Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Commons^™

The Socialization Of Social Media: Examining The Impact Of Social Media Use On Interpersonal Skills During Face-To-Face Interaction, Tenille Thomas

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Research has well established that the use of social networking sites (SNS) has increased accessibility and connectivity to people with limitless boundaries. SNS have progressively become the preferred source of communication. However, often overlooked is the impact SNS use has on face-to-face interactions, specifically on interpersonal skills. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between SNS use and face-to-face interaction. Specifically, this study examines the participant’s ability to recognize and interpret nonverbal cues with increased SNS use. This was a correlational study utilizing a quantitative design of self-reported questionnaires. A total of 178 participants, ranging in age …

Sexual Self-Concept, Communication Privacy Management, & Relational Dialetcics Among Post-Partum Women, Mary Pitts

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Sexual communication research has long focused on adolescents, though a growing area in need of focus revolves around sexual confidence and view of self, or sexual self-concept. Similarly, research on motherhood often lacks a deep view into postpartum women’s feelings and experiences and how they communicate about them with other people. Relational Dialectics Theory and Communication Privacy Management were used to evaluate how postpartum women experiences changes in their sexual self-concept and how they subsequently communicate about those changes with other people. Through interviewing 10 women through semi-structured interviews surrounding their experiences with sexual self-concept and motherhood, themes connecting open …

Do You Believe What You Know?: A Quantitative Analysis Of Sexual Education, Sexual Consent, And Rape Myth Acceptance In College Student Attitudes And Actions, Julie Sisler

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Sexual education has long been a heavily debated topic, particularly in relation to appropriateness and effectiveness. The subject is further muddled by the difficulty of effectively addressing sexual consent and sexual assault in sexual education. The topics have garnered additional attention in today’s society, but remain ambiguous and complex. This quantitative thesis sought to examine the relationships between sexual education, sexual consent, and sexual assault, focusing specifically on college populations. Through surveying 445 college students using the Updated Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (IRMA), Sexual Consent Scale (SCS-R), and Affirmative Sexual Consent Situational Knowledge Scale, connections between attitudes and actions regarding …

Tell Me What You Need: An Examination Of Dialectical Tensions Within Romantic Relationships With Depressed Partners, Leah Christine Goodwin

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

While depression communication in romantic relationships has been heavily studied in psychological-based research, there is a lack of research grounded in communication theory. By using Relational Dialectics Theory (RDT) as a framework, communicative tensions and coping strategies were explored within relationships where one partner suffered from depression. Through eleven semi-structured interviews with both depressed and non-depressed individuals in a relationship, three major dialectical tensions and two major maintenance strategies emerged. Findings suggest that couples with a depressed partner faced unique and challenging tensions including involvement/distance, openness/closedness, and revelation/concealment. A number of positive and negative coping strategies for managing the tensions …

Keeping Love Alive: Communication Modes, Relational Satisfaction And Communication Satisfaction In Long-Distance Dating Relationships, Taylor Hillard

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Couples in long-distance dating relationships (LDDRs) must determine how to best communicate with one another to maintain their relationship without the advantage of being geographically close. Fortunately, with advances in technology, individuals in LDDRs have multiple options regarding how they choose to communicate with their relational partner. These individuals may utilize more traditional modes, such as letter writing or phone calls, or more modern modes, such as text messaging or social media. However, not all of these communication modes may allow for satisfying communication or communication that benefits the relationship. Therefore, this study investigates how the frequency of use of …

Virtual Conference And Meeting Systems: Resources For Online Connections, John Gottfried, Laura Delancey, Carol L. Watwood, Amanda Hardin

DLTS Faculty Publications

Librarians have always tried to stretch the limits of applicable technologies to create effective connections among researchers and resources. We thrive on the tools and tactics that help us do this, and we are always on the prowl for newer, better alternatives. This is one of the best ways we have of keeping high service standards in the face of shrinking budgets and skeletal staffing. Fortunately, there have never been so many technologies to choose from, and there have never been so many challenges calling out for technological intervention.

