Digital Commons Network^™

Cultural Relativism In Global Pr Ethics: A Thematic Analysis Of Pr Ethics Codes And Development Of A Cultural Assessment Tool, Amaia Ham

Master of Arts in Media and Communication Plan II Graduate Projects

As public relations becomes increasingly more global, it is valuable to learn whether the regulations and codes proposed by international organizations address cultural differences. Presently, there is a division within international public relations research on whether ethical codes can be universal or require a relativist framework. This study contributes to the conversation in two phases. Phase One consists of a thematic analysis of a leading global public relations network, the International Public Relations Association, to study its ability to balance collectivist and individualistic values within the code of ethics it provides to its global members. Additionally, codes from four associations …

Anchored Networks: Navigating Formal And Informal Pathways To Access Educational Resources In Transient And Military Families, Lara Ray

Dissertations

This study examines how Navy families in San Diego establish and use formal and informal networks to access educational resources for their children following relocation. Grounded in social capital theory, the research employed a multiple-case study approach, integrating data from interviews, focus groups, and digital analysis of Navy-affiliated social media platforms. The study explores how parents navigate these networks to promote their children’s academic success, with particular attention to key decision-making moments, resource negotiation, and equity considerations. Participants included Navy spouses from diverse ranks (E-3 to O-6) and socioeconomic backgrounds, providing insight into disparities in resource access. Findings reveal that …

“Burned At The Stake”: Unpacking Disinformation In The Story Of A Coach Allegedly “Terminated” For Expressing Anti-Transgender Women Athlete Beliefs, Ellen J. Staurowsky

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

On August 29, 2023, a video testimony entitled ‘Burned at the Stake’: One NCAA Coach’s Battle to Protect Women’s Sport was released. The film was part of a “female athlete storytelling series” developed and funded by the Independent Women’s Forum (IWF) designed to support the IWF’s stated agenda to “fight to save women’s sports and counter the radical agenda that seeks to erase women” by allowing transgender girls and women on teams that match their identities. The central figure in the video is Kim Russell, then head women’s lacrosse coach at NCAA Division III Oberlin College, who claimed her right …

Competitive Language Use: A Linguistic Analysis Of Speech And Debate, Gina Iberri-Shea

Studies in Debate and Oratory

This study explores linguistic variation in competitive debate and prepared speech. A corpus of competitive public speech was collected and the situational characteristics of two contexts were analyzed. The linguistic characteristics of texts in each category were calculated along five dimensions of variation found across texts in English, and placed among other types of texts. Results show that three of the dimensions were able to distinguish between the two registers. The results indicate a clear direction for future work and implications for English for Academic Purposes instruction.

Do Universities Choose The Right Strategies For X Engagement? The Case Of Six Universities In Thailand, Mathupayas Thongmak

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: The purpose of this study is to understand how Thai public universities engage their stakeholders on X (the social media platform previously known as Twitter). This article answers the following research questions: 1) What are the X message strategies of six public universities? 2) Do they choose the most effective strategies to drive X engagement in terms of favorites and reposts?

Method: Data was automatically collected using anX analytic tool, and the potential variables were extracted semi-automatically using tools appropriate to text mining, sentiment analysis, word cloud, and so on. Posts from six universities in Thailand were investigated.

Results: …

Ethics In Digital Marketing: A Gen-Z’S Perspective, Suruchi Bhatt

School of Business

Almost 72% of Americans report they have a sense of being tracked online through their cellphones, by their advertisers or companies they follow, around 20% think their activities across their days are tracked, with almost 47% reporting the government tracks their cellphones, behaviors, and everything they do online. (Atske, 2019) It is no secret that when people say privacy is a myth, it is upon the behaviors of the companies to inform the customers of what, where, and why their activity is being tracked. Answering how the activity is tracked and when it will be tracked are key factors that …

Personalizing Multimedia Content Recommendations For Intelligent Vehicles Through Text–Image Embedding Approaches, Jin A. Choi, Taekeun Hong, Kiho Lim

College of Communication and Media Scholarship and Creative Works

The ability to automate and personalize the recommendation of multimedia contents to consumers has been gaining significant attention recently. The burgeoning demand for digitization and automation of formerly analog communication processes has caught the attention of researchers and professionals alike. In light of the recent interest and anticipated transition to fully autonomous vehicles, this study proposes a text–image embedding method recommender system for the optimization of personalized multimedia content for in-vehicle infotainment. This study leverages existing pre-trained text embedding models and pre-trained image feature extraction methods. Previous research to date has focused mainly on textual-only or image-only analyses. By employing …

