Communication Commons^™

The Dynamic Of Unity Writing, Virginia Gilroy

Department of Writing and Communication Theses

The Dynamic Unity of Writing (DUW) offers an object oriented theory of writing, based on the idea of a dynamic unit, which is the simultaneous manifestation of distinct thought processes acting as one. This thesis demonstrates how writing, while grounded in consciousness, fulfills the four characteristics of a dynamic unit: that in its unity of action, writing is a basic level structure; that writing is more than the sum of its parts; that it is observable only in a context of operation; and, that writing exhibits a pattern of correlation across elements. This theory blends the four elements of the …

Examining The Influence Of Technology Affordances Of Fitness Trackers And Health Psychographic Factors On Physical Activity, Xin Zhou

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Fitness trackers have immense potential to improve individuals’ health behaviors and health outcomes. Studies in disciplines such as public health, communication technology and information systems, have examined factors that can predict use of fitness trackers and their influence on health-related behaviors. However, not much is known about (1) which element(s) of fitness trackers affect individuals’ health behaviors, and (2) the psychological mechanism that guides the relationships between individuals’ health-related beliefs and use of fitness trackers on physical activity behaviors. Guided by the Motivational Technology Model (MTM) and Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this dissertation examined the influence of technology affordances (i.e., customization, …

Coming Out Online And On Campus : Queer Perspectives On Identity Work, Ian Callahan

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This research aims to describe the experiences associated with coming out—both on campus and online—for sexually and gender nonconforming college students. In 2014, I conducted a pilot version of this study at a public American university in the Northeast, utilizing data from semi- structured in-depth interviews and a demographic questionnaire. A thematic analysis using open and axial coding techniques found that social media interactions contributed to ‘outing’ students on campus. This finding inspired a second iteration of the study, which replicates the original research design and expands its interview script to include a more expansive series of questions related to …

Short-Term International Experiences In Language Teacher Education: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis, Emrullah Yasin Çiftçi, A. Cendel Karaman

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Short-term international experiential learning opportunities can foster language teachers' multidimensional development. Even though such experiences are considered beneficial for language teachers’ development, educational reviews have scarcely concentrated on a comprehensive synthesis of the impact of such experiences on language teachers. This meta-synthesis of qualitative research analyzed the role of international experiential learning in the multidimensional development of pre- and in-service language teachers. Besides presenting a number of research patterns in the literature, this synthesis of 25 qualitative studies reported main outcomes of short-term international experiences for language teachers. These outcomes were synthesized under three main headings: (1) professional, (2) linguistic, …

Assessing The Use Of Social Media For Employee Engagement In The Singapore Military, Kevin Kok-Yew Tan, Augustine Pang

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

The purpose of this paper is to assess the potential of using social media in employee engagement within the Singapore military through the theoretical lens of organizational listening, and to ascertain the implications to corporate organizational communication with the transferability of findings made possible by a common pool from which both military and corporate draw their employees. 20 interviewees with varied demographics were interviewed in this research. Findings showed that:- Text messaging and social media were common communication platforms used for employee engagement;- Employees feel proud when the organization showcases good work on social media;- Social media use must be …

Family Separation And The Impact Of Digital Technology On The Mental Health Of Refugee Families In The United States: Qualitative Study, Sayyed Fawad Ali Shah, Julia Meredith Hess, Jessica R. Goodkind

Research, Publications & Creative Work

Background: Conflicts around the world have resulted in a record high number of refugees. Family separation is a critical factor that impacts refugee mental health. Thus, it is important to explore refugees’ ability to maintain contact with family members across the globe and the ways in which they attempt to do so. It is increasingly common for refugees to use information and communication technologies (ICTs), which include mobile phones, the internet, and social media sites, such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Skype, and Viber, for these purposes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore refugees’ perceptions of the …

