Communication Commons^™

An Examination Of Ethnic Differences In Body Image Among Male College Students, Ricardo Rios

McNair Poster Presentations

Body Image and Culture

• Limited research examines body image in males and ethnic minorities.
• Appearance ideals are often defined by an individual's membership in a given culture.
• Western cultures puts considerable emphasis on physical appearance.
• There is variability across cultures with regards to male body image.

Body Image and Media

• Western Media negatively influences body image.
• Media's portrayal of male bodies have become more muscular over the years.
• Contemporary male ideal body is highly muscular, lean, tall, with broad shoulders, a brawny chest, and a slim waist.

Body Dissatisfaction

• Negative body Image: being dissatisfied with one's appearance
• Has been linked …

Optimization Strategies For Successful Ehr Adoption, Erin Faverty

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The healthcare industry is experiencing a shift in care delivery and documentation as the nation moves toward electronic health record adoption (EHR). This project examines the benefits and hurdles to adoption faced within the industry and provides a detailed curriculum guide of strategies, approaches and materials for consultants assisting healthcare organizations in EHR implementation. The recommendations provided by this project are grounded in the theories of organizational culture as presented by Clifford Geertz (1977) and Michael Packanowsky (Griffin 2009, p. 252), as well as insights on the impacts of computer-mediated communication, as discussed by Joseph Walthers (Barrow, 2010). Materials presented …

Emergent Leadership In Virtual Work Teams, Natalie Learned

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This dual method (quantitative and qualitative) study sought to discover the perceptions of leadership in virtual work teams. The ability to communicate among team members, in this environment, becomes increasingly difficult. Specifically, this study analyzed emergent leadership characteristics, as identified by participants, in a virtual work environment. The philosophical framework for this study is based on Boster’s (2006) concept “communication results in social influence.” This study is grounded in the theoretical work of Walther’s (1992) Social Information Processing CMC model, and Graen and Uhl-Bien’s (1995) relationship-based LMX model. The data obtained for this study was achieved through a survey of …

Surrealism Is Not Dead: A Look At Surrealism In Contemporary Mass Communication Via Analysis Of Modern Popular Films, Joi Deanne Chadwick

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This study examined three modern films - Toy Story 3, Alice in Wonderland, and Iron Man 2 - to understand the place of Surrealism in contemporary communication. The thesis began with a review of literature regarding Surrealism's revolutionary propensities and its flow into the mainstream. The review's basis was postmodernist philosophy rooted in Roland Barthes's and Umberto Eco's semiotics and Stuart Hall's cultural studies. This underlying philosophy asserted the complexity and mutability of signs and styles, a media role in acceptance and mutation of signs/styles, and endurance of ideas through cultural shifts. Semiotic analysis was crucial methodology in this study …

Interpretations And Anxiety During Initial Encounters In A Formal Business Networking Setting, Justin Hunter

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Many business professionals explore opportunities to develop relationships with others in their industry during coordinated business networking functions to potentially increase their clientele and strengthen their presence in their respective industry. This study analyzes initial interactions among business professionals during a business networking function utilizing symbolic interactionism and the theory of anxiety/uncertainty management. Both theories have been separately implemented in an abundance of theses over several decades to analyze the nature and implications with interpersonal communication among strangers; however, there is a significant lack of research dedicated to how strangers engage during initial business interactions at networking functions. This study …

Print Magazines: Linking To The Digital World, Stephanie Swartzlander

Graphic Communication

This study will show how magazines and their advertisers are using print to send their readers to digital sources of information. Placing URLs, QR codes, promoting Facebook/Twitter and mobile/iPad apps are becoming very popular ways to advertise products and services. Print magazines are utilizing these trends to link their readers from the print to the digital world and are reaping the benefits.

