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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Digital Rite Of Passage: The First Social Media Kids, Julia Kennedy May 2024

Digital Rite Of Passage: The First Social Media Kids, Julia Kennedy

Honors College Theses

Through a combination of academic research and creative storytelling, this thesis delves into the largely undocumented experiences of the “first social media kids,” an entire generation of tweens who grew up using social media in the 2010s before it was heavily moderated or imbued with age restrictions. While stories about this age of social media have been traded consistently in conversations between peers who are currently in their early twenties, there is a clear lack of academic work focused on early social media and the young users who explored it. Through the medium of an episodic and investigative podcast titled …


Building Broski Nation: How Brittany Broski Fosters Parasocial Relationships Through Tiktok, Maureen Corrigan May 2024

Building Broski Nation: How Brittany Broski Fosters Parasocial Relationships Through Tiktok, Maureen Corrigan

Honors College Theses

This study delves into the concept of parasocial relationships (PSR) in the 21st century, specifically how social media influencers employ parasocial interaction (PSI) tactics on TikTok to form these relationships. This study explores the affordances of direct contact that TikTok allows for and its influence on PSR/PSI. This was able to be done by using popular TikTok influencer Brittany Broski’s “spam” account as a case study. I coded specific PSI tactics and tracked how these tactics correlated to the engagement metrics of her videos. As well as, content analyzing four specific organic and sponsored posts to see how these tactics …


Enhancing Information Architecture With Machine Learning For Digital Media Platforms, Taylor N. Mietzner Apr 2024

Enhancing Information Architecture With Machine Learning For Digital Media Platforms, Taylor N. Mietzner

Honors College Theses

Modern advancements in machine learning are transforming the technological landscape, including information architecture within user experience design. With the unparalleled amount of user data generated on online media platforms and applications, an adjustment in the design process to incorporate machine learning for categorizing the influx of semantic data while maintaining a user-centric structure is essential. Machine learning tools, such as the classification and recommendation system, need to be incorporated into the design for user experience and marketing success. There is a current gap between incorporating the backend modeling algorithms and the frontend information architecture system design together. The aim of …


Audience Perceptions Of Social Issues In Contemporary Theatre, Gabrielle Reilly Jan 2024

Audience Perceptions Of Social Issues In Contemporary Theatre, Gabrielle Reilly

Honors College Theses

The following study identified ways in which social issues were present in contemporary theatre and the subsequent productions designed for an audience ranging in identifying demographics through a collegiate production of Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood. Participants involved in the show through technical roles or onstage roles (N - 6) were interviewed about their experiences with the social issues presented in the play prior to and as a result of their involvement. Participants that were in attendance of the show over the course of four production dates (N - 67) were anonymously surveyed and answered questions on …


Portrayals Of Gender And Race In Instagram Advertising: An Exploratory Content Analysis, Taylor Moore Dec 2023

Portrayals Of Gender And Race In Instagram Advertising: An Exploratory Content Analysis, Taylor Moore

Honors College Theses

Race and gender stereotyping is a longstanding problem in the world of advertising. This research utilized content and statistical analysis to answer three questions regarding race and gender stereotyping in Instagram advertising: (1) what portrayals are being shown? (2) how are these portrayals being shown? And (3) are diverse advertisements reinforcing or challenging stereotypes? Tweny advertisements were chosen off Instagram to analyze. Through an analysis of literature on the topic, a code book defining race, person of color, sex, gender, and gender expression was created. Using these variables and classifying the ads as a stereotype/counterstereotype/neutral, allowed for the creation of …


The Relationship Between Family Communication Patterns, Conflict Strategies, And The Development/Management Of Eating Disorders, Ana Moyers May 2023

The Relationship Between Family Communication Patterns, Conflict Strategies, And The Development/Management Of Eating Disorders, Ana Moyers

Honors College Theses

Eating disorders persist as one of the most prominent psychological and physiological illnesses among young adults and adolescents. Nonetheless, most research in the field focuses on external factors that influence the development of these disorders such (i.e., social media and an idolized body image). There is less research to investigate the role of an individual’s environment, more specifically the family dyad and communication related to such eating disorders. The family unit remains, often, the primary means of socialization for individuals during developing years, thus, this study seeks to expand on how current family communication and family climate contribute to eating …


Disproportionate Discourses: Analyzing The Media’S Coverage Of Police Brutality, Tatyanah Santiago Apr 2023