“This Is A Pakhtun Disease”: Pakhtun Health Journalists’ Perceptions Of The Barriers And Facilitators To Polio Vaccine Acceptance Among The High-Risk Pakhtun Community In Pakistan, Sayyed Fawad Ali Shah, Tamar Ginossar, David Weiss

Research, Publications & Creative Work

Abstract Introduction Pakistan is one of only three poliomyelitis-endemic countries in the world. Twelve wild poliovirus (WPV) cases were recorded in the country in 2018. Even though resistance to oral polio vaccine (OPV) has decreased over time, there are still pockets of communities, mostly ethnic Pakhtun living in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, that resist OPV. Although local journalists may be important sources of health information, past studies have overlooked their role in this context. The purpose of this study was to examine Pakhtun health journalists’ beliefs regarding OPV and their views of the barriers and facilitators that influence OPV …

It's Not Raining Men: A Mixed-Methods Study Investigating Methods Of Improving Male Recruitment To Health Behaviour Research, Jillian Ryan, Luke Lopian, Brian Le, Sarah Edney, Gisela Van Kessel, Ronald Plotnikoff, Corneel Vandelanotte, Tim Olds, Carol Maher

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background Although gender is an important determinant of health behaviour with males less likely to perform health-protective behaviours, samples in health behaviour research are heavily biased towards females. This study investigated the use of online social network, Facebook, to reach and recruit inactive males to a team-based, social, and gamified physical activity randomised controlled trial. Methods Methodological techniques included a narrative literature review, survey of inactive males (n = 34) who rated advertisement images and text captions on scales of 1–10, and trial Facebook-delivered recruitment campaigns. Advertisement effectiveness was measured by cost-per-click to the study website, number of expressions of …

Zea Books Policies And Procedures, Sue Ann Gardner, Paul Royster

About Zea E-Books

About

Zea Books is the digital imprint of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries. Its mission is to publish academic works (books, journals, multimedia) by scholars who are either affiliated with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln or are working in research areas of significant interest at UNL.

Zea Books was founded in 2008. It is a natural outgrowth of the successful UNL DigitalCommons institutional repository (http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/), an enterprise that has been publishing electronic books since its inception in 2005. The imprint helps foster the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's commitment to the future of scholarly communications.

Benefits of Publishing with Zea Books

Zea Books …

The Impact Of Playful Ironic Branded Entertainment On Consumer Behavior, Phubest Phirakulwanich

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of playful ironic branded entertainment on consumer behavior, including understanding, attitude toward the brand, attitude toward the branded entertainment, source characteristics, and purchase intention, on a low-involvement product, Milo, a chocolate malt beverage. Pre-experimental setting, with static group design, was employed to collect data from 120 undergraduate students at the Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University, during April 2020. The result indicated that both playful ironic branded entertainment and non-playful ironic branded entertainment gave similar impacts on consumer behavior. Attitude toward the brand was the only sub-variable that the playful ironic …

รูปแบบการดำเนินชีวิต การเปิดรับสื่อ และพฤติกรรมการซื้อสินค้าออนไลน์ของผู้บริโภคหญิงวัยทำงาน, นัทชนิดา วัชรินทร์

