Communication Commons^™

Study May Reform Police Training Methods, Joe Johnson

The Scope

A VCU doctoral candidate has designed a study that could help improve training of police officers in their interactions with citizens. The study by Shana Mell seeks to show how body worn cameras can be used for observation and subsequent training.

How Do Police Brutality Videos Affect Us?, Joseph Forcier

The Scope

Videos of encounters between police and citizens can be used to hold police accountable or determine whether officers’ actions were justified. But those videos and related comments on social media could cause viewers to experience stress and other emotions, says a researcher at VCU’s Robertson School of Media and Culture.

International Health Workers Spend Year At Vcu, Vanessa Gleiser

The Scope

Samuel Hanu, a psychiatric nurse from Ghana, is among a dozen health professionals from throughout the world spending the year at VCU as part of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program. He is researching how the United States treats substance abuse and mental illness.

Exploring Links Between Diabetes And Depression, Kirby Farineau

The Scope

Some people may think mental health and physical health are completely unrelated, but in fact, they are closely linked, says Dr. Briana Mezuk, a researcher and professor at VCU. She recently received a grant from the C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research at VCU to study the relationship between diabetes and depression.

3d Scan Data For Caddo Ceramic Vessels From The George C. Davis Site (41ce19), Robert Z. Selden Jr.

CRHR: Archaeology

On June 8, 2015, the intact and reconstructed vessels from the George C. Davis site (41CE19) were scanned (3D) in advance of an analysis of 3D geometric morphometrics. These data were collected using a Creaform GoSCAN50 running VXElements via the scanner direct control function in Geomagic Design X. All data associated with this project are available in Zenodo under a Creative Commons Attribution license, where they can be downloaded for use in additional projects. These data have the capacity to augment numerous research designs in the digital humanities and ceramic studies, as well as a wide range of comparative research …

Getting People To Buy, Always, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

Creating touchpoints in stores and embracing the social media world keep consumers engaged with brands

University Homepage Affordances: The Influence Of Hyperlinks On Perceptions Of Source Credibility, Patricia Dellacorte

ETD Archive

The technology affordances of university website homepages were evaluated to inform the development of prototypical examples of accessible public university and exclusive private university homepages. Affordances are characteristic of the environment that, when perceived, afford or provide opportunities for action (Gibson, 1986). In addition, affordances, such as hyperlinks, also prompt heuristic processes that lead to judgments that are based on peripheral cues rather than substantive information. Integrating the MAIN model (Sundar, 2008) and the Two-Factor Theory (Herzberg, 1966; Zhang & Von Dran, 2000), eye tracking and survey methodology were used to assess differences in perception and credibility judgments of the …

Insafe Helplines: Operations, Effectiveness And Emerging Issues For Internet Safety Helplines, Thuy Dinh, Lorleen Farrugia, Brian O'Neill, Sofie Vandoninck, Anca Velicu

Reports

This report presents findings of research undertaken by EU Kids Online on behalf of European Schoolnet (EUN) on the operations, effectiveness and impact of Insafe helplines. Helplines form an integral part of the Safer Internet Centre (SIC) in each country within the Insafe network of 31 national awareness centres. Helplines provide a confidential counselling and support service and offer information, support, guidance and referral for young people as well as adults with responsibility for children.

The purpose of the study was to undertake research that would assist Insafe helplines to develop their effectiveness and demonstrate their impact. This study looked …

E-Cigarettes May Be A Clue At Crime Scenes, Jessica Mayfield

The Scope

You’ve probably seen the show “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and spinoffs like “CSI: Miami.” VCU researchers could provide the inspiration for a new drama: “CSI: Vaping” – about how e-cigarettes could be critical clues in solving crimes.

Rice Center Focuses On Restoring Wetlands, Chris Rubis

The Scope

Halfway between Richmond and Williamsburg, where Kimages Creek flows into the James River, lies the Inger and Walter Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences. A restoration project aims to return the area to its original state as a wetland. The project began by removing a dam that had been blocking the flow of Kimages Creek since 1927.

