Digital Commons Network^™

Digital Identity Negotiation: How International Students Balance Home And Host Country Ideals On Social Networking Sites, Oluchi Ikwuakam

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Minority groups, including people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, various ethnicities or races, gender non-conforming individuals, and others who are not part of the societal majority, face daily challenges due to unequal access to digital technology. From elementary school through college, the gap between students with better access to digital tools and those without becomes evident in how these technologies are used in classrooms. International students, who may be a majority group in their home country, become part of a minority in their host country as they seek better educational opportunities. These technologies, such as social networking sites, often reflect the …

The Roots Of Womanism As Identity, Empowerment, And Liberation For Black American Women: Raciolinguistic Genealogical Exploration, Shante Noel Millercent Morgan

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Black American women intellectuals, activists, and scholars have grappled with womanism in relation to Black women’s presence in the world, particularly in the context of feminist and Black liberation movements. Since womanism was introduced more than four decades ago, both movements claimed Black women were a priority in theory and rhetoric but often excluded them in practice. For this reason, this dissertation examines womanist thought as a source of identity, empowerment, and liberation for Black American women. I employed two methods to investigate womanist thought that align with a qualitative inquiry: genealogy focus and raciolinguistic genealogy analysis. I conducted a …

2025, 2(21)

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

Full Issue 2025, 2(21)

Area Of Effect The History And Effects Of Linguistic Choices Made In The Final Fantasy Franchise, Camille Mcdermott

Theses and Dissertations

The Final Fantasy franchise, a seminal role-playing game (RPG) series, has captivated a global audience since its inception in 1987. This thesis, titled "Area of Effect: The History and Effects of Linguistic Choices Made in the Final Fantasy Franchise," explores the intricate use of language that has shaped the series' identity and influenced its worldwide fanbase. The linguistic landscape of Final Fantasy is as diverse and dynamic as its fantastical worlds, evolving from simple text boxes to fully voiced narratives. This study examines the historical context and evolving linguistic choices throughout the series, highlighting how these decisions enrich the gaming …

Vaccines And Publics: A Variety Of Engagement Experiences, David H. Lee

Publications and Research

This chapter is about some of the sites and scenes where members of the public are exposed to (and engage in) vaccination discourse. To preview, after a brief introduction, we begin with messaging models of communication, followed by the move from messaging to engagement. Next, case examples of public engagement with vaccines are introduced, from pandemic influenza preparedness in the U.S., to polio eradication initiatives in India, and then to COVID-19 public engagement events in England. Settings of public engagement are noted, including online, in churches and museums. Then, there’s a section about communication and public participation, seen as either …

Precipitation, Perceptions, And Participation: An Analysis Of Individual Perceptions Of Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority's Cloud Seeding Pilot Program And Suggestions For Public Outreach And Communications, Rachel A. Rowlee

Pitzer Senior Theses

Cloud seeding is a form of weather modification intended to increase the amount of precipitation by introducing a seeding agent. The Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA) has implemented a four-year cloud seeding pilot program utilizing silver iodide as a seeding agent during rain storm events. Over the last year, SAWPA received various feedback, much of which exists in the social media realm. This research consists of open-ended interviews with water resource managers, SAWPA employees, and individuals expressing disapproval of the program on social media and Instagram comment analyses. Interview and comment analyses are put into conversation with the theory …

Resilience And Reality: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of People Living With Hiv In Texas During The Covid-19 Pandemic – A Qualitative Study., Ahmed F. Alanazi

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study investigated the lived experiences of individuals living with HIV (PLWH) in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area of Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework. The research examined the intersection of health, social dynamics, and psychological resilience among PLWH, who faced compounded vulnerabilities due to systemic inequities and the dual public health crises of HIV and COVID-19. Through semi-structured interviews with ten participants from diverse backgrounds, the study captured the profound impacts of disrupted healthcare systems, heightened stigma, and social isolation on this marginalized population. The findings reveal that the pandemic exacerbated existing inequities …

The Rise Of Influencer Marketing And Its Implications On Kenyan Legacy Media Houses' Revenues, Stephen Onjwaya Mbego

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

The growth of social media influencers popularity has substantially disrupted traditional media and advertising landscapes, redefining audience engagement, brand marketing strategies, and revenue streams for legacy media houses. This study investigates the implications of influencer marketing on Kenyan legacy media, exploring shifts in audience preferences, financial impacts, and factors influencing advertisers toward influencer marketing. Building on the disruptive innovation theory and qualitative data from interviews with media professionals, influencers, advertisers, and audiences, the study reveals a fundamental shift in content consumption and advertising dynamics. Findings show that social media influencers thrive in direct audience engagement, authenticity, and niche targeting, catering …

