Communication Commons^™

"Bridesmaids": A Modern Response To Patriarchy, Blair Buckley

Communication Studies

This senior project analyzes the rhetorical means by which the movie "Bridesmaids" rejects yet also heeds to patriarchal standards. In this paper I examine the film by performing a feminist critique, also employing elements of ideological criticism.

Is Cmc The New Ftf: A Study Exploring The Nature Of Computer Mediated Communication On Facebook, Suzanne S. Wu

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

The Future Of Zines, Chloe Parks

Graphic Communication

The purpose of this study was to discover if the creation of handmade zines will continue in the future despite the barrage of digital options for those who desire to self-publish. A case study was conducted by interviewing participants from the zine-making community, who shared their thoughts and insights on the medium. The participants responded to questions about the value of zines to society, their personal zine collections, their digital publishing spaces, and where they thought zines were headed. The results of this study found that zines have historically been proliferated for various reasons, and through this have manifested distinct …

The State Of Book Publishig In A Tablet Based Society, Shannon C. Whitehill

Graphic Communication

The adaption of tablets and e-readers for publication purposes will require a lot of work and changes from a design and production team that is set up for print production. Book design in it’s classic form (a bound book printed with ink on paper) is an art form that has been perfected over many centuries. The sudden entrance of the tablet has shaken the print publishing industry.

Trends And Implications: The Use Of Facebook In The Professional World, Elisa E. Minamide

Graphic Communication

The recent trend of connectivity through the Internet has served as a spark for the social media era, resulting in a number of social websites such as Xanga (social blogging site),MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and many others. Facebook specifically has become an everyday norm in the lives of most young adults. With the societal shift towards a digitally orientated lifestyle, there is an increased interaction between friends, family, and non-acquaintances via social networking sites like Facebook. As a result, the manner in which users portray themselves online becomes influential for new friends viewing their pages. Similarly, professional companies are now …

Barriers To Sustainable Beverage Packaging, Noelle Shoda

Graphic Communication

The purpose of this study was to determine the reasons for why a company would not implement beverage packaging with recycled content and/or bioplastic and whether or not size of a company plays a factor in its ability to implement sustainable beverage packaging. A face-to-face interview was carried out with industry professionals, as well as an email interview with a beverage company in order to gain insight from two perspectives regarding the main barriers to implementation and effect of size. Trends and companies within the beverage packaging industry were researched to discover what kinds of changes have been made, for …

Iphone Games, Jason Hartnell

Graphic Communication

The purpose of this study was to identify the key features of an iPhone game that make it successful. A survey was given to iPhone users who gave responses to determine the most important factors in choosing a game. The participants rated the games based on Name, Color scheme, Sounds, Ability to level up, Competing against other people, Strategy involved, Rewards for success. The results of this study can be used to determine what users value most in iPhone games and help developers choose features to use when creating a new iPhone game.

Promotion And Visibility For The Online Rebirth Of Moebius, Amanda Gonzalez

Communication Studies

An application-based senior project involving the promotion and visibility of Moebius, the College of Liberal Arts' online scholarly journal. The purpose of this project was to effectively plan and execute a public relations campaign to raise awareness of Moebius to the Cal Poly community, as well as to promote the launch of its website, aiding in the successful transition from print to web.

The Promotion & Visibility team consisted of Communication Studies Seniors Amanda Gonzalez and Lily Gonzalez (both of which using the campaign as a senior project), and Corrina Powell, sophomore Graphic Communication major.

The entire Cal Poly …

Lives Interrupted: A Sibling’S Guide To Cancer, Robin Sweeney

Communication Studies

For my project I propose to write a handbook for teens to help them cope with the difficult challenges they may experience while having a sibling who has been diagnosed with cancer. I also hope to help them discover the positive that can happen throughout this experience. The purpose of this handbook is to help eliminate some level of uncertainty, to prepare a teen with the feelings they and their sibling will be going through, to prepare them for their different changes in roles and responsibilities in their family and friends, to show them ways to help, how to continue …

The Reality Of Fiction: A Textual Analysis Of Verisimilitude In The Appeal, Stephanie M. Taft

Communication Studies

This project assesses the verisimilitude and plausibility of John Grisham's novel, The Appeal. While labeled as a fiction work, I argue that his book should resonate with readers and be taken seriously as it mirrors American culture. It speaks back to America's government, judicial and legal systems. I invoke statistics and a prominent law case that show why Grisham's book is not completely fictitious in any regard. The novel is highly applicable to society today, as corporate scandals and corruption seem to always surface. I also discuss how the book is relatable to the real world by discussing some of …

