Digital Commons Network^™

Eyecom: An Innovative Approach For Computer Interaction, Anam Mazhar

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The world is innovating rapidly, and there is a need for continuous interaction with the technology. Sadly, there do not exist promising options for paralyzed people to interact with the machines i.e., laptops, smartphones, and tabs. A few commercial solutions such as Google Glasses are costly and cannot be afforded by every paralyzed person for such interaction. Towards this end, the thesis proposes a retina-controlled device called EYECOM. The proposed device is constructed from off-the-shelf cost-effective yet robust IoT devices (i.e., Arduino microcontrollers, Xbee wireless sensors, IR diodes, and accelerometer). The device can easily be mounted on to the glasses; …

Effects Of Physiological Arousal On Speech Motor Control And Speech Motor Practice In Preschool-Age Children Who Do And Do Not Stutter, Victoria Tumanova, Carly Woods, Qiu Wang

Communication Sciences and Disorders - All Scholarship

Purpose: We examined the effects of physiological arousal on speech motor control and speech motor practice effects in preschool-age children who do (CWS) and do not stutter (CWNS). Method: Participants included 18 CWS (mean age 4 years, 5 months) and 18 age- and gender-matched CWNS. The participants repeated a phrase “buy bobby a puppy” interspersed with viewing pictures from the International Affective Picture System under two experimental conditions speaking after viewing pictures with (1) negative, and (2) neutral valence. Participants’ lip movements were tracked using Optotrak system. The spatio-temporal index (STI; Smith, Goffman, Zelaznik, Ying & McGillem, 1995) and mean …

Caregivers’ Perceptions Of Slp Talk About Child Language And Literacy Disorders, Karmen Porter Ph.D., Janna B. Oetting, Loretta Pecchioni

Communication Sciences & Disorders Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study examined caregiver perceptions of their child’s language and literacy disorder as influenced by communications with their speech-language pathologist (SLP).

Method: The participants were 12 caregivers of 10 school-aged children with language and literacy disorders. Employing qualitative methods, a collective case study approach was utilized in which the caregiver(s) of each child represented one case. The data came from semi-structured interviews, codes emerged directly from the caregivers’ responses during the interviews, and multiple coding passes using ATLAS.ti software were made until themes were evident. These themes were then further validated by conducting clinical file reviews and …

An Analysis Of The Amount Of Sleep And The Effects It Has On Athletic Capabilities And Routine Tasks In College Athletes, Carly Simonian, Kira Sheahan, Kylie Christensen, Darice Haywood

Concordia Journal of Communication Research

College student athletes are under a lot of pressure to accomplish all that is expected of them which may lead to other areas of their lives being neglected, including sleep. The amount of sleep a student athlete gets is crucial in their accomplishments both off and on the field. The researchers chose to investigate how the amount of sleep an athlete gets affects their day to day life. Specifically, the researchers explored the correlation between the amount of sleep an athlete got and how positively they rated their day through an online daily survey throughout a two week span of …

Reading The Myth Of American Freedom: The U.S. Immigration Video, Camille Reyes

Communication Faculty Research

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) department offers immigrants wishing to naturalize, or become citizens, a package of study aids for the citizenship test, including a video. This essay argues that the video is much more than a study aid; it furthers the myth of American freedom, a myth that effectively erases the struggles of marginalized groups. Situated within critical cultural studies and semiotics, the essay describes the content of the video and interprets the myth. The deployment of diversity is considered, along with implications for immigrants who intersect with some of the marginalized or absent groups.

Measuring The Connective Action Of Black Lives Matter Activists: A Psychometric Investigation Into Twitter Data, Paige Alfonzo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many protest movements from the last twenty-first century have become increasingly networked and personalized. Several scholars have tapped into this change coining terms such as participatory action, digitally mediated action, computer-mediated communication, issue-based organization, and what I focus on in this project, connective action. Building on the ideas percolating across the literary landscape at the time, Bennett and Segerberg (2012) introduced the logic of connective action based on emergent characteristics they observed in post-2010 large-scale social movements. Both the logic of connective action and related work have become deeply ingrained in today's social movement scholarship. As such, I felt it …

Communication And Leadership 2020: Intersectional, Mindful, And Digital, Carolyn M. Cunningham, Michael Hazel, Tracey J. Hayes

Communication & Leadership Faculty Scholarship

The article discusses the history of leadership studies and its more recent interdisciplinary integration with the communication field. It also provides an overview of relevant issues for leaders and communicators in the 21st century. Topics discussed relevant to communication and leadership contexts include the development of leadership theories, leadership and communication, gender research in leadership and communication, intersectionality, media representations, mindfulness research and application, digital communication, social movements, protest leadership, women and protest leadership, social media and crisis management, and social media and public health.

