Communication Commons^™

Bp's Use Of Twitter As A Crisis Communication Tool During The Gulf Oil Spill Crisis Response Phase, Lindsay Ann Jordan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

On April 20, 2010, British Petroleum's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig located in the Gulf of Mexico exploded, creating the largest oil spill in U.S. history. BP launched a major public relations response that targeted its online audience through strategic use of its corporate website, Twitter feed, Facebook page, YouTube channel, and Flickr photostream. This content analysis examines BP's use of Twitter during the crisis response phase of the oil spill. BP tweeted on 1,161 occasions from the time of the explosion to the capping of the well. All tweets during this 13-week period were coded by two separate coders to …

Editor's Introduction: Activism And Anagnorisis, Marc Ouellette

English Faculty Publications

As I mull the current issue – a wonderful collection of open submissions and a terrific supplement on “post-9/11” developments, about both of which I feel too intellectually impoverished to write adequately – I am filled with mixed feelings, thoughts and even theoretical positions. This last is kind of inescapable given my best efforts to put theory into practice whenever and wherever possible. The two cannot and should not be inseparable, at least for anyone who claims to be even the most remotely involved in Cultural Studies. And yet, I know that this is the area where Cultural Studies fails …

Journal Impact Factor, Scott H. Church

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In a recent issue of Human Communication Research, Thomas Hugh Feeley notes, “journal impact rankings provide objective data for tenure, promotion, and, possibly, grant review committees on the quality of scholars’ work.” Though the metric is widely regarded as the conventional measure to assess the influence of a journal in both the social and physical sciences, many doubts regarding its effectiveness have been raised. This essay assesses the effectiveness of the Journal Impact Factor (JIF) as a scholarly metric. After first considering the metric's history and developing a working definition of JIF (part one), next I delineate its strengths and …

Scimago, Getachew Dinku Godana

Department of Communication Studies: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The degree to which a scholar’s work is cited by others has been regarded as an indicator of its scientific impact relative to other researchers in the web of scholarly communications. Likewise, various metrics based on citation counts have been developed to evaluate the impact of scholarly journals. Recently there has emerged a new research trend aimed at developing impact metrics that consider not only “the raw number of citations received by a scientific agent, but also the importance or influence of the actors who issue those citations.” These new metrics represent scientific impact as a function not of just …

Jour 4326: Advertising Research (Syllabus), Sandra H. Utt

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Fundamentals in advertising research; nature of the market, appropriate advertising strategies, message effectiveness and media audiences; primary and secondary research, sampling, questionnaire design, survey, and data processing and analysis.

Jour 4700: Mass Communication Law (Syllabus), Ron Harvey

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: This course will introduce you to the structure and function of the American legal system. You will gain valuable insight into the development of the law, the system of American courts and the political and social forces that shape the law. You will become familiar with legal literature -- opinions from real judges on real cases and state and federal statutes. You will be exposed to discussion and reflection on some fundamental concepts of the Constitution of the United States and the legal battles that serve to define and develop those concepts. As such, a student from any …

Jour 3900: Visual Journalism (Syllabus), Lana Sumpter

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Introduction to design software of Photoshop and InDesign; application of fundamental design principles and visual journalism principles; development of publication projects.

Jour 4130: Writing Internship (Syllabus), Beena White

Journalism and Strategic Media Syllabi Archive

Course Description: Work in practical assignments at local media under supervision of qualified practitioners.

A Study Of The Impact Of Involvement And Sequence In Narrative Persuasion, Rebekah M. Lane

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to look more closely at the relationships between narrative and non-narrative persuasive messages, and to begin to determine how and why these message formats might work together. I situated this study within Rogers’ roadmap for future theoretical work on entertainment education (E-E), and specifically addressed Slater and Rouner’s call for more research on the impact of epilogues in E-E. Synthesizing components of the elaboration likelihood model with recent theorizing regarding persuasion through narrative, I made predictions regarding the effect of transportation and character identification on perceived salience, attitudes, behavioral intention, and behavior in narrative, …

The Tyler Perry Effect Examining The Influence Of Black Media Images On The Black Identity, Nicole E. Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the influence of Tyler Perry‟s House of Payne and Meet the Browns on black viewers‟ racial identity, based on a survey of 145 members of four predominantly African American churches in the Central Florida area. Mirroring Allen, Dawson, and Brown‟s (1989) model of an African American racial belief system, this study proposed that both shows would positively influence three dimensions of the black identity including closeness to blacks, black separatism, and the belief in positive stereotypes about blacks, while negatively influencing the dimension that emphasizes negative stereotypes about blacks. Socioeconomic status and religiosity were also hypothesized to …

How Do We Keep A Distance From Our Subjects, While Creating In-Depth Stories?, Heather Kay Ericson