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

การวิจัยเชิงสำรวจครั้งนี้ มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษา 1) รูปแบบการดำเนินชีวิต การเปิดรับสื่อ และพฤติกรรมการซื้อสินค้าออนไลน์ของผู้บริโภคหญิงวัยทำงาน และ 2) ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างตัวแปรต่างๆ โดยใช้แบบสอบถามเป็นเครื่องมือในการเก็บข้อมูลจากกลุ่มตัวอย่างเพศหญิง อายุ 22 - 44 ปี จำนวน 1,140 คน ที่อาศัยอยู่ในกรุงเทพมหานคร ผลการวิจัยพบรูปแบบการดำเนินชีวิตที่แตกต่างกัน 6 กลุ่ม ได้แก่ 1) กลุ่มสาวยุคใหม่ ใช้ชีวิตมีสาระ 2) กลุ่มสาวเพียบพร้อมสมบูรณ์แบบ 3) กลุ่มสาวมั่น เฉียบ ตรงไปตรงมา 4) กลุ่มสาวติดโซเชียล 5) กลุ่มแม่ศรีเรือน ใช้ชีวิตเรียบง่าย และ 6) กลุ่มนางเอกเจ้าน้ำตา สำหรับพฤติกรรมในการเปิดรับสื่อ พบว่า กลุ่มตัวอย่างผู้หญิงวัยทำงานมีการเปิดรับสื่อดั้งเดิมในระดับที่ต่ำ ซึ่งสื่อดั้งเดิมที่ยังเปิดคงรับอยู่ได้แก่ สื่อโทรทัศน์ สื่อโฆษณา ณ จุดซื้อ และสื่อโฆษณากลางแจ้ง และมีการเปิดรับสื่อใหม่ในระดับที่สูง โดย 3 อันดับแรก ได้แก่ โปรแกรมสนทนาไลน์ โปรแกรมสืบค้นข้อมูล และการส่งข้อความทางเฟซบุ๊ก นอกจากนั้น รูปแบบการดำเนินชีวิตที่แตกต่างกัน ยังส่งผลให้การเปิดรับสื่อแต่ละประเภท พฤติกรรมการค้นหาข้อมูลก่อนการซื้อ ประเภทของสินค้าที่ซื้อ และเหตุผลในการซื้อสินค้าผ่านทางออนไลน์ในช่องทางต่างๆ มีความแตกต่างกันอีกด้วย

Connecting The Emerging Markets: China’S Growing Role In Global Digital Infrastructure, Yujia He

Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce Faculty Publications

Rising demand for international communications drive cable capacity growth, yet financing and political risks remain major obstacles. Chinese investments help finance cable systems in multiple emerging market regions. Emerging economies need to develop robust domestic regulations and international coordination to reduce political risks, protect cable infrastructure, and manage cyber risks.

Concerns Of Female Adolescents About Menarche And First Sexual Intercourse: Mixed Methods Analysis Of Social Media Questions, Nikkie Saldivar Hodgson, Elad Yom-Tov, William F. Strong, Priscilla L. Flores, Giselle N. Ricoy

Communication Faculty Publications

Background: Adolescents use social media for information on medical and social aspects of maturation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the concerns and information needs of adolescents regarding menarche and first sexual intercourse.

Methods: Questions about menarche or first sexual intercourse were obtained from Yahoo Answers, a community-based social media question-and-answer website. A total of 1226 questions were analyzed. We focused on 123 question pairs made by users who asked questions on both topics and reported their ages at each. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on these question pairs.

Results: Qualitative analysis identified uncertainty as a …

Patient Empowerment In Modern Medicine: A Personal Account Of Endometriosis And Being An Equal Partner In My Healthcare, Jacqueline Schlick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work outlines my personal experience with a diagnosis of stage three endometriosis and partial oophorectomy surgery along with the subsequent medical opinions I received by my primary OB/GYN and other doctors. This thesis seeks to discuss the issues surrounding patient empowerment, and specifically, laws that support patients in their exploration of the truths behind their conditions and the importance of self-education in order to be better equipped in conversations with their physicians. The work includes testimonials from women about their levels of knowledge into their own medical needs upon the time of their prescription to pharmaceutical medications, and how …

Successful Strategies For Retaining Profitability In An Education-Sector It Project, Cassandra Romae Middleton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many information technology (IT) project managers (PMs) and other business leaders lack effective strategies for enhancing communication among their project team members, thereby reducing profitability and organizational cohesion. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore communication strategies that IT PMs used to successfully complete IT mobile device projects. The conceptual framework for this study was McQuail's mass communication, Craig's communication, and Deming's profound knowledge theory. Purposive sampling method was used to identify 6 successful IT PMs and leaders who worked at 2 leading educations settings located in southeastern South Carolina. Data gathered from the semistructured interviews and …