Romantic Rejection In Gay Potential Relationships: A Gay Blog Analysis, Rebecca Ferlotti

Masters Theses

Little research has been done on gay potential relationships (when two daters had gone on five or fewer dates or would-be dates), and there was no existing research available on romantic rejection in gay potential relationships. Most existing literature on romantic rejection focused on heterosexual relationships and long-term homosexual relationships. This thesis analyzed 48 blog entries from four publicly-accessible gay dating blogs ( The Guyliner ; It Gets Worse ; Gay Dating Stories ; and 100 Guys, 100 Storie s) that described romantic rejections. This thesis concluded romantic rejections for the four gay bloggers overall were most frequently implicit, due …

Illegitimate Control: An Acknowledgement Of False White Supremacy (2020-2021), Whitman Ives

CPN 101: Researched Inquiry

This research inquiry introduces a timely conversation on racism, cultural appropriation, and white supremacy. Ives’ argument is that the root cause of cultural appropriation and racism can be traced to a negative and false history of white supremacy. In other words, white culture has been founded and perpetuated based on power-seeking behavior, of which racism is more a symptom. Ives asserts that it is important to acknowledge that white culture is based on false assumptions of supremacy and to address that more systematically rather than addressing only individual events or instances of racism.

Sex, Gender, Sexual Assault, And Rape On The Red Pill: A Thematic And Linguistic Analysis, Walker Talton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The digital space has offered fertile new territory to connect with like-minded individuals and discuss anything and everything. This has resulted in the creation of the Manosphere, a collection of men concerned about the state of men and masculinity and how society views and treats men. One of the places online this community has found a home is the popular website Reddit, which offers the ability to create individual pages in which communities can form around and discuss and share information on almost any topic they desire. This study aimed to investigate the ways in which one community on Reddit, …

Pathways To African Feminism And Development, Mwangi Anna Petkova, Mbugua Rosemary, Muleka Joseph, Carter Phillis, Gunde Anthony, Chika Ubendu, Sulaiman Lanre, George Nyabuga

Graduate School of Media and Communications

The African Women Studies Centre is a training, research, evidence-based policy, advocacy and lobbying institution of the University of Nairobi. The Centre is committed to promoting African Women’s experiences and worldview in scholarship, policy and institutional development. Among the Centre’s publications are - The Beginnings; Rebuilding the Broken African Pot; Gender and Policy Analysis Tools; Making Women’s Perspectives Count in Policy Development and Implementation; and Status Report on the Kenya National Food Security. In the spirit of the multi-disciplinary nature of the AWSC, Pathways to African Feminism and Development promotes African women’s studies in all aspects of scholarship and development. …

Expectation Versus Reality: Star Trek, Nyota Uhura, And The Female Role, Cecelia Otto-Griffiths

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In a media saturated world, there is an abundance of stereotypes perpetuated for women. Since the late 1960’s, however, Star Trek has been one example of how television and film can challenge stereotypes and what is considered normal. This study sought to understand the extent of change in how women’s physical and role representations are presented through the artifact of Lt. Uhura in the 1979 film Star Trek: The Motion Picture and the 2016 film Star Trek: Beyond. Using feminist theory as a lens to conduct a content analysis of these films, this study used frequently identified “feminine” characteristics in …

Bisexuality, Intersectionality, And The Bechdel Test In Jane The Virgin, Catherine E. Mallory Ms.

Communication Senior Capstones

Abstract

For this project I have looked at the show Jane the Virgin through a critical lens, and analyzed the characters in the show, the stereotypes portrayed about Latino culture, the stereotypes towards bisexuality, how intersectionality is involved, and the Bechdel-Wallace test. Throughout this paper I will examine a few specific characters and look at how stereotypes, of certain kinds, are portrayed, and how others are completely turned on it’s head. I apply terms such as intersectionality, stereotype, and sexuality to the characters and what they go through, throughout the course of the show. I have found that there are …

Mankind, Humans, Congressman: It’S All Inclusive, Right Guys?, Rachael Thacker

Communication Senior Capstones

This paper takes a look at research surrounding the use of gendered language and how it impacts occupations and careers from ages as young as grade school, and all the way into adulthood. The use of gender-fair language creates a more gender inclusive attitude towards traditionally male occupations. The masculine generic language used in our culture perpetuates gender stereotypes among children as young as six and continues on into adulthood. Changing the language to include both women and men allows for both to self-identify beyond the stereotypical occupations and see themselves as successful. This can be seen in how children …

