Digital Commons Network^™

Adolescent Online Leisure, Media Literacy, Online Victimization, And Multifaceted Well-Being During Covid-19: The Role Of Parental Support, Yunqi Wang

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The rapid advancement of the internet and digital technology has provided opportunities for adolescents to conduct leisure activities online on a daily basis. However, research on adolescent technology use and mental health often highlights negative effects without carefully examining the specific mechanisms, which overlooks the complexity of effects of online behaviors on adolescent well-being and the importance of developing adolescents’ media literacy skills. Moreover, despite the crucial role of family dynamics in adolescent development, research on how parental support and involvement might affect adolescent technology use and well-being is still limited. The current study retrieved data from Programme for International …

Dreaming, Building, And Enduring Black Voices: Black Media In Omaha In The Post-Civil Rights Era, Elodie C. Galeazzi-Kelly

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation examines the purposes and roles of Black media in Omaha during the post–Civil Rights Era. It asks how African Americans and their allies in Omaha developed innovative media forms, institutions, and communication strategies to amplify Black voices, build community, and advocate for Black interests amid the rapidly shifting political and social landscape of the time. The study focuses first on three traditional forms of media (newspapers, radio, and television) and then broadens the definition of media to include key Black cultural institutions. These include a dramatic arts collective, a historical museum and archive, a memorial foundation, and an …

Exploring Racial Identity Among East And Southeast Asian Transracial Adoptees In The United States Through Communication Theory Of Identity, Brooke Marie Hoá Hornberger

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

The purpose of this study was to understand how East and Southeast Asian transracial adoptees (ESATA) in White adoptive families conceptualize and communicate their racial identity. ESATAs endure various challenges surrounding race that makes it important to understand how ESATAs understand their racial identity, the tensions they might experience, and how they management the tensions surrounding racial identity. Using the theoretical framework Communication Theory of Identity (Hecht, 1993), 25 ESATAs were interviewed about different frames of identity and potential identity gaps they experience surrounding racial identity. In addition, ESATAs were asked about how they communicatively manage identity gap tensions mapping …

Onward, Christian Soldiers: The Material Rhetoric Of Becoming Fascist In Parachurch Scouting Organizations, Madeline Aubrey Studebaker

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis provides a material rhetorical analysis of Trail Life USA and American Heritage Girls, two Christian nationalist scouting organizations that aim to renew and restore their cultural dominance across America. In examining how these programs route children’s bodies through ritual and affective indoctrination, I find that a fascist becoming underpins these groups’ (re)production of perfect, patriotic children. The first chapter discusses how boys enrolled in Trail Life USA become fascist as self-defense against American boyhood’s perceived eradication. Trail Life USA restores masculinity through rituals of autogenetic sovereignty, returns to originality through homosocial and affective intensity, and invocations of exceptional …

Longitudinal And Bidirectional Relations Between Problematic Social Media Use And Cognitive Failures, K. T. A. Sandeeshwara Kasturiratna, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

With social media becoming increasingly pervasive in our daily lives, there have been heightened concerns that the distractions caused by compulsive and problematic social media use may lead to cognitive failures. While some preliminary work have explored the link between problematic social media use and cognitive functioning, most are cross-sectional, leaving it uncertain whether cognitive failures are a precursor or consequence of problematic social media use. To address this gap, the current study examines the bidirectional relationship between problematic social media use and cognitive failures. A sample of 252 young adults completed the Problematic Social Media Use Scale and the …

How Do Ceos Communicate Their Activism For Social Change?: A Content Analysis Of Fortune 500 Ceos’ Activism Statements, Katharine E. Miller, Young Kim

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this study is to explore the social actions taken by organizational leaders in the pursuit of activism. In recent years, corporate leaders, namely CEOs, have garnered substantial public notice due to their activism and personal rhetoric around social issues, therefore attracting attention within organizational scholarship and practice. By applying the theoretical frameworks of framing, this study conducted a content analysis of activism statements (N = 199) from CEOs of Fortune 500 companies using a mixed-methods approach involving manual coding and computational methods (NVivo). By doing so, this study advances CEO activism communication research by identifying dominant …

The Guardian The Month Of August 2025, Wright State Student Body

The Guardian Student Newspaper

News articles from The Guardian for the Month of August 2025. The Guardian is the official student-run newspaper for Wright State University. It has been published regularly since March of 1965.