The Production Of Ek Tha Tiger: A Marriage Of Convenience Between Bollywood And The Irish Film And Tourist Industries, Giovanna Rampazzo

Articles

This article examines a collaboration between the Irish and Hindi film industries, adopting the production of Kabir Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger (2012) in Dublin as a case study. It critically narrates the arc of the film’s production, foregrounding the intersecting concerns of Yash Raj Films and Irish creative and cultural institutions. Ek Tha Tiger represents Ireland through constructed idyllic images which proved to be successful in attracting tourists. Tracing the links between the production of the film and the promotion of tourism to Ireland, this article explains how the film was used to construct a ‘tourist gaze’ for audiences in …

Turbulence, Turmoil, And Termination: The Dark Side Of Social Networking Sites For Romantic Relationships, Courtney Anderegg

Faculty Publications - Department of Communication and Cinematic Arts

Excerpt: "Social networking websites (SNSs) have become an integral medium for communicating within and about interpersonal relationships (boyd & Ellison, 2008; Stafford & Hillyer, 2012). SNSs have been lauded for their ability to unite distal friends, maintain relational ties, facilitate relationship development, and promote social capital (e.g., Ellison, Vitak, Gray, & Lampe, 2014; Fox, Warber, & Makstaller, 2013; McEwan, 2013). Although considerable research has elected to focus on the benefits of using SNSs, it is also important to examine the dark side of computer-mediated communication (DeAndrea, Tong, & Walther, 2011). For example, SNS use has been tied to decreases in …

Student Newspaper Funding Issues On Public University Campuses In Ohio: Higher Education Administrators Vs. Student Journalists, Terry L. Hapney Jr., Charles J. Russo

SOJMC Faculty Research

Cases of college and university administrators using funding for student publications as a mechanism to attempt to exercise control over student media arise on a fairly steady basis (Hapney & Russo, 2013). Occasionally, this comes in the form of student government associations that defund student newspapers in retaliation for reportage. Usually, funding provided by administrators and student government associations is not a license to control student newspapers on public university campuses, in particular (2013). Struggles and conflict between university administrators and student journalists over who controls student newspapers in Ohio is evident— including the issue of funding (Hapney & Lucas, …

Flipping The Script: Newspaper Reporting Of The Trayvon Martin Shooting, Chad Painter, Erin Willis

Communication Faculty Publications

The purpose of this chapter is to examine newspaper coverage of the George Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin shooting and the frames of race and crime used in the context of newsworthiness. The researchers analyzed 1,177 articles in one local, six statewide, and three national newspapers. The local paper focused on the shooting and the ensuing police investigation instead of social and political issues, and local-interest stories instead of national events. There was virtually no mention of race. Coverage in the six Florida papers was mixed between details of the case and social issues such as Florida's Stand Your Ground law. There were …

The Complexity Of Disability, Chad Painter

Communication Faculty Publications

"The Complexity of Disability" is Chapter 11 in Cross-Cultural Journalism: Communicating Strategically about Diversity. Built on the hands-on reporting style and curriculum pioneered by the University of Missouri, this introductory textbook teaches students how to write about and communicate with people of backgrounds that may be different from their own, offering real-world examples of how to practice excellent journalism and strategic communication that take culture into account.

Alternative Media And Normative Theory: A Case Of Ferguson, Missouri, Mark Anthony Poepsel, Chad Painter

Communication Faculty Publications

This paper, based on in-depth interviews with journalists at alternative and advocacy papers in St. Louis as well as interviews with live streaming protestors, a new breed of citizen journalist, applies six characteristics commonly associated with the alternative press to coverage of the protests and police crackdown in Ferguson, Missouri, between August 9, 2014, and March 2015.

Journalists from the alternative newspaper in St. Louis focused on progressive or radical values less than the literature predicted. The African-American newspaper in St. Louis found itself influencing the national and global agenda regarding Ferguson and the ongoing oppression of blacks in the …

Foul Ball: Audience-Held Stereotypes Of Baseball Players, Patrick Ferrucci, Edson C. Tandoc Jr., Chad Painter, J. David Wolfgang

Communication Faculty Publications

This study experimentally tested whether participants held and/or applied stereotypes of baseball players. Participants were asked to rate white, black, and Latino baseball players based on stereotypes consistently identified in previous literature.

Participants saw a photo of a player and an anonymous paragraph from a newspaper that highlighted a particular stereotype. They were then asked to rate the author's credibility. Black players were rated as higher in physical strength and natural ability, consistent with previous literature concerning how athletes were described. However, white and Latin players were not stereotyped. But participants rated white-consistent descriptions as credible and Latin-consistent descriptions as …

Social Media In The Sexual Lives Of African American And Latino Youth: Challenges And Opportunities In The Digital Neighborhood, Robin Stevens, Jamie Dunaev, Ellen Malven, Amy Bleakley, Shawnika J. Hull