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Goma Rai was sold into prostitution in Bombay when she was thirteen years old. She was raped and brutalized and endured situations many of us only see in our nightmares. She escaped this life, but not without repercussions. Rai has AIDS, was shunned from her country and society, and now has to cope with these struggles. She formed an organization, Shakti Milan Samaj, to empower HIV/AIDS affected women by involving themselves in society through training and to change the negative attitude against HIV. The organization also pays for medications and medical treatment. I went to Nepal this summer for six …

Twitter: A Platform For Political Discourse Or Social Networking, Timothy Nguyen

Global Tides

Previous research on new media has largely focused on the potential media effects of alternative news sources on their viewers. The effects of these studies have been limited, however, to the narrow audiences targeted by the increasingly polarizing alternative news sources. The advent and popularization of social networks has provided a reason to suspect that, for the first time, alternative news sources are making their way to the mainstream general public. In this study, I examine a new political and media environment that encourages the interaction between the politically inattentive public and polarized and alternative news sources – a link …

Bereaved Parents' Experiences Of Supportive And Unsupportive Communication, Paige W. Toller

Communication Faculty Publications

This study examines bereaved parents' experiences of supportive and unsupportive communication using the optimal matching model of stress and social support (Cutrona & Russell, 1990). Analysis of the interviews revealed that parents described action-facilitating support as supportive, although information-giving was experienced as unsupportive. Regarding nurturant support, bereaved parents felt emotionally supported when family and friends were willing to talk about their deceased child. Parents also described network support as helping them cope with their grief. The results of this study indicate that listening, being present, and honoring the ongoing connection parents have with their deceased child are key ways …

The Impact Of A Fundamentals Of Speech Course On Public Speaking Anxiety, Jessica J. Colbeck

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Thirty to forty percent of Americans suffer from Communication Apprehension (CA) to a degree that impairs their ability and willingness to speak publicly (McCroskey, 1984). McCroskey (1984) defines CA as “an individual’s level of fear or anxiety associated with either real or anticipated communication with another person(s)” (p.13). There are many forms of CA, but “the most common [form] is Public Speaking Anxiety” (McCourt, 2007, p.6), which can be defined as the fear of speaking in front of a group of people. Because research has shown that such fears may hinder career aspirations, personal relationships and self-image, scholarly examination of …

When Religion And Organization Conflict, John Larosa

Communication Theses - Archive

After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the United States became a much different place to live and work for Muslim-Americans. Muslims are one of most discriminated, misunderstood, and feared groups in the US. This qualitative study used survey questionnaires to explore the potential role conflicts in the workplace faced by Muslim-Americans as they navigate their way through a post 9/11 world. In the workplace, Muslim-Americans are very aware of how they are viewed by other Muslims and non-Muslims alike. These views are considered when Muslim-Americans act and play a large role in what action and communication is selected. However it …

A Public Marriage: A Comparison Of Organizational Change Communication Between Two Cultures Involved In A Municipal Government Facilities Merger, Sharon Michaela Dollar

Communication Theses - Archive

This study compares the change communication of two public organizations (a City and School District) during a municipal government facility merger as well as the effects of the merger on the organizations' cultures. It is unique in that the organizations merged only their facilities and not their business operations or organizational cultures. Therefore, the two organizations remained distinctly separate institutions. Data for this study consisted of 14 in-depth interviews. The results revealed that due to the separation in communication before the change, the School District had less formal communication with their employees as did the City. The limited communication resulted …

Index Of Titles And Authors, Volumes 1-22

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

Taboo Language And Gender Stereotypes In Hip Hop Music Videos., Fazleen Md Ruslan

Student Works (2010-2019)

The purpose of this qualitative study is to study the use of taboo language found in selected hip hop music lyrics, to explore how gender is represented in selected hip hop music videos as well as to compare the perceptions of Malaysian audience and local representatives of the hip hop and media industry. Forty Master in English as Second Language (MESL) students and four representatives from the local hip hop industry participated in the study. The forty four respondents answered the questionnaire for survey and a semi-structured interview was conducted with the three representatives from the local media industry. The …

Developing Global Literacy: Best Practices For Teaching Technical Communication Internationally, Melanie I. Cashin

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The teaching of technical communication has been expanding beyond English-speaking borders for several decades. U.S. educators often teach technical communication internationally through workshops, faculty exchanges, and e-collaborations. This paper discusses challenges, solutions, and best practices for U.S. educators teaching internationally, especially those teaching in China. By understanding current theory and practice in international technical communication education, learning from the missteps and successes of their colleagues, and incorporating globally appropriate recommendations into their classrooms, U.S. educators will be better prepared to deliver instruction abroad and develop mutually beneficial collaborations across cultures.

