Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Commons^™

An Analysis Of Sports Talk Radio’S Effect On Social Issues, Rehana Power, Elham Mohamud, Brandon Mcroy, Cleandre Robinson

Concordia Journal of Communication Research

Professional athletes are becoming more vocal about their stances on different social issues like Black Lives Matter, MeToo and more. The researchers chose to investigate the effects that sports talk radio has on listeners perceptions of different social issues. Participants of the study hailed from a Lutheran, faith-based institution of higher education in an urban area of the Midwestern United States. The study thoroughly addressed the relationship between consumers of sports talk radio and their opinions on professional athletes addressing social issues.

Bridging The Gap: How The Generations Communicate, Hannah Downs

Concordia Journal of Communication Research

This study examines intergenerational communication and perception. Using the Anxiety/Uncertainty Management theory and statistical analysis, the following research questions are examined: RQ1: What is the main cause for the generational disconnect between Baby Boomers and Millennials? RQ2: How do the different generations believe they are perceived by the others? Faculty and staff at a private, religious institution in the Midwest, employees of a manufacturing company, and participants from a social media site took an online survey with questions regarding preferred communication methods, ease of communicating with other generations, and self-perception within the generational title they associate most with. The study …

Traveling Abroad: Motivations And Factors, Kacie R. Lorenson

Concordia Journal of Communication Research

This study examines motivations, factors and influences for individuals either traveling alone, with others they know, or with a group travel company. The method used was a self-administered survey that had a total of 17 questions. There were 141 individuals who completed the survey. Once the data was gathered a chi-squared test was used to understand if there is a difference in factors to be included in a tour, in motivations desired for individuals traveling and in influences that affected individual’s decisions in traveling. Once the test statistic was performed and analyzed, the study was able to conclude if there …

An Analysis Of Females In The Media, Nina Buckingham, Kayla Kucala

Concordia Journal of Communication Research

In society today, the media plays a major role in our daily lives. With new websites and apps coming out every day, there is continued exposure to social media. With ideal body image being a very relevant topic of discussion and the popularity of social media, it is possible that there could be a correlation. This study explored this possible correlation and went into further detail on the relationship between social media and females and their effect on interpersonal communication.

Introduction To Communication Theories, Richard Jones

Syllabi

How does communication work? Why does communication work thatway? Scholars in communication studies begin to answer these questions through the applicationof communication theory. This course serves as an introduction to a broad range ofcommunication theories related to interpersonal, group and public, intercultural, media, gender,and organizational communication. This core course is required for communication majorsbecause it serves as a building block for upper level communication courses that depend upon aworking knowledge of communication theories and processes. This course serves as part of youroverall training as a communication scholar/professional in regards to critical thinking, analyticthinking, critical reading, and listening skills. In this …

Social Interaction, Samantha Szczur

Syllabi

Human beings employ an array of communicative symbols to craft selves, identities, groups, and reality more generally.  This graduate seminar is dedicated to examining the myriad ways humans create and negotiate realities and identities through social interaction.  As such, we will attend to the individual, groups, cultures, larger social formations, and the inter-­relationships among these arenas.    Studies of social interaction are interdisciplinary and emerge from an array of research methodologies. Consequently, our readings reflect a diversity of perspectives on disciplinary and methodological levels. 

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 …

Journal Of Communication Pedagogy, Complete Volume, 2019

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Political Ingroup/Outgroup Rejection On Behavior And Physiology, Hannah Rose Lentfer

Honors Program Theses

Previous research shows that both exclusion and intergroup threat can increase prejudice and biological markers such as cortisol. Exclusion from an outgroup should increase prejudice and cortisol more than similar interactions in an ingroup since it incorporates both exclusion and intergroup threat. Change in cortisol and prejudice was examined in fifty participants who were excluded by either a politically-based ingroup or outgroup. Two t-tests were conducted to examine the change in a) cortisol and b) prejudice as a function of experimental ingroup/outgroup conditions. Additional analyses were also conducted to further explore cortisol changes and similarity. Cortisol increased more in participants …