Seven different magazines were analyzed in this study. In studying the trends from 2008 to 2011, it is obvious that magazines and their advertisers want readers to expand their scope of knowledge by visiting their digital counterparts for …

Social Media Communications In Local Community Education Organizations: Researching And Implementing Social Media Communications For Rochester Community Education, Anna Marie Matetic

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Community Education departments are generally constrained by tight budgets, which can create difficulties in marketing its offerings within the region. Social media is a marketing method with low entry costs, thus making social media an attractive marketing option to Community Education departments. This thesis attempts to determine which social media communications are best for the existing "best customers" serviced by the Adult Enrichment department at Rochester Community Education. The research used a 22-question email survey with responses based on a 5-point Likert scale. The research found the online communication tools most often used by the "best customers" group included emails, …

Homemaker To Seductress: A Content Analysis Of Gender Stereotypes In Online Embedded Advertisements, Danica L. Stith

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Countless studies have documented and analyzed the presence of gender stereotypes in print and television advertisements, but very few have been performed on online advertisements. While the World Wide Web is no longer an exciting new domain for us, researchers are only beginning to analyze the vast number of gender stereotypes that are presented to viewers on a daily basis. The proliferation of gender stereotypes (specifically female stereotypes) is obvious in print advertisements and television advertisements, but do they also abound in online advertisements? In my research, I performed a content analysis of online embedded advertisements, specifically in three types …

Ethic Of Responsibility: Teaching Communication Students The Importance Of Ethics, Jennifer Lynn Scarry-Garthwaite

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This paper focuses on the need for ethics instruction in technical communication classes in technical communication programs.

Ua98/1 Potter College For Young Ladies Publications, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Publications created by Potter College. This series consists of catalogs, yearbooks and the college newsletter.

Ua12/3/2 Student Government Association - Publications, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Publications created by and about the Student Government Association. Series includes newsletters, annual reports, brochures and posters.

Ua12/2/22 Moot Congress, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Records regarding the Moot Congress and Commonwealth created by the Kit Kat Club in order to practice debate and learn about government.

Attraction And Motivation Of Millennial Generation Volunteers By Nonprofit Organizations, Yuliya Shkuro

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Attracting and motivating volunteers, especially younger generation volunteers, is a critical but not easy task for leaders in nonprofit sector. This paper examines what factors have been found to motivate Generation Y to volunteer in nonprofit organizations. Furthermore, the paper focuses on examining literature pertaining to help nonprofit organizations gain information about attraction and retention of younger volunteers. The trends learned from literature review have shown that Millennial volunteers are most likely to volunteer when they want to self-improve (professionally, academically), learn new skills, help disadvantaged, develop identity through association with nonprofit organization, socialize, meet new friends, and establish social …

Functional Federalism And Issue Emphasis In Political Television Spots, William L. Benoit, Leann Brazeal, David Airne

Communication Studies Faculty Publications

Peterson’s (1995) theory of Functional Federalism recognizes that political offices at different levels of government have different responsibilities, so that senators are more likely to emphasize national issues than governors. This theory was tested and extended. First, 1651 political television spots from 2002 and 2004 gubernatorial, US Senate, and US House races were subjected to computer content analysis. As predicted, gubernatorial spots emphasized local issues (54%) more than national ones (46%) whereas House and Senate spots stressed national issues (63%, 64%) over local ones (37%, 36%). Second, we extended Functional Federalism by arguing that presidential TV spots should stress national …

Determinants Of Issue Emphasis In Gubernatorial And Senate Debates, William L. Benoit, David Airne, Leann Brazeal

Communication Studies Faculty Publications

This study employs computer content analysis to investigate the issue emphasis of political campaign debates. Issue Ownership Theory (Petrocik, 1996) posits that each political party “owns” a set of issues, which means that a majority of the public believes that one party is better able to handle that issue than the other party. He predicts that political candidates will emphasize the issues owned by their own party. This study applies computer content analysis to 12 gubernatorial and 12 senatorial debates. The results confirm the predictions of issue ownership theory: Candidates discussed the issues owned by their political party more, and …

Improving Communication And Team Cohesion In A Long Term Care Facility, Jen Watson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this Capstone project was to provide a staff development training that was researched based and educational. The training focused primarily on communication with a secondary emphasis on team cohesion. Training aimed to equip staff with skills and knowledge useful for working within various systems

The Loud Public : The Case Of User Comments In Online News Media, Naama Nagar

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

In the pre-internet era most members of the public did not have the ability to express their opinions on political issues via the mass media. This dissertation illustrates how the internet changed that by providing average citizens with endless opportunities to be heard. In particular, I analyze user comments on mainstream news sites as a vehicle that enables individuals to have a voice.

