Communication Commons^™

To Meme, Or Not To Meme: Applying The Theory Of Motivated Information Management To The Provision Of Support After Depressed Individuals Share Suicidal Memes, Jacki Paige Willenborg

Theses and Dissertations

Social media sites are increasingly where individuals seek and share information on a range of topics. The focus of this thesis is on suicidal memes and how individuals interpret them. Suicidal memes are memes that suggest suicide through either text or visual images. No research has investigated interpretations of suicidal memes to date as well as why individuals post them. It is important to study such issues as the interpretations of these memes can mean the difference between depressed individuals, for example, receiving the help they need or those same individuals alienating themselves from their loved ones. Informed by the …

What Should Be Said Or Silenced: Opinions Of Necessary And Inappropriate End-Of-Life Communication Between The Living And The Dying, Mary Chris Dantzler

Theses and Dissertations

End-of-life (EOL) communication experiences between the Dying and the Living in various roles (e.g., family, clergy, healthcare providers, and hospice workers) have often been studied; however, no research has examined what people believe are necessary as well as inappropriate EOL conversation topics with the Dying. Extant studies in family communication have identified common EOL topics in retrospective accounts of previous conversations with the Dying, but no research has asked individuals with and without such experiences what they think should and should not be talked about during EOL interactions. The current study addressed this gap. Participants (N = 145) ages 18 …

What Should Be Included In A Measure Of Communicative Participation? Perspectives Of Speech-Language Pathologists, Natalie Kelly Graceffa

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A MEASURE OF COMMUNICATIVE PARTICIPATION? PERSPECTIVES OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS

by Natalie Graceffa

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2017 Under the Supervision of Professor Dr. Shelley Lund

As the field has developed, speech-language pathologists (SLP) need to validate their therapies and prove, beyond clinical judgment, that their therapy is necessary and ethical. SLPs and other healthcare professionals must prove they are achieving positive outcomes with their treatment, and that the outcomes they set are appropriate for their patients and clients. To bring this validity to the treatment of health, the International Classification for Functioning, Disability, and …

“To Each Their Own”: Comparing Satisfaction, Money Management, And Financial Communication Across Couple Types, Anne Nicole Zmyslinski-Seelig

Theses and Dissertations

Negative outcomes associated with poor money management and financial communication prompt research that provides fresh theoretical perspectives with the ultimate goal of providing concrete advice to both couples and practitioners. Contributing to scholarship regarding finances in committed relationships, the current study examined connections among relationship satisfaction, financial management, and financial communication. Results demonstrated positive associations between: (a) relationship satisfaction and financial management as well as (b) relationship satisfaction and financial communication.

Further, utilizing Fitzpatrick’s (1988) couple types, the investigation tested whether or not the typology explained differences in individuals’ and dyads’ relationship satisfaction, financial management, and financial communication. Regarding differences …

Institutional Influence On Documentary Form: An Analysis Of Pbs And Hbo Documentary Programs, Mark Joseph Irving

Theses and Dissertations

INSTITUTIONAL INFLUENCE ON DOCUMENTARY FORM - A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PBS and HBO DOCUMENTARY PROGRAMS

by Mark Irving

The University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, 2015

Under the Supervision of Professor Michael Z. Newman

Beginning in the 1980s, the documentary genre has undergone a transformation to accommodate modes of stylistic expression and subjective thematic exposition previously not evident in the genre. This deviation from the form’s traditional modes of expression typically associated with fact-based, journalistic pursuits can be attributed to the institutional underpinnings of media outlets that exhibit documentary programming. These institutional factors, a consequence of an evolving marketplace and shifts …

Cyberbullying In 'Left 4 Dead 2': A Study In Collaborative Play, Kimberly L. Kulovitz

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to further our understanding of the role of cyberbullying in the cooperative team-based game Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2). A sample of 41 4-person groups generated a total n = 415 messages used for evaluating the behavioral content of game play. Four hypotheses were advanced assessing cyberbullying behavior and game outcome (success vs. failure), group cohesion, target participation, and perceptions of bullies. Out of the 41 groups 25 groups had cyberbullying behavior present and 16 groups had prosocial behavior. Overall, cyberbullying behavior had little effect on game outcome, group cohesion and target participation. Groups using only prosocial …

Encouraging Healthy Body-Image: Are Parents Sending Effective Messages To Children?, Anna Herrman

Theses and Dissertations

This investigation tested and applied Bogenschneider (1996) Ecological Risk and Protective Theory to the process of body-image development. In order to understand what is considered risk and protective behaviors, qualitative directed content analysis was used to analyze the health experts' opinion. Twenty-three online brochures were analyzed, resulting in two protective themes (parents as educators and parents providing an appropriate environment) and two risk themes (negative role model behaviors and negative complimenting behaviors). From the themes, items were created and quantitative data was collected using paper/pencil surveys. Data collection resulted in 126 parent and 126 child responses. Results provide support for …

Be Honest With Me: An Exploration Of Lies In Relationships, Arrington Stoll

Theses and Dissertations

This study used Bryant's (2008) lie typology to understand how types of lies (real, gray, and white) compare to one another from the perspective of the individuals engaged in deceptive communication and test whether lies have an impact upon relationship qualities. Data were collected from a total of 246 participants using an online survey. Consistent with the hypotheses, there were significant differences across perceived lie characteristics (intention, consequences, beneficiary, truthfulness and acceptability) across real lies, white lies, and gray lies. The relationship qualities of satisfaction, similarity, trust, and closeness were not associated with the type of lie a participant told. …