Identity Negotiation, Saudi Women, And The Impact Of The 2011 Royal Decree: An Investigation Of The Cultural, Religious, And Societal Shifts Among Women In The Saudi Arabian Public Sphere, Maha Alshoaibi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Historically, Saudi Arabian culture has been deeply rooted in tradition, religious customs, family-oriented structures, and gender derived expectations for men and women alike. Saudi Arabian culture emphasizes a patriarchal family structure where men financially provide for their family whereas women are expected to manage internal household duties such as raising children, upholding household affairs, and working within a limited scope of employment. The concept of Saudi Arabian women integrating into the public workforce has been a source of contention and debate for the last several hundred years. Due to recent changes in political and economic events, a royal decree issued …

An Exploratory Study Of Acculturation Experiences Of Graduate Student Immigrants At The University Of San Francisco, Courtney Lamar

Master's Theses

This study explores the shared challenges during the acculturation process of graduate student immigrants pursuing higher education in the United States. 13 graduate student immigrants at the University of San Francisco discuss their experiences of cultural adjustment into U.S. culture. Through qualitative interviews and thematic analysis, this study seeks to understand the acculturation experiences of graduate student immigrants in the San Francisco Bay Area of the United States. This analysis is based on the individual-level experience examining attitudes and acculturation strategies in the dominant society. Analysis, possibly policy implication for institutions of higher education, and possible directions for future research …

Parental Verbal Mediation For Children's Internet Use, Daeun Grace Lee

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

This study explores the different communication strategies parents employ when speaking to their children about their Internet use. The Internet is continuously and rapidly expanding in terms of content range and mobility, and is becoming more and more an integrated and essential part of children across the nation. Thus, parents must be willing and equipped to educate their children about their habits of Internet use through effective mediation strategies. The goal of this study is to understand not only how parents speak to their children about their Internet use, but also how parents currently perceive the significance of these conversations. …

How Do Communication Modalities Influence Intergenerational Communication?, April Pierce, Candace Payne

Concordia Journal of Communication Research

This cross-sectional study analyzes the rapidly developing landscape of online communications. In particular, it studies the modalities used by three generations, which include baby boomers, Gen X, and Gen Y/millennials. In addition to analyzing their preferred methods, researchers also studied the conflicting views on other generations. This was done through data collected from an online survey administered via email and social media posts. It was hypothesized that the gaps in communication styles between different generations would be significantly different than the other generations mentioned. Researchers found that while generational differences are still present among the three demographics studied, a significant …

Help! An Insight Into Long Distance Romantic Relationship Advice Sought Online, Brendan John Murphy

Master of Arts in Media and Communication Plan II Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the long-distance romantic relationship (LDRR) advice sought online and see how it relates to previous literature. Reddit posts from the r/LongDistance subreddit were narrowed using an advanced search to find the most popular (upvoted) advice from users. Qualitative, contextual analysis research was used to search for reoccurring themes throughout the advice sought. Results revealed that feelings of uncertainty and anxiety were very common within LDRR, and advice was sought about how to maintain relationships whilst living apart.

My Experience In Swaziland With Give Hope, Fight Poverty, Megan Kaser

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Megan Kaser, a recent 2017 alum in the College of Health and Human Sciences at Purdue University, describes her experience with Give Hope, Fight Poverty (GHFP)—a nonprofit organization in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in physician assistant studies. GHFP’s mission is “to foster philanthropy domestically by designing service-learning programs that engage U.S. college students with rural communities in Swaziland, Africa, and work together to educate, empower, and lift orphaned and vulnerable children—particularly those living in child-headed households— out of poverty” (Give Hope, Fight Poverty, n.d.). By incorporating college students in the implementation of GHFP orphan education …

Agriculture Ambassador State Conference, James Andrew Broaddus, Quincie A. Gourley

Agricultural Education and Communication

The Agriculture Ambassador organization at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo focuses on promotion of higher education, agriculture, and professional development among its members and community contacts. In 2018, the organization hosted the Agriculture Ambassador State Conference to bring together Californian Agriculture Ambassadors and industry professionals for workshops and advocacy planning. “Exposure to the different forms of leadership through out-of-classroom involvement offers concrete experiences and background knowledge upon which students can draw as they integrate leadership theories and skills,” (Fritz, S., 1998, p.58). Industry professionals have cited the need to emphasize soft skill development through college level education (Robles, …

Made In America, Lauren N. Ramirez, Sue J. Oh

Pepperdine Journal of Communication Research

This paper attempts to reveal how awareness of one's affiliations and their group’s interactions with others could lead to equality for all co-culture groups in America. This is achieved through the analysis of an event at Pepperdine University via the Social Identity Theory.