Assessing The Accessibility Of Queer Romance Book Covers As Digital Thumbnails: An Analysis Of Color Contrast, Colorblind Safety, And Typography Legibility, Madelynn Sare

Book Publishing Final Research Papers

This research investigates the digital accessibility of queer romance book covers displayed as thumbnails online, focusing on the balance between creative freedom, genre appeal, and inclusive cover design. Using a dataset of 100 highest-rated queer romance titles from Goodreads (2020–2024), the study evaluates accessibility by examining color contrast ratios against Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards, assessing colorblind safe design with Adobe Color, and measuring typography legibility through a custom-developed scale. Findings reveal that many covers fall short of WCAG color contrast requirements, yet a majority are colorblind safe, indicating that relatively minor design adjustments can significantly improve digital accessibility …

Perceived Leadership Behaviors And Workplace Motivation: The Predictive Role Of Generational Cohorts In The U.S. Construction Industry, Leslie D. Klinegardner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which perceived leadership behaviors predicted workplace motivation among construction workers across generational cohorts in the Greater Houston, Texas area. Grounded in self-determination theory, the research explored how transformational, transactional, and passive-avoidant leadership behaviors predicted the satisfaction and frustration of psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The analysis also considered whether leadership behaviors and generational cohort served as significant predictors of workplace motivation outcomes. The study followed a quantitative, predictive, cross-sectional design using survey methodology. Data were collected using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and the Basic Psychological Need …

Role Of Social Media Mindfulness In Combatting Fake News Propagation, Gaurav Bansal, Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah, Jason B. Thatcher

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The dissemination of fake news by social media users is a key factor in the escalation of misinformation. Research suggests that social media networks are becoming increasingly homophilic, which leads to an overreliance on social media friends that contributes to the spread of fake news. However, little is known about how social media mindfulness can reduce the sharing of fake news. To investigate this research question, we conceptualized a social media mindfulness construct and developed the social media mindfulness scale. We also hypothesize that social media mindfulness lowers overreliance on friends’ knowledge, which increases skepticism about social media news that …

Youth Attitudes Towards The Effects Of Social Media Addiction A Study On University Students In The United Arab Emirates, Fokiya Akhtar, Fawzia Abdulla Alali

All Works

Objectives: This study aims to understand youth’s attitudes toward the effects of social media usage and its risk factors. It also investigates the impact of social media addiction on youth, and determines the mediating factors in this relationship, such as ‘FOMO’ (fear of missing out) and nocturnal social media usage. Methods :For the purpose of this research, 327 university students were surveyed using the Social Media Addiction Scale, the FOMO Scale, the Nocturnal Social Media Use Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Index Scale. Results: The results reveal statistically significant correlations between high social media usage and adverse effects on mental …

The Impact Of Culture And Language On Internal Communication And Patient Care In Small To Medium-Sized Black Immigrant-Owned Healthcare Practices In Texas., Chisom Nwosu

Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored how cultural competency in small to medium-sized Black immigrant-owned healthcare practices in Texas affects internal communication and patient care. Through semi-structured interviews with nine clinical and administrative leaders in Dallas and Houston, five themes emerged: culturally competent leadership, intentional communication structures, language and interpretation practices, patient-centered cultural sensitivity, and the use of technology for adaptation. Findings suggest that culturally aware leadership and inclusive communication strategies foster team cohesion and improve patient trust and care. Participants reported adapting workflows to meet religious, language, and communication needs through human and technological tools. The study underscores embedding cultural …