Disproportionate Discourses: Analyzing The Media’S Coverage Of Police Brutality, Tatyanah Santiago

Honors College Theses

This thesis examines how the media covers fatal confrontations between minorities and the police. Since the media is a primary vehicle for interpreting events as they unfold, it is important to recognize the ways news coverage frames these violent encounters. This paper focuses specifically on the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO in August 2014 and George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis, MN in May 2020. News articles from The New York Times, The Washington Post, Fox News, and CNN were analyzed to see how authority narratives, witness narratives, and character depictions were reported. Three theoretical lenses (Critical Race …


Presidents And Media During Initial Federal-Level Hurricane Relief: A Study Of Presidential Crisis Communication Efforts, Emily A. Ball Jan 2023

Presidents And Media During Initial Federal-Level Hurricane Relief: A Study Of Presidential Crisis Communication Efforts, Emily A. Ball

Honors College Theses

Public relations serves a huge role in almost every sector, including politics. Crisis communication, a subset of public relations, is very important in a setting that constantly undergoes crises. The response to these crises matters a great deal on the federal level because the outcomes can affect such a wide variety of policies and even elections. Because of this, I wanted to focus on one type of crisis that every president is almost guaranteed to face: hurricanes. To examine the effectiveness of federal-level crisis communication, I look at Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden’s responses to the worst hurricane during their …


To Be Not So Lonely: Support And Community Through Twitter Fan Accounts In The Harry Styles Fandom, Abigail Garrett Dec 2022

To Be Not So Lonely: Support And Community Through Twitter Fan Accounts In The Harry Styles Fandom, Abigail Garrett

Honors College Theses

This study aims to examine the ways that fan accounts on social media foster community and fill the void of emotional engagement when the artist is not as active. It also looks at how fans’ parasocial relationships change when the subject of their emotional connection disappears. This study adds to previous research done on fandom, parasocial relationships, and social media. To perform this study, a close content analysis was done, focusing on one specific Harry Styles fan account on Twitter, @hsdaily. Two time periods were defined, one being a time of low activity from Harry Styles and one being high …


Vivienne Westwood And The Socio-Political Nature Of Punk, Ashley Rosato Dec 2022

Vivienne Westwood And The Socio-Political Nature Of Punk, Ashley Rosato

Honors College Theses

Punk fashion, which helped define the punk movement in the 1970s, has been ever changing as it adapts to modern times. Before it was the watered-down, mainstream mass-produced aesthetic that it is today, punk style was full of counterculture meaning and signs that communicated counter-hegemonic ideologies to the public. Vivienne Westwood, one of the contributors to early punk culture and the mother of British punk style, designed clothing that was central to the ethos of the early punk movement. Through a semiotic analysis of five of Westwood’s designs from the 1970s, this study aims to demonstrate how Westwood’s early punk …


The George Harris Show August 08, 2022, Part 5 Spanish To English Translation, Jonathan Gerweck Dec 2022

The George Harris Show August 08, 2022, Part 5 Spanish To English Translation, Jonathan Gerweck

Honors College Theses

This thesis is an attempt at a Spanish-to-English translation of part of a comedy skit by Venezuelan American comedian George Harris performed on October 11, 2022, in Miami, Florida. As an academic, I have been captivated by foreign languages since a young age and have studied German up to the collegiate level. After moving to New York and studying at Pace University, an educational institution that does not offer German, I decided to teach myself Spanish. I reached the Advanced level of the language within my second semester of officially studying it at Pace University. I believe that the future …


Georgia Southern University's Communication During Covid-19 Analyzed Using The Discourse Of Renewal Theory, Jessica Hickman May 2022

Georgia Southern University's Communication During Covid-19 Analyzed Using The Discourse Of Renewal Theory, Jessica Hickman

Honors College Theses

This research aims to analyze how Georgia Southern University handled COVID-19 through a public relations perspective using the discourse of renewal theory. In order to do this, this research looks at the communication sent from the University to the faculty, staff, and students during the time periods of March to April of 2020 and July to August of 2020. The three research questions this research will examine are: how did the University apply the discourse of renewal theory to speak to the students, faculty, and staff regarding COVID-19, how did the University use its email system to communicate with the …


Tap Dance As A Nonverbal Language For Autism Spectrum Disorder, J Sydney Rhane Burtis May 2022

Tap Dance As A Nonverbal Language For Autism Spectrum Disorder, J Sydney Rhane Burtis

