Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Barebacking And Rebellion: An Examination Using Reactance Theory To Investigate The Re-Emergence Of Unsafe Sexual Practices Among Gay And Bisexual Males, Jon W. Braddy

Doctoral Dissertations

The recent rise in unprotected anal intercourse among men who have sex with men and the possible reasons for that behavior despite general health concerns reflects the purpose and direction of this dissertation. Two issues are investigated within this study: first, is reactance the possible cause for bare-backing and second, how influential are the socially constructed reasons given by gay and bisexual men for the behavior increase? Results from 2036 questionnaires collected during a large, metropolitan circuit party found that there is a statistical link between higher reactance scores and the likelihood of engaging in unprotected anal intercourse. Secondly, two …

Worldviews In Music: A Rhetorical Study Of Philosophies Of Truth And Reality In Country Music And Contemporary Christian Music, Karen Lynn Legg

Masters Theses

This study examines the philosophies of truth and reality that are communicated through the lyrics of Country and Contemporary Christian Music. The lyrics from the top ten songs from the years 1980, 1990, and 2000 were collected and analyzed for both genres. The songs were then coded and placed in one of eight categories: N/A, Naturalism, Transcendentalism, Theism, Naturalism/Theism, Transcendentalism/Theism, Naturalism/Transcendentalism, and Undeterminable. Country and Contemporary Christian Music’s trends were discussed individually as well as compared and contrasted to each other. Results found that Contemporary Christian songs communicate a Theistic view of truth and reality every time worldviews were brought …

The Effect Of Official College Athletic Web Sites On The Job Of Division I Sports Information Directors, Karen J. Bielak

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of official college athletic Web sites on the job of Division I sports information directors. Specifically, it focused on how often the site is updated, who is responsible for performing that duty, and whether a position has been created solely for the purpose of maintain the Web site. The target population included all 327 Division I sports information directors. Directors from Division I schools were chosen because of the high probability that their school maintains an official Web site that it has had an impact on the sports information director …

The Interaction Between Andrew Johnson And The Press, Jennifer L. Lowe

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the unstable relationship that existed between Andrew Johnson and the press. Information collected throughout this examination can be used to understand the power of the media in regard to Andrew Johnson’s presidency. Primary documents were examined to determine how the press reacted to Johnson’s policies and actions.

What is perhaps most remarkable about Andrew Johnson’s presidency is that he enjoyed almost unprecedented popularity and support during the first months of his term in office. Within months of his inauguration, however, nearly all politicians and members of the press held him in deepest …

The Socialization Of Compulsive Buyers: The Roles Of Families And Mass-Mediated Sources, Saovanee Tesgim

Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the roles of the upbringing environments and mass-mediated sources in the socialization of compulsive buyers. Its purpose was to find the answers to these research questions: what does it mean to be a compulsive buyer; what kind of role does family play in the consumer socialization of compulsive buyers; what kind of role does mass media and advertising play in the consumer socialization of compulsive buyers? To answer these questions, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 women respondents who were identified as compulsive buyers and who fit into one of four categories: the Provider, the Striver, …

Message Strategy And The Perception Of Self-Efficacy In Behavioral Intentions Resulting From Advocacy Advertising, Yoon-Joo Lee

Masters Theses

This thesis uses the Haley (1996) study as a conceptual framework for the study of advocacy advertising. The purpose of this thesis was to explore the role of message strategy in increasing the consumers' perception of self-efficacy, perceived consumer effectiveness (PCE) in behavioral intentions resulting from advocacy advertising. Additionally, the thesis explored the correlations and causal relationships between self-efficacy/ PCE, and behavioral intention and behavioral intention and the consumers' evaluation of the organization as good.

A quasi-experimental design was used. A questionnaire along with one of the two experimental stimuli (a print advertisement with the transformational-ego or the informational-ration message …

Technology And Communication: Emerging Family Communication Patterns Among Young Adults And The Influence Of Technology, Shilpa Venkateshwaran

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to understand the emerging family communication patterns among young adults and the influence of technology. This study of young adults tried to study the two family types: conversation-oriented and conformity-oriented and the influence of technology has on the family types. E-mail is fast becoming an important mode of communication and hence the study of the adaptation of this media in family communication is important during the transition phase. This study tried to find the predicted changes in communication.

Special Event Communication In The Age Of Terrorism, Judith Ann Flanagan

Masters Theses

Special events have come to take an increasingly viable role in the United States of America. This thesis examines special events communication in the wake of September 11, 2001 (9-11-01), terrorist attacks on the U.S. utilizing the assistance of the International Festivals and Event Association (IFEA). The project involved two phases. In the first phase, members of the IFEA were surveyed concerning their perceptions of communication prior to and following the 9-11-01, terrorist attacks. In the second phase, the convention program of the IFEA was content analyzed with a view toward examining the communication-related programs available to special event professionals. …

From 'Quackery To Mainstream': An Exploratory Study Of News Media Framing During The Diffusion Of Acupuncture, 1968-2002, Using Bibliometric Counts And Computer-Assisted Content Analysis, Gayla Kirksey Owen

Masters Theses

This exploratory study examines how the news media coverage of acupuncture changed during the first three and one-half decades of diffusion in the United States. It specifically looks at amount of coverage and framing. In doing so, this study is one f the few to date to examine framing during the diffusion process. This study compares changes in news media coverage to major milestones in diffusion in an attempt to determine if media lead or follow in the diffusion of an innovation at the societal level.

Acupuncture was introduced to mainstream American culture in the 1970s. This study examines its …

Determining The Data Needs For Decision Making In Public Libraries, Thena Slape Jones

Masters Theses

Library decision makers evaluate community needs and library capabilities in order to select the appropriate services offered by their particular institution. Evaluations of the programs and services may indicate that some are ineffective or inefficient, or that formerly popular services are no longer needed. The internal and external conditions used for decision making change. Monitoring these conditions and evaluations allows the library to make new decisions that maintain its relevance to the community.

Administrators must have ready access to appropriate data that will give them the information they need for library decision making. Today’s computer-based libraries accumulate electronic data in …

The Role Of The Acquisitions Editor In University Press Publishing, Emily M. Garman

Masters Theses

This study examines the changing role of acquisitions editors within university presses. The various factors that contribute to the changing role of acquisitions editors were examined through personal interviews of twenty-nine acquisitions editors from university presses across the United States. Twenty questions were presented to the editors on editorial responsibilities, book marketing, electronic publishing, education and job training, and author/editor relationships. This study concentrated on those questions, as well as on the evolving role of acquisitions editors when affected by variables such as library acquisitions, financial trends, electronic publishing, and rules for professorial tenure that affect changes in scholarly publishing. …