Media Coverage Of The Closure Of The Rwanda-Uganda Border In The Period 2019-2022., Irigoga Charlotte

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

The media plays an important role in shaping diplomatic relations and influencing state actions. However, there is limited understanding of media coverage of the closures of the Rwanda-Uganda border. This study sought to investigate media coverage of the closure of the Rwanda-Uganda border closure in the period 2019-2022. It applied Critical Discourse Analysis and Framing Theory as its theoretical framework. Through content analysis of the media coverage from this period and in-depth interviews with journalists from the Daily Monitor in Uganda and the New Times in Rwanda, the study investigated how each newspaper created narratives. The study found that while …

Examining Ethics In New Media, Anthony Irungu Mwangi

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

Podcasting has become a popular form of new media in Kenya, providing a platform for sharing diverse topics. However, the minimal regulatory oversight in podcasting and the involvement of individuals with limited journalistic training have raised ethical concerns. This study, guided by Social Responsibility Theory, explores ethical awareness among Kenyan podcasters, the relationship between ethical practices and audience engagement, and the prevalence of ethical breaches in podcast content. A quantitative research design, specifically descriptive design, was adopted. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, and podcast episodes were examined online. Only podcasters who are journalists and have worked or currently …

Examining The Socioemotional Outcomes Of Social Justice Efforts On Social Media Users: Evidence From The Nfl's Inspire Change Initiatives, Yoseph Z. Mamo, Justin Haegele, Christos Anagnostopoulos, Kwame Agyemang

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Despite the growing interest in social justice activities, there is a lack of empirical evidence regarding their impact on various stakeholders, particularly social media users. We gathered longitudinal data from the NFL's @inspirechange X (former Twitter) account, a designated social justice communication handle, between August 2019 and March 2023. During this timeframe, the account garnered 20,967 comments (including original tweets and retweets) from 11,481 distinct users, but our analysis focused on 5851 comments deemed usable from 3632 unique users. Drawing on the social exchange theory, sentiment analysis, and thematic analysis, this study examines social media users' sentiments toward the NFL's …

Strategy For Establishment Of A Swahili Creative Economy And Innovation Ecosystem: Kiwandeo Kreative District, Lamu, Kenya, Omar Swaleh Abubakar

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

This capstone explores the strategic establishment of the Kiwandeo Kreative District, a focal point of Swahili creative economy and innovation ecosystem in Lamu, Kenya. It examines how Lamu’s rich Swahili cultural heritage, coupled with global trends in creative economies, can drive economic transformation through the establishment of a creative district. A comprehensive literature review explores concepts such as creative districts, media leadership, partnerships, infrastructure and capacity development, highlighting best practices and identifying gaps addressed by this study. This study highlights key challenges, including lack of networking opportunities, weak policy frameworks, limited capacity development and infrastructure deficits while uncovering opportunities in …

An Analysis Of Kenya Sign Language In Children’S Programming On Kenyan Tv: Towards Effective Strategies For Incorporating Ksl On Akili Tv Programs, Anne Junny Sato

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

In Kenya, the inclusion of Kenya Sign Language (KSL) in children's programs on television holds significant potential for fostering inclusivity and accessibility for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community. However, the effective integration of KSL into children's programming requires careful planning, consideration of linguistic and cultural nuances, and utilization of appropriate strategies. This capstone project aims to analyse the utilisation of KSL in children’s TV programming and propose effective strategies for incorporating KSL in children's programs on Akili TV, a prominent television channel in Kenya. Drawing from linguistic theories, such as Chomsky's Language Acquisition Device (LAD), and global …

An Assessment Of Participation And Contribution Of Women Journalists In News Processes: A Case Of Vision Group, Uganda, Caroline Arinaitwe

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

This research assesses the participation and contribution of women in news processes at Vision Group, Uganda. Through a descriptive survey design, the study employs In-depth interviews and newsroom observations to achieve its objectives. These objectives include assessing women journalists' participation and contribution to news processes, Identifying if any gaps in the news production process would hinder the nurturing and promotion of gender-sensitive content and the viability and effectiveness of establishing a Gender desk to promote and nurture gender-sensitive content to stem the flagging audiences. The findings reveal that women's limited contribution and participation at the content-gathering level for news, politics, …

An Analysis Of The User-Needs For Premium Content Subscribers: The Case Monitor Publications Limited, Emmanuel Mutaizibwa

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

This capstone study investigated the user needs model at Monitor Publications Limited, the leading independent media house in Uganda under the Nation Media Group (NMG) stable. The study evaluated the role user needs’ in addressing audience preferences in the evolving media landscape. Using qualitative methods including document analysis, which interpreted thematic patterns in the textual data and interviews (KII) of editors and the digital analytics team, the study examined the importance of user needs as a framework that can identify peculiar preferences of audiences and the most relevant user needs dimensions that fit specific audience personas. The study probed the …

Child Labor Advocacy Through The Years, Emma Naggar

Comm-entary

No abstract provided.

