Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

How Social Media Affect The Social Identity Of Mexican Americans, Kaitlin Eve Felsted

Theses and Dissertations

This is a thesis conducted qualitatively using the Grounded Theory approach where in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 legal Mexican Americans in order to understand how social media affect Mexican Americans' social identity. This effect was understood by discovering the relationships between social identity theory and integration. Results showed that Mexican Americans felt that social media helped them with their English skills and connected them to their friends and family in Mexico. Mexican Americans were able to use social media to connect to their in-group community, and Mexican American community leaders were able to connect Mexicans to their in-group within …

Resolving Public Records Disputes In Wisconsin: The Role Of The Attorney General's Office, Jonathan Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates how the Wisconsin attorney general reviews and sometimes intervenes in access disputes over the state's public records law. The study posed three primary questions: How do the attorney general's administrative review mechanisms operate in practice? To what extent are the mechanisms effective at resolving disclosure disputes? And do the mechanisms help people unable to hire a lawyer to litigate? The study analyzed correspondence in 304 cases over six years to generate data on the quantity and nature of the attorney general's caseload in that time period. The study also interviewed 17 requesters to understand their disputes, their …

Giving To Be Seen: The Influence Of Facebook Charitable Advertisements On Conspicuous Donation Behavior, Lei Jia

Theses and Dissertations

The arduous financial environments that nonprofit organizations face today motivate nonprofits to continuously search and leverage new communication platforms such as social media to approach a wider individual donor base. This thesis examines whether a Facebook charitable appeal promoting a donation via Facebook Gifts may attract

Facebook users to give for conspicuousness (a public display of a donation behavior). Findings of this thesis revealed a gender difference in responses to the Facebook charitable appeal due to the gender difference in self-construals such that men were more likely to give via Facebook Gifts when the ad promoting the donation via Facebook …

Understanding Wisconsin Legislators' Use Of Social Media, Christian T. Moran

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis used quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the use of social media by legislative offices of the Wisconsin State Assembly. A survey of legislators and their staff documented the extent to which each office uses Facebook or Twitter. In addition, multivariate analysis of the survey data provided an understanding of which kinds of legislators are more likely to use Facebook or Twitter. There were three important findings. First, most Wisconsin legislators whose offices use Facebook or Twitter do not seem to be doing so to reach the news media. Second, overall, the characteristics of a Wisconsin legislator are …

Cyberbullying In 'Left 4 Dead 2': A Study In Collaborative Play, Kimberly L. Kulovitz

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to further our understanding of the role of cyberbullying in the cooperative team-based game Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2). A sample of 41 4-person groups generated a total n = 415 messages used for evaluating the behavioral content of game play. Four hypotheses were advanced assessing cyberbullying behavior and game outcome (success vs. failure), group cohesion, target participation, and perceptions of bullies. Out of the 41 groups 25 groups had cyberbullying behavior present and 16 groups had prosocial behavior. Overall, cyberbullying behavior had little effect on game outcome, group cohesion and target participation. Groups using only prosocial …

Character Education And Parental Involvement: Impact On Academic Achievement, Katie Hood

Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to determine (a) if a positive correlation exists between character education and academic achievement in three New Jersey public elementary schools and (b) if a positive correlation exists between parental involvement and academic achievement in the same three schools. NJ ASK data supported the notions that character education and parental involvement related to academic achievement. A content analysis of two documents about each school provided the researcher with the level to which each school promoted character education and parental involvement. Interviews with public school administrators and staff discussed the relationships that exist among these three factors …

An Analysis Of The Marketing Tactics Used To Influence Millennial Generation Students In Their Decision To Attend A Two-Year Or A Four-Year College, Andrea Stanton

Theses and Dissertations

This study will attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of college recruitment marketing tactics used to influence Millennial Generation students, ages 17 to 22 years old, in their decision to attend either a two-year or a four-year college. Changing demographics and projections indicate a decline in the number of high school graduates within the next three to five years. This shift translates into fewer college applications and more competition among institutions of higher learning making it easier for most students to get accepted into college. The researcher will use focus groups and a survey to examine the perception of community colleges …

Political Culture, Policy Liberalism, And The Strength Of Journalist's Privilege In The States, Casey James-Michael Carmody

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationships between the strength of states' journalist's privileges and state characteristics. The state characteristics included political culture and policy liberalism. The study created an index to identify and score several important components of journalist's privilege in each state. The various components included the legal source of the privilege, when journalists could use the privilege, what types of information the privilege protected, and who could invoke the privilege. The study then used statistical tests to test the relationships between state characteristics and privilege strength. The results indicated that policy liberalism was a significant predictor of a state's …

