Discursive Struggles Reflected In The Communication Of Conservative Christian Parents And Their Adult Children With Differing Religious Beliefs And Values, Braedon G. Worman

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Nearly half of American adults no longer believe in their childhood faiths (Pew Research Center, 2015). The steady decline of Christianity could have considerable impacts on family life (Pew Research Center, 2022). From a postmodern critical perspective and guided by Relational Dialectics Theory 2.0, the researcher sought to discern how conservative Christian parents and their adult children with differing religious beliefs and values communicated when they discussed these differences, as well as to identify the discourses that informed and were reflected in their talk and illustrate how these discourses interplayed and animated the meaning of participants’ Christian family identities. The …

Building Before: Community Resiliency As Emergency Management, Alexandria Rinne

Honors Theses

This project seeks to address gaps in emergency preparedness education related to tornado response. Through an examination of current research about best practices for tornado emergency management response and an examination of the needs of FEMA Regions 7 and 8, the author has identified key strategies and stakeholders to increase positive outcome through building community engagement and resiliency. Three presentations were created for delivery to key community stakeholders—local government officials; non-governmental organizations, social networks, and associations; and individual private citizens. The project offers an overview of background research and provides presentation slide decks, scripts, and discussion guides, all created with …

“Evolving Homes, Not Revolving Doors”: Examining Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Foster Parents’ Discursive Construction And Negotiation Of Identity Layers And Identity Gaps, Lucas Hackenburg

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The United States foster care system serves more than half a million children each year (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [DHH], 2023). The purpose of this study was to examine how LGB foster parents discursively construct and navigate their identities in the fostering context. The researcher undertook in-depth interviews with 18 LGB people who were currently fostering or had previously fostered at least one child from the foster care system. The researcher analyzed the interview data using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis (2019).

Consistent with the Communication Theory of Identity (Hecht, 1993; 2015; Hecht & Phillips, 2022), …

Closing The Gap Between College Students: An Intergroup Dialogue Program To Reach Understanding And Reduction Of Disparities, Lilly Zhou

Honors Theses

The goals of the intergroup dialogue program are exploration and collective action. The goal of exploration is to spread awareness by presenting the situation. Several students are not aware that disparities between students exist, so this dialogue provided awareness of the issue. With increased understanding of each other, collective action can be taken. Actions by a small number of students are still steps taken to reduce the gap between the financially supported and not financially supported students. Action can look like spreading awareness of the issue, advocating for policy changes, and more.

The structure of the intergroup dialogue program required …

Balloons, Breadcrumbs, And Spoons: Emerging Adults’ Privacy Negotiation And Management Of The (Non)Disclosure Of Chronic Illness-Related Information With A Friend, Robert D. Hall

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Emerging adults (EAs) experience many changes throughout this life-stage, characterized by self-focus, identity explorations, instability, in-betweenness, and possibilities of optimism (Arnett, 2014). As EAs transition from home of origin into independence, they may place more reliance on social networks apart from their family of origin (e.g., friends, Rawlins, 2009). Yet, chronically ill EAs may experience complications due to the biographical disruption, or interference of expectations in one’s life (Bury, 1982), particularly given that chronic illness is typically viewed as an elderly-related issue rather than occurring with youth (Kundrat & Nussbaum, 2003). Through transitions in the EA life-stage, EAs with chronic …

Understanding Boundary Turbulence And Privacy Rules From The Receiver’S Perspective In Mental Illness Disclosures, Ian Maltas

Honors Theses

The present study aims to address a gap in current research focusing on relational outcomes of mental illness disclosures by studying the perspective of people who listen to the disclosures (called “receivers”). This study uses Communication Privacy Management Theory to analyze the process of disclosure, and its main research focus is on motivations for disseminating private information, and how that impacts relationships and privacy rules between co-owners of information. A thematic analysis was conducted to answer this inquiry, and a data conference was held to determine relevant themes in the data. The present study finds that people chose to tell …