University E-Newsletters: The Implementation Of Best Practices, Paula Helen Naumann

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

My purpose for this research was to examine the use of best practice guidelines for e newsletters published by university alumni associations and to recommend additional best practice guidelines for alumni e newsletters. For this study I reviewed 20 current alumni association e newsletters. I based my research on the following questions: 1. Which best practices described in the literature about e newsletters are evidenced in university e newsletters? 2. Which practices, if any, are not common in the literature but are evidenced in university e newsletters? 3. Which additional practices evidenced in the alumni e newsletters should be considered …

Betwixt And Between Collaborative Online Spaces: Editing And Publishing A Collection Of Essays, Rebecca Tolley-Stokes

Collaborative Librarianship

No abstract provided.

Social Networking Sites: What They Are And How To Navigate Them (Participant Manual), Maria Deguzman, Deborah J. Weitzenkamp Dr., Anita Hall, Deanna Vansickel-Staudt, Car Mun Kok, Jessica Lake

Kimmel Education and Research Center: Faculty and Staff Publications

The use of social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn has dramatically increased in recent years. Today, over 50 percent of teens and 35 percent of adults in the U.S. are using at least one type of social networking site. If used well, these sites can have many personal and professional benefits. Social networking can be a fun way to communicate with others, and an effective way to expand your social and professional connections. Nonetheless, it is important to practice good judgment and proper “netiquette” when developing personal profiles and interacting with others through such sites. This community program …

The Logos Of The Blogosphere: Flooding The Zone, Invention, And Attention In The Lott Imbroglio, Damien S. Pfister

Department of Communication Studies: Faculty Publications

This essay examines the significance of a particular metaphor, flooding the zone, which gained prominence as an account of bloggers' argumentative prowess in the wake of Senator Trent Lott's toast at Strom Thurmond's centennial birthday party. I situate the growth of the blogosphere in the context of the political economy of the institutional mass media at the time and argue that the blogosphere is an alternative site for the invention of public argument. By providing an account of how the blogosphere serves as a site of invention by flooding the zone with densely interlinked coverage of a controversy, this essay …

The Fashion Content Of Vogue's September Issues Under Editor-In-Chiefs Grace Mirabella And Anna Wintour, Danielle Ligato

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study examines the two editor-in-chiefs of Vogue magazine in recent history, Grace Mirabella and Anna Wintour, and the fashion content of the September issues of the magazine under their editorships. Fifteen September issues from each editor-in-chief were analyzed to understand how the September issue had evolved as well as the development of fashion content in the magazine. The personal influences of Grace Mirabella and Anna Wintour respectively were found in the fashion content of the September issues. Vogue issues analyzed from Mirabella's editorship shoa concentration of fashion content on the functionality of clothing with a focus on American designers. …

Best Practices For Disaster Coverage: An Analysis Of How The Herald Newspaper And Wlox-Tv Covered Hurricane Katrina, Nicole R. Sheriff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A substantial amount of research has been done on Hurricane Katrina and its effects on New Orleans, Louisiana. However, few studies have focused on how the Mississippi Gulf Coast was affected by the hurricane. The purpose of this study is to bring attention to the reporting efforts of WLOX-TV and The Herald newspaper to cover Hurricane Katrina. This case study analyzes the practices WLOX and The Herald used to cover the hurricane and to explore which practices could be implemented in other newsrooms in the future. A total of four interviews were conducted with members from the newsrooms who had …

Crashsmith Dope: The Role Of Media In The Development Of Professional Baseball In New York From 1919-1929, Ryan Mcgregor Whittington

