Communication Commons^™

Distribution Of News Information Through Social Bookmarking: An Examination Of Shared Stories In The Delicious Website, Deborah S. Chung, Kwan Yi

Journalism and Media Faculty Publications

Introduction. This study examined the selection and sharing of news stories from Delicious, a popular social bookmarking site, in order to identify the most frequently consulted news information sources and news topics.

Method. Targeting US-specific sources through initial computer screening of URLs, we employed content analysis to further analyse story topics and sources that were unclassified through the initial computer screening method.

Analysis. After examining frequencies and percentages of the variables, a qualitative analysis was employed to assess relationships between story sources and story topics.

Results. Findings document the diverse nature of stories from both traditional and new media …

Health Coverage In Kentucky's Community Newspapers: Toward A More Informed Populace, Anna G. Hoover, Al Cross

Anna G. Hoover

This study explores the role that Kentucky community newspapers play in providing information about health behaviors and their related outcomes. Through content analysis of sixteen newspapers, the researcher examines the amount of health behavior coverage, the most prevalent topics of the articles, and the article sources. The resulting data point to challenges related to 1) a lack of health coverage, 2) a need for better source attribution, and 3) a blurring of the lines between editorial and advertising content. Implications and future research directions are discussed.

Protesting Liberalization In India: An Examination Of Discursive Strategies Used By Street-Vendors, Squatters, And Small-Retailers To Create And Universalize Resistance Narratives, Rajesh Gaur

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

The retail sector in India is experiencing a shift from an industry dominated by small grocers serving the needs of local markets to one characterized by chain retailers, both national and international. The liberalization of the retail sector in the last decade has edged the street-vendors, squatters, and small retailers from the prime business spaces to marginalized peripheries, which had led to widespread localized protests by the small retailers all over the country.

The Aminabad Market in a metro city in northern India provided a unique opportunity to study ongoing resistance against chain retailing. The retailers of Aminabad were at …

The Impact Of Interactive Functionality On Learning Outcomes: An Application Of Outcome Interactivity Theory, James P. Gleason

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Scholars have examined a variety of dimensions and models of interactivity in an attempt to articulate a comprehensive definition. Outcome Interactivity Theory (OIT) considers interactivity to be the result of a communication event involving the successful integration of three predictive dimensions: the presence of actual interactive technological features, the presence of similarly reactive content elements, and relevant user experiences that empower the user to employ these interactive elements within the communication event toward a desirable outcome.

This dissertation accomplishes three major objectives: clarify the literature relating to the interactivity construct; introduce Outcome Interactivity Theory as a new theory-based conceptualization …

Content Relevance Centric Theory: An Investigation Of Content Relevance's Ability To Predict Learning Outcomes In A Training Environment, E. Patrick Leddin

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

After three decades of research, instructional communication scholars find themselves facing several key challenges. These range from an overemphasis in past studies on variable-analytic, atheoretical research to a lack of connection to learning outcomes. Many in the field contend that the time has come for instructional communication researchers to define instructional communication theories, test hypotheses, tie research efforts to learning outcomes, and clarify key terms. The present study addressed these shortcomings by proposing the Content Relevance Centric Theory and testing related hypotheses.

The research occurred in a professional training environment and involved the use of a modified content relevance instrument …

In My Humble Opinion: Testing The Sprial Of Silence In Computer-Mediated And Face-To-Face Contexts, Robert James Zuercher

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The purpose of this investigation is to further an understanding of the spiral of silence theory as it functions within both face-to-face (FtF) and computer-mediated contexts. Computer-mediated communication (CMC is often touted for being an empowering medium as it affords its users anonymity. This finding could have an impact on whether the spiral of silence occurs within CMC. Previous studies have relied upon hypothetical scenarios and have established weak support for the theory. Despite this study’s utilization of a within-subjects experimental design, however, no significant differences in minority opinion holders’ fear of isolation were found. Similarly, no significant relationship was …