Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Online Privacy, Vulnerabilities, And Threats: A Manager’S Perspective, Hy Sockel, Louis K. Falk

Communication Faculty Publications and Presentations

There are many potential threats that come with conducting business in an online environment. Management must find a way to neutralize or at least reduce these threats if the organization is going to maintain viability. This chapter is designed to give managers an understanding, as well as the vocabulary needed to have a working knowledge of online privacy, vulnerabilities, and threats. The chapter also highlights techniques that are commonly used to impede attacks and protect the privacy of the organization, its customers, and employees. With the advancements in computing technology, any and all conceivable steps should be taken to protect …

Family Members' Support Approaches Toward Veterans Exhibiting Symptoms Of Ptsd: A First Step Toward Validating The Inconsistent Nurturing As Control Theory Scale, Danielle M. Reed

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study was an initial step toward validating a new quantitative measure, the Inconsistent Nurturing as Control Theory (INCT) Scale, designed to quantitatively operationalize the INCT and assess whether functional family members take a controlling, nurturing, or inconsistent support approach to deal with their veteran’s PTSD behavior. Functional family members (88%) indicated that their veteran relative exhibited signs indicative of PTSD, using the PTSD Checklist (PCL-M). The INCT Scale was then used to determine which support approach family members used to deal with their veteran’s behavior. Results indicated that question items on nurturing and controlling yielded .70 or above internal …

The Search For Health Information On The Internet: Perceptions Of Patient Medical Communication Competence During The Medical Appointment, Kelli K. Owen

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The Internet is an influential contrivance that has the potential to improve healthcare information dispersion, healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. Specifically, patient preparation prior to the medical appointment, such as seeking information about his/ her health situation on the Internet, has been linked to competent medical communication behaviors. As such, the Internet can potentially be used to introduce educational health materials that will help the patient prepare for the medical appointment. But, it is important to first determine Internet usage rates among the study population and assess patient and physician perceptions of the degree to which access to health information …

The Value Of Literary Journalism: Searching For Truths Through An Objective/Subjective Dialectic, Omar Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Literary Journalism is a hybrid genre that combines literary devices with advanced journalistic techniques to create nonfiction narratives. The distinctive qualities of literary journalism, working in addition to so-called objective approaches of conventional journalism, provide the reader with an alternative observation of specific social phenomena. In the introduction, issues revolving around the genre will be discussed followed by the introduction of the objective/subjective dialectic thus formulating my thesis that insists combining the two approaches allows the reader to see truth beyond ideology. The three chapters that follow offer readings of three key and representative works of literary journalism. The Armies …

Perception Of Communication Training Need Among Pediatric Trauma Team Members, Monica M. Mercado

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this study is to use the APRC (Assessment of Pediatric Resuscitation Communication) as a guide to determine if trauma nurses and surgeons believe communication training is necessary. Many trauma team members have not received team communication effectiveness training in pediatric trauma settings. As a result, miscommunication between team members leads to medical errors during pediatric trauma activations. Thus, it is important to discover whether or not trauma team members believe communication training will help trauma teams improve the overall effectiveness of pediatric trauma activations. The present study provides a descriptive analysis that illustrates nurses’ and trauma surgeons’ …

Leader Spirituality And Leader Virtues As Predictors Of Effective Leadership, Mark Green, Carol A. Wheeler, Maria N. Hodgson

Communication Faculty Publications and Presentations

A growing body of literature indicates that leader spirituality positively influences how leaders lead. There is also a body of literature that indicates that followers associate good leadership with behaving ethically. A concept related to leader ethics is leader virtues. Historically, virtues have been written about from a theological perspective. Recently, Riggio, Zhu, Reina & Maroosis (2010) developed an empirical assessment to measure leadership virtues. In this study, 143 leaders were rated by their followers, peers and supervisors using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and the Leadership Virtues Questionnaire. The leaders completed three spiritual and religious assessments on themselves. The results …

Framing Social News Sites: An Analysis Of The Top Ranked Stories On Reddit And Digg., Ben S. Wasike