Black Historical Erasure: A Critical Comparative Analysis In Rosewood And Ocoee, Christelle Ram

Honors Program Theses

This thesis provides a comparative analysis of Black Historical Erasure in both the cases of Ocoee and Rosewood. Ocoee and Rosewood were both cites of racially motivated programs that led to the exodus of entire African American communities- in both cases however, the events were erased. Utilizing various post-modern texts, this project ultimately analyzes erasure as a force that upholds ideologies of white supremacy. Utilizing the theories of Antonio Gramsci and Karl Marx, this thesis analysis the modus operandi of violence that resulted in erasure as well as the repercussions of erasure. This thesis ultimately indicates that in Rosewood and …

Feminazis And Social Justice Warriors: Gender And Rhetoric Is Superhero Film Fan Culture, Shelby Miksch

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.

Social Justice Scholarship Informing Visual Communication Practices, Alicia Campbell

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

My discussion hinges on the groundwork of social justice as integral to the field of technical and professional communication (TPC) with an understanding of the importance of visual communication; ultimately, I seek to understand the intersections of Social Justice and Visual Communication within the field of Technical Communication. Based on this research, I develop a heuristic that allows technical communicators to critically analyze their visual communication efforts, specifically infographics, for advocacy/social justice.

Examining Communication Patterns And Identity In Families With Children Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Amber L. Alvey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

“Deafness in the context of the hearing family attacks the backbone of the family structure, namely communication” (Ahlert & Greeff, 2012, p. 402). There is a link between communication and identity, specifically the role of communication on identity (Jung & Hecht, 2004). The purpose of this study is to better understand the experiences of families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing by investigating the relationship between family communication patterns and identity. In this study, I conducted in-depth interviews with the parents of children who are hard of hearing to investigate family communication patterns and identity. Using Family …

The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary: An Exploration Of Changing The Discourse On Conservation, Arielle Ben-Hur

Pitzer Senior Theses

In 2015, the Northern Chumash Tribal Council submitted a National Marine Sanctuary Nomination to establish the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary– a means by which to ensure the protection of one of the most culturally and biologically diverse coastlines in the world. On October 5, 2015, John Armor of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) responded to the nomination, adding it to the inventory of areas NOAA may consider in the future for national marine sanctuary designation.

In my thesis, I explore how the nomination of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary acts as a platform from which Traditional …

The Impact Of United States Of America College Education On The Japanese Students’ Keigo Toward Their Senpai, Manami Matsuoka

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of the study is to research whether studying abroad experiences in the United States of America affect keigo usage of Japanese college students toward senpai. 58 Japanese college students in Japan and the United States of America completed a 25-item survey. Honorifics usage of both Japanese college students in Japan and international Japanese students in the United States were tested. The Results revealed that study abroad experiences influenced/changed international Japanese students’ original communication style and keigo usage toward senpai.

How International Students From African Countries Use Digital Text, Nadia Boahemaa Kyeremeh

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This Thesis critically examines how international students from African countries use digital text across disciplines in a four-year university in the United States. The goal of this study is to explore ways in which international students' challenges with digital text can be alleviated. Critical Consciousness Theory and Critical race theories are used as a theoretical framework which fosters a better understanding of international students' previous experience with digital text and the challenges faced when using digital text. Data collected through interviews indicate that international students' struggles with digital text are much more complex than the average student because they have …

Communication Technology Intention To Use And Use By Cognitively Intact Long-Term Nursing Home Residents, Amy M. Schuster

Theses and Dissertations--Gerontology

The goal of this dissertation was to gain an in depth understanding of intention to use and use of communication technology (CT) by long-term cognitively intact nursing home residents. This study also explored the value of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) as a framework for investigating the CT use of long-term cognitively intact nursing home residents. A convergent mixed methods design was used to gather data through semi-structured interviews, a nursing home resident communication technology checklist, a modified UTAUT questionnaire, the UCLA loneliness scale 10 item version, and the self-rated health scale. Participants (n …

Information, Politics And Government Communication : Discourse Analyses Of The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency On Twitter, Nicolau Depaula

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Government communication is an important activity for society, during times of calm and times of crises. Moreover, social media have become widespread information and communication technologies for government agencies around the world. In the U.S. federal government alone, there are thousands of accounts on various platforms broadcasting multiple messages a day. However, there seems to be few analyses of government discourse on social media. Although content analyses of the posts of various types of government agencies around the world abound, the categories are narrow to specific events or are agnostic about details of semantics and language structure. In this study …

