Digital Commons Network^™

New Media Use Among High Achieving Adolescents, Kathleen Sara Alpizar

Master's Theses

To date, there has been relatively little research on adolescents and their new media use in school and at home. It is important to study this new media use because it can reveal much about how communication patterns are changing or evolving as adolescents incorporate new media seamlessly into their lives.

This study examined high achieving adolescents' use of new media at school and in their homes. Data were gathered at school through questionnaires and group discussion sessions. In addition, students kept diaries of all of their media use for one week.

This study revealed that high-achieving adolescents use new …

Team Coordination As A Mediator Of Stress Appraisals And Team Performance, Gaea Megan Payton

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Threat stress appraisals can negatively affect individuals by decreasing performance (Gildea, Schneider, & Shebilske, 2007). Performance is also influenced by a team's ability to coordinate tasks (Entin & Serfaty, 1999). This study investigated the link between team stressor appraisals, coordination, and performance. Using a simulated team environment, teams were evaluated on their perceived stress appraisals, coordination as indicated through instant messaging, and team performance. Findings showed that team stressor appraisals were marginally related to coordination and significantly related to performance. Coordination was related to team performance. Further research should be performed using varied levels of a stressful scenario to evaluate …

Increasing Parental Awareness And Monitoring: The Development And Evaluation Of A Web-Based Program To Empower Parents To Reduce, Pamela Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parent attitudes about underage alcohol use and parent monitoring of the activities of their adolescent children have been found to be directly related to the likelihood of underage alcohol use. Unfortunately, there are relatively few programs or resources available to parents to assist them to reduce their children's potential for early and problematic alcohol involvement. In an effort to address this need, the present project entailed the development and evaluation of a web-based psychoeducational program entitled, Increasing Parental Awareness and Monitoring (iPAM). This online program begins to fill the gap in effective and convenient programming focused on development of parent …

A Qualitative Investigation Of Adolescent Females' Use Of Social Networking Websites, Janine Pate

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of the present study was to explore the ways adolescent females, age 14 through 17, utilized social networking websites such as MySpace and Facebook for communication, self-presentation and identity development purposes. Uses and gratifications theory served as a framework for identifying the participants' motivations for heavily using these websites, which allow users to post pictures, interests and updates for their friends to view and interact with online. Using a qualitative method, one preliminary focus group and ten in-depth interviews were conducted, totaling fifteen female participants between the ages of 14 and 17. Interview questions covered topics such as …

Mapping The World: Facts And Meaning In Adjudication And Mediation, Robert Rubinson

All Faculty Scholarship

This Article explores what is and what is not in adjudication and mediation, thus illuminating the profound differences between these two processes. The Article does this work in four parts. First, it offers an analysis of cognitive mapmaking and its inevitability in constructing meaning. It then explores how adjudication defines meaning in a particular way. This Article then conducts a comparable analysis of mediation. Finally, it focuses on the bridging function attorneys play between the worlds of mediation and adjudication.

Evidence Of Sustainability Communication In Major League Baseball: A Website Analysis, Dorene Ciletti, John Lanasa, Diane Ramos, Ryan Luchs, Junying Lou

AMTP Proceedings 2010

Based on a review of Major League baseball team websites, this study provides insight into team communication of sustainability principles and practices through an analysis of self-presented sustainability content. Websites for thirty-one (31) teams were examined for content. Elkington’s (1997) triple bottom line dimensions and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicator codes and definitions were constructs for the model and aligned to social, environmental, and economic principles for categories of sustainability practices. Researchers found that while teams are including sustainability information to some extent, the majority highlight social issues on their home pages and subsequent pages; communication about environmental factors varies …

Why Hispanic Women Wear What They Wear, Maria-Gracia Inglessis

AMTP Proceedings 2010

This paper is an exploration of how Hispanic women communicate their identity through clothing and how cultural values affect how they shop for clothes. Based on in-depth interviews with Hispanic women in Florida, this study demonstrates that Latinas retain overtime a set of values characteristic of the traditional Hispanic culture. This study also reveals that Hispanic women are high self-monitors and enjoy the experience of discovery when they shop. Specific implications for marketers are offered.