Communication Faculty Publications and Presentations

Social media sites in general are gaining more and more prominence. However, not as much attention has been paid to social news sites like Reddit and Digg, which allow users to re-publish and vote on the news articles they deem fit for their own consumption. This study used media framing as a theoretical guide to examine the nature of the top-ranked articles posted on Reddit and Digg. Content analysis was used to determine the generic and issue-specific frames common in the said articles (n = 454). Additionally, the study sought to determine the most debated frames on the two sites. …

The Effects Of Teacher Nonverbal Immediacy And Teacher Confirmation On The Affective Learning Of Students With Special Needs, Jacquelyn R. Rex

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study investigated the effect of teacher nonverbal immediacy and teacher confirmation on the perceived affective learning of students with special needs. A 2 × 2 factorial design was utilized, with teacher nonverbal immediacy and teacher confirmation as independent variables. Two research questions asked whether students with special needs could accurately rate the immediacy and confirmation levels of teachers when exposed to manipulated stimuli. H1 and H2 predicted that nonverbal immediacy and confirmation, respectively, would positively influence the affective learning of special needs students. H3 predicted that special needs students would report greater levels of affective learning when exposed to …

“To Reveal Or Not To Reveal”?: A Comparison Of Hispanic Daughters' Openness Toward Mothers & Risky Behavior As A Function Of Father-Involvement, Cynthia A. Chavez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Using Communication Privacy Management Theory as a framework, this study examined the relationship between father-involvement, daughter-mother openness, and risky behavior. All participants were given a questionnaire that measured their openness toward their mother, perceived/desired father involvement, and their risk behavior. The questionnaire addressed subject’s willingness to disclose information on specific topics (i.e. sex, pregnancy, contraception and drugs) that involve high risks when disclosed. This specificity of topics will serve as an aid to measure the extent or degree of openness that may exist within the daughter-mother relationship as a function of father-involvement and at risk behaviors. Predicted results are expected …

Assessing The Interrater Reliability Of The Assessment Of Pediatric Resuscitation Communication (Aprc), Alyssa Cerroni

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this study was to further validate the Assessment of Pediatric Resuscitation Communication (APRC), by establishing the interrater reliability of the instrument. The aim was to determine if the APRC instrument can be used by trained coders from a range of disciplines to assess the communication effectiveness of trauma team members and leaders during pediatric trauma resuscitations. These scores will be used to determine if team and leader communication is correlated with medical performance during trauma resuscitations. The sample included 8 participants from diverse backgrounds. A calculation of the Percentage of Agreement (1996) of 4 pediatric resuscitations was …

You Think I Am Stupid? Face Needs In Intercultural Conflicts, Yanrong (Yvonne) Chang

Communication Faculty Publications and Presentations

Embedded in intercultural conflicts are identity or face-based goal issues (Rothman, 1997), which, when not effectively managed, may lead to unresolved conflicts. This study examined actual email interactions over a period of five months between an American visiting professor and an International Office staff member at a University in China. It showed three patterns of interaction that failed to manage each other’s face or identity needs and led to unresolved conflicts, hurt feelings, and ruined intercultural relationships. It suggested principles or lessons for effectively handling intercultural conflicts.

Testing The Neutralizing Effects Of Nonverbal Teacher Immediacy Cues On Offensive Teacher Misbehaviors In Higher Education Classrooms, Claudia Esther Martinez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of nonverbal teacher immediacy cues can neutralize the negative impact that offensive teacher misbehaviors have on student perceptions of teacher credibility, affective learning, and motivation. The sample included a total of 140 participants enrolled in various undergraduate communication and theater courses from a southwestern university. Three one-way ANOVA tests were conducted to test the three hypotheses which proposed that nonverbal teacher immediacy cues may neutralize the negative impact that offensive teacher misbehaviors have on students’ perception of teacher credibility, affective learning, and motivation. Ultimately, findings revealed that teacher immediacy …

Hispanic Students And Social Networking, Ben S. Wasike, John A. Cook

Communication Faculty Publications and Presentations

Social networking sites have surged in popularity lately, the most popular being MySpace and Facebook. Between them these two have more than 360 million registered users worldwide. Never before have so many people gathered to communicate through a single medium, and at such a personal level. In the U.S., 65% of American teenagers and 75% of young American adults ages 18-24 now have a profile on a social networking site, while 57% of American adults ages 25-34 also have an online profile according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project.1

Examining The Relationship Between Ethnic Identity And Spanish-Language Media Use Among Bilingual Hispanics, Using The Media Gratifications And Social Identity Theories, Arminda Munoz

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between Ethnic Identity and Spanish-language media use among bilingual Hispanics following the Media Uses and Gratifications Theory. Participants in survey included 83 undergraduate university students enrolled in entry-level communication courses. Relationships between participants’ bilingual skills, ethnic identity, Spanish-language media use and gratifications outcomes were examined. Research questions focused on participants’ use of English and Spanish media use. Hypotheses focused on testing relationships between ethnicity, bilingual skills and media use. Results of the study are discussed. Conclusions, limitations and topics for further research are addressed.