Just Post It: A Critical Discourse Analysis On Nike’S Instagram, Jillian Cataldo

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Emoco: Visual Analysis Of Emotion Coherence In Presentation Videos, Haipeng Zeng, Xingbo Wang, Aoyu Wu, Yong Wang, Quan Li, Alex Endert, Huamin Qu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Emotions play a key role in human communication and public presentations. Human emotions are usually expressed through multiple modalities. Therefore, exploring multimodal emotions and their coherence is of great value for understanding emotional expressions in presentations and improving presentation skills. However, manually watching and studying presentation videos is often tedious and time-consuming. There is a lack of tool support to help conduct an efficient and in-depth multi-level analysis. Thus, in this paper, we introduce EmoCo, an interactive visual analytics system to facilitate efficient analysis of emotion coherence across facial, text, and audio modalities in presentation videos. Our visualization system features …

Strategies To Mitigate Negative Social Media Communications In Collegiate Athletics, Jennifer A. Parks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Harmful social media communications in collegiate athletics are challenging, compelling athletic administrators to implement strategies to mitigate costly damage to the university. Grounded in framing theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies some collegiate athletic administrators use to mitigate negative social media communications by their student-athletes and coaches that may cause problems resulting in reputational damage to the brand, negative publicity, financial loss, sanctions, and fines for the university or college. Participants were 4 collegiate athletic administrators located in the southeastern United States, who had a social media policy and strategies to successfully mitigate …

"Good Job, But Bulgarian": Identifying "Bulgarian-Ness" Through Cultural Discourse Analysis, Nadezhda Sotirova

Communication, Media, and Rhetoric Publications

By using cultural discourse analysis and ethnography, naturally occurring talk and interviews were examined for local constructions of “Bulgarian-ness” in order to formulate explicit and implicit cultural propositions about being “Bulgarian,” and cultural premises about being (“Bulgarian-ness” as problematic) and emotion (anger, frustration) as connected. This article illustrates the notion of the phrase as a local cultural symbol within Bulgarian discourse that evokes deep cultural meanings for a way of being (“Bulgarian-ness” and the West/East dichotomy), emotions (frustration, hopelessness), and a social world (the “Bulgarian situation”) as continuously negotiated in relation to conceptualizations of “Balkanism.”

Viral Stories In Spanish And English: A Qualitative Analysis Of Narrative Perceptions Regarding Infant Immunizations Across Major Ethno-Linguistic Communities, Zeynep H. Elshaer

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The intent of this thesis is to analyze the varying perceptions among Hispanic (Spanish-speaking) and Anglophone communities regarding vaccines and more specifically infant immunization practices, in order to identify common or diverging patterns of communication, information dissemination, and narrative discourse. Currently, medical messaging and health policy is largely formulated without thorough attention to the different ways diverse or minority ethno-linguistic communities may interpret the information, thereby leading to deficiencies in effective communication practices between individuals and healthcare providers or policymakers, and outright opposition between informal and formal public health messaging. This evaluation was conducted in order to broaden the current …

The Mothman And Other Strange Tales: Shaping Queer Appalachia Through Folkloric Discourse In Online Social Media Communities, Brenton Watts

Theses and Dissertations--Linguistics

Little work has been conducted on the intersections of queer and Appalachian identities, in part because these two identities are viewed as incompatible (Mann 2016). This study uses a multimodal critical discourse analytic approach to examine the Instagram posts of the Queer Appalachia Project, which represent a substantial body of discourse created by and for queer Appalachians. Of specific interest to this analysis are those posts which employ folkloric figures, such as West Virginia’s Mothman, to do identity work that is queer, Appalachian, and queer-Appalachian. Often, this act is accomplished through juxtaposition with Appalachian imagery and the reclamation of homophobic …

The Development Of A Couple Observational Coding System For Computer-Mediated Communication, Martha S. Rackets

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

Many romantic couples integrate text and computer-mediated communication (CMC) into their relationship dynamics, both for general relationship maintenance and for complex dynamics such as problem solving and conflict. Romantic couple dynamics are interactional, dynamic, and sequenced in nature, and a common method for studying interactions of this nature is observational analyses. However, no behavioral or observational coding systems exist that are able to capture text-based transactional couple communication. The main purpose of this dissertation was to develop an observational coding system that can be used to assess sequenced computer- mediated, text-based communication that takes place between romantic partners. This process …