The Existence Of Empathy In Photographs

Comm-entary

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Family-School Communication On Junior High School Students’ Academic Success, Stephen Junior Amoah

Masters Theses

This study examines the influence of family-school communication on students' academic success in the context of Ghana, with a particular focus on Junior High School (JHS) students. While existing research emphasizes the importance of family involvement in educational outcomes, limited studies explore how family-school communication directly affects academic success in Ghana. By using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative and qualitative data collection. The quantitative component includes an online survey distributed to JHS graduates, assessing the frequency, impact, methods, and barriers of communication between families and schools, as well as their perceived effect on academic performance. The survey includes …

Ai In Newsrooms: Assessing Perception, Challenges And Possibilities In Bangladesh’S Media Landscape, Nadia Rahman

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

With the relentless progression of technological advancements, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force across various sectors, and newsrooms are no exception. Developed nations have already integrated AI into journalistic practices, showcasing its versatility in different news functions. However, the developing nations, including Bangladesh, a south Asian nation faces challenges in catching up, marked by technological and economic disparities. As an emerging economic force Bangladesh encounters different obstacles in the adoption of AI in its media landscape. Despite the expansiveness of its media industry, the country grapples with limited technological support and inadequate training opportunities. These challenges bring up …

Addressing The "Hidden Crisis" In Doctoral Education: Identifying The (De)Motivating Effects Of Memorable Messages From A Self-Determination Theory Perspective, Alexis A. Murphy

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Although PhD students are academically capable, they paradoxically produce alarmingly high attrition rates. For several years, retention rates in PhD programs have averaged between 40% and 70% (Ames et al., 2018; Bowen & Rudenstine, 1992; Cochran et al., 2014; Gardner & GoPaul, 2012; Lovitts, 2001; Rockinson-Szapkiw & Spaulding, 2012). Scholars have presented several potential reasons that PhD students discontinue their studies, none of which include academic ability (Lovitts, 2001; Tucker, 1964; Sverdlick et al., 2018). Framed by self-determination theory (SDT), this study explores the social and communicative components of the doctoral education system by the psychological impact of memorable messages …

The Information Practices Of Undergraduates Encountering Material Objects As Information Resources In Classroom Learning Tasks, Christopher A. Miller

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Undergraduate students sometimes encounter material objects as information resources in small-group classroom learning activities. Examples include art, artifacts, specimens, and anatomical models. This dissertation sought to identify common features of the students’ information practices in such situations, regardless of the activity’s discipline or content, and to explore how making material information central shapes students’ information practices. The conceptual framework combined theorizations of materiality and information practices. Methods involved video recording students doing a variety of simulated classroom activities with objects, video elicitation, qualitative content analysis, and praxiographic interpretation. The praxiographic interpretive descriptions illustrated how all aspects of the site–material, bodily, …

Exploring Television Portrayal Of Gender-Based Violence In Uganda: A Case Of Ntv And Bukedde Tv, Nakagolo Racheal

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

The study used NTV and Bukedde TV as a case of how television in Uganda portray gender-based violence to address the critical issue of how television framing impacts societal understanding and response to gender-based violence. The research adopted the framing theory as its conceptual lens and employed a mixed-methods approach combining content analysis of television news programs with in-depth interviews with newsroom staff. The findings reveal that Ugandan television predominantly employs victim-centered narratives, focusing on physical and sexual violence while often neglecting psychological violence and systemic contributors such as entrenched patriarchal norms. The human-interest frame emerged as the most utilized, …

The Work Of An Hour: A Case Study Of Propaganda, Michael F. Russo

Faculty Publications

This research paper discusses the messaging of United States President George W. Bush and his administration regarding the U.S. led invasion of Iraq. Transcripts of presidential communications, national news programs, and public opinion polls from 2001-03 were analyzed to identify patterns in these communications. This review demonstrated techniques similar to those used in historical propaganda campaigns to sway public opinion. The introduction and repetition of key terminology from the government was followed by magnification by television news programs. These messages were broadcast despite lack of evidence of Iraq’s involvement with the 9/11 attacks or their possession of weapons of mass …

The Triangle Of Social Media, Mental Health, And Activism: Lessons From July 2024 Anti-Discrimination Students Movement In Bangladesh, Md Belal Hossain

