Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Changes In The Information Uses And Gratifications Of Virtual Communications For Kansas State Research And Extension Agents During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Katie E. Messerla, Katherine J. Starzec, Brandie Disberger, Elaine Johannes

Journal of Applied Communications

Kansas State Research and Extension (KSRE) staff have experienced many changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic such as remote work requirements and technology adaptations. The purpose of this study was to determine changes in the use of virtual communications used by K-State Research and Extension agents’ internal communications as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was guided by uses and gratifications theory to understand Extension agents’ intensity of use of virtual communications channels for internal communications and the effectiveness of virtual communication channels for workplace communication needs. Through a quantitative Qualtrics survey (n = 99) with a …

What Now: The Role Of Attitude And Communicative Actions When Making Decisions During A Disease Crisis, Ashley Mcleod-Morin, Lauri Baker, Angela B. Lindsey, Lisa K. Lundy, Ricky Telg

Journal of Applied Communications

During a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations often communicate about a risk to encourage people to take particular protective actions, and the decision-making process about protective actions can be especially complex. It is important to determine how organizations can encourage specific behaviors and, as such, this study sought to investigate how attitudes and communicative actions influenced behavior related to recommendations from the CDC during the COVID-19 pandemic. To address the purpose of this study, an online quantitative survey was distributed to United States residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results from this study reveal that attitude and transmission and …

Perception And Conceptualization Of The Land-Grant Mission At A Land-Grant Institution, Audrey E. H. King, Quisto Settle, Dwayne Cartmell, Asya Cooley, Jeff Sallee

Journal of Applied Communications

While the three-part mission of the land-grant university has been a pivotal component of agriculture and natural resources in the U.S., the land-grant mission is not always well understood by all audiences, including faculty members who are the key deliverers of the land-grant mission. As such, it is important to understand how faculty members view the land-grant brand identity. A series of focus groups were conducted with tenure and non-tenure track faculty members at [university]. Faculty members’ perceptions of the university’s brand came out in four themes: overall description of the brand identity, connections to [City], university values, and increased …

Framing Friction: A Content Analysis Investigating How The Cdc Framed Social Media Communication With The Public During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Michaela Kandzer, Valentina Castano, Lauri M. Baker, Ashley Mcleod-Morin

Journal of Applied Communications

The novel coronavirus was first discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019. This zoonotic disease quickly spread through over 100 countries, including the U.S. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency by the end of January 2020. Soon after, many U.S. states issued mandatory stay-at-home orders, which caused adverse effects for agricultural businesses and food supply chains. During this crisis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shared information through social media platforms such as Facebook. This study sought to understand how the CDC framed direct communication to the public about issues related to COVID-19 using …

Characteristics And Motivational Factors Of American Equine Journalists, Zoe B. Bowden, Ricky W. Telg, Lisa K. Lundy

Journal of Applied Communications

The purpose of this study was to identify the demographic characteristics, career motivations, and professional development of American equine journalists. An online survey was distributed to equine journalists identified through their professional organizational membership. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Equine journalists were found to be predominately female, Caucasian, and averaged 53 years old. Nearly half were exposed to the equine industry prior to their career and have been working in the industry for over 15 years. Respondents were well educated and were most motivated towards their career as an equine journalist because of their interest in horses. …

The Ever-Evolving Brand Of The Land-Grant Institution: A Historical Overview, Audrey E. H. King, M. Craig Edwards

Journal of Applied Communications

A brand is a multifaceted system of management choices and consumer responses that distinguishes products, goods, services, or ideas and creates awareness and meaning. In a highly competitive environment, the importance of the branding of universities is continually increasing. Land-Grant Institutions (LGIs) have a long and storied history of serving the public, who may have little awareness of the institutions’ overall missions or importance. This inquiry sought to describe the brand and branding of LGIs over time. The Morrill Act of 1862 established LGIs and their brand as schools of higher learning for the common people. The LGI and its …

Challenges And Motivations Of Science Communication: An Administrative Perspective At Land-Grant Universities, Ashley Mcleod-Morin, Joy N. Rumble, Ricky W. Telg

Journal of Applied Communications

Interdisciplinary agricultural research centers are becoming more common at land-grant universities. These centers often use an interdisciplinary approach to address complex science issues. As these centers address agricultural issues that impact society, effective science communication is a necessary activity. However, these centers may face unique barriers or opportunities. This study utilized a qualitative approach to identify the barriers and motivations of interdisciplinary agricultural center directors when communicating about science. Participants identified common science communication challenges, such as time and lack of funding. Funding was also identified as a motivation, as well as factors related to the tenure and promotion process. …

Examining Interdisciplinary Research Collaborations To Inform Agricultural And Environmental Science Communication: A Meta-Synthesis Approach, Kristin E. Gibson, Allison R. Fortner, Alexa J. Lamm, Madison C. Wilson, Allen J. Moore