The Importance Of Communication Skills To Independent Crop Consultants, Lindsay Overmyer

Doctor of Plant Health Program: Dissertations and Student Research

Independent crop consulting companies provide services to farmers by scouting (i.e., collecting field observations of plants and pests) and developing management recommendations for individual fields. In production agriculture, independent crop consultants (ICCs) are professionals who are independent of product sales. They are knowledgeable in many disciplines including plant pathology, entomology, weed science, plant science, economics, water management, and soil science. However, ICCs must also have extensive communication skills to communicate to their audience of field scout(s), farmers, industry professionals, and government officials. The goal of this document is to examine how ICCs use their communication skills and how they can …

Tales Of Love's Perseverance: Family Bereavement Stories As A Means To Investigating Impacts Of End-Of-Life Care On Sense-Making, Cassidy Taladay

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The current study explored the stories of 25 participants who had lost an immediate loved one to a terminal illness one or more years ago. Through the lens of the retrospective storytelling heuristic of Communicated Narrative Sense-Making Theory (CNSM, Koenig Kellas, 2018), participants told their bereavement stories. Findings revealed seven themes of significant meanings, values, and beliefs that defined bereavement experiences which led to the development of a framework of three main types of stories told in bereavement which all centered on time: Past, Present, and Future. These stories reflected what was important to participants in their bereavement, such as …

Wisdom Narratives: Communicated Sense-Making In Emerging Adulthood Autoimmune Disease, Jacqueline Gunning

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Under the umbrellas of Communicated Sense-making (CSM, Koenig Kellas & Kranstuber Horstman, 2015), the current study explored 25 stories of illness told by assigned female at birth individuals with autoimmune disease. Using both the Theory of Memorable Messages (ToMM, Cooke-Jackson & Rubinsky, 2021) and Communicated Narrative Sense-making Theory (CNSM, Koenig Kellas, 2018), findings reveal helpful and harmful interpersonal memorable messages received across their illness journeys, as well as lessons learned and wisdom gained from disruptive chronic illness onset at a young age. Participants identified messages of belief, support, and interest as helpful while navigating disease, whereas they saw messages of …

Relational Dialectics In College Ldrs: Managing The Tensions Of Long-Distance Dating In College, Kenessa Copeland

Honors Theses

A significant population of college students have been, or are currently, in a long distance relationship (LDR). This study examined tensions experienced by college students in LDRs using Relational Dialectics Theory (RDT) and Dark Side Theory. I used a thematic analysis to analyze responses from an open-ended survey distributed to and answered by 23 students in LDRs. I found that RDT was exemplified in the study by finding tensions of connection-autonomy and predictability-novelty, as well as tensions of balancing time and FOMO-living in the moment. The most common tension management strategies used were selection, separation, and reframing. Finally, I found …

Political Communication Channels Of The Aceh Woman Legislative Member In Conveying Information To The Community, Ainol Mardhiah, Cindenia Puspasari, Maisura Maisura, Nanda Ameliany

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This research investigates the political communication channel of the Aceh’s woman legislators to the community. After the period of political conflict in Aceh, women participation in the public sphere as a legislator is shown to be increasing in quantity. However, their coverage on the media regarding their performance and activity as Aceh’s women’s legislators is still lacking. These women representatives have not been received enough recognition within the community. This study aims to reveal the political communication channel of these women’s legislator to the constituents. This study was conducted in the Aceh Legislative Body using a descriptive qualitative method. The …

Peer Support Group Health Literacy Case Study Of Hivaids Patients In Karawang, Indonesia, Siti Nursanti Sn, Wahyu Utamidewi Wu, Yanti Tayo Yt

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The high mortality rate caused by HIV still leaves jobs for governments in developing countries, including in Indonesia; the government's efforts to reduce the death rate due to HIV certainly require support and community participation. Peer support groups were born as a form of community concern to complete and carry out health literacy to the community, both those affected by HIV and those who are not well literate about HIV. This study aims to see the communication activities carried out by members of peer support groups to patients infected with HIV and how peer support groups' efforts to carry out …

