Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Commons^™

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Campaign 2012 And Beyond: Awareness And Participation For Behavioral Change, Ebony Chetto

Journalism

The following study investigates how to develop and maintain a health outreach program in order to make a behavior change in participating in the breast cancer movement. The number of women becoming affected by breast cancer is increasingly growing, and the students who developed the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Campaign saw the need to raise awareness of this disease on campus and in the community. The campaign’s focus was to create and publicize an outreach event called Rock the Tatas, a fundraising concert to support the fight against breast cancer. With scholarly research, the design of the campaign attempts …

Taiwanese Willingness To Communicate In English: Can Watching American Television Programs Help?, Yu-Ting Chien

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study explored the relationship between Taiwanese audiences' use of American television programs and their willingness to communicate in English. Taiwanese participants filled out an online survey consisted of questions from uses and gratifications constructs and willingness to communicate constructs. In addition, different subtitle settings were also examined.

Results indicated that participants with high integrative motivation consuming information from American television programs, in addition, the setting of subtitles were associated with perceived communication competence, integrative motivation, language anxiety and social interaction motivation.

In Or Out? Experiential Learning And Three Consequences Of Communicating Group Identity, Anastacia Kurylo, Kelli Coghill, Katrina Comber, Fernando Taveras

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Group identity is intimately tied with self identity. Yet, people often understand their identity as individual without appreciation for the role others play in their identity. Based on social identity theory this article highlights the role that group identity plays in self identity and explores three consequences of this association. Case studies present first-hand experience with the consequences of communicating group identity. These case studies also demonstrate the value of a specific class project undertaken to provide students with a meaningful understanding of these issues.

The Right Call: Baseball Coaches' Attempts To Influence Umpires, Kevin Warneke, David C. Ogden

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

On-field conversations and confrontations between baseball coaches and umpires have long been a part of the game. An umpire's decision can alter the course of the game, but little has been written about the exchanges between a coach or manager and umpire, especially in relation to theoretical considerations. This study applies management and leadership theories in exploring the strategies baseball coaches use to contest an umpire's decision. By using leadership scholar John E. Barbuto's concept of influence tactics and the various types of social power discussed by sociologists John R. French and Bertram Raven, the study also tests the congruence …

Learning Disabilities And Self-Esteem, Renee I. Pandy

All Capstone Projects

Social acceptance is pivotal in a child's life but it is harder to obtain if one has a learning disability (LD). Individuals with learning disabilities experience being ostracized, ridiculed and labeled as dumb, subnormal and slow learners by their peers. ''Leaming disabilities" is a term that's used to describe different types of learning problems. A learning disability is not a disease. Children with learning disabilities are often stigmatized and associated with failure, which lowers their self-esteem. Academic problems a child with a learning disability may experience can be a constant source of frustration, especially in the areas of reading, math, …

Communication And Female Date Initiation: Differences In Perception Based On Sex Of Initiator, Lindsey Kay Odom

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

First dates represent an important early event in the development of dating relationships. Commonly, date initiation is a behavior in which men take control; however, more women are attempting this task. Women initiating dates is a deviation from cultural norms or what society views as expected behavior. The deviation in behavior could have negative repercussions for women, which was investigated for the current study. College-aged participants (n = 232) completed an online survey regarding their perceptions of two hypothetical women who initiated dates. Informed by Expectancy Violations Theory, the expectedness and valence of the date-initiation behavior and mode of follow-up …

Contextual Influences On Small Group Decision-Making: A Field Investigation, Sarah Kathryn Chorley

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines small group decision-making among groups of educators in an elementary school through the Bona Fide Group Perspective, which focuses on a group and its relationships to elements in its context. Twenty-six faculty members were interviewed and 26 meetings were recorded; these were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results indicated contextual, relational, and discursive factors influenced the decision-making process. Most critically, power, status, overlapping group memberships, and competing Discourses shaped the group decision-making process.