Popular Culture As Conduit: Navigating Integrated Marketing Communication In An Age Of Hyperconsumerism, Abbey N. Mccann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the discipline and practice of integrated marketing communication, acknowledging the limitations inherent in analyzing a field deeply embedded in the structures of hyperconsumption. This inquiry adopts a constructive hermeneutic approach, interpreting the dialectical tensions that define integrated marketing communication. These tensions include that between commercial imperatives and cultural critiques, which are further complicated by the influence of popular culture and shifting political climates. As popular culture increasingly intersects with sociopolitical discourse, brands are compelled to navigate these dynamics publicly. This evolving landscape reshapes consumer perceptions and brand strategies, reinforcing integrated marketing communication’s role as both a cultural …

Breaking Barriers, Building Realities: Designing A Pedagogically Sound Onboarding Process For Immersive Media Classroom Integration, Esperanza B. Martinez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

As immersive media technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) continue to gain traction in education, the need for a roadmap for educators to adopt these new learning technologies in a manner that enhances student learning increases. This project explores essential elements of an effective onboarding process for extended reality (XR)-enabled learning environments, focusing the recommendations for an anonymous virtual reality lab located at a public, 4-year university in Southern California. The study analyzes interviews from twelve students experiencing VR for the first time under three different onboarding contexts: no onboarding, Meta’s First Steps …

Promoting Understanding Of Soft Power Theory : A Case Study Of Confucius Institutes Along The Belt And Road, Dan Yang

Lingnan Theses (Doctoral degree)

This dissertation explores the function of Confucius Institutes (CI) as key tools within China’s soft power approach, particularly in the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It provides a detailed and empirically based analysis of how these institutes operate within various national contexts. Drawing upon Joseph Nye’s soft power theory and supported by literature on public diplomacy, this study assesses the ways in which CIs translate cultural, linguistic, and educational assets into international influence. Despite the rapid expansion of CIs globally, their actual effectiveness in achieving cultural diplomacy and tangible soft power outcomes remains uncertain. Advocates emphasize the …

Bystanders Intervening During Acts Of Cyberbullying: Examining The Moderating Influence Of “Likes” And Pleas For Help, Joseph Kallman

Student Theses

Abstract

Cyberbullying research has only recently begun exploring “cyberstanders,” also known as bystanders, and their role in cyberbullying, as well as testing the bystander effect (Barlinska et al., 2013; Machackova et al., 2013; Obermaier et al., 2016; Shultz et al., 2014). In the current study, we aim to deepen our understanding of the bystander effect by manipulating the number of likes, which will indicate the number of bystanders present and the plea for help on social media via Twitter among college students, by examining how participants respond to fictitious cyberbullying incidents. The results of this study did not support our …

Effects Of Cultural Diversity On Project Performance, Likhith Somalaraju

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

Cultural diversity emerged as a critical factor influencing team dynamics and performance in contemporary project environments. With globalization reshaping the structure of project teams, understanding how cultural diversity affected project outcomes was essential for project managers and organizations. This qualitative study examined the relationship between cultural diversity and project performance within diverse organizational settings. Specifically, the study explored how aspects of cultural diversity such as ethnicity, nationality, language, and values influenced project outcomes measured in terms of schedule adherence, budget compliance, quality standards, and stakeholder satisfaction. The research was grounded in Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory and Social Identity Theory, which …

Carrying Light In The Shadows: Four Portraits Of Critical Literacy Teacher Agency In Unlikely Contexts, Cassandra Schroeder

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This qualitative study utilizes portraiture methodology to explore how educators in politically conservative and predominantly White schools enact critical literacy teacher agency. Using a theoretical lens of critical literacy and second-wave Whiteness studies, this research examines the lived experiences and instructional moves of four veteran English/language arts teachers. Through cross-case analysis, the study traces how teacher agency is contextually responsive and dependent on their professional identity, awareness of sociopolitical issues, and traditional school curricular expectations. The findings highlight how educators assess risk, navigate community norms, and maintain critical literacy through dialogic pedagogy and strategic adaptation. The four teachers in the …