The Effects Of Online Advertisements And News Images On News Reception, Minchul Kim

Theses and Dissertations

The news and advertising industries have a symbiotic relationship. News media bring audiences to advertisers, and advertisers provide the necessary funding for the survival of the news media. This inseparable relationship between the news and advertising industries continues to exist in the era of the Internet when various newly developed techniques are used to attract online newsreaders' attention. This raises the questions of whether exposure to online news and advertisements simultaneously has a negative impact on acquiring information from the news and whether the negative impact, if there is any, can be mitigated by motivating newsreaders to engage in news …

How Lego Constructs A Cross-Promotional Franchise With Video Games, David Robert Wooten

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project is to examine how the cross-promotional Lego video game series functions as the site of a complex relationship between a major toy manufacturer and several media conglomerates simultaneously to create this series of licensed texts. The Lego video game series is financially successful outselling traditionally produced licensed video games. The Lego series also receives critical acclaim from both gaming magazine reviews and user reviews. By conducting both an industrial and audience address study, this project displays how texts that begin as promotional products for Hollywood movies and a toy line can grow into their own …

The Rise Of Humor: Hollywood Increases Adult Centered Humor In Animated Children's Films, Chelsie Lynn Akers

Theses and Dissertations

Children's animated films have held a lasting influence on their audiences since the rise of their popularity in the 1980s. As adults co-view such films with their children Hollywood has had to rewrite the formula for a successful animated children's film. This thesis argues that a main factor in audience expansion is adult humor. The results show that children's animated films from 2002-2013 are riddled with many instances of adult humor while earlier films from 1982-1993 use adult humor sparingly. It is clear that over the years the number of adult humor occurrences has consistently increased. Furthermore, this research shows …

Adapt, Adopt Or Create New Approaches? Albania And The Question Of An Emerging Country In The Field Of Public Relations, Jetmira Karanxha

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to provide a description of the emerging state of the public relations field in Albania under the framework and influence of four main public relations worldviews including persuasive/marketing, relationship management, community building, and personal influence. This study seeks to give insights into how an emerging country in the field of public relations approaches the development of the field; whether it adapts, adopts or creates new practices. The research design proposed by the author aims to shed some light on possible theoretical meanings and themes that could be developing in countries where the field of …

The Rhetorical Construction Of Female Empowerment: The Avenging-Woman Narrative In Popular Television And Film, Lara C. Stache

Theses and Dissertations

In this critical rhetorical analysis, I examine the contemporary avenging-woman narrative in popular television and film. As a rhetorical text, the avenging-woman narrative can be read as a representation of cultural constructions of female empowerment. In this project, I situate the contemporary avenging-woman narrative within the context of a contemporary third wave feminist culture, in order to articulate how the representations of female empowerment in the texts may be a negotiation of cultural tensions about feminism. The four primary texts chosen for inclusion within this study are made up of two television shows, Revenge (2011-present) and Veronica Mars (2003-2007), and …

Nonresidential Parenting: Parental Roles And Parent/Child Relationships, Falon F. Kartch

Theses and Dissertations

Nonresidential parents are defined as parents who do not live with one or more of their biological children all or most of the time. Using symbolic interactionism as a theoretical framework, this study considers nonresidential parenting from a communication perspective. 40 nonresidential parents (20 mothers and 20 fathers) were interviewed in order to explore how nonresidential parents conceptualize their parent roles, how these parents report enacting their parenting, and the communication challenges they experience within their relationships with their children. Inductive analysis resulted in the identification of eight nonresidential parent roles (limited role, active participant, nurturer, provider - tangible, teacher, …

Facebook As A Facilitator Of Organizational Identification In Colleges And Universities: Exploring Relationships Among Educational Institutions, Student Tenure, And Interaction With Multiple Organizational Targets, Aimee Lau

Theses and Dissertations

Potential uses for Facebook are frequently studied in scholarly literature. To date, much of this research focuses on varied social uses available to Facebook members. More recently, scholars have turned to potential academic uses of Facebook, and more generally, how Facebook might be used in educational institutions such as colleges and universities. Each college and university is a unique organization and it is likely that each one uses Facebook in a variety of different ways. However, consistent to all colleges and universities is the goal of creating strong levels of identification between the student and the school so as to …

Encouraging Healthy Body-Image: Are Parents Sending Effective Messages To Children?, Anna Herrman