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This project explores social media, mental health, and activism as three interconnected avenues of academic inquiry in the context of a student movement called the Anti-Discriminatory Students Movement (ADSM), that took place in July-August 2024 in Bangladesh. The movement, also called July Revolution (Bangladesh), overthrew a 16-year-ruling autocratic government and propelled the nation towards significant structural and political reform efforts. Utilizing a mixed method approach, including key informant interviews (N=6) and an online survey (N=396), it investigates how the triangle of social media, mental health, and activism evolved during this movement. Interview analysis reveals five major themes: 1) Ambiguity in …

Cultural And Counter-Cultural Contexts In Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club And Cristina GarcíA'S Dreaming In Cuban, Melinda M. Ninewise

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This thesis explores the cultural and counter-cultural narratives presented in Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club and Cristina García’s Dreaming in Cuban, examining how these works impact the literary canon and redefine the immigrant experience through a distinctly female lens. Both novels share themes of generational conflict, fragmented identities, and the struggles of communication shaped by cultural and linguistic divides. While these works feature distinct cultural backgrounds, Chinese American and Cuban American respectively, the authors challenge patriarchal norms by privileging female voices and presenting nuanced portrayals of mother-daughter relationships. The analysis highlights shared literary techniques and thematic parallels, including identity …

Characterizing Language Use In Online Accessibility Discussion Forums, Nithiya Venkatraman, Anand Ravi Aiyer, Yash Prakash, Sampath Jayarathna, Hae-Na Lee, Vikas Ashok

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Discussion forums are one of the favored platforms for knowledge sharing. Given their popularity, copious research exists on understanding the linguistic and behavioral characteristics of forum conversations, so as to inform the design of many downstream applications including discourse visualization, sentiment analysis, and question answering. However, prior investigations have mainly focused on general forums designed primarily for sighted users, and as such the applicability of their findings to dedicated accessibility discussion forums frequented by blind screen reader users remains unanswered. To bridge this knowledge gap and facilitate the development of better-informed assistive technologies for blind people, we investigated language use …

Apoyando A Nuestra Gente: Latino/A/É Staff Testimonios Of Mentorship, Cultural Wealth, And Resistance At Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Alex Torres

Dissertations of Practice

APOYANDO A NUESTRA GENTE: LATINO/A/É STAFF TESTIMONIOS OF MENTORSHIP, CULTURAL WEALTH, AND RESISTANCE AT HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS

Alex Torres, Ed.D. Department of Counseling and Higher Education Northern Illinois University, 2025 Quortne R. Hutchings, Director

Latino/a/é students are one of the fastest-growing student populations across universities and colleges in the United States. Understanding the experiences of the Latino/a/é support staff who work with these students, as well as the challenges they face at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), can be beneficial in finding where they can best be supported to fully serve students. This study explored the testimonios of Latino/a/é staff at HSIs in …

Just As Advertised: The Perception And Effectiveness Of Artificial Intelligence In Digital Advertising, Brandon Isem Cáceres

CMC Senior Theses

What do you think when you hear “AI in advertising”? Does it spark intrigue, or does it feel like just another tech buzzword? In today’s fast-paced digital marketing landscape, connecting with consumers is a high-stakes challenge, and artificial intelligence is at the forefront of innovation. From automating campaigns to creating hyper-targeted content, AI promises efficiency and precision—but how do audiences perceive this shift? By analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) like impressions, click-through rates, and cost-per-click in an an original A/B test, this thesis evaluates the perception and effectiveness of AI-driven advertising strategies. Combining historical insights, case studies, and an original …

The Influence Of Butterbear Mascot Attractiveness On Brand Attitude, Huyen Phuong Do

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This research examines the influence of mascot’s perceived attractiveness on the brand attitude towards Butterbear. Data were collected via online survey from 220 male and female respondents (aged 18-26) residing in Bangkok, who had been exposed to content from Butterbear brand within the past three months. Overall, participants perceived Butterbear mascot as highly attractive (M = 4.39) and reported positive attitudes towards the Butterbear brand (M = 4.30). Furthermore, the findings revealed that all six dimensions underlying mascot attractiveness (Brand Impact, Brand Expertise, Mascot Uniqueness, Mascot Anthropomorphism, Mascot Intimacy, and Mascot Consistency) showed statistically significant correlations with the brand attitude. …

Social Media Use And Personal Branding Identity Of Myanmar Freelancers, Lin Htet Thway

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study examined social media use, self-expression, professionalism, self-efficacy, self-disclosure, and personal branding identity among Myanmar freelancers, and investigated how these factors influence their personal branding identity on social media. An online survey of 200 freelancers aged 18 to 45 years was conducted. Respondents reported high levels of social media use (M = 4.07), self-expression (M = 4.13), professionalism (M = 4.16), self-efficacy (M = 4.17), personal branding identity (M = 4.30), and a moderately high level of self-disclosure (M = 3.95). Regression results showed that the five variables together explained 24.4 percent of the variance in personal branding identity …