Reel Talk: Deconstructing Communication Disorders In A Sampling Of Modern Films, Lisa M. Beccera

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study focused on films that depicted characters that had a communication disorder or characters that have a disability which resulted in a communication disorder. This study examined types of communication disorders depicted in films and the accuracy to which communication disorders are portrayed in films. Thirty films were used in this study and 32 characters were found to have communication disorders. The author used qualitative methods and quantitative methods to examine and deconstruct the depiction of communication disorders in modern films. This paper also illustrates the effective and efficient manner films can be used to educate society and college …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Public Speaking Instruction On Students Cognitive Learning, Skill Development, And Communication Apprehension, Gilberto A. Castillo

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of public speaking instruction on students’ cognitive learning, skill development, and communication apprehension. Participants in this study included 140 undergraduate students at a university in the Southwestern United States. Hypotheses and research questions focused on determining whether public speaking instruction makes a difference for students who receive instruction as opposed to students who do not on three learning outcomes: cognitive, behavioral, and affective. Results of the study are discussed. Conclusions, limitations, and topics for further research are addressed.

South Texas Journalism: A Case Study Of Historical Agenda-Setting, 1861-1865, Diana Rosa Ybañez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In a span of two decades, agenda-setting has been a topic of interest in the communication field. Despite this interest, agenda-setting studies lack attempts to make the concept of agenda-setting useful in an historical context. This content analysis was designed to determine what agenda South Texas newspapers set with the Civil War coverage between January 1861 and May 1865. The process of agenda-setting is described by quantity and kind of war coverage. The findings of this thesis lend support to the research question that South Texas newspapers did make the Civil War part of their agenda. This thesis indicates that …

School Public Relations: Relating With Lep Families, Annette Serventi Garcia

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this paper was to examine newsletters disseminated by school public relations programs to their community in districts where Spanish is the primary home language. A content analysis examined district newsletters of school districts located in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. The examination of district-issued newsletters determined the percentage of stories written in English or Spanish to compare with the demographic make-up, specifically the percentage of the non-English speaking parents of the district and the percentage of Limited English Proficient students. Stories were also analyzed to determine whether there were recurring themes in the English versus Spanish …

Myspace, Write Space: An Analysis Of Student Achievement In Texts For Digital Audiences, Stephanie Marie Sauceda

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This thesis study analyzes students’ connection to audience in writing samples, gauging the performance of texts written for an actual audience, the classroom teacher and an implied audience, the web. Using Steven Toulmin’s concepts of intimate and stranger interactions, this study suggests that students may make an intimate connection with the mass web audience, thereby allowing an increase in writing performance. On the other end, students identify assignments for classroom teachers as work for the stranger audience, thus creating a writing performance gap. The following is a discussion of possible factors and elements creating this particular paradox in audience identification.

The Effect Of Instructor Nonverbal Immediacy Behaviors And Feedback Sensitivity On Student Affective Learning Outcomes In Writing Conferences, Laura Martin

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of teacher nonverbal immediacy and verbal feedback sensitivity on affective learning outcomes in one-on-one writing conferences. The assumption is that if the teacher-student relationship is made stronger through the use of teacher nonverbal immediacy behaviors, then verbal feedback can be more direct and task-oriented, thereby allowing teachers to be more efficient in their evaluation. The hypotheses presented are that students who experience an immediate instructor during a writing conference will have more affect for the teacher, more affect for writing conferences, and more affect for writing in general than students …

Rio Grande Hispanic Consumers' Perceptions Of Spanglish Dialogue Use In Print And Television Advertising, Nick Taylor