Theses and Dissertations

This investigation tested and applied Bogenschneider (1996) Ecological Risk and Protective Theory to the process of body-image development. In order to understand what is considered risk and protective behaviors, qualitative directed content analysis was used to analyze the health experts' opinion. Twenty-three online brochures were analyzed, resulting in two protective themes (parents as educators and parents providing an appropriate environment) and two risk themes (negative role model behaviors and negative complimenting behaviors). From the themes, items were created and quantitative data was collected using paper/pencil surveys. Data collection resulted in 126 parent and 126 child responses. Results provide support for …

Race, Crime And Athletes: A Qualitative Analysis Of Framing In Local Newspaper Coverage Of Nfl Quarterbacks Michael Vick And Ben Roethlisberger, Kristi Grim

Theses and Dissertations

The present study researched the positive, negative, thematic and episodic framing contained in local newspaper coverage of two criminal investigations of National Football League quarterbacks: the Ben Roethlisberger rape case and the Michael Vick dog-fighting case. A qualitative analysis revealed stories about Roethlisberger were more likely to feature positive framing supporting the message that Roethlisberger was a good person who was innocent of criminal activity. By contrast, Vick articles were more likely to feature negative framing supporting the message that Vick was a criminal. In addition, articles on Roethlisberger were more likely to use thematic frames as a way to …

Global Technical Communication And Content Management: A Study Of Multilingual Quality, Tatiana Batova

Theses and Dissertations

The field of technical communication (TC) is facing a dilemma. Content management (CM) strategies and technologies that completely reshape writing and translation practices are adopted in an increasing number of TC work groups. One driving factor in CM adoption is the promise of improving quality of multilingual technical texts, all the while reducing time/cost of technical translation and localization. Yet, CM relies on automation and privileges consistency¯an approach that is problematic in global TC with its focus on adapting texts based on the characteristics of end-users.

To better understand the interdisciplinary dilemma of multilingual quality in CM, during my dissertation …

Parent-Child Communication About Marriage And The Displacement Of Marital Myths, Jennifer Anne Jackl

Theses and Dissertations

Marriage and divorce are common in the U.S. today, and the question of "why is the divorce rate so high?" lingers in popular culture. The purpose of this study is to examine the need for parent-child communication about marriage to determine if it can help to dispel marital myths that abound in U.S. society. This study takes a qualitative approach to the communication between parents and their children about the topic of marriage. Three research questions are asked regarding what messages were transmitted between parents and their (now adult) children about marriage, how accurate the children perceive these messages to …

Breaking The Silence: The Role Of Online Community In The Transition To Motherhood, Alice Leigh Gattoni

Theses and Dissertations

This study presents a grounded theory of the tensions that exist in the transition to motherhood. More specifically, this study investigated both the tensions that emerged within interactions in online communities as well as the communicative practices community members used to manage tensions. Using a qualitative grounded theory approach, interactions from an online community were analyzed. Results from this study suggest that new mothers use online communities to communicate about challenges around the transition to motherhood, highlighting tensions around (a) expertise and experiences, (b) mother-led and baby-led practices, and (c) expectations and experience. Community members develop a range of communicative …

Be Honest With Me: An Exploration Of Lies In Relationships, Arrington Stoll

Theses and Dissertations

This study used Bryant's (2008) lie typology to understand how types of lies (real, gray, and white) compare to one another from the perspective of the individuals engaged in deceptive communication and test whether lies have an impact upon relationship qualities. Data were collected from a total of 246 participants using an online survey. Consistent with the hypotheses, there were significant differences across perceived lie characteristics (intention, consequences, beneficiary, truthfulness and acceptability) across real lies, white lies, and gray lies. The relationship qualities of satisfaction, similarity, trust, and closeness were not associated with the type of lie a participant told. …

The Influence Of Media On Himba Conceptions Of Dress, Ancestral And Cattle Worship, And The Implications For Culture Change, Austin Sterling Cameron

Theses and Dissertations

For the Himba, deeply embedded cultural symbols—traditional daily way of life, traditional beliefs about the sacredness of cattle, and religious beliefs of ancestral worship—are of ancient origin and have been retained in their culture throughout all of recorded history. While they still exist in Himba society today, some scholars have observed a potential widespread generational shift in adherence to these core cultural values and beliefs. This study presents the findings of 41 in-depth interviews with members of the Himba tribe in northern Namibia—specifically Opuwo and Otutati—ages 18 to 65. It examines the degree to which cultural differences are emerging as …