Hosting online instruction sessions is, for example, an excellent opportunity for …

Tensions And Metaphors In Higher Education Fundraising Profession, Jessica Martin Carver

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This research examined the language used by higher education development professionals, specifically similar and dissimilar tropes and how they shape the perception of those development professionals. By studying these linguistic devices, insight is provided into this particular occupation and the effects these devices have on perceptions and interpretation. The findings in this study could help to produce more skilled communicators in the field and could be used as a framework to study other professional positions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data from twelve participants, and the data was then analyzed through thematic analysis. Findings revealed the types of metaphors …

Relational Development, Self-Disclosure, And Invasion Of Privacy: College Students And Teachers As Facebook Friends, Ryan Dearbone

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This research examined how college students feel about their professors requesting them to be a Facebook friend. Recognizing the ways in which professors and students communicating through social networking could produce additional educational opportunities for collaboration and instruction, while also causing tension or awkwardness as the process develops. Semistructured interviews were utilized by the researcher to obtain information from the selected participants, and the data were analyzed by comparative methods. Through this study, it was revealed that students are split on the appropriateness of professors as Facebook friends. They prefer little to no self-disclosure from their professors. They do not …

The Perceived Relevance Of Training In Industrial/Organizational Psychology At The Terminal Master's Level, Seth A. Kline

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to replicate and expand upon the survey research by Erffmeyer and Mendel (1990) on the perceived relevance of graduate training in industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology at the terminal master’s level. A review of the literature discussed core competencies, as well as the advantages of internship experiences and thesis requirements. Results indicated that graduates view their training as well targeted towards knowledge and skills they regard as useful at their internship, first job, and current position. Results also indicated that graduates viewed their internship experiences as highly beneficial and worthwhile experiences, regardless of their supervisor. Results …

Forgiveness-Granting Communication As A Facework Phenomenon, Ryan Cummings

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study sought to conceptualize forgiveness-granting communication as a facework phenomenon through utilizing the concepts of face concerns, degree of face loss, and facework strategies. Participants from public speaking courses (N = 248) completed a self-report survey questionnaire asking them to recall a recent forgiveness episode. Statistical analyses were conducted to discover the relationship between face and forgiveness-granting communication. The results of this study indicated the following important findings: (a) the greater one’s self-face concern, the less likely one’s forgiveness-granting communication is to be direct; (b) self-face concern positively predicted conditional forgiveness-granting communication; (c) degree of face loss was a …

Making Good: An Exploratory Study Of The Socialization, Identity, And Sensemaking Of Mission Trip Volunteers, Katelin Frederick

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This research explored how mission trip volunteers assume various roles throughout their volunteer experience. By seeing the various roles that emerge in mission volunteer work, the identities that they construct based upon these roles are revealed. Discovering the ways in which these roles and constructed identities affect the way that mission trip volunteers could potentially help colleges improve their recruitment messages and distinguish themselves from other institutions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to obtain data from the participants, and the data were analyzed through a thematic, constant comparative method. Findings revealed the types of stories heard from other mission trip volunteers …

Notes, Phrases, And Clauses: An Examination Of Identity In Music Focused Conversation, Bryan Cannon

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Music is everywhere. From formal occasions to a person’s morning run. Music is available on cell phones, computers, in religious ceremonies, at concerts and venues. Music is seen by society to be important and a person’s choice of music can be used to present an identity. The question considered in this article is how people talk about music and how they present identity through their discussion. The current study examines eight focus groups of three actors instructed to simply talk about music. The discussions were recorded and analyzed in a conversation analytic style to identify the structures of the conversations …

Communication Among Emerging Adult Siblings, Jessica Leigh Paulsen

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The study sought to explore the emerging adult sibling dyad through qualitative
inquiry. By doing so, the collected data bring new meaning to why and how emerging adult siblings communicate. Also, by including both siblings, this study sought to highlight a different perspective of sibling communication. Extant research on the emerging adulthood stage of life is limited. The current study explored the sibling dyad during this phase of life, and three themes emerged: siblings become friends, changes during emerging adulthood, conflict negotiation, and taking a parental role.

Passing The Salt: How Eating Together Creates Community, Rebecca Katz

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Sharing a meal is a simple, yet sacred occasion. It is a universal act that is important to building relationships within people groups. Intentionally eating together creates time and space to engage in the spiritual and intellectual levels that are unique to human beings. Sharing food cultivates community because the implications of the meal extend beyond the time of eating together. While there are other places people meet, gathering around a meal is the most accessible because if nothing else, everyone must eat. Through participant observation and personal interviews, this CE/T project explores four meals to determine how eating together …

Exploring The Relationship Between Facebook, Face-To-Face And Intercultural Communication, Rebecca Schaefer

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

My Capstone Experience/Thesis project seeks to explore and examine the effects of Facebook on communication between American and international students. The use of social media as a means to communicate with others is increasing at an amazing rate. Facebook has become my generation’s favorite way to communicate with friends and family and “to Facebook” has unofficially become a verb that many college students will use. While social media, such as Facebook and Linked-In, may encourage American college students to communicate with international students beyond the classroom and campus, it seems that Facebook is on the way to becoming a substitute …