Honors College Theses

Through elements of sound and movement, tap dance employs rhythm as a universal language for nonverbal communication through the medium of music. Through three distinct but related elements, (a literature review, an artist’s statement, and a performance piece), this thesis will explore tap dance as a form of nonverbal language. For individuals with autism spectrum disorder, tap dance may help to achieve further attunement with themselves and the outside world. Due to autistic people’s impaired communicative, interactional, and skilled abilities, experiencing the relationships formed through tap dance may facilitate improvement. The literature review begins with a brief definition of nonverbal …


Framing Of The Texas Snowstorm On Twitter, Colton S. Kovach Apr 2022

Framing Of The Texas Snowstorm On Twitter, Colton S. Kovach

Honors College Theses

This study investigates Framing Theory as it pertains to Twitter as the modern social sphere for communication and acquisition of news. There isn’t much work examining how the news frames the cause of global climate change on Twitter. This paper aims to study how five notable news publishers of different media political biases communicate through Twitter about the Texas Snowstorm that occurred in February, 2021. Through a content analysis of 119 tweets regarding a climate change induced storm of record-breaking, freezing temperatures; this study reveals the news’s fixation on the effects of the issue instead of the causes.


Social Media’S Impact On One’S Mental, Physical, And Emotional Well-Being, Alexandria J. Shearer Apr 2022

Social Media’S Impact On One’S Mental, Physical, And Emotional Well-Being, Alexandria J. Shearer

Honors College Theses

Social media is widely used in users’ daily lives and is deeply embedded in the world of technology. Cellular devices and their applications have shown primarily negative effects on individuals’ lives. Studies have shown a lower self-esteem in young adults addicted to their smartphone (Aznar-Díaz, et al., et al. 2020). Another study highlighted the reactions to creating one’s own content versus the implications of consuming content. Individuals who created more than they consumed reported a higher level of self-esteem (Hygen, et al., 2021). While there were many studies regarding social media and wellness of young adults, there were gaps in …


Language Barriers In The U.S.: Exploring The Protection Of Human Trafficking Victims Whose Native Language Is Spanish, Rachel Klien-Hart Apr 2022

Language Barriers In The U.S.: Exploring The Protection Of Human Trafficking Victims Whose Native Language Is Spanish, Rachel Klien-Hart

Honors College Theses

Human trafficking exists as a multi-billion-dollar industry that impacts millions of people around the world, mainly targeting vulnerable populations. In the United States, one vulnerable population includes non-English speaking victims trafficked for labor, agriculture, domestic, or sex purposes. Protecting trafficking victims involves providing justice, medical assistance, identification, therapy, rehabilitation, and reintegration tools which often falls within the purview of nonprofit organizations. Research on human trafficking has underscored language barriers as a key obstacle in the protection of trafficking victims. However, little is known about the role of language barriers in the nonprofit sector, and specifically the experiences of nonprofit organizations …


The Gay Agenda: Being Accepted In Children’S Media, Tiffany Wells Apr 2022

The Gay Agenda: Being Accepted In Children’S Media, Tiffany Wells

Honors College Theses

For many LGBTQ+ children, there is a lack of representation of their identities in the television shows they see growing up. We turn to objects, like television characters, to help “find our way,” which becomes limited for individuals who are part of the minority (Ahmed 1). When television shows reflect a variety of lived experiences, they can increase cultural competence in their viewers. While LGBTQ+ representation in children’s media has increased, it is still difficult to implement such representation. This thesis we will discuss three shows, Gravity Falls, Steven Universe, and The Owl House, that have struggled with the implementation …


Generation Z’S Proclivity For Technological Communication: An Exploration Into Its Effects On Employers’ Perceptions Of Gen Z And The Intergenerational Workplace, Hannah G. Whitehead Jan 2022

Generation Z’S Proclivity For Technological Communication: An Exploration Into Its Effects On Employers’ Perceptions Of Gen Z And The Intergenerational Workplace, Hannah G. Whitehead

Honors College Theses

Gen Z’s proclivity for digital communication may be putting them at a disadvantage when shifting into professional settings. Generation Z is inclined to communicate differently than Millennials and Generation Y, the two generations that currently make up the largest percentage of the job market. The idea that Gen Z’s future employers prefer different styles of communication creates the risk of negatively influencing these employers’ perceptions of Gen Z’s professionalism and workplace capabilities. By interviewing 12 internship supervisors from varying industries amidst the Southeast who belong to Generations X and Y, the author explores the difference in communication styles between Generation …