Behavioural Realism And Its Impact On Virtual Reality Social Interactions Involving Self-Disclosure, Alan Fraser, Ross Hollett, Craig Speelman, Shane L. Rogers

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study investigates how the behavioural realism of avatars can enhance virtual reality (VR) social interactions involving self-disclosure. First, we review how factors such as trust, enjoyment, and nonverbal communication could be influenced by motion capture technology by enhancing behavioural realism. We also address a gap in the prior literature by comparing different motion capture systems and how these differences affect perceptions of realism, enjoyment, and eye contact. Specifically, this study compared two types of avatars: an iClone UNREAL avatar with full-body and facial motion capture and a Vive Sync avatar with limited motion capture for self-disclosure. Our participants rated …

Are Emojis The New Words? A Sentiment Analysis Of Social Media Brand Conversations, Yashodhan Karulkar, Dev T. Vora, Siddharth Vaddepalli, Yash Thakur

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Emojis have become an increasingly important aspect of consumer-brand interactions in the Indian subcontinent. However, the impact of emoji use on brand image and mental health remains underexplored, particularly in emerging economies like India, where structured research on this topic is limited. To address this gap, the present study analyzes over 4,600 consumer tweets related to 19 prominent brands across eleven industries. Using VADER sentiment analysis, the research develops a metric to assess consumer sentiment and brand engagement in relation to emoji usage. The findings indicate that effective integration of emojis contributes to positive consumer sentiment and enhanced brand engagement. …

Tracking News Narratives: Topic Modeling, Sentiment, And Media Coverage Patterns, Alexandria G. Lai

Theses and Dissertations

This study introduces a novel content-driven influence measurement framework, built around a custom influence formula that integrates Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) topic modeling, sentiment analysis, and influence metrics to analyze media narratives over time. Applied to news coverage of the 2020 U.S. presidential election and the COVID-19 pandemic, the framework identifies key topics, sentiment patterns, and influential sources. Results demonstrate its ability to distinguish between transient political controversies and sustained public health discourse while capturing shifts in media influence. While effective, refinements in topic separation, sentiment analysis, and temporal weighting could enhance adaptability. This study highlights the novel influence formula …

Cognitive Warfare In The South China Sea: Analyzing Media Influence And Public Opinion In Taiwan, Wyatt F. Blatti

Theses and Dissertations

In a time where conflict extends beyond traditional battlefields, cognitive warfare emerges as a powerful tool to influence perceptions and gain strategic advantages. This study investigates China’s cognitive warfare strategies against Taiwan through trend analysis, topic modeling, and sentiment analysis of news media articles from March 2013 to August 2024 to uncover evolving techniques and mitigation efforts. The findings highlight the potential for tracking cognitive campaigns overtime but will require more than news media alone and suggests future research to better understand indicators of cognitive warfare.

Exploring Female-Centered Storytelling Techniques In Travel Podcasting With 'Chicks Take Flight', Layla M. Bakhshandeh

Journalism

The following study explores storytelling through the lens of podcasting to effectively engage audiences. This study addresses the gap in academic literature regarding gender-specific audio storytelling techniques by analyzing how narrative structure, vocal delivery, and content authenticity in podcasts specifically resonate with female audiences, providing practical applications for podcast creators targeting this demographic. Accompanying this literary research is a travel podcast titled Chicks Take Flight. This entertainment podcast tells the stories of young women’s travel experiences. Its goal is to provide a platform to discuss modern travel tips and stories for female audiences. Utilizing the podcasting advice from research findings …

The Ability Of Chatgpt To Aid In The Rapid Development Of Inoculation Message Treatments: A Case Study And Recommendations, Alicia Mason, Josh Compton, Griffin Cooper

Faculty Submissions

One of the most widely known types of AI technologies in recent years is ChatGPT. ChatGPT is a state-of-the-art language model that has revolutionized natural language processing by generating human-like text with context and coherence, enabling new possibilities for human-AI interaction (Brown et al., 2020). This case study reports on a 10-week conversational AI training initiative to assess whether ChatGPT4 can (a) identify the structural elements and features of conventional inoculation messages (i.e., forewarnings and preemptive refutations); (b) augment inoculation message design features (i.e., linguistic signatures, language, and length); (c) adapt messages for specific audiences (i.e., younger populations, experts); and …

The Presidency, Press, And Public Opinion: Has The Relationship Between The Press And The Office Of The Presidency Shifted Since Trump’S Administration?, Jonas Kammeyer-Mueller

Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal

In political science, studies focusing on the relationship between the press and the president have a long and rich history. However, few presidents have fought the press as strongly as Donald Trump. Given that many of these attacks utilized the influence afforded to Trump by occupying the Office of the Presidency, and that the press has long been noted to have influence over the public, it is worth examining if the relationship between the Office of the President and the press has shifted as a result of these attacks. Because the ability of the Presidency to govern as they wish …

Mobile Technology-Based Library Services In Academic Libraries Of Ghana, Silas Adjei, Patience Adetsi, Isaac Kojo Agyeman

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

In contemporary academic library settings, there's a growing need for libraries to offer access to their resources and services remotely and without boundaries. Mobile technologies (MT) have gained widespread acceptance among academic library stakeholders globally, as they are seen as effective communication tools for providing convenient library services to patrons. This study aimed to explore the potential benefits of adopting and implementing Mobile Technology-based Library Services in academic libraries in Ghana. Conducted as a descriptive survey using a quantitative approach, the research focused on two private universities in Ghana: Valley View University and Central University. The sample comprised 390 undergraduate …

The Communication Theory Of Argumentativeness: A Study Analyzing Argumentativeness And Demographics, Monika Joanna Yates

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Quantitative research regarding the communication theory of argumentativeness is presented. The communication theory of argumentativeness, with its established argumentativeness conceptualization, scale, and measure, is central. The argumentativeness conceptualization, scale, and measure are used to posit argumentativeness groupings, which are then analyzed along with demographics within argumentativeness groupings. The following research questions are posed and answered: What is the distribution of argumentativeness within the general population? Are there identifiable segments/groupings of argumentativeness within the general population? Are there certain demographic characteristics that accompany the argumentativeness groupings of low, middle, and high argumentativeness measures? The conclusion finds: there are identifiable argumentativeness groupings; …

The Rattler (Volume 113, Issue 5), St. Mary's University

The Rattler (Previous issues)

Founded in 1919, The Rattler is the student voice of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. The newspaper documents campus life, academic and social issues, student opinion, and local and national events as they relate to the University community. Content typically includes news articles, editorial commentary, arts and culture coverage, sports reporting, and advertisements.

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 13 - February 6, 2025

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 13 - February 6, 2025. 16 pages.

The Current - Volume 35 Issue 8, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Evolving Design Critique For A Changing Industry, Sejin Hwang, Amy Ai, Leo Bang, Yuchen Chen, Kathryn Chen, Tiffany Chang, Stephen Jiang, Chloe Jo, Eileen Lee, Nicole Lu, Ray Liu, Kevin Wei, Elaine Zhang, Ellano Zhou

Student Work

This class serves as an exploratory practice in response to existing studies evaluating critique environments in the design industry. Previous studies identified three key limitations in the critique process: (1) a lack of experience for novice designers working with non-designers when reviewing their work, (2) an ineffective final review structure, and (3) a need for a more constructive and engaging feedback-sharing environment.1 To address these challenges, the course was designed to “critique” critique activities and develop strategic solutions to transform the way design work is reviewed, analyzed, and critiqued. The course was part of a pilot fall semester program called …

Zombie-Auras: Genai And Hybrid Text Production, Joshua Nieubuurt

English Faculty Publications

This paper explores the iterative evolutions of textual production and their impact on the “aura” of texts, as conceptualized by Walter Benjamin. The study identifies three key phases of textual production: the natural, the mechanized, and the digitized, each progressively displacing the “cult value” of texts. This cult value is lost through increased ease of creation, reproduction, dissemination, and dislocation of creators and audiences in time and space. The advent of Generative AI (GenAI) marks the latest evolution, transforming the “aura” into a memetic “zombie” form—familiar yet opaque, evoking both the sublime and fear. By examining Benjamin’s notion of “aura” …

Racial Powers, Talhah Mustafa

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

This dissertation will be divided into three papers that in some way considers the concept of racial powers. The concept of racial power is under-researched and presupposed in the Philosophy of Race literature. Many arguments in this field seem premature without a general understanding of racial powers. The first paper fills that gap by introducing and defending the view that racial powers are possessed in virtue of one’s race or perceived race.