Journal of Applied Communications

Agriculturalists and environmentalists must navigate complex challenges as the global population continues to increase and environmental resources are depleted. Colleges of agricultural and environmental sciences are tasked with addressing the nexus between environmental and agricultural challenges through research, education, and communication. However, the amount of research being conducted with both agriculture and the environment considered is largely unknown and, as a result, their corresponding communication messages may not provide coherent messages from the college. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify if research within a college of agricultural and environmental sciences takes a holistic approach so that communication …

Perceptions Of Social Media Use Among U.S. Women Farmers, Kerry Daigle, Sarah Noel Heiss

Journal of Applied Communications

Communication networks and knowledge sharing are important for the persistence of small farms that operate outside of industrial agriculture. In past years, internet platforms have been promoted as a tool for farm businesses to connect with customers and other farmers. Social media in particular has gained attention as a user friendly and accessible tool for small business viability. Drawing on Uses and Gratifications Theory, this study uses examines interviews with women farmers' in the United States to explore how they view the role of social media for their agricultural practice. Results demonstrate that women farmers report using social media to …

Looking For Information: An Exploratory Analysis To Explain Public Information-Seeking Behaviors About Mosquito Control, Shelli D. Rampold, Melissa Cater, Ricky W. Telg

Journal of Applied Communications

Mosquitoes pose substantial risks in communities worldwide, and the extent and type of such risk may vary across communities and regions. The integrated mosquito management approach integrates multidisciplinary methods into practical strategies tailored to local communities. Reduction of mosquito larval sources via community engagement in at-home mosquito control behaviors is a key component of this approach. Best methods of communicating information to the public to foster knowledge and motivation to engage in local mosquito control efforts. The purpose of this descriptional, correlational study was to describe the Florida public’s mosquito control information search behaviors, as well as examine factors that …

Describing Interdisciplinary Agricultural Research Center Directors’ Perceptions Of Science Communication Through Goals And Beliefs, Ashley Mcleod-Morin, Ricky Telg, Joy Rumble

Journal of Applied Communications

This study explored the perceptions of science communication held by interdisciplinary agricultural research center directors and identified the directors’ goals and beliefs, specifically related to science communication. Ten interdisciplinary agricultural research center directors from top research, land-grant institutions were interviewed for this study. Findings from this study determined that the directors’ perceptions were rooted in service to the public, knowledge, public good, obligation, and relationships. Participants discussed attempting to bring awareness to science as a goal of science communication. They also discussed feeling obligated to communicate about science as part of a land-grant institution. Participants particularly believed that faculty with …

Impacting Agriculture And Natural Resource Policy: County Commissioners’ Decision-Making Behaviors And Communication Preferences, Kati Lawson, Kevin Kent, Shelli Rampold, Ricky W. Telg, Ashley Mcleod-Morin

Journal of Applied Communications

Elected officials at the local, state, and national levels play key roles in shaping the agriculture and natural resources (ANR) sectors through the development and implementation of ANR policies and regulations. As such, it has become necessary for members of the ANR community to understand the policy formation process and how to communicate effectively with elected officials about ANR policies and issues. However, little research has been conducted at the local level to examine how local elected officials (LEOs) interact with information specific to ANR policies to make decisions. This study was designed to assess the communication and information-seeking preferences …

Utilizing Extension As A Resource In Disaster Response: Florida Extension’S Communication Efforts During The 2017 Hurricane Season, Moses R. Mike, Shelli D. Rampold, Ricky W. Telg, Angela B. Lindsey

Journal of Applied Communications

Crisis communication plays a significant role for the different audiences for which it is designed. Hurricanes and other disasters have resulted in major economic damage and disruption of social norms for extended periods of time in communities across the globe. In such circumstances, the Cooperative Extension Service is often called to take an active role in preparation, response, and recovery. As part of the local emergency management team, local Extension offices are positioned to provide a research base, relevant information, and faculty. As such, citizens often look to Extension faculty members for emergency resources and expertise. However, standard communication methods …

Exploring Science Communication Effectiveness In The U.S. Federal Government Research Process: A Case Study With The U.S. Livestock Producers’ Antimicrobial Use Research, Katie Abrams, Chelsea Bonser, Amber Mccord

Journal of Applied Communications

Several U.S. federal government agencies collect and disseminate scientific data on a national scale to provide insights for agricultural trade, research, consumer health, and policy. Occasionally, such data have potential to provide insights to advance conversations and actions around critical and controversial issues in the broad agricultural system. Such government studies provide evidence for others to discuss, further interpret, and act upon, but to do so, they must be communicated well. When the research intersects with contentious socio-political issues, successful communication not only depends on tactics, but as this study illuminates, it also depends on relationship quality between research producers, …

Coauthor Network Analysis Of Journal Of Applied Communications Articles From 2008-2017, Audrey E. H. King, Quisto Settle

Journal of Applied Communications

Coauthorship networks offer a glimpse of collaborations within a discipline, illustrating the social networks that enable users to leverage more resources than they could on their own. This study used relational bibliometric data from the last 10 years of the Journal of Applied Communications (JAC) to create a social network analysis. The following research objectives guided this study: 1) Describe authorship, category (i.e., research article, commentary, book review), and number of JAC papers published from 2008 to 2017, 2) Describe the coauthor network characteristics of JAC papers, and 3) Describe the relationship between publication frequency and social …