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Corporate Communication During Large-Scalebailey College Of Engineering And Technology Changes, Dawna M. Drum

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The success rate ofBailey College of Engineering and Technology implementations remains low, despite decades of scholarly research and popular advice. Whether success is defined by spending within the budget, on-time completion, functionality of the final implementation, or satisfaction of the users, few projects are deemed to be complete and resounding successes. One possible reason is inadequate communication during the change process, and many studies have examined aspects of change communication such as media choice, message content, and timing of the messages. What has been missing, however, is an assessment of these items' effectiveness across hierarchical levels within an organization undergoing …

Compatibility Or Restraint? The Effects Of Sexual Timing On Marriage Relationships, Dean M. Busby, Jason S. Carroll, Brian J. Willoughby

Faculty Publications

Very little is known about the influence of sexual timing on relationship outcomes. Is it better to test sexual compatibility as early as possible or show sexual restraint so that other areas of the relationship can develop? In this study, we explore this question with a sample of 2035 married individuals by examining how soon they became sexually involved as a couple and how this timing is related to their current sexual quality, relationship communication, and relationship satisfaction and perceived stability. Both structural equation and group comparison analyses demonstrated that sexual restraint was associated with better relationship outcomes, even when …

Breaking Bad News: Effect Of Physician Communication On Analog Patients' Response, Emily Porensky

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Breaking bad news is a difficult, yet unavoidable part of healthcare for physicians and patients alike. Although expert opinion suggests that certain strategies for breaking bad news may be better than others, there is little methodologically rigorous research to support current guidelines. This study used an experimental paradigm to test two communication strategies, forecasting bad news and framing prognostic information, when giving people a life-limiting diagnosis of colon cancer. Videotapes depicted a physician disclosing a diagnosis of cancer and discussing prognosis. Participants: N = 128) were asked to imagine they were going to see a doctor for physical symptoms they …

A Study Of Communication In Baby Boomers' Romantic Relationships And The Effects Of Their Children's Communication About The Relationships, Lois B. Nemetz

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study contributes to our knowledge of life-span communication by examining the communication of the Baby Boomer generation (born 1946-1964) as they re-enter the dating scene. Although Baby Boomers' early years of dating (the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's) occurred in a time of new-found freedom, especially in sexual relationships, the experience of dating several decades later brings many complications due to aging and children. The intent of this study was not to generalize that all Baby Boomers would express the views stated in this study, but to show the complexity of this generation, and to present a theoretical framework for …

Communication Deficits In Babies With Autism And Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (Pdd-Nos), Max Horovitz

LSU Master's Theses

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are characterized by pervasive impairments in communication, socialization, and repetitive behaviors or interests. While there is a growing interest in early ASDs, very few studies have looked at the nature of these impairments before age 3. In order to better strengthen early assessment and intervention for ASDs, more knowledge is needed in this area. The current studies aimed to determine if, and in what ways, communication impairments are present in infants and toddlers (17-37 months) diagnosed with autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). In the first study, infants with autism and PDD-NOS …

The Cowl - V. 74 - N. 12 - Dec 10, 2009

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Volume 74 - Number 12 - December 10, 2009. 32 pages.

The Cowl - V. 74 - N. 11 - Dec 3, 2009

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Volume 74 - Number 11 - December 3, 2009. 32 pages.