Ethnolinguistic Convergence And Divergence Within Dyadic Communication, Anna E. Pitman

Honors College Research

This study investigated just one dependent variable within communication: ethnicity. Ethnicity often influences language. The study examined interethnic communication behaviors through the lens of the Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT), as influenced by one of its offshoots, Ethnolinguistic Identity Theory (ELIT). Communication within CAT is given one of three labels—convergence, divergence, and maintenance. The study included four students at Harding University: two African American females, one Hispanic American female, and one Caucasian American female. The primary participant, an African American woman, had a recorded 20 minute conversation with each of the other three participants. Discussion questions provided were formulated to create …

Intercultural Competency Development: A Case Study With Sit Study Abroad In Morocco, From A Trainers Lens, Amy Leap Miller

Capstone Collection

This Course-Linked Capstone in Training focuses on intercultural competency development, both of the practitioner’s own life journey and through the lens of study abroad, highlighting a Case Study with SIT Study Abroad in Morocco. This Capstone weaves together theory and practice of intercultural competence, experiential learning, social justice training, and study abroad. The practitioner’s self-analysis includes reflection of her Practicum time, as well as a timeline of her intercultural competency development, including growth areas in five categories: knowledge, skills, attitudes, awareness and language. This Capstone also reflects the journey of the practitioner’s growth as a social justice trainer and experiential …

The Impact Of Cultural Communication On Team Performance, Bret Hunley, Smarajit Chakraborty, Stephen Macdonald

Engineering and Technology Management Student Projects

The trend in today’s corporate workforce continues to move towards becoming more culturally diverse; while beneficial, to maintain competitive edge this element also increases functional challenges between working group members. In order to achieve a high performing team, it is imperative management understands the cultural and lingual differences among the individual members, and develop practices that diminish these challenges. Workforce diversity has been identified as being able to add value to the overall outcome; however, success ultimately depends on the team’s ability to interact culturally, communicate effectively, and understand the mannerisms unique to each team member’s individual culture.

Examining Geert …

Acculturative Stress And Identity Negotiation: A Dyadic Experience, Ana X. De La Serna

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Institutions of higher education in the United States have long been attractors for international students from all over the world. The number of international students had been constantly growing until the past couple of years. This is a concerning issue because international students play several important roles in higher education institutions. International students bring different points of view that enhance other students’ learning and institutions gain financial benefits from the presence of international students. Thus, it is important to understand how to improve the experience of international students. For the present study I used a phenomenological approach to explore the …

Microfinance: Combating World Poverty One Small Business At A Time, Alison Basney

Senior Honors Theses

Poverty is a major problem that reaches millions of people around the world. Although many organizations and individuals work daily to combat this, much of the work done to reduce poverty lacks sustainability and serves only to remedy to the effects of poverty, rather than create a solution to the causes of poverty. Microfinance can be very basically defined as the provision of banking to the impoverished who would not otherwise have access to these services. This purpose of this thesis is to show that microfinance is the ideal solution to the poverty problem by using research and evidence from …

Exploring Strategies For Teaching Creatively Online, Conny Van Der Wouw

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

The way we learn and teach is changing. There is more emphasis on collaboration and personalization of the learning. Teaching online is becoming common. For my Master’s project I have developed a product that will help designing and delivering teaching programs creatively through the use of online learning opportunities. The product discusses the opportunities and challenges of a creative climate when teaching online and provides strategies to develop creativity during the online learning process. It is developed with the use of the Torrance Incubation Model of Teaching and Learning (TIM) and Ekvall’s ten dimensions of a creative climate. This paper …

Interns Matter: Maximizing Integration Of Interns Into Community Agencies, Valerie Garcia