Conceptualizing Perceived Parental Communicated Acceptance During Parent-Child Religious Difference, Toni Morgan

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Significant religious difference in the family has become increasingly prevalent in recent years (Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, 2008; Pew Research Center, 2015). While religious difference is challenging for families to negotiate, the manner in which they communicate about it seems to be helpful in promoting positive outcomes (e.g., Colaner, Soliz, & Nelson, 2014; Hughes & Dickson, 2005). The purpose of this study was to conceptualize parental communicated (non)acceptance in the context of significant parent-child religious difference. To that end, I conducted interviews with 44 adults who identified a significant religious difference with their parent. The interviews also …

Ethnic-Racial Socialization Mapping In Ethnic-Racial Minority Populations: Exploring The Efficacy Of An Intervention To Increase Well-Being And Secure Ethnic-Racial Identity, Mackensie Minniear

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In this dissertation, I explore the benefits of developing an intervention entitled ethnic-racial socialization mapping. Previously, researchers have developed the importance of establishing a secure ethnic-racial identity in ethnic-racial minority populations, as it is tied with increased well-being. Additionally, researchers have called for interventions that highlight the role of ethnic-racial socialization in minority populations, as this process is connected with a secure ethnic-racial identity. I answer these calls by reviewing current research, leading to the creation of ethnic-racial socialization mapping as an identity intervention. In chapter 1, I explore how ethnic-racial identity and ethnic-racial socialization has been conceptualized, as well …

Digital Literacy Education In The Industrial Revolution 4.0 In Alquran Primary School Students, Nofha Rina Mrs, Jenny Ratna Suminar Ph.D, Ninis Agustini Damayani Ph.D, Hanny Hafiar Ph.D

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The development of the world at this time has entered the era of the industrial revolution 4.0 and has an effect on human life based on information. Elementary school students as alpha generation or internet generation are users who are familiar and very dependent on technology especially with social media. Research on digital literacy is still rare, especially in Indonesia. The subjects of this study are students aged 11-12 years who are active users of social media. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study method. The informants used as the sample of the study were five people …

The Tradition Of Cassava Rice Eating: Communication Patterns Of Sunda Wiwitan Indigenous Families In Cultural Heritage In Cireundeu Village, Cimahi City, West Java, Nanda Utaridah, Antar Venus, Atwar Bajari, Dadang Suganda

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

The people of Cireundeu Village are known to hold firm Sundanese wiwitan customs and traditions of ancestral heritage that contain local wisdom. The tradition of eating cassava rice has been carried out by indigenous peoples for a hundred years since 1918 for generations. The process of introducing and applying the tradition of eating cassava rice was started by this traditional family in carrying out the inheritance of giving culture to the village of Cireundeu.

This research uses a qualitative method with a case study approach to three indigenous families in Cireundeu village who have different beliefs and birthplaces. As …

Communication Pattern With Sulapa Eppa In The Single-Parent Family In Makassar City, Indrayanti Indyayanti, Jenny Ratna Suminar, Ahmad Gimmy Prathama Siswadi, Yanti Setianti

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Siri’ na pesse as a philosophy of life for Bugis people who have noble values that make humans worthy of being said to be human (tau sipakatau). This value is obtained through hereditary that parents teach their children. One of the values taught by parents, known as sulappa eppa (the four main values) that parents must have as leaders in their families is primarily a single parent. This value is very important for single parents because parents are automatically examples and role models for their children.