We Speak English Here: An Exploratory Study Of Language Barrier Effects In Agriculture, Camryn Clift May 2021

We Speak English Here: An Exploratory Study Of Language Barrier Effects In Agriculture, Camryn Clift

Honors College Theses

This thesis investigates the effects of the language barrier between English-speaking H-2A managers and their Spanish-speaking H-2A employees on Kentucky farms with special attention to the insights that can be gleaned from farm managers concerning the intersection of communication, language barriers, and the unique social and cultural environment created by the microcosm of the H-2A program. The project includes a literature review evaluating the currently documented effects of language barriers in various industries as they relate to the language barriers found within agriculture. IRB-approved interviews with farm managers provide original data to evaluate these potential effects, whether positive or negative. …


Implications Of Pop Cultural Diplomacy: An Analysis Of Idol-State Interactions, Elizabeth Erwin May 2021

Implications Of Pop Cultural Diplomacy: An Analysis Of Idol-State Interactions, Elizabeth Erwin

Honors College Theses

This paper uses media coverage of idol-state interactions to understand the ways in which states utilize pop culture as a component of their public diplomacy strategy. Idol-state interactions are defined as an event where a pop cultural figure accompanies or is accompanied by a state official to a formal meeting with a representative of a foreign government. Looking specifically at South Korean diplomatic events where K-Pop idols are present, I find that idol-state interactions have the potential to increase media coverage, further cultural understanding and serve as a relationship-building tool.


#Clickbait: Social Media, Attraction, And Relational Development, Albani I. Berryhill Apr 2021

#Clickbait: Social Media, Attraction, And Relational Development, Albani I. Berryhill

Honors College Theses

In the age of social media networking and online dating, interpersonal communication has evolved. Today’s young adults have grown up during the evolution of social media. Social Penetration Theory (SPT) proposes that interpersonal relationships develop through self-disclosure (Punyanunt-Carter, 2019). As we move from public to more private information in the process of self-disclosure, we develop deeper and closer interpersonal relationships. The purpose of this study is to analyze attraction, perceived authenticity, and relational development on social media through the SPT lens. I argue that Twitter is a popular social media platform that encourages user authenticity and that social media users …


The New Open Forum: Social Media Use In Georgia Gubernatorial Elections, John Mack Apr 2021

The New Open Forum: Social Media Use In Georgia Gubernatorial Elections, John Mack

Honors College Theses

In 2018, Georgia saw one of the most contested elections in recent memory with Brian Kemp narrowly defeating Stacey Abrams. As a part of that election, social media would play a critical role in how campaigns are run. This thesis takes a look at previous literature on voter turnout and social media. This thesis asks: How did the campaigns use social media to spread their message, and in what stage of the election was social media most effective? To answer that question this thesis features a content analysis of Facebook posts and Tweets from the 2018 elections compared to posts …


You And I: Parasocial Relationships, Social Media, And Fan Labor In The One Direction Fandom, Kathryn Meese Apr 2021

You And I: Parasocial Relationships, Social Media, And Fan Labor In The One Direction Fandom, Kathryn Meese

Honors College Theses

This study aims to analyze the ways in which fans of the band One Direction developed parasocial relationships, or one-sided, non-reciprocal relationships with media personae, through social media marketing, and to explore the economic implications of these relationships in terms of fans’ free promotional labor. At the heart of social media marketing is relationship marketing, or attracting and maintaining customer relationships, a strategy we explore here within the context of the music industry. Previous studies have explored the dynamics of online fan communities, or fandoms, and the free labor they carry out on the part of an artist, such as …


Gangsta Rap And The Trapped Mentality, Mikalah M. Guyton Mar 2021

Gangsta Rap And The Trapped Mentality, Mikalah M. Guyton

Honors College Theses

This research paper provides historical background into the evolution of Hip Hop culture and further investigation into the evolution and foundation of Gangsta Rap music. Throughout this investigation, five recurring fundamental themes are recognized through patterns presented by its pioneers. The five themes that are addressed within this subgenre include: (1) masculinity, (2) respect, (3) violence and retaliation, (4) misogyny, and (5) wealth. As Gangsta Rap emerged into popular culture, it became socially acceptable to exploit issues and limitations experienced within African American communities. In turn, Gangsta rappers overcame limitations typically experienced by black males. In what follows I will …