Seeking Existential Meaning In The “Sea Of Trees:” A Qualitative Exploration In The Depths Of Japan’S Aokigahara “Suicide” Forest, Sophia Bates

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This thesis explores the intercultural perceptions of suicidality and the role that these perceptions have on meaning of life in Japanese culture through an exploratory, autoethnographic analysis of my journey walking through Japan’s Aokigahara “suicide” Forest. In June 2024, I traveled to Fujikawaguchiko, Japan to conduct an autoethnographic analysis of my experiences walking through Aokigahara Forest using shinrin-yoku and mindful walking (Jung, 2014) as supplemental research methodologies to make empirical observations and take notes on my journey walking through suicide forest as an embodied sensory experience. Drawing upon the research and ideas of cultural anthropologist and existential philosopher Ernest Becker, …

Language Barriers In Accessing Healthcare Services For Refugees In The United States, Sadaf Khuram

Communication & Theatre Arts Theses

Accessing healthcare is a pivotal aspect of refugees' integration into their host countries and significantly impacts their long-term health outcomes. The literature emphasizes the critical role of language proficiency in overcoming communication barriers within healthcare settings. This thesis, however, challenges the assumption that addressing language barriers alone is universally sufficient. It argues that the importance of language solutions is context-dependent, varying with the design of healthcare systems and the diverse needs and backgrounds of refugees. In some cases, focusing primarily on language barriers can divert resources from other critical areas, particularly when healthcare facilities have limited capacities or when services …

Abundance Of Gratitude, Renee Kaufmann

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Editor's note

Theorizing With Purpose: A Five-Step Approach To Motivate And Guide Students In Communication Theory Courses, Weixu Lu

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This study addresses the challenges of effectively teaching communication theories to undergraduate students by highlighting the gap between the need for developing higher-order, transferrable knowledge and the learning needs of novice learners. To bridge this gap, it introduces a novel five-step model integrating motivation, direct instruction, revisiting, assessing, and invention steps into the teaching process. Assessment results from two semesters were compared to evaluate the efficacy of this model, showing significant improvements in students’ comprehension of communication theories, ability to theorize communication phenomena, and proficiency in formulating research questions based on theoretical insights. These findings suggest the potential of the …

If It Walks Like A Duck: Self-Identification, Definition, And Experiences Of Non-Traditional Doctoral Students In The Communication Discipline, Laura C. Bruns, Sara V.A. Kaufman, Ana Lisa Padron Eberline, Meredith L. Pruden, Erin Perry, Elise P. Taylor, Deborah J. Danuser

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This study aimed to understand experiences of nontraditional doctoral students pursuing their PhD in Communication. Although the term “nontraditional student” exists in the literature (Cox & Ebbers, 2010; Stone & O’Shea, 2019), there is little consensus about demographics of nontraditional doctoral students (NTDS), nor their experiences navigating these programs. Using qualitative, thematic analysis of survey responses (n = 52), this critical mixed-method study found three themes— age, experience, and education gap—as defining identity factors, barriers, and benefits. Participants described themselves as nontraditional due to different lived experiences from graduate peers, resulting in feelings of “Otherness” within their programs. These findings …

Communicatively Enhancing Belonging By Meeting The Motivations Of First-Generation College Students In The Classroom, Miles C. Coleman, Brooke Hoffman, Angela Cirucci

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

First-generation college students’ (FGCS) experiences can be accompanied by lower senses of belonging when compared to continuing-generation college students (CGCS). This article explores some instructional communication best practices for supporting belongingness by meeting the motivations of FGCS with phrasings, framings, and designs of course content that might cultivate resonance with that which drives students. Specifically, strategies are discussed for meeting the motivations of FGCS as they might be shaped by imposter syndrome, negative affect, and orientations toward upward mobility.

