Relation To The Postpartum Crisis, Emily Hughes
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The present study examines the gap that remains involving the transition from traditional to online social support that many mothers have participated in and how this change in communication methods during postpartum recovery may contribute to mental health disorders. This qualitative study aims to examine the differences in lived experiences among mothers regarding in-person and online forms of social support and how these experiences may impact a new mother’s mental well-being. Based on previous research, the present study hypothesizes that a more significant amount of online social support compared to in-person support will result in a detriment to a new …
A Qualitative Study Of Media Dependency Theory On Tiktok Citizen Journalists, Jaron David Paschke
A Qualitative Study Of Media Dependency Theory On Tiktok Citizen Journalists, Jaron David Paschke
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this dissertation was to determine the problem with depending on citizen journalism for news updates on TikTok during Hurricane Ian. To accomplish that, three types of qualitative content analysis were deployed to answer three separate but related research questions. First, a conventional content analysis was used to determine if the communicative roles of citizen journalists differed from their mainstream media counterparts during a crisis. Second, a summative content analysis was used to determine how effective crisis communications from citizen journalists were when compared to those produced by the mainstream media. Lastly, a directed content analysis was used …
A Content Analysis Of Non-Profit Organizations Social Media: Through The Lens Of Compliance-Gaining & Persuasion, Meredith Diene Kiljan
A Content Analysis Of Non-Profit Organizations Social Media: Through The Lens Of Compliance-Gaining & Persuasion, Meredith Diene Kiljan
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Non-profit organizations utilize social media platforms like Instagram to reach the community, fundraise, convey their mission and vision, establish themselves, and educate others. This study examined whether the communication artifacts of selected nonprofit organizations employed Cialdini's (2021) compliance-gaining strategies through an eight-week qualitative digital content analysis on Instagram to address the problem of understanding how non-profit organizations use Instagram tools to influence and persuade their audience. Compassion International (@compassion), CARE (@careorg), and Direct Relief (@directrelief), the three non-profit organizations chosen in this study, demonstrated the usage of Cialdini’s (2021) compliance-gaining strategies within their digital media communication strategy. Non-profit organizations operate …
The Power Of The “Like”: A Quantitative Study On The Facebook Emoji As Social Support, Lina Rawlings
The Power Of The “Like”: A Quantitative Study On The Facebook Emoji As Social Support, Lina Rawlings
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This quantitative study aimed to evaluate how receiving a Facebook “like” correlates to the perception of social support and how much this correlation is moderated by the age and gender of the users. The social information processing theory guided the study, providing a framework to explain how communicators adapt to the restriction of nonverbal cues by creating surrogates to maintain interpersonal relationships in computer-mediated communication circumstances. For the central research question, findings revealed that receiving a Facebook “like” positively correlates with perceptions of social support from Facebook friends and family. While no significant correlation was found between the gender of …
Communication For Personal Relationships: A Qualitative Study On Taylor Swift's Music Videos And Message-Design Logics Theory, Matthew Magliocca
Communication For Personal Relationships: A Qualitative Study On Taylor Swift's Music Videos And Message-Design Logics Theory, Matthew Magliocca
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This dissertation focuses on Barbara O’Keefe’s message-design logics theory and Taylor Swift’s music videos on YouTube. The first chapter provides background information and study elements for the project, focusing on the scholarly area of communication, the problem statement, the purpose statement, research questions, and definitions. The second chapter reviews the relevant literature associated with message-design logics theory and music videos on YouTube. The third chapter discusses the dissertation’s methodology, focusing on the study’s approach, framework, setting, instruments, procedures, analyses, and trustworthiness. The fourth chapter features the results of the research questions about Swift’s music videos and message-design logics theory. The …
Communication And Community: The Impact Of Closed Facebook Groups On Athletic Trainers, Allison M. Schwartz-Strickland
Communication And Community: The Impact Of Closed Facebook Groups On Athletic Trainers, Allison M. Schwartz-Strickland
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This qualitative research study will use semi-structured interviews to explore the motivations of athletic trainers using social media for professional collaboration. The socio-psychological tradition is used to frame the study. Communities of practice, uses and gratification theory, and the Wisdom of the Crowd model are used as the guiding theoretical perspectives as they provide a framework for understanding how and why athletic trainers use social media. This qualitative study sought to show the impact of closed Facebook Group participation on athletic trainers. How athletic trainers understand patient privacy laws when participating in closed Facebook groups for athletic trainers will also …
Erosion Of Credibility: A Mixed Methods Evaluation Of Twitter News Headlines From The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, And Usa Today, Melinda M. Skrbin
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
To entice and commodify social media news consumers, contemporary news organizations have increasingly relied on data analytics to boost audience engagement. Clicks, likes, and shares are the metrics that now guide the editorial process and shape decisions about content and coverage. As such, news headlines are regularly manipulated to attract the attention of those who quickly scroll through social media networks on computers and smartphones. However, few studies have examined the typologies of news content most likely to be manipulated in social media news headlines or the impact of news headline manipulation on news source credibility. For this research, source …
The Influencer Effect: Exploring The Persuasive Communication Tactics Of Social Media Influencers In The Health And Wellness Industry, Deborah Marie Deutsch
The Influencer Effect: Exploring The Persuasive Communication Tactics Of Social Media Influencers In The Health And Wellness Industry, Deborah Marie Deutsch
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