Training For Retention: How Effective Are Writing Center And Learning Center Training Programs At Pace University?, Anna Giacalone Jan 2021

Training For Retention: How Effective Are Writing Center And Learning Center Training Programs At Pace University?, Anna Giacalone

Honors College Theses

Although peer student support services are offered at college and universities across the country, there is little discussion regarding how students are trained to work in these positions. While the benefits of student support services are generally agreed upon, these services can only be effective if student employees feel adequately prepared for their roles. This study aims to determine best practices to design training curriculum for students employed as writing center consultants, content tutors, and peer mentors in a university setting. To do so, student employees at Pace University - Pleasantville’s Learning Commons were surveyed to analyze how prepared students …


Language Concordance In Medicine And The Need For Medical Schools To Require Taking A Foreign Language As An Intervention Method To Minimize Language Barriers In The U.S., Mary K. Yousif Dec 2020

Language Concordance In Medicine And The Need For Medical Schools To Require Taking A Foreign Language As An Intervention Method To Minimize Language Barriers In The U.S., Mary K. Yousif

Honors College Theses

During medical school future student doctors are exposed to a multitude of patients, both natives and non-natives. However, there is no course offering (such as a foreign language or culture class) provided within the curriculum that prepares them for these future interactions. With communication being one of the primary skills used in healthcare, it is imperative to discuss the effects it can cause on a patient if not established. Overall, the goal of this research is to conduct a literary investigation regarding this matter and educate the medical community about the importance of providing effective communication in medicine. This begins …


Language Learning From The Developmental And Neurocognitive Perspective: An Examination Of The Impact Of Music On Second Language Acquisition, Shelby Grimm Nov 2020

Language Learning From The Developmental And Neurocognitive Perspective: An Examination Of The Impact Of Music On Second Language Acquisition, Shelby Grimm

Honors College Theses

This literature review aims to analyze the influence of music as a learning tool throughout the process of second language acquisition. Through the compilation and analysis of recent research conducted on the academic, cultural, and linguistic impacts of music on the four modes of language, which include reading, speaking, writing, and listening, this thesis will demonstrate the effects of incorporating music into the second language learning curriculum. Definitions of both music and language, as well as a description of the components of both areas will be included. An examination of the neurocognitive relationship between music and language, as well as …


Niche Journalism: Successful Steps In A Saturated, Modern Market, Arianna L. Smith Apr 2020

Niche Journalism: Successful Steps In A Saturated, Modern Market, Arianna L. Smith

Honors College Theses

“How-to” articles make up the bulk of an average Google search when initiating research on a new venture—the subject of self-publishing and propagating journalistic content is no exception. In this day and age, self-started publications are almost guaranteed to be niche in nature. With the intent to create a more academic and objectively reliable guide, this literature review takes into account the observations and conclusions of multiple communications professionals, long-and-short standing news organizations of varying success and notoriety, and studies concerned with the trends relating to audience engagement and technology integration to answer the main research questions thus: what is …


Adolescent Male Behaviors As Portrayed In The Disney Sitcom Hannah Montana, Erin T. Maurer Nov 2019

Adolescent Male Behaviors As Portrayed In The Disney Sitcom Hannah Montana, Erin T. Maurer

Honors College Theses

This research project uses content analysis to examine themes related to toxic masculinity and misogyny in the sitcom Hannah Montana. In particular, the sitcom’s child character Rico Suave is shown to be misogynistic when interacting with women. There is little literature on the topic of representation of toxic masculinity as shown in child characters, but there are many examples in modern media, such as the trope of the child being attracted to the babysitter, the lifeguard, and the friend of an older sibling. Using similarly-formatted transcripts from seasons two, three, and four, I pulled all lines of dialogue and stage …


Silence As A Strategy, Jarvis L. Steele May 2019

Silence As A Strategy, Jarvis L. Steele

Honors College Theses

Understanding the struggle that is peaceful protest is a task that has two unexplored components. The first is how leaders of political movements and protest groups are able to influence the masses to not waiver in their non-violent, peaceful approach. The second is how political groups learn from the failures and successes of the previous campaigns. We are given these circumstances where governmental violence and abuse would normally lead to a retaliatory response from groups, but in order to maintain the fidelity of the movement leaders of these political protests have to protect the nonviolent approach. These are instances where …