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Hope Services is a non-profit agency serving individuals with developmental disabilities in six counties. Over the years, there have been many agencies that have formed connections with Hope Services. One of these collaborative partnerships has been with CSU Monterey Bay’s (CSUMB) integration of interns through their field placement program. However, recently former Hope Services South District Manager, Greg Dinsmore, witnessed a lack of utilization and integration of interns across all Hope Services agencies. Through firsthand experience as a mentor, he witnessed the benefits of utilizing interns and saw the need for further advocacy and support for the integration of interns …

Using Social Lubricants To Increase Conversationality, Nathaniel Simmons

Discourse: The Journal of the SCASD

Responding to the epidemic of the dying art of conversation (Asha, 2014; Barnwell, 2014 April), this activity constructs a space in which students tap into social lubricants as a conversational, artistic tool to increase conversational skills. Inspired by Monahan & Lannutti’s (2000) social lubricant work, this study views social lubricants— any object or action that facilitates social interaction, such as a dog or a compliment— as a vital resource that merits pedagogical attention. After completing a role-play in which students tap into a social lubricant to achieve an assigned goal, students will be able to: (a) define social lubricants; (b) …

Social Justice Storytelling: Giving Our Students More Than Just An Education In Speech, Phillip E. Wagner

Discourse: The Journal of the SCASD

In an effort to highlight the practical and relevant applications of public speaking, this activity was designed to give students a safe space to discuss current social justice issues. Beginning with an open-ended narrative prompt, this activity requires students to take turns building upon a social justice narrative, giving them an opportunity to practice confident delivery and healthy dissent while also further enhancing public speaking skills and fostering a social-justice orientation.

Toward A Buddhist Theory Of Conflict Transformation: From Simple Actor-Oriented Conflict To Complex Structural Conflict, Tatsushi Arai

Peace and Conflict Studies

This paper presents a working theory of conflict transformation informed by Buddhist teachings. It argues that a Buddhist approach to conflict transformation consists of an integrated process of self-reflection on the roots and transformation of suffering (dukkha), on the one hand, and active relationship-building between parties, on the other. To overcome a deeply structural conflict in which parties are unaware of the very existence of the conflict-generating system in which they are embedded, however, Buddhist-inspired practice of conflict transformation requires building structural awareness, which is defined as educated consciousness capable of perceiving a complex web of cause and effect relationships …

Bridges Out Of Poverty As An Anti-Poverty Strategy In Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, Katlyn M. Uhler

Capstone Collection

This paper explores the initial results of the Bridges Out of Poverty (“Bridges”) community framework as implemented by the organization Kennett Area Community Service in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The aim of this research is to provide perspective on Bridges Out of Poverty’s contribution to the understanding of poverty in the United States and its potential as an antipoverty intervention. It does so first through an exploration of the historical and current discussion on poverty and anti-poverty interventions in the United States, followed by research on the Bridges model itself and its implementation in Kennett Square. This latter research includes content …

Girls Are Us: A Collection Of Oral Histories From The Jmu Community, Anne M. Sherman

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

On a campus where women make up a majority of the student population, it is especially important that female voices are heard and given a platform on which they can control their own narrative. I wanted to give those female-identifying voices that platform. I conducted a series of interviews to examine how college-aged female-identifying students feel about their identity and how they construct that identity within the climate of the JMU community. I was particularly interested in the intersections of gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexual preference, and ability. I asked each person to share their stories of times when they …

Exploring The Role Of Culture In Communication Conflicts: A Qualitative Study, Sadia Deep, Berhannudin Mohd Salleh, Hussain Othman

The Qualitative Report

This research article as a part of larger study intends to explore the role of culture in triggering communication conflicts among employees at the workplace. It also explores the role of Problem-based learning in resolving these culture based conflicts. Being a part of human life, conflict is a pervasive aspect of the socio-cultural and professional environment, especially at the workplace. The role of culture has one of the aspects that have played a pivotal role in initiating conflicts in the past. Using a qualitative research approach, this descriptive phenomenology study gathered data from semi-structured interviews from eighteen selected employees belonging …