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Along with this population growth, greater affluence has occurred. Advertisers are taking notice of these facts and are scrambling to find the most effective way of marketing to Hispanics. Spanglish dialogue use in advertising is an increasingly popular method marketers use in attempts to advertise to Hispanics. The Texas/Mexico border provides a unique opportunity for the study of Spanglish in advertising. The population of the RGV identifies as overwhelmingly Hispanic, 89.1 percent according the U.S. Census Bureau (2006). The population of this region, then, represents the target audience of advertisements that utilize Spanglish dialogue. This study investigated the valence (positive, …

Contested Indian Identities: The Risk Of Re-Colonization As The Postcolonial Task Continues, Gregory Selber

Communication Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Reviving The Dead Greek Guys, William F. Strong, John A. Cook

Communication Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Cultivation In Female College Students, Veronica Garcia

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study examines the cultivation effects based on the sex of the subject and the amount of television watched. Specifically, this study examines the effect of television viewing on female and male college students in order to understand what affect television viewing may have on the consumer. A modified version of the Cultivation Index Scale was administered to 157 college students. A series of ANOVA's were performed on these data. Results indicate that men and women differ significantly in terms of cultivation effects. The statistical tests also revealed that subjects who watch larger amounts of television displayed more cultivation effects …

A Study Of Self-Imposed Silence And Perceived Listening Effectiveness, Cynthia Marroquin-Baldwin

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study examines the affects of self-imposed silence on perceived listening effectiveness. The subjects used in this study were 15 males and 17 females from the McAllen area (n = 32). These subjects were nonsystematically approached at the Lark Community Center/Library to solicit participation in the study. Four tests were performed to test the possible affects that 12 hours of self-imposed silence may have on listening. The independent t-test used to analyze differences in posttest scores between the treatment group and the control group revealed that no significant difference was found. The independent t-test used to analyze differences in pretest …

Silent Messages In Negotiations: The Role Of Nonverbal Communication In Cross-Cultural Business Negotiations, Yun Chu, William F. Strong, Jianyu Ma, Walter E. Greene

Communication Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study specifically explored the perceived importance of the following nonverbal factors in the negotiation process: proxemics (location and negotiation site), physical arrangement (seating and furniture arrangement), and kinesics (eye contact, facial expressions and gestures). The participants are professional business negotiators of different nationalities. The findings show that the negotiators' perception about the three factors and their roles in negotiation are consistent with the nonverbal communication literature.

Modernization And Media In The Arab World, Gregory M. Selber, Salma I. Ghanem

Communication Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

A Cross-Cultural Content Analysis Of Television News: Weslaco And Abilene, Texas And Matamoros, Mexico, Biada Pena

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study is a cross-cultural research project involving two small Texas television markets and a third in Matamoros, Mexico. The study compares, through a research content analysis of video-taped TV newscasts, differences and similarities between three markets.

These three markets were selected because of their geographical and cultural characteristics to determine whether geographic proximity or cultural proximity is an indication of similarities.

The study concluded that the Matamoros TV newscasts concentrated more heavily on politics and the economy rather than on crime. The Weslaco newscasts aired the highest numbers of crime related stories while the newscasts in Abilene focused more …

A Burkean Analysis Of Aung San Suu Kyi's Leadership Role In The Political Development Of Burma, Jayshri H. Patel

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The focus of this thesis is the historical and analytical role, influence and effect of Aung San, U Nu, and Ne Win in the struggle of independent post-war Burma between the philosophy of Buddhism and the aims of a Socialist welfare-state and its effect on Aung San Suu Kyi's struggle for democracy in present day Burma. There has not been any rhetorical analysis of Aung San Suu Kyi as of yet. Chapter 1 covers the political history of Burma in detail; it will cover the monarchy period, the British colonization, and the struggle for independence. Chapter 2 will concentrate on …

Silent Messages In Negotiation: A Descriptive Study Of Negotiators' Perceptions Of The Role Of Nonverbal Communication In Multi-National Business Negotiations, Yun Chu

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study specifically explored the perceived importance of the following nonverbal factors in the negotiation process: proxemics (location and negotiation site), physical arrangement (seating and furniture arrangement), and kinesics (eye contact, facial expressions and gestures). The findings show that the negotiators' perception about the three categories and their role in negotiation are consistent with nonverbal communication theory.