With the emergence of social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, social media influencers (SMIs) have been a growing source of information in the health and wellness industry. Through their creative, informative, and appealing content, SMIs have the innate ability to reach and attain a large following on social media platforms. The purpose of this study is to ascertain an understanding of the persuasive tactics employed by SMIs in the creation and dissemination of information in the health and wellness industry. Using the theoretical framework of Aristotle’s Rhetorical Appeals and Fisher’s Narrative Paradigm, this qualitative study seeks to examine …
Evaluating Biblical And Theological Training In The Developing World Through The Lens Of Communication Infrastructure Theory, David Keep
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Research that shows the impact of training throughout the developing world is positive and limited. Informed by Communication Infrastructure Theory (CIT) and framed within the Cybernetic tradition, this study expands communication research to understand the impact of biblical and theological training among marginalized people in San Gabriel Mixtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. Through semi-structured interviews and direct observation, this qualitative research study shows how the curriculum developed by Shepherd’s Global Classroom (SGC) and deployed through Ezra Biblical Seminary in San Gabriel works to equip believers and church leaders in their developing-world context. The storytelling network of CIT is examined and discovered to …
An Exploration Of Defensive Mediatization Strategies And Motherhood Media Decision-Making, Emily B. Young
An Exploration Of Defensive Mediatization Strategies And Motherhood Media Decision-Making, Emily B. Young
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This quantitative study focused on media-related decision-making in motherhood, with mediatization theory serving as a framework for the research. The study began with an overview of recent changes to motherhood and family media use. The purpose of this study was to explore the problem of how mothers make decisions about their children’s media use. After providing a basic overview of the changes to motherhood and family media use, as well as establishing the purpose and problem for the study, the literature on relevant topics for this study was discussed. Primarily, the literature review focused on mediatization theory. Next, the survey …
How The Input-Process-Output Model Affects The Decoding Of Internal Strategic Financial Communication By Non-Financial Branch Managers, Andrew James Schell
How The Input-Process-Output Model Affects The Decoding Of Internal Strategic Financial Communication By Non-Financial Branch Managers, Andrew James Schell
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this instrumental case study was to explore how non-financial branch managers at US mortgage companies processed the decoding of internal strategic financial communication (ISFC) when the message was encoded by the language of numbers (LON). The LON includes Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). A non-financial branch manager is an individual who manages a mortgage company branch office and may not possess LON decoding proficiency. This lack of LON decoding proficiency could result in ISFC decoding errors, potentially resulting in unintended financial consequences. Financial miscommunication is connected to the failure of over 50% of new small businesses each …
Self-Image As A Micro Reality: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Social Media Influencers And Adolescent Followers, Jessica Amanda Consterdine
Self-Image As A Micro Reality: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Social Media Influencers And Adolescent Followers, Jessica Amanda Consterdine
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This study aimed to investigate content depicted by social media influencers and examine how its engagement aligns with the theoretical components of social comparison theory, providing an understanding of how adolescents view self-image. The parasocial relationships between social media influencers and adolescent followers on Instagram were investigated by exploring how the relationship dynamic is challenged with paid endorsements, envy by followers, and strategic communication. Incorporating content analysis with thematic analysis from the most popular social media influencers on Instagram, findings revealed a relationship between hashtag usage and the adolescent creation of self-image micro realities. The analysis demonstrated a strong correlation …
Framing Roles Of Protagonists And Antagonists In Visual Media, Jonas Braden Larson
Framing Roles Of Protagonists And Antagonists In Visual Media, Jonas Braden Larson
Masters Theses
Many characters and stories have been interpreted over the past few thousand years. Humans are innate storytellers and make connections through various communication methods. Heroes and villains have affected many lives and given people a lens through which to view the world. The perception of stories and their characters in the visual media may not be as subjective as many people think. The framing communication theory was used to study the perception of audience member’s view of protagonists and antagonists in a visual story. Two short films were produced and screened to an audience that filled out surveys on their …
A Case Study On How Hbcus Use Social Media To Reduce Uncertainty Of Covid-19, Kelsey Anne-Gabrielle Armstrong
A Case Study On How Hbcus Use Social Media To Reduce Uncertainty Of Covid-19, Kelsey Anne-Gabrielle Armstrong
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This case study aims to understand how HBCUs use social media to deliver crisis communication messages to students about COVID-19 and how the HBCU culture impacts student perspectives. The theory guiding this study is uncertainty reduction theory (Berger & Calabrese, 1974), as it explains the communication strategies used to reduce uncertainty during a crisis. Data collection was conducted using semi-structured interviews and content analysis. Data analysis strategies included deductive and inductive coding and directed content analysis. The study results provide insight into how the HBCU culture impacts the perspective of an HBCUs response to COVID-19 and overall crisis communication messaging …
Sticks And Stones May Break My Bones But Words Will Never Hurt Me...Until I See Them: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Trolls In Relation To The Gricean Maxims And (Im)Polite Virtual Speech Acts, Angelika C. Smith-Jones
Sticks And Stones May Break My Bones But Words Will Never Hurt Me...Until I See Them: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Trolls In Relation To The Gricean Maxims And (Im)Polite Virtual Speech Acts, Angelika C. Smith-Jones
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The troll is one of the most obtrusive and disruptive bad actors on the internet. Unlike other bad actors, the troll interacts on a more personal and intimate level with other internet users. Social media platforms, online communities, comment boards, and chatroom forums provide them with this opportunity. What distinguishes these social provocateurs from other bad actors are their virtual speech acts and online behaviors. These acts aim to incite anger, shame, or frustration in others through the weaponization of words, phrases, and other rhetoric. Online trolls come in all forms and use various speech tactics to insult and demean …