A Quantitative Survey: Are Twitter Advertisements Effective For College Students?, Christia J. Brockman

Communication Studies

Social Media websites are rapidly being overrun by advertisements, but is this blitz of advertising destroying the social media experience? Twitter, one of today’s most popular social media sites, increased its revenues from $45,000,000 in 2010 to $259 million in 2013. This exponential growth is surprising given the large portion of Twitter users who are between the ages of 18 to 25 with lower annual incomes. In analyzing whether advertising on Twitter is effective on college students, statistical results from a survey conducted among college students at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, reveal that Tweeters in this sample …

Social Media In The Tourism Industry: How Social Media And The Self-Congruity Theory Affect Destination Choice, Mckenzie Sixt

Journalism

This study researches how the tourism indsutry is using social media to create a strong destination image and be in constant communication with their customers. Their customers use social media as a research tool in deciding where to book their next vacation and it helps when booking locations have a destination image for them to see. The destination image can be created from marketing-generated content as well as consumer-generated content on social media sites. When consumers find a destination image that they think suits their personality they are more likely to have a satisfying experience and share their experience on …

From "Say Yes To The Dress," To Pinterest: How Agenda Setting Is Used In The Wedding Industry, Katie Schultz

Journalism

This study investigates how agenda setting is used in the wedding industry with social media and entertainment. While social media is relatively still new, the wedding industry has been changed drastically due to social networking. With sites like Pinterest, trends have become more apparent and brides are following them. Agenda setting has been used in both social media and in entertainment television shows such as, “Say Yes to the Dress,” “Bridezilla,” etc. The following study looks at current literature as well as interviews of experts in the wedding industry. ii

An Educational Video And Research Experiment On The Longevity Of Chicken Eggs, Kyle Patrick Mcdonald

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project was to create a video designed to educate the public about chicken egg storage and refrigeration. The information in the video was based on a research experiment performed by the author, which was designed to measure the chronological decline of internal egg quality over a ten-week period. By creating an educational video about the longevity of chicken eggs, it is hoped that consumers will learn to keep their eggs past their sell-by dates. This project includes an educational video as well as an outline for a research project.

Agricultural Communication Lesson Plans For The Agricultural Leadership Class At Elk Grove High School, Chelsea Molina

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project was to develop agricultural communication lesson plans for Elk Grove High School’s Agricultural Leadership class. The lesson plans were created after the research of the existing California Agricultural Education and Agricultural Leadership Curriculum standards. The lesson plans were then based off of the FFA Agricultural Communications Career Development Event (CDE) guidelines in order to grasp many of the important details of the CDE. The CDE is offered at the national level but not yet at the state level in California. Providing lesson plans that coincide with the requirements of the CDE will help California FFA …

Accommodating Climate Change Science: James Hansen And The Rhetorical/Political Emergence Of Global Warming, Richard Besel

Communication Studies

Dr. James Hansen’s 1988 testimony before the U.S. Senate was an important turning point in the history of global climate change. However, no studies have explained why Hansen’s scientific communication in this deliberative setting was more successful than his testimonies of 1986 and 1987. This article turns to Hansen as an important case study in the rhetoric of accommodated science, illustrating how Hansen successfully accommodated his rhetoric to his non-scientist audience given his historical conditions and rhetorical constraints. This article (1) provides a richer explanation for the rhetorical/political emergence of global warming as an important public policy issue in the …

Sole4souls/Running Warehouse: An Application Of Communication Principles In Non Profit Event Planning, Tiffany Gummow

Communication Studies

This paper examines persuasion and it's effectiveness on donation events. It also discusses the different types of communication styles, the theory of reciprocation, some accommodation, and rapport. The paper focuses primarily on non-profit donation events and how to reach certain target audiences.

All You Need Is Capitalism?: An Ideological Criticism Of The Beatles-Jackson Auction Controversy, Arianna Marie Chopelas

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

A Twist In Hip Hop Culture--A Feminist Perspective, Brandon Edward Michalkiewicz

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

Souls4soles/Running Warehouse 2013. An Application Of Communication Principle In Non Profit Event Planning, Vianna Hochstrasser

Communication Studies

I wanted my senior project to revolve around something that would not only hold personal interest but also make a difference within others lives. We decided to put on an event utilizing Soles4Souls, a charity that helps donate old athletic shoes to adults and children in need around the world.