This study applied a qualitative method with a case study approach in …

Drill Emergency Simulation As An Increase In Information And Skills Of Midwives In Carrying Out Assistance To Mothers And Newborns A Case Study In Karawang Regional Hospital, Siti Nursanti, Susanne Dida, Irvan Afriandi, Mien Hidayat

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Health professional’s skillin helping maternal emergency cases isa critical factor contributing to maternal and sudden infant death. Expanding Maternal and Neonatal Survival programs, therefore,initiateda training so-called emergency drill simulation. This research aims to find the effectivity of midwiferycommunication strategy in the emergency drill simulation forsharpening partnership and expertise of the midwifery in a groupdealing with childbirth emergency. This research uses qualitative methodand a case study as an approach. The informants of this research are the head division of customer care, head of the delivery room, and the paramedic mentor of Expanding Maternal Neonatal Survival in Karawang Regional Hospital. The research …

Communication Strategies Of Civil Society Forums To Reduce Maternal Mortality And Infant Mortality In Karawang District, Siti Nursanti, Irvan Afriandi, Susanne Dida, Mien Hidayat

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The high number of maternal and infant mortalities encourages the government to solve the issuecollaboratively. The program of expanding maternal and neonatal survival initiate the collaboration among society organizations that concern onmaternal and infant health through civil (madani) society forum. This research aims to comprehend the communication efforts carried outby civil society forum indecreasingthe maternal and infant mortality rate. This research usesa qualitative method of research with case study approach. The correspondents of this research are Head of the Family Health Section of Public Health Office in Karawang Regency (Dinas Kesehatan Kabutapan Karawang), Chief of Civil Society Forum, …

Communication Pattern With Sulapa Eppa In The Single-Parent Family In Makassar City, Indrayanti Indrayanti, Jenny Ratna Suminar, Ahmad Gimmy Prathama Siswadi, Yanti Setianti

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Siri’ na pesse as a philosophy of life for Bugis people who have noble values that make humans worthy of being said to be human (tau sipakatau). This value is obtained through hereditary that parents teach their children. One of the values taught by parents, known as sulappa eppa (the four main values) that parents must have as leaders in their families is primarily a single parent. This value is very important for single parents because parents are automatically examples and role models for their children.

This study applied a qualitative method with a case study approach in …

Understanding The Role Of Institutional Repository In Digital Preservation In Academic Libraries: A Review Of Literature, O. P. Saini

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

One of the leading objectives of the libraries is to provide the latest and timely information to its clientele and keep them updated with the new arrivals related to their subject areas. However, a limited storage capacity of libraries is throwing a challenge before librarians from the beginning of libraries. The latest developments in the libraries for information management, preservation, and dissemination involve a high rate of computer technologies. Institutional Repository (IR) is a new breed which has the potential to store any amount of information in little space and preserve it for a long-term perspective. Therefore, many of the …

Getting To The Heart Of It: Examining Intergenerational Sensemaking Of Heart Disease, Sarah R. Petitte

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Using Communicated Narrative Sense-Making Theory (Koenig Kellas, 2018), this study tested how grandchildren’s perceptions of risk and knowledge about heart disease in the family, as well as relational satisfaction, changed over the course of 3 weeks as a result of engaging in a storytelling experiment. Participants included 17 grandchild participants who interviewed their grandparents to tell stories about family heart health or discuss everyday events based on random assignment into a treatment or comparison group. Additionally, participants completed measures surrounding their knowledge of heart disease, relational satisfaction with their grandparent, and their perception of risk to develop heart disease in …

"I Never Expected This": Expectancy Violations And Stress In Millennials, Sarah Pogue

Honors Theses

Millennials are said to be the most stressed out age group in the United States (Coccia, & Darling, 2016). Between general life stressors and the new stress that has emerged due to the increase in technology and social communication, millennials are simply overloaded with stress from all angles. In order to communicate and make sense of this stress, most millennials find themselves discussing these stressful events with their close friends. In fact, according to Jody Koenig Kellas, Haley Kranstuber Horstman, Erin K. Willer, and Kirsten Car (2015), 95% of people tell stories about stressful events soon after they occur to …

Understanding Unconventional Methods Of Self-Disclosure In New Relationships, Brandon Lepard