Prevention and Community Health Faculty Publications

There has been significant interest in the role of social media in the lives of adolescents, particularly as it relates to sexual risk. Researchers have focused on understanding usage behaviors, quantifying effects of social media exposure and activity, and using social media to intervene. Much of this work has focused on college students and non-minority youth. In this paper, we examine the growing body of literature around social media use among US minority youth and its intersection with sexual risk behavior. We introduce the concept of the “digital neighborhood” and examine the intersection of social media and sexual health in …

Senior Wellness: The Golden Age, Angela Bourassa, Sarah Cummings, An Harmanli, Minh-Tam Le, Ellen Massey, Besen Sanga, Ahalya Somaskandan, Nkechi Uzoukwu, Kirk Williamson

ISCOPES Posters and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Connecting Political Communication With Urban Politics: A Bourdieusian Framework, Yongjun Shin

Communication Studies Faculty Publications

In this article, I connect political communication with urban politics by conceptualizing an interdisciplinary urban politics research framework. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s theories of practice and communication, I offer an urban politics research model that simultaneously addresses the dimensions of power struggle and symbolic struggle in urban politics. The theoretical modeling is discussed from an interdisciplinary approach to social studies and constructed with a methodological suggestion of tripartite social network analysis.

Jeb Bush Candidate Announcement Speech Analysis, Marlisa A. Barrett

Rhetorical Analyses of the Announcement Speeches of Presidential Hopefuls

No abstract provided.

Martin O'Malley Announcement Speech Analysis, Karolyn M. Erickson

Rhetorical Analyses of the Announcement Speeches of Presidential Hopefuls

No abstract provided.

Clinton Frames Her Campaign, Anna R. Basten

Rhetorical Analyses of the Announcement Speeches of Presidential Hopefuls

No abstract provided.

Clinton Fire Prevention, Dr. Sharon Varallo, Mike Tortorelli, Grant Slater, Colin Hepner

2015-2016: Clinton, Iowa

No abstract provided.

Remaking American Greatness, Aubrey M. Waddick

Op-Ed Pieces

Op Eds, or opinion editorials, are typically published in daily newspapers and can raise awareness about a particular topic or aim to persuade others. For this project each student wrote an op-ed in which they presented their opinion or thoughts about the issue of islamophobic discourse coming from Republican candidates, especially Donald Trump.

In The Line Of Fire, Maggie Macdonald

Op-Ed Pieces

Op Eds, or opinion editorials, are typically published in daily newspapers and can raise awareness about a particular topic or aim to persuade others. For this project each student wrote an op-ed in which they presented their opinion or thoughts about the issue of islamophobic discourse coming from Republican candidates, especially Donald Trump.

Ilhan, Nura, Radwa, Ziagull And Children, Ilhan, Tsos

TSOS Interview Gallery

Ilhan, his wife Nura, and their children resided near Kabul, in a region where both the Taliban and ISIS were active. As Shias, Ilhan’s family faced numerous menaces, including threats from ISIS that they would be beheaded if they did not display ISIS flags. Ilhan’s sister Radwa, who is deaf and mute, was forced to marry a regional leader. In addition to being threatened on religious grounds, Ilhan’s family was also threatened by an elder of their town. Out of desperation, Ilhan’s family sold their house appliances, escaped Afghanistan, and arrived at the …

Age Differences In Cancer Treatment Decision Making And Social Support, Jessica Krok, Angela L. Palmer-Wackerly, Phokeng M. Dailey, Julianne C. Wojno, Janice L. Krieger

Department of Communication Studies: Faculty Publications

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the decision-making (DM) styles of younger (18-39 years), middle-aged (40-59 years), and older (≥60 years) cancer survivors, the type and role of social support, and patient satisfaction with cancer treatment DM.

Method: Adult cancer survivors (N = 604) were surveyed using Qualtrics online software.

Results: Older adults reported significantly lower influence of support on DM than younger adults. The most common DM style for the age groups was collaborative DM with their doctors. Younger age was a significant predictor of independent (p < .05), collaborative with family (p < .001), delegated to doctor (p < .01), delegated to family (p < .001), and demanding (p < .001) DM styles.

Discussion: Despite having lower received social support in cancer …

Guardian Engagement Learning Community, Kanika Amin, Erica Fraser, Nikki Kanthety, Mishal Karim, Jessica Kaufman, Sara King, Nisha Radhakrishnan, Jenny Reiner, Sara Saghir, Misha Siddiqui

ISCOPES Posters and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Veterans History Project, Stephen Bowden, Alison Chiaramonte, Janelle Cruz, Brittany Fickau, Melissa Fischels, Olivia Gish, Hannah Kittel, Kylie Mason, Meave Otieno, Pauline Tran

ISCOPES Posters and Presentations

No abstract provided.