Crisis Management: How To Stay Out Of Court, Adrianne Browing, Kimberly Kubicek, Sarah Rigsby, John Roberts

Parameters of Law in Student Affairs and Higher Education (CNS 670)

Crisis Management in higher education is often unpredictable. It requires immediate decision making and quick resolution based on the outcome of an event that has taken place. Institutions have an obligation to reduce uncertainty in the event of crisis and to mitigate the circumstances of potential volatile situations. A crisis management policy should be established and implemented in order to provide a safe and healthy environment for all. In the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy, a report was provided to the President of Virginia Tech that stated “a strong, vibrant and supportive community is essential in ensuring a safe …

Analyzing Communication In Mother-Daughter Dyads Following The Mother's Cancer Diagnosis, Rachel Adams Walston

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The American Cancer Society estimates nearly 1.5 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year. Existing on cancer and its effects on family communication indicate there are few things that have the potential to shake a family to its core like a serious illness (Anderson & Geist Martin, 2003; Gotcher, 1993; Northouse, 2005; Sherman & Simonton, 2001). Communication is one of the most important elements in determining and influencing families' emotions, patients' quality of life, patient care, family relationships and caregiver stress (Beach, 2001).

The mother-daughter dyad represents one of the most significant relationships to analyze with respect to …

Agreement And Group Attraction In Face-To-Face And Computer-Mediated Group Discussions, Krishnamurti Murniadi

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Topics within small-group communication have been explored in many contexts, such as work group, organizational meeting, or online network. This area of discipline is considered crucial because this type of communication assimilates interpersonal relations within a social setting. Two elements that largely affect small-group communication dynamics are anonymity and social identity. This research invokes previous research in anonymity and social identity within small-group communication pertaining to the level of agreement and the level of group attraction through a series of experiments.

Anonymity in small-group communication context is defined as a condition where the group members are not identifiable. To create …

Ua96/2 Southern Normal School Board Of Directors, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Records created by and about the Southern Normal School Board of Directors. Series includes certificates of incorporation, meeting minutes, financial records, construction records, contracts, correspondence and scrapbooks.

Comparison Of Distributed Versus Collocated Command Group Collaboration Performance, Christopher Van Fultz

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The transformation of the United States Army to a combat force capable of operating successfully on future battlefields requires the leveraging of digital communication capabilities to support distributed battle command. The purpose of this study is to investigate collaborative command group planning performance in traditional face-to-face (collocated) and geographically dispersed group (distributed) conditions. The Reactive Planning Strategies Simulation (REPSS) system was developed to provide a realistic group planning task supporting empirical estimates of planning process and performance outcome success, measured in this context as delivery rate of humanitarian supplies. Results indicate that synchronization scores were not significantly different between conditions; …

Assertiveness As A Measure Of Satisfaction In The Physician-Patient Communication Process, Joan Delores Johnson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In recent years medical societies have begun to recognize the effects and benefits of good communication between physician and patient. Like any other relationship, the exchange of information with fluent understanding creates a stronger bond of trust. Most applied research conducted in the area of physician-patient communication concentrates on physician behaviors which the patient views as problematic. This thesis focuses on patient assertiveness and its relationship to physician-patient satisfaction in the consultation process. Specifically, the study focuses on the relationship between patient assertiveness and physician-patient satisfaction.

For the study the researcher developed a patient questionnaire and pre- and post-physician questionnaires …

The Interlanguage Of Advanced Speakers: Implications & Suggestions, Madeline Garr

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This thesis details a study of the interlanguage of advanced speakers of English as a Second Language. The purpose of the study was to see what errors these students made when speaking the language in a communicative environment. In approaching the issue of interlanguage, the writer surveys the research in language acquisition as well as in interlanguage, error analysis and language learning theories. Based on this research and the results of this study, the writer explores the implications of both the research and the study and offers suggestions to teachers of advanced conversation classes.

Communication Barriers Between Teenagers & Parents About Sex & Sex-Related Topics: A Survey Of Teenagers In Sex Education Class, Karen Bonnell

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Public concern about teenage pregnancy and the threat of sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS make sex education information vital for today's teenagers. A 1986 Harris survey of 1,000 teenagers cited parents as their primary source of sex education information, but 42% said they would be too nervous or afraid to bring up the subject of contraception or birth control with their parents. States like Kentucky have mandated sex education courses for all public schools to provide necessary instruction for teenagers.