Honors Theses

Previous literature on the subject of self-disclosure in new relationships has failed to go into depth about the reasons why negatively-valenced self-disclosure can draw people closer together. In this study, the impact of personality type on the relational success of unconventional methods of self-disclosure is explored. The participants of the study were eight male, caucasian college-aged students who were each individually interviewed. The results of the study show that that personality type can play a large role in the relational success of such unconventional disclosure techniques, as well as the relational trajectory. Extraverts were more likely to positively react to …

A Checklist For Mortals: Preparing For Death’S Arrival, Becky Daniel

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Professional Projects

We learn everything from our parents—how to walk, talk and treat potential life partners. Yet our culture in the United States makes it difficult to talk to our parents about death and those consequences have a real impact. Closing a loved one’s estate can stretch from months to years without proper planning. While death is constant, the death industry is not. It is ever changing. And while all lives have equal value, there are many preparations that one person may need (veteran, parent, lotto winner) while another does not. The best way to prepare for death is to know its …

Communication And Family Identity: Toward A Conceptual Model Of Family Identity And Development Of The Family Identity Inventory, Kaitlin Elizabeth Phillips

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Families serve as a primary socializing agent in the lives of individuals (Soliz & Rittenour, 2012), and the first social identity individuals have in their lives. Given the complexity and importance of identity—and family identity specifically, the goal of this study is to identify the various dimensions of family identity that scholars and practitioners should account for in their work. Through a two-study exploratory sequential mixed-method design I investigate what constructs comprise a conceptual model of family identity, and I develop a corresponding inventory of Family Identity. Through this process, I will also assess the relationships among these communicative processes, …

The Technological Factors Of Reddit: Communication And Identity On Relational Networks, Jennifer Kienzle

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The relational network reddit is one of the most popular and visited websites on a global and national (United States) level. Communication on reddit lends itself to intergroup communication in that reddit users engage with audiences from ingroup, outgroup, and mixed audience compositions. Reddit’s voting system allows for negative and positive feedback to enhance or impede on one’s message. I examine how these technological factors influence a number of communicative and identity processes: (a) identity salience, (b), identity gaps, (c) group and interpersonal evaluation, and (d) accommodative language. Drawn out of intergroup contact literature and theories about group processes and …

Evaluating Family Caregivers' Memorable Messages Of Social Support In The Context Of Cancer, Alexis Johnson

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Caring for a loved one with cancer can be physically and emotionally difficult. Research has established that social support can improve overall mental health (Albrecht & Goldsmith, 2003; Sarason et al., 1994). To understand how caregivers make sense of the supportive messages they receive and the links between those messages and caregiver well-being (e.g. stress, depression, and affect), this study used the communicated sense-making model (CSM, Koenig Kellas & Kranstuber Horstman, 2015). Specifically, the current dissertation focuses on memorable messages, as one significant form of CSM, in order to identify the understudied nature of supportive message content and the ways …

Illness Narratives Of Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus And Family Communication: A Mixed Methods Study, Katherine M. Castle

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prominent, yet under-studied autoimmune condition that is both life limiting and potentially life threatening and affects more than one million Americans, primarily women. Despite this, the disease continues to go undiagnosed and unmanaged, leading to more severe outcomes of the disease process. Though there is growing recognition of the importance of social behaviors in improving health outcomes, particularly family communication and sense-making, there is a paucity of research aimed at understanding the experience of SLE and how women make sense of the disease in family contexts. This exploratory sequential mixed methods project is framed …

7 Tips To Grow Your Rural Business With Purpose And Meaning, Connie I. Reimers-Hild, Alyssa Dye

Community Vitality Initiative Collections

No one can predict the future; however, rural entrepreneurs and business owners can use a future-focused leadership approach, which includes examining megatrends, to shape the future of their businesses. Megatrends are global shifts that influence society, the economy and the environment. The purpose of this article is to help rural entrepreneurs discover ways to grow their businesses with Living with Purpose and Meaning Megatrend.