The Picture Exchange Communication System: Digital Photographs Versus Picture Symbols, Carmen Jonaitis

Dissertations

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is an augmentative and alternative system (AAC) used to improve and increase communication for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disorders. Research addressing the efficacy of this system is increasing; however, there is limited information published that evaluates the picture type used for PECS instruction. A single-subject alternating treatments design was used to examine the role of iconicity, or how closely a symbol resembles its referent, in the acquisition of picture discrimination in the third phase of PECS. The purpose of this study was to compare how well children were able …

There's An App For That: The Ways Young Adults Access Digital Information, Cydney Lauren Palmer

LSU Master's Theses

Despite the popular use of smartphones and mobile applications (apps) and their potential impacts in the near future, only scant academic attention has been paid to mobile apps, especially in respect to the gratifications sought from accessing digital information via apps. This exploratory study investigated the relationship between young adults and their use of mobile apps in accessing digital information, particularly in comparison to the current go-to digital information access device, Internet browsers. In addition, this study examined how levels of perceived privacy concern influence digital information use and how the use of digital information access modalities and the level …

A Qualitative Approach To Spiral Of Silence Research: Self-Censorship Narratives Regarding Environmental And Social Conflict, Christopher John Ryan

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of this research is to seek narratives of self-censorship from in-depth interviews of 19 participants acquired through a purposive (criterion) sampling protocol. The primary research question driving this study is “What types of sanctions contribute to people choosing to self-censor their strongly held beliefs, values, and opinions.” Previous research conducted on the topic of self-censorship (generally under the rubric of the spiral of silence theory) has been predominantly quantitative and consideration of sanctions influencing self-censorship have been limited to fear of social isolation. I suggest that ostensibly important sanction variables have not been utilized within these existing frameworks. …

Namaste: Pedagogical Methods For Designing Yoga & Art Experiences For/With Teen Participants, Tiffani Olivia Bryant

English Theses & Dissertations

Within this study, teens are asked to analyze yoga studio homepages in relation to their experiences with the practice of yoga. This dissertation research engages the teen girls as participants responsible for co-designing the learning constructs through which they make meaning out of their experiences. This research is rooted in informational design, experiential design, and design practices for a teen demographic through the artifact of yoga.

Participant observation is used to examine how eight teen girls understand yoga as a practice, internalize their experiences with yoga, and thusly communicate what they have learned about yoga and a sampling of digital …

Code-Switching Among Malaysian Professionals During Meetings., Vanaja K. Balan

Student Works (2010-2019)

Most Malaysians are conversant in two or more languages and as bilinguals or multilinguals it becomes very natural for them to switch from one language to another. This behaviour is known as code switching and is becoming more prevalent among Malaysians, both in formal and informal situations. This study was conducted to identify the frequency of code switching and discover what functions of code switching are fulfilled when Malaysian professionals of a multinational company code switch during meetings. In addition, the study also investigated whether code switching occurred deliberately or involuntarily. The subjects are all bilingual or multilingual professionals of …

Librarianship Presence In Virtual Worlds, Jenny M. Baum, Kate Lyons

Publications and Research

Librarianship has stereotypically been about books, communities, and the connection between the two. With the emergence of new media and technology, the concept of books has expanded to include information of all types and in multiple formats: eBooks, DVDs, videogames, electronic databases, et cetera. Meanwhile, the idea of community has stayed the same. For example, public libraries primarily serve communities defined by geographic lines; academic libraries serve their campus communities. In non-profit, medical or corporate libraries, communities are defined by their organization’s particular mission. However, now that virtual worlds are becoming mainstream, librarians are redefining community, just as they redefined …

Fandom, Media Consumption, And College Sports Knowledge: A Survey Of College Undergraduates, Theodore Charles Greener

LSU Master's Theses

Sports fandom research often states sports fans know and understand facts surrounding various sports, teams, leagues, and players. College sports literature argues that media involvement increases popularity and revenues, and as a result, competition, controversy, and complexity. The Elaboration Likelihood Model posits that when involvement in a subject is high, so too is motivation and ability to comprehend, and as a result, cognition increases. Given this, results show that sports fandom acts similarly to issue involvement, leading to increased sports-media consumption. Together, both fandom and consumption lead to increased knowledge of facts surrounding college sports. Results imply that general interest …

Nebraska Biomechanics Core Facilty 2010-2011 Annual Report, Issue 9, Nebraska Biomechanics Core Facility

Biomechanics Annual Report

April 2010 - May 2011

This issue features Announcements, Featured News, Student Profiles, Projects, Collaborators, Awards, Publications, and Support.

The Guardian, Orientation, 2011, Wright State University Student Body

The Guardian Student Newspaper

Twenty page issue of The Guardian, the official student-run newspaper for Wright State University. The Guardian has been published regularly since March of 1965.

Front Cover

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

Title Page

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.