Reading Between The Lines: Reactions To Gendered Managerial Communications, Melissa Waitsman

All Theses

Some of the earliest research on women in the workplace demonstrated that women are not perceived as competent leaders and managers. Several decades have passed since that time, but, on average, American women still earn less than their male counterparts, and women still occupy only 12 Chief Executive Officer positions in Fortune 500 companies, up from 2 in 2007 (Fortune, 2008). Recent research suggests that negative stereotypes about women's managerial competence persist, particularly in regards to their assertiveness and forcefulness, two core managerial characteristics.
Current research on gender differences indicates that females are significantly more concerned with social relationships in …

The Cowl - V. 74 - N. 9 - Nov 12, 2009

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Volume 74 - Number 9 - November 12, 2009. 32 pages.

Communicative Correlates Of Satisfaction, Family Identity, And Group Salience In Multiracial/Ethnic Families, Jordan Soliz, Allison R. Thorson, Christine E. Rittenour

Department of Communication Studies: Faculty Publications

Guided by the Common Ingroup Identity Model (S. L. Gaertner & J. F. Dovidio, 2000) and Communication Accommodation Theory (C. Shepard, H. Giles, & B. A. LePoire, 2001), we examined the role of identity accommodation, supportive communication, and self-disclosure in predicting relational satisfaction, shared family identity, and group salience in multiracial/ ethnic families. Additionally, we analyzed the association between group salience and relational outcomes as well as the moderating roles of multiracial/ethnic identity and marital status. Individuals who have parents from different racial/ethnic groups were invited to complete questionnaires on their family experiences. Participants (N = 139) answered questions about …

The Cowl - V. 74 - N. 3 - Sept 24, 2009

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Volume 74 - Number 3 - September 24, 2009. 32 pages.

The Cowl - V. 74 - N.6 - Oct 22, 2009

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Volume 74 - Number 6 - October 22, 2009. 32 pages.

The Cowl - V. 74 - N. 5 - Oct 8, 2009

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Volume 74 - Number 5 - October 8, 2009. 36 pages.

Assess, Improve, And Share: Using Libqual+Tm To Provide A Quick And Easy Assessment For Accreditors, Administrators, And Users, Eric Forte

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

Assessment in academic libraries is more important than ever as we strive to satisfy users, administrators and accreditation agencies, and present data to inform ongoing and future strategic directions. LibQUAL+TM yields a substantive set of quantitative and qualitative data that is relatively fast and easy to analyze, and is especially useful when significant skills and time to conduct meaningful assessment may not be present, such as in smaller academic libraries. Communicating the results and responses of assessment to stakeholders is a vital aspect of assessment and may in itself be indicative of the likelihood to enact positive change based on …

Comparing Role-Playing Activities In Second Life And Face-To-Face Environments, Fei Gao, Jeongmin J. Noh, Matthew J. Koehler

Visual Communications and Technology Education Faculty Publications

This study compared student performances in role-playing activities in both a face-to-face (FTF) environment and a virtual 3D environment, Second Life (SL). We found that students produced a similar amount of communication in the two environments, but the communication styles were different. In SL role-playing activities, students took more conversational turns, but have shorter exchanges compared to the FTF environment. Students generated an equal amount of topic-related concepts in the two environments. They also reported role-playing activities in SL as more interesting and less formal. The educational implications for this study are discussed.

A Method To Quantify And Compare Clinicians' Assessments Of Patient Understanding During Counseling Of Standardized Patients, Michael Farrell, Pramita Kuruvilla, Kerry L. Eskra, Stephanie Christopher, Rebecca S. Brienza

College of Professional Studies Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To introduce a method for quantifying clinicians’ use of assessment of understanding (AU) questions, and to examine medicine residents’ AU usage during counseling of standardized patients about prostate or breast cancer screening.

Methods

Explicit-criteria abstraction was done on 86 transcripts, using a data dictionary for 4 AU types. We also developed a procedure for estimating the “load” of informational content for which the clinician has not yet assessed understanding.