Overcoming Change: Creating A Workflow With A Change Management Process, Sarah Richelle Johnson

Kansas Library Association College and University Libraries Section Proceedings

In technical services, workflows are critical for ensuring that resources are made available for patrons in a consistent and efficient manner. When a library undergoes major changes, it is critical to ensure that processes are going to be maintained or altered to meet the new needs of the library. From 2018 to 2019, William Allen White Library, at Emporia State University tackled multiple transitions in their technical services department by creating a change management process that walked them through the development of a new workflow. The article discusses the changes they made, the challenges they faced, the process that they …

Fossil-Fueled Discourse, Henry Walter

Crossing Borders: A Multidisciplinary Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

As industrial civilization confronts the realities of devastating global climate change and the local environmental catastrophes precipitated by coal, oil, and natural gas extraction, this paper moves away from mainstream analyses of demand-side choices and instead considers how miners and rig workers make decisions surrounding the ethicality of their work. This article considers corporate publications including investor and sustainability reports and company-sponsored employee magazines, industry magazines, and news sources in top-producing fossil fuel producing localities in the United States. A discursive analysis of this set of publications uncovers a dense rhetorical lattice of misinformation and disinformation surrounding fossil fuel workers. …

Comparison Of Extension Personnel And Supervisor Perceptions Of Communications Activities, Brittany Bowman, Quisto Settle, Elizabeth Gregory North, Keri Collins Lewis

Journal of Applied Communications

Extension is often called the “best-kept secret” having low awareness with the public but high satisfaction with clientele. Extension services nationwide have faced budget cuts, creating a need for the organization to re-evaluate its activities, including how it communicates with its stakeholders. While Extension personnel are the ones who will do most of the communicating, their supervisors impact the personnel’s actions, which means it is important to assess both groups. A survey was conducted with Extension personnel and their supervisors in Mississippi assessing engagement in communications activities and perceptions of those activities, as well as personnel’s preference of professional development …

The Communication Effectiveness Of Scientist-Stakeholder Partnerships Addressing Agriculture And Natural Resources Issues: An Analysis Of The Media Attention And Media Framing Of The Florida Water And Climate Alliance, Shuyang Qu, Tracy Irani

Journal of Applied Communications

Scientist-stakeholder partnerships are formed by scientists from academic institutions and industry representatives in an effort to address contingent science issues such as climate change, inform the public and influence public policies. Such organizations often lack expertise in communicating to the public and conducting outreach which are crucial components to building a good reputation. This study selected Florida Water and Climate Alliance [FWCA] as an example of such an organization, exploring its media attention and media framing to assess the visibility and reputation of [FWCA]. Results showed very limited media attention had been devoted to [FWCA]. The framing analysis results indicated …

#Transformffa: An Analysis Of Social Media Content During The 2016 National Ffa Convention, Tiffany M. Rogers-Randolph, Lisa K. Lundy, Jessica L. Harsh, Raychel Rabon

Journal of Applied Communications

The proliferation of social media has the ability to considerably impact stakeholders’ perspective of an organization’s brand. Due to this relationship, social media analysis is crucial to executing informed brand communication strategies. In October 2016, the brand communication strategies of the National FFA Organization were focused on promoting the 89^th National FFA Convention. A large portion of these efforts and resources were dedicated towards the utilization of social media. This study was designed as a content analysis of the National FFA Organization’s social media presence during the dates of the convention. The goal was to identify the prominent themes …

The Communication Effectiveness Of Scientist-Stakeholder Partnerships Addressing Agriculture And Natural Resources Issues: A Citation Analysis Of The Florida Water And Climate Alliance, Shuyang Qu, Tracy Irani, Angela B. Lindsey

Journal of Applied Communications

Public opinion on contentious agricultural and natural resource issues, such as climate change, has become more polarized and the science itself has sometimes been called into question. In response, academics and various types of stakeholders have formed organizational partnerships and collaborations to disseminate their science to inform the public and policy. These Scientist-Stakeholder Partnerships possess advantages such as technical expertise, however, such groups often face challenges in communicating effectively and establishing their reputation.

This study selected Florida Water and Climate Alliance (FWCA) as an example of this type of organization and used citation analysis to measure communication effectiveness and impact. …

Bridging The Communication Gap Successfully For Library/It Projects, Amanda Harlan, Dhanushka Samarakoon

Kansas Library Association College and University Libraries Section Proceedings

Have you ever had a difficult time describing a concept for a project? This can be especially true with collaborative projects between library and IT staff. Library and IT staff have historically been at odds concerning communication due to the use of jargon specific to their area, different working environments and styles, and conflicting best practices and standards that each follow. K-State Libraries and their internal IT department will share the communication issues with solutions from a librarian’s and developer’s perspective. We will also discuss how has influenced processes and methodologies used for collaborative projects between library and IT staff …