Changes In Narrative Sense-Making Over Time: The Role Of Mother–Daughter Communication During Conversations About Difficulty, Haley Kranstuber Horstman

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

The mother-daughter relationship is one of the first and often most important sites for (effective and ineffective) social support in women’s lives. Effective mother support helps daughters to make sense of and cope with life’s stressors, which leads to improved physical and psychological health. Narrative theorizing suggests that individuals cope with and make sense of their (difficult) experiences through creating and telling stories with others. Likewise, research shows that when individuals’ sense-making increases over time, they are likely to experience higher rates of well-being (Pennebaker, 1993). Yet, although narrative meaning-making is largely an interpersonal process (Koenig Kellas, 2005) that often …

Examining The Role Of Family And Marital Communication In Understanding Resilience To Family-Of-Origin Adversity, Kristen Carr

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

Resilience, or the “successful adaptation to adversity,” is often investigated as an individual response to stressful experiences (Zautra, Hall, & Murray, 2010, p. 4). After the experience of stress or adversity, most people seek to return to some degree of normalcy, but their ability to do so varies widely. To understand this variation in individuals’ responses to adversity, most researchers have focused on resilience as a process that occurs within individuals, rather than between them. However, in the current study, resilience is positioned as an interpersonal process as well as an individual one, in that people interpret and respond to …

Flavor Of Slo 2012: An Application Of Communication Principles In Event Planning, Allison Sasscer

Communication Studies

Flavor of SLO is a fundraising event put on by Cal Poly students to raises thousands of dollars to benefit the local non-profit United Way. In the almost year long process of planning and implementing the event, the basics of small group, persuasion, and organizational communication played a part of the shaping and execution of the event. This paper recounts how various aspects of the communication discipline played a part in making the event successful and how it contributed to achieving the goals of improving education, income and health for San Luis Obispo County.

Sales Process And Training Overview, Thomas Holcomb

Communication Studies

Overview of the sales process as established by the National Collegiate Sales Competition (NCSC). This paper details Cal Poly's Sales Development Program and covers the ins and outs of what makes an effective salesperson. Would be beneficial for anyone who is considering sales as a career, looking to improve their sales abilities, or just searching for a senior project idea.

Flavor Of Slo 2012: Applying Concepts From The Communication Discipline To The Marketing And Execution Of A Local Event, Courtney Keiko Ai Hua Wen

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

A Study On Facebook Advertisement Strategies: Facebook Wall Posts Promote Higher Response Than Private Messages, Bria Park

Communication Studies

In this study, I focused on whether Facebook wall posts or private messages create a higher response rate from the receivers. First, I explain the background of internet communication and how certain strategies have created higher response in the past. Then, I present my method for discovering whether wall posts or private messages are more efficient in gaining response. Lastly, I reveal my results and discuss both what I could’ve done better to create more precise results and how this experiment is beneficial for modern day advertisement companies.

Intergenerational Communication In An Organizational Setting, Claire Kister

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Focus Group Venue: A Comparative Study Of Face-To-Face, Telephone, And Internet Video-Based Venues, June E. Gothberg

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the equivalence or non-inferiority for comparisons of telephone focus group venue to face-to-face focus group venue, Internet video-based focus group venue to face-to-face focus group venue, and Internet video based focus group venue to telephone focus group venue. Research questions examined the equivalence and non-inferiority of five variables reported in the literature as fundamental reasons a researcher would choose focus groups as a data collection tool. The five variables were: participant interactions, breadth of conversation, depth of conversation, disclosure of sensitive information, and adherence to the topic. Variables were measured using content …

The Social Web: Utilizing Social Media To Expose And Provide Access To The Unlv Libraries Digital Collections, Amy Jo Hunsaker

Scholarship Colloquium

Why use Social Media?

Exposure

Access points

Promotion

Establish relationships

Promote discourse

A Lone Nut In Compton:Lessons In Community Engagement With Treepeople In South Los Angeles, Jason Schlatter

Capstone Collection

The following study was conducted as an exploration of the community engagement practices of the Los Angeles based nonprofit organization, TreePeople. The intention of this study was to foster a deeper understanding about the theories and practice of the “outsider” TreePeople’s community engagement initiatives in the region of South Los Angeles, with particular emphasis on the communities of Compton, Inglewood, and historic South Central. I attempted to synthesize a collective narrative about the way TreePeople interacts with its constituents and community partners by drawing upon the experiences and perceptions of TreePeople staff, community partners, and community members. The individual experiences …

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 …

Impression Rating Via Speed-Dating: How A Single Communication Event Can Alter Perceptions Of Another Individual, Andrew Clayton Dix