To begin this charitable effort we would work with San Luis Obispo’s Running Warehouse. Our set goal would be to persuade people to attend our event at Running Warehouse. The price of admission would be one dollar, and a pair of old running or athletic shoes. The money would help …

The Best Social Media Practices For An Individual Franchisee In The Restaurant Industry, Stephanie Francesca Ronca

Journalism

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Cosmetic Packaging On Consumer Perceptions, Sarah Aidnik

Graphic Communication

This project explores the relationship between cosmetic packaging, perceived price, quality, and retail environment. Packaging is often how consumers form their first impression of a product. Consumers can identify “high-end” and “low-end” cosmetics based on the items’ packaging using both conscious and subconscious cues. In a retail environment, this can signal a certain level of quality to a consumer.

In addition to extensive research, a survey was conducted on a sample of 16 women over the age of 18 living in southern and central California who regularly use and purchase cosmetics and skincare from low-end and/or high-end retail environments …

Building Collaboration Within The Quarter Horse Community: The Obstacles And Hurdles, Allison Grayson

Journalism

The following study investigates how to increase collaboration within the Quarter Horse community through Twitter. Twitter is increasingly one of the top social media tools for many organizations, including organizations within the Quarter Horse community. Twitter is an important tool in creating a dialogue between community members, and the organizations to which they are members. Research shows, “Users believe that using Twitter can improve their performance or their ability to achieve specific goals and, thus, they are more extrinsically motivated to continue to use it” (Agrifoglio, Black, Ferrara & Metallo, 2012, p. 38). That being said, it is important that …

Public Relations: The Use Of Social Media As A Tool For Increasing Awareness About College Club Sports Teams, Alexandra Bakalar

Journalism

Most American universities have club sports teams, which are teams not housed by the university’s athletic department or sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). This paper addresses the ways in which social media can be used as a public relations tool for increasing the awareness about college club sports teams. This particular study looks at the Men’s Club Lacrosse Team of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo as an example of what social media tools can be used as a form of public relations to increase awareness about the team.

Misconceptions In Agriculture: The Role Of Public Relations To Communicate With And Educate The Public, Kimberly Taylor

Journalism

The following study aims to investigate the misconceptions in agricultural communications, why they exist, and what communicators can be doing to further the development, management and assessment of agricultural communication messaging. Agricultural issues are a source of media attention, from policy changes like Proposition 2 or Proposition 37 in California, to commercials such as the Dodge RAM Super Bowl spot in 2013. By studying what professionals are currently doing in the fields of public relations, marketing, and agricultural communications to reach and educate the consumers, it becomes clear the strategies that should be taken when presenting key messaging. This study …

The Impact Of Public Relations On News, Laura Follis

Journalism

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Sustainability Package Advertising On Consumer Purchases, Ronald Ringler

Graphic Communication

This research project focused on factors influencing consumers’ purchasing behavior. Specifically, the project focused on sustainability of packaging and attempted to find if sustainability of a package (represented by post-consumer content) affected a consumer’s decision to buy that product. The specific question asked was: “Are consumers willing to purchase a product based on the environmental friendliness of its package even if it goes against the consumer’s brand preference, or if it has a higher price point than competing products?” Research data was gathered through a multi-page survey comprised of seven questions of varying complexity. Participants were primarily aged 18-25 and …

Communication Of Recycling Through Labeling And Packaging, Serena Mistry

Graphic Communication

Recycling has become a more prevalent practice in the last few decades. However, the labeling system on today’s packaging is not always clear in indicating whether something is recyclable. Recently, there has been a great deal of attention directed at a new system, known as the How2Recycle label, an innovative labeling system expected to launch in the next few years. As the population continues to grow at unprecedented levels and more strain is placed on the global environment, recycling becomes more crucial. In the United States, the lack of a standard system for recycling on labeling and packaging deters people …

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Campaign 2012 And Beyond: Awareness And Participation For Behavioral Change, Ebony Chetto

Journalism

The following study investigates how to develop and maintain a health outreach program in order to make a behavior change in participating in the breast cancer movement. The number of women becoming affected by breast cancer is increasingly growing, and the students who developed the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Campaign saw the need to raise awareness of this disease on campus and in the community. The campaign’s focus was to create and publicize an outreach event called Rock the Tatas, a fundraising concert to support the fight against breast cancer. With scholarly research, the design of the campaign attempts …

The Value Of Public Relations: Measuring The Success Of Facebook, Twitter, And Youtube In Corporate Companies, Justine Gananian

Journalism

This paper is a combination of research and data from three experts who were interviewed about the value of social in a corporate company, specifically Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Social media’s presence has increased at an exponential pace in the past five years, and consumers are constantly looking to access new information. It has become a useful tool for both internal and external communication within a company. As research shows, “[companies] are revamping and modernizing their print publications, starting radio and video shows, using social media to foster two-way communication, using the new multimedia tools to reach new audiences, telling …