Intergenerational Communication Strategies For Generation X Supervisors, La Toya Amese Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Millennials, who by 2024 will make up approximately 34% of the U.S. workforce, will play a critical role in organizational strategies and productivity, as will the supervisors who manage them. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the intergenerational communication strategies that Generation X supervisors used to motivate and engage high performing millennials in the workplace. The framework for this study was Mannheim's generation theory and the 2-factor theory of motivation by Herzberg, Mausner, and Snyderman. Data were collected from parks and recreation employees in the southeastern region of the United States, including 4 Generation X supervisors …

The Role Of Online Support For Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Patients And Survivors, Bevin J. Nixon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rate of thyroid cancer diagnosis has risen, and researchers' findings point to improved diagnostic testing and overdiagnosis as well as increases in actual incidences as the reasons behind this rise. With improved treatments and testing methods, the number of thyroid cancer survivors has also increased. Thyroid cancer presents challenges to coping and can cause significant stress in an individual's life. More specifically, anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) creates complicated challenges for patients and survivors. The problem is patients need support during diagnosis and treatment when adjusting to their 'new normal' and may be reaching to Internet based social support groups …

The Relationship Between Counselor Educator Technology Self-Efficacy And Distance Counseling Skills Education, Carrie Sue Dupont

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Grounded in Bandura's theory of self-efficacy, the purpose of this study was to examine if one aspect of counselor training, counselor educator self-efficacy with technology (SE), was associated with counselor educator teaching distance counseling skills in their classroom (INC). For this correlation study, 176 counselor educators in the United States with experience teaching a skills-based class completed an anonymous online survey. Survey data were used to assess if self-efficacy with technology and demographic data were related to the inclusion of distance counseling skills in the classroom. Point-biserial correlation and logistic regression analysis were used to examine relationships between SE, demographic …

Use Of Mobile Telephones: Experiences Of First Responders In Rural African Communities, James Harding

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) usually participate in disaster response in rural African communities. Disasters in African communities are often characterized by huge fatalities, which are associated with a slow pace of response. The use of information and communication technology in disaster response is recognized as an effective conduit for enhancing response. Previous research indicates the efficacy of the use of mobile telephones in disaster response in advance countries. However, there remains a critical gap in the available literature on the experiences of EMTs with the use of mobile telephones in disaster response in rural African communities. The purpose of this …

Positive Deviance Behaviors And Definition In Nursing, Stacy L. January

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The concept of positive deviance (PD) has not been studied in the context of nursing. Grounded in narrative inquiry and combined with vocabularies of motive and symbolic interactionism, the purpose of this study was to explore whether PD behaviors existed in nursing, and if so, to develop an operational definition of PD for nursing. The research question addressed what PD behaviors, if any, were present in nurses’ workplace stories. Using posted flyers, eight participants either self-selected or were selected by snowball method to participate. Interviews were conducted in locations decided on by each participant. Interview data were obtained, transcribed, then …

Financial Accountability In U.S. Nonprofit Organizations, Evangeline Asafor Ngwashi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Financial accountability is a pressing issue in United States NPOs because there is a demand, by donors and the public they serve, to implement clear accountability practices. The purpose of this study was to explore and document the financial oversight and accountability policies and procedures that successful NPOs employ to maintain clear financial accountability practices. The theoretical framework underlining this qualitative phenomenological study was a combination of social construction theory and institutional rational choice theory. The research question was focused on understanding essential financial oversight and accountability policies and procedures that should be designed for NPOs to create and maintain …