Rigor And Academic (Re)Socialization: The Faculty Role In Student Success Curriculum, Kendra Knight, Stephanie Grau, Elissa Foster, Jay Baglia

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

In the post-pandemic learning era, communication faculty experience tensions among expectations for flexibility, sensitivity to students’ well-being, and our commitment to the academic rigor of our courses. These tensions, we argue, may be resolved through offering academic (re)socialization as a stand-alone element of the communication curriculum. This essay explicates the development and implementation of a for-credit workshop-style course aimed at bridging gaps in student academic capital laid bare by the COVID-19 learning crisis. “Communication Fundamentals for College Success” is a collaborative effort among six communication instructors to support practical and socio-emotional skills that undergird students’ transdisciplinary intellectual growth. We reflect …

Rethinking The Reach Of The Basic Course: Diversity And Interdisciplinarity As Catalysts For Reinvigorating The Foundations Of The Discipline, Narissra Maria Punyanunt-Carter, Sydney E. Brammer, Ryan J. Martinez

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Communication scholars have significantly advanced knowledge across various subjects and in basic course classrooms, yet face obstacles in conveying their importance to students and wider communities. Challenges like COVID-19 disruptions, inadequate teacher pipelines, and limited diversity in education hinder interdisciplinary communication, leading to insufficient funding and support. Neglecting diversity perpetuates systemic inequalities, limiting perspectives in syllabuses. Advocating for inclusivity and exploring practical implications of communication, such as organizational communication and societal engagement, enhances the field’s value. Prioritizing research with theoretical and practical implications, particularly in diversity, equity, and inclusion, empowers marginalized voices and promotes understanding. Embracing these efforts ensures communication …

Critical Communication Pedagogy At The End Of The World, Tyler S. Rife

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This essay draws upon my experiences teaching the undergraduate course, “Communication at the End of the World,” to argue for an approach to critical communication pedagogy (CCP) contextualized by and reflexively responsive to planetary-scale ecological crises. I outline how five commitments have come to guide my classroom’s explorations through our topic of “end-times” communication: (1) Anthropocentrism and speciesism participate in the maintenance of social hierarchy; (2) environmental justice and social justice are intimately entangled projects; (3) ecological crisis is (re)made concrete, embodied, proximal, and implicative; (4) critique of language involves critique of humanism and humanist historicization; and, (5) ecologically just …

Editor’S Note: Toward A Transgressive Communication Pedagogy: Reflections And Directions In/For Dark Times, Lionnell Smith

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This essay introduces a special section marking the 30th anniversary of bell hooks’s Teaching to Transgress, exploring its relevance within the current sociopolitical climate marked by intensified assaults on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in education. Grounded in hooks’s vision of education as a practice of freedom, this essay proposes a framework of transgressive communication pedagogy— an approach that champions radical love, political agency, and open dialogue to resist hegemonic educational structures. The featured contributions in this section examine transgressive practices across diverse contexts: community-based intercultural teaching, intersectional identity work, support for Black students in minority-serving institutions, decolonial approaches to …

Teaching To Transgress In Intercultural Communication Contexts In Utah: A Plática Approach, Leandra H. Hernández, Sidi Meyara, Stevie Munz

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Reflecting on legislative changes in Utah and their implications for teaching topics related to social justice, this plática explores the challenges and the possibilities that exist in our pursuit of liberatory pedagogy. Relying on the work of bell hooks and Chicana feminist scholars, we argue that despite the challenges posed by restrictions to DEI, educators should rely on critical communication pedagogical approaches to promote transparency and intentionality, model vulnerability, build community relationality, and recognize our collective humanity. Recognizing teaching as an embodied experience, we argue through engaging in self-reflection and relying on critical pedagogical approaches, we are able to equip …

Transgressing Media History, Ashley R. Kennard

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Traditional Mass Media History courses serve to uphold the status quo. Born out of the white supremacist, capitalist patriarchy, the myth of the inventor provides a powerful example of one of the ways these traditional ideologies and pedagogies persist. However, through building community, being vulnerable, co-constructing knowledge, including diversity, and rewriting history, a counter- hegemonic, transgressive approach to teaching communication history in the spirit of bell hooks is possible. This starts by creating transformative and inclusive communication classrooms that serve to dismantle the myth of the inventor.