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

John McGraw's New York Giants were the premier team of the Deadball Era, which stretched from 1900–1919. Led by McGraw and his ace pitcher, Christy Mathewson, the Giants epitomized the Deadball Era with their strong pitching and hard-nosed style of play. In 1919 however, The New York Times and The Sporting News chronicled a surge in the number of home runs that would continue through the 1920s until the entire sport embraced a new era of baseball. This thesis details the role played by these two newspapers in the rise of the Live Ball Era, the New York Yankees, and …

Jcpenny: Ready For Change, Plaidvertising, Allie Busch, Griffin Jelinek, Anna Loach, Liz Garcia, Betsey Stehlik, Megan Kester, Doug Flegle, Krista Mcdonald, Joshua Anstey, Zach Bock, Nick Goodwin, Breanna Stewart, John Erlandson, Mike Taylor, Alex Mcareavey, Christina Fraser, Dennis Bukowski, Molly Wheeler

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Student Advertising Projects

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

For more than a century jcpenney has been a dependable retailer and a regular shopping destination for the American family. Founded in 1902 by James Cash Penney, the department store was established on the principle of the golden rule. Throughout the years they have developed a reputation for putting their customers first and providing them with their everyday needs.

However, in the minds of women between the ages of 25-34, the image of jcpenney has not been consistent. For a demographic so interested in fashion, these women prefer to do most of their shopping in specialty clothing stores …

The 2008 Us Presidential Campaign As Represented In The Online Edition Of The Korea Times, Sherri L. Ter Molen

Communication Faculty Research Publications

Because public opinion has been found to influence government policy (Page & Shapiro, 1983, p. 185) and because media are cultural products that “mirror society” and “contribute to the reconstruction of the culture” (Czarniawska, 2006, p. 250), I conducted a rhetorical analysis of the coverage of the 2008 US presidential campaign in the online edition of the English language newspaper, The Korea Times. Using Entman’s (2007) concept of framing bias in the media as a means to influence the distribution of power, I found that The Korea Times used the deictic expression ‘we’ to express and (re)construct nationalistic views of …

Speaking The Part - Is Black English In The Workplace A Detriment To Climbing The Corporate Ladder? A Sociolinguistic Study Regarding Black English In The Workplace, Kanika Nicole Jackson

Wayne State University Theses

This study aims to explore how African Americans who speak Black English (BE), particularly members of Generation X, function communicatively in corporate America, where the dominant language spoken is Standard American English (SAE). Much of the literature theorized African Americans as being resistant to speaking SAE in mainstream settings in fear of compromising their identities or "acting white." Using in-depth interviews with six African Americans across the country who work in corporate America, this study examines their lived communicative experiences in the workplace and how they learned language balance (the ability to codeswitch).

With data compiled into case studies and …

Circus: An Integrated Curriculum Unit, Institute For The Development Of Gifted Education, Ricks Center For Gifted Children, University Of Denver

Ricks Curriculum Units Series

An integrated curriculum is an instructional approach that connects the disciplines to an underlying theme or topic. Immersing students in an integrated-thematic unit provides the backdrop for experiences to occur across the disciplines. Shaping coursework around integrated themes is especially appropriate for gifted students, however using an integrated-thematic curriculum is appropriate for all learners as it develops students' abilities to make connections, to solve problems by looking at multiple perspectives, and to integrate information from different fields of experience. An integrated-thematic curriculum permits students to be active participants in their own learning as they design their own explorations and take …

Male Vs. Female Emotional Expression In Text Messaging, Stephanie Gruner

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study focused on gender differences in emotional expression in text messaging. It sought to discover whether men or women use more emotionally expressive tools and words in texts and whether the gender of the person receiving the message affects a person’s emotional expression when creating text messages. Fifty female and fifty male college students completed a two-part study in which they created text messages displaying particular emotions according to given scenarios. The participants were instructed to create each message as if they were texting a member of the same sex, and then a member of the opposite sex. A …

Second Language Development Theories And Technology-Mediated Language Learning, Steven L. Thorne, Bryan Smith

World Languages and Literatures Faculty Publications and Presentations

Information and communication technologies have never been more interesting due in large part to their intimate integration into everyday life. Second and foreign language researchers and educators have long recognized ...