Patient Views On Social Media Communication With Their Health Care Providers, Brenda Elaine Welch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Communication between patients and health care providers at hospital discharge is a critical factor that determines whether a patient understands their treatment plan and self-care instructions. Lack of effective health management after hospital discharge can decrease the quality of life for a patient and increase the likelihood of costly hospital readmission. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore factors affecting the receptivity of patients using social media as a platform for post discharge, provider-client communication, and assessment. This was explored using social presence theory. Twenty patients between 45 to 65 years of age, who received care from hospitals …

Communication Strategies To Motivate Virtual Team Members In The Banking Industry, Kristina Nicole Wade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Frontline managers in the banking industry support geographically dispersed employees and face significant obstacles in communicating effectively to motivate their virtual team members. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore communication strategies frontline managers in the banking industry used to motivate virtual team members. Vroom's expectancy theory was the conceptual framework for the study. Participants consisted of 5 frontline banking managers in Michigan who had successfully implemented communication strategies to motivate virtual team members. Data were collected using face-to-face semistructured interviews, a review of company documents, and a review of company websites. Data were analyzed using thematic …

Knowledge Transfer Strategy Implementation In Contract Organizations, Delano Clyde Hudson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite economic perils of government shutdowns, foreclosures, bankruptcies, and employee layoffs, some contract leaders consistently fail to implement knowledge transfer strategies that could improve production and profitability and maintain operational readiness when employees transition in and out of the organization. The conceptual framework for this descriptive research study was Nonaka and Takeuchi's socialization, externalization, combination, and internalization model for knowledge creation. A purposive sample of 20 leaders from 2 contract organizations within the south central United States with at least 10 years of experience in contracting were interviewed. Member checking was used for reliability of the synthesized interviews, and triangulation …

Nonprofit Leader External Communication Strategies To Attract New Donors, Laurie Ann Albarino

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 64% of nonprofit leaders struggle to connect with supporters through fund initiatives alone, and 59% of nonprofit leaders lack the marketing communication capability to attract new donors. Fundraising is vital to nonprofit organizations' sustainability and essential for successfully attracting new donors. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore effective external communication strategies used by 3 southern California nonprofits through the conceptual lens of the integrated marketing communications theory. Data were gathered using semistructured interviews, a review of organizational documents and online databases, and the Baldrige Excellence Framework. The data were analyzed using Yin's 5-step process. …

Uncertainty In Online Dating, Elena Corriero

Wayne State University Dissertations

Relationship initiation is a moment typically characterized by high uncertainty, and online dating platforms have the potential to heighten uncertainty and thus deeply affect relationship formation dynamics. While previous research has focused on other-uncertainty and on its reduction through information-seeking, this qualitative study adopts Babrow’s (2001) problematic integration (PI) theory to expand our understanding of uncertainty in online dating beyond other-focused uncertainty, by exploring the meanings and sources of uncertainty in online dating, how uncertainty is appraised, and what strategies daters adopt to cope with it.

Data obtained from 13 semi-structured interviews with active online daters was analyzed using thematic …

Celebrating Community In The Basic Course, Aubrey Huber

Communication Faculty Publications

This Basic Course Forum highlights authors’ responses to the following topics: What curricular programs present the best opportunity for curricular connections to the basic course? Building upon conversations from the July 2018 Basic Course Institute (hosted by University of Dayton), what administrative successes and challenges do basic course directors face?

Social Identity And Communicating Difference In The Current Sociopolitical Environment, Jennifer Folami

Undergraduate Honors Theses

As an individual, I have always valued diversity. The blending of different cultures has always been a part of my reality because of the environment where people from different tribes, ethnicity, and religion lived together in harmony. Growing up in Nigeria, the different tribes of my country were able to co-exist, more than that, they often shared the information about their different beliefs. The sharing of the different cultures helped foster a community that was accepting of people regardless of what made them different. Moving to the United States, I experienced a culture shock because I was in a new …

Writing Cross-Culturally: A Mental Health Fotonovela For The Younger U.S. Latino Population, Isabella Garza

Undergraduate Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Letter From The Dean, Deacue Fields

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.