In the second paper, I consider Chike Jeffers’ cultural constructionist account of race. The nature of race is complex, requiring nuanced consideration. Chike Jeffers’ cultural constructionist may seem …

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

The Guardian Student Newspaper

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

Tale Of Two Requesters: How Public Records Law Experiences Differ By Requester Types, A. Jay Wagner, David Cuillier

College of Communication Faculty Research and Publications

The journalism industry was central to the materialization of U.S. freedom of information (FOI) laws, yet journalists frequently voice dissatisfaction with the state of FOI laws. The study surveyed 330 public records requesters on their experiences with FOI laws, finding public-interest requesters (journalists, academics, nonprofits, and private individuals) reported a significantly different experience, including a lower likelihood of receiving records, than for-profit requesters (commercial requesters and lawyers). For-profit requesters were less likely to believe FOI laws positively impact government accountability or improve society. The findings suggest reassessing whom the laws serve and whether they meet their original democratic objectives.

Expectations Versus Reality In New Cairo's Gated Communities: An Interdisciplinary Analysis Of Socio-Spatial Features, Ala'a Marwan

Theses and Dissertations

This research aims to introduce a new framework to identify the disparities between gated community residents’ experiences and real estate developers' visions towards the development. As New Cairo experiences significant growth, many residents are increasingly relocating to gated communities. It has become crucial to assess users’ expectations before moving and their lived experience post-moving to allocate the gaps between their expectations and reality, otherwise, the GC developments will grow apart from users’ updated preferences. The research focuses on the socio-spatial qualities such as accessibility to services and facilities, community interaction, and vast green areas between buildings for privacy, all of …

A Qualitative Study Of Dialogic Communication Of The American Aviation Sector On Facebook Users, Marian E. Tadrous

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem is that few recent studies have examined dialogic communication on social media platforms, especially Facebook. The purpose of this qualitative research is to explore the dialogic communication principles of the American aviation sector. The rationale for this research is that 99% of American aviation institutions have a Facebook platform to communicate with the public. These institutions must listen to the public's needs regarding the principles of dialogical communication. Examining aviation institutions' use of dialogical principles is a lens into the strengths and weaknesses of aviation institutions' messages on Facebook. Recent studies have shown a lack of research addressing …

Riding The Wave: Tech Tsunami'S Rhetoric Enables Plain Anabaptist Adopters, Cory Anderson

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

Arguably, no book has shaped plain Anabaptist discourse about technology more than Gary Miller’s Tech Tsunami. Since its 2016 publication, the book has achieved near-canonical status within certain Conservative and Old Order Anabaptist circles, particularly among business owners wrestling with technology adoption. The book’s influence extends beyond the original text—an audiobook and a youth edition (Tech Talk, 2021) circulate widely, discussion groups form around its ideas, and its vocabulary infiltrates conversations about church rules. The book’s success builds on Miller’s existing platform; his works Kingdom Focused Finances, Church Matters, and Life in a Global Village helped establish him as a …

Symposium Review: Facing Infotainment Technologies: Evolution Beyond Human [2nd Ed], Steven Yoder, Gerald Mast, Karlin High

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

Daniel Mast offers a very detailed review of the ever-changing world of information technology and entertainment. The book opens by addressing the pleasure and entertainment aspects of technology and later focuses on how technology has become more advanced and has the potential to be used to monitor and control people. The intended audience is the plain Mennonite, Amish, and Brethren people. He writes from the perspective that the Bible is the final authority and cites many Biblical verses to make his case clear; the Bible gives reason for concern about the infotainment flood. As well as the Bible, the author …

Modern Digital Query Analytics Of Patient Education Materials On Acanthosis Nigricans: Systematic Search And Content Analysis, Kevin Johny Varghese, Som Singh, Emily Kamali, Fahad Qureshi, Aleena Jamal, Fawad Qureshi

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

BACKGROUND: Online digital materials are integral to patient education and health care outcomes in dermatology. Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a common condition, often associated with underlying diseases such as insulin resistance. Patients frequently search the internet for information related to this cutaneous finding. To our knowledge, the quality of online educational materials for AN has not been systematically examined.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to profile the readability and quality of the content of publicly available digital educational materials on AN and identify questions frequently asked by patients.

METHODS: This study analyzed publicly available internet sources to …

Is Ai Bias In Journalism Inherently Bad? Relationship Between Bias, Objectivity, And Meaning In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence, Gregory Gondwe

Communication Studies Faculty Publications

The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in journalism has led to debates about the impact of AI bias, with critics arguing that AI systems perpetuate societal stereotypes and inequalities. Critics argue that AI systems, influenced by historical data and human biases, may exacerbate stereotypes, marginalize underrepresented voices, and skew news coverage, thereby reinforcing societal inequalities. However, this article contends that bias, while often considered detrimental, is an inherent aspect of journalism that has shaped news production for centuries. Drawing on a historical perspective, the article explores the relationship between bias and journalistic storytelling, arguing that bias can, if managed ethically, …