Blogging In Defense Of Themselves: Social Media Implications For Rhetorical Criticism And The Genre Of Apologia, Ramona Dee Wheeler

Theses and Dissertations

The advent of social media has provided an arena where barriers to entry are low. Individuals may persuade, question others and defend both their philosophies and their actions. This study examines the classic role of rhetorical criticism as it may apply in new media venues. A blog written by a public figure was examined through a synthesis of rhetorical criticism analyses derived from Ware and Linkugel, Vartabedian, and Downey. Four strategies and associated positioning in the practice of apologia were identified in selected blog posts, indicating the genre of apologia applies to social media apologies and extends the genre of …

Why Do We Just Do It: A Study Of Adolescents' Influences For Nike Sneakers, Kyle Gallagher

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research project is to examine the motivations, influences and purchase-decision behavior of adolescent boys regarding athletic footwear and apparel. Due to its supremacy in the athletic apparel and equipment industry, the author focused on Nike during this study. The researcher collected a convenience sample of fifteen adolescent boys residing in Southern New Jersey to participate in a focus group session and telephone interviews, and complete a 24-question survey. The researcher segmented the population into three groups, using age ranges as the parameters. Group A consisted of five boys ages 10-12 years old, Group B consisted of …

Unleashed From The Shackles: Modern Media's Portrayal Of Mental Illness: United States Of Tara, Kayla Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Instead of judging people with mental illness, TED's All Kinds of Minds provided an avenue for people to learn about those who struggle with mental illness along with their success stories too.

Making Stewardship Meaningful For Nonprofits: Stakeholder Motivations, Attitudes, Loyalty And Behaviors, Geah N. Pressgrove

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the ways in which stewardship motivates nonprofit stakeholder attitudes, behaviors and loyalty. Using an online survey of stakeholders from eight local United Ways in one southern state (N=660), this research has three major focuses. First, it seeks to validate a scale to measure perceptions of the relationship cultivation strategies of stewardship. Second, it investigates group differences between nonprofit stakeholder types (donor only versus both donor and volunteer). Third, the study explores opportunities to extend existing relationship management models beyond assessments of perceived relationship quality to include desirable behavioral outcomes.

Findings offer a new conceptualization of stewardship comprised …

What Can Reader Comments To News Online Contribute To Engagement And Interactivity? A Quantitative Approach, Brett A. Borton

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses the relationship between journalism and computer-mediated communication by exploring the degree to which newly empowered audience members are using the reader comment forum on newspaper websites to participate in democratic discourse - a key component of civic engagement. Twenty-first century journalism has evolved from the traditional asynchronous, 'one-to-many' model into a process involving producers, content and audiences. The interactive capabilities of Internet-based news products have enabled legacy media to connect with audiences in unprecedented fashion. Perhaps more than any other interactive platform, the reader comment forum on online news sites reflects the ideal of the 'public sphere,' …

Child Sexual Abuse In The Media: Is Institutional Failure To Blame?, Jane Long Weatherred

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a longitudinal content analysis study of child sexual abuse (CSA) in the United States national news media from 2002 through 2012. It finds that the U.S. national news media have shifted their focus from individual level causes to societal level causes for CSA. This shift has implications for changes in institutional policies and child protection laws throughout the country.

The Westernization Of Advertisements Published In Kuwaiti Newspapers From 1992 To 2012; A Content Analysis, Farah Taleb Alrefai

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the degree of Westernization in advertisements published in major Kuwaiti daily newspapers over the past 21 years (1992-2012). Utilizing a quantitative content analysis, the diffusion of Westernization into the content and form of the advertisements was analyzed. Specifically, a sample of 584 advertisements published on the front pages of AlQabas and AlWatan Kuwaiti dailies from 1992 to 2012 were examined. The advertisements were analyzed to detect the increase and/or decrease of the presence of 12 Westernization attributes. These attributes are: product/ brand origin (Western or local), Western models and or local models, …

The Corporation In The Marketplace Of Ideas: The Law And Economics Of Corporate Political Speech, Matthew W. Telleen

Theses and Dissertations

In 2010, the Supreme Court decided Citizens United v. FEC, and raised the ire of commentators around the country. The President even criticized the ruling during the State of the Union Address. But corporate political speech has existed at various levels throughout history, and the debate is often clouded by complex balancing tests and convoluted reasoning. In this dissertation, the methodology of law and economics is utilized to analyze the value of corporate political speech to the marketplace of ideas. Chapter 1 introduces Tracing the history of Supreme Court decisions dealing with corporate political speech, variables can be isolated that …