This study identifies communication barriers which teenagers say prevent communication with their parents about sex and sex-related topics. Questionnaires were …

A Relational Analysis Of Patients' Perceptions Of Physicians' Noverbal Immediacy & Patients' Satisfaction With Their Physicians, Stuart Schrader

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study examines the relationship between patients' perception of physicians' nonverbal immediacy and patients' satisfaction with their physicians. Using a newly designed scale tor measuring nonverbal immediacy and patients' satisfaction with their physicians, the researcher tested one hundred and eighty-nine patients of six southern, male, caucasian doctors to determine if a significant correlation exists between composite scores. These doctors practice in Southern Kentucky, specializing as internists, general practitioners, and family practitioners. Both scales use a composite measure based on the summation of all twelve questions within the scale. Data analysis included reliability coefficients, factor analysis, multiple regression analysis, Pearson correlations, …

Ua68/2 Intercambio Internacional, Vol. X, No. 2, Wku Latin American Studies

WKU Administration Documents

Newsletter created by WKU Latin American Studies program regarding science, politics and economic advances in Latin America as well as cooperative projects between WKU and universities across Latin America. The newsletter is written in both English and Spanish.

Ua35/11 Student Honors Research Bulletin, Wku Honors Program

WKU Administration Documents

The WKU Student Honors Research Bulletin is dedicated to scholarly involvement and student research. These papers are representative of work done by students from throughout the university.

• Albin, Bettye. Hawthorne's Narrator in the Blithedale Romance: A New Cover for an Old Friend
• Allen, Christopher. With Just Pride: The Naval History of the Warships USS Enterprise
• Barrett, Shelly. Structuralism
• Bolton, Joe. Wallace Stevens and Twentieth Century Aesthetics
• Bush, Paul. The Acceptance of Grace in Flannery O'Connor's Short Stories
• Gasparello-Moore, Nina. A Comparison of a Naïve and Simple Regression Forecasting Model for the Dow Jones Industrial Average
• Henry, Lynn. The Bureaucratic and …

World View & Correlates Of Communication Behaviors, Cecile Garmon

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study examined the relationship of world view to selected communication, demographic, and social variables. Using a newly developed scale for world view, the researcher tested one hundred forty-nine high school and college level subjects to determine significant interactions between world view and communication apprehension, use of mass media, trust, life satisfaction, social participation, age, grade level, sex, income, and race. Data analyses included factor analyses, analyses of variance, and correlation and regression analyses.

Results of the simple correlation indicated that the age-grade combination was the strongest single factor followed by income, religious participation, television watching, sex, newspaper reading, radio …

Communication Apprehension As A Predictor Of Proxemic Establishment, Self-Esteem, & Dogmatism, Joseph Cardot Iii

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Based upon limited findings dealing with nonverbal behavior and personality traits as they relate to communication apprehension, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of communication apprehension with proxemic establishment, self-esteem, and dogmatism. The study analyzed these variables utilizing subjects who were statistically either high or low communication apprehensives. Interesting results were attained. An inverse relationship between apprehension and proxemic establishment was revealed, such that dyads containing low-low members established greater interpersonal distance than dyads containing high-low members who established greater interpersonal distance than dyads containing high-high members. Communication apprehension overrode the sex variable with relation to …

Nonverbal Communication & Racial Prejudice, Fred Tucker

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of the first phase of the study was to determine whether Blacks perceive feelings of racial prejudice in Whites primarily from verbal or nonverbal communication cues, and to determine which specific nonverbal cues cause Blacks to perceive feelings of racial prejudice. Interesting results were obtained. Blacks do rely very heavily on nonverbal cues in determining racial prejudice. Black males appear to be more sensitive in perceiving feelings of racial discrimination than their female counterparts. Specific prejudicial White nonverbal behavior cues were identified, with proxemics and haptics appearing to be key indicators of White prejudice, as perceived by Blacks. …

The Effect Of Leadership Predictions On Actual Leadership Emergence In Small Task Groups, Robert Anderson Jr.

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Research has shown that prior expectations of on individual's performance can have a significant effect on others behavior and attitudes toward that individual. This phenomenon was tested on the emergent leadership process with zero history groups. Male students in various social fraternities at a regional university were given a leadership test designed to measure their leadership abilities. The leadership tests were never scored, but the subjects were told that they were, and, one of the group members was reported as scoring exceptionally nigh. The group was then given one of two tasks to perform, and the emergent leadership process was …