Results

Duplicate abstraction revealed reliability κ = 0.96. Definite criteria for at least one AU were found in 68/86 transcripts (79%). Of these, 2 transcripts contained a request for a …

A Cross-Cultural Study Of Intergenerational Communication In Workplace, Yan Guan

Dissertations

This study investigates intergenerational relationships in organizational settings and uses Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) to examine the influence of age, power, culture, and self-construal on young workers' perceptions of intergenerational communication. According to CAT, communication is stereotypical due to outgroup bias, people favor their own age or power group more than other age or power groups. CAT research showed that young Asians' perceptions of intergenerational communication may be more negative than their Western counterparts. Self-construal was studied to understand the nature of culture's influence. Research and theory supported nine hypotheses and three research questions.

A study using self-report measure was …

Stay Or Leave? The Effects Of Communicative Infidelity On Relationship Outcomes, Colleen C. Malachowski

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of communicative infidelity (CI) motives on relationship outcomes. CI motives include jealousy, vengefulness, sexual self-esteem, sexual depression, and sexual preoccupation, while outcomes included forgiveness, reparation, voice, exit, loyalty, and neglect responses. Additionally, this study tested the relationship of commitment and satisfaction to relational outcomes. Participants were 215 undergraduate students currently involved in a romantic relationship. Participants were instructed to answer questions measuring their commitment and satisfaction levels, as well as read and respond to a CI scenario. Results indicated that commitment is positively related to voice responses and negatively related …

The Development Of Technological Management Model: A Conceptualization Of Computer Technology In The Workplace, Paul E. Madlock

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this dissertation was to develop a model that would serve to assist scholars, business professionals, and employees manage the influence of computer technology in the workplace. This study also focused on mandated use environments given the paucity of research in this area. In doing so, Technology Management Model (TMM) was developed. Actor Network Theory (ANT; Callon, 1986; Latour, 1987; Law, 1987) and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT; Bandura, 1986) provided support for the multifactor design of TMM. As a result, TMM was comprised of three latent variables of technological, personal, and organizational factors though to influence the attitudes …

Understanding The Expression And Implications Of Deceptive Affectionate Messages, Sean M. Horan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Affectionate messages are important in romantic relationships as they are linked to multiple emotional, physical, and relational benefits (e.g., Floyd, 2006a). When examining affection, it is important to distinguish that feelings of affection and the communication of affection are two unique processes that theorists argue covary. Yet, deception researchers have found that individuals routinely lie to their non-married romantic partners about their feelings (DePaulo & Kasy, 1998; DePaulo, Kashy, Kirkendol, Wyer, & Epstein, 1996). This dissertation, composed of two studies, examined how individuals in non-married romantic relationships communicated deceptive affection and the implications of such messages. Study one used a …

Improving Ad-Hoc Team Performance Using Video Games, Jeff David Craighead

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined the effects of distributed, multiplayer training video games on the performance of distributed teams of robot operators. Two hypotheses were tested, the first hypothesis stated that online, game-based team training will improve the performance of an ad-hoc team versus an ad-hoc team formed of individually trained teammates. The second hypothesis stated that the fractal dimension of a robot's path can be used as an indicator of its operator's skill. Forty-one volunteers participated in an experiment in which they played a distributed, online training game which showed them the basics of operating an Inuktun Extreme VGTV for a …

The Potential Use Of Slow-Down Technology To Improve Pronounciation Of English For International Communication, Bunny Richardson

Doctoral

The focus of this research is on oral communication between L1 (first language) and L2 (second language) English users - to determine whether an algorithm which slows down speech can increase the intelligibility of speech between interlocutors for EIC (English for International Communication). The slow-down facility is a CALL tool which slows down speech without tonal distortion. It allows English language learners more processing time to hear individual phonemes as produced in the stream of connected speech, to help them hear and produce phonemes more accurately and thus more intelligibly. The study involved five tests, all concerned with the intelligibility …

Guide Pour Une Démarche Stratégique De Prévention Des Problèmes De Santé Psychologique Au Travail, Jean-Pierre Brun, Caroline Biron, France St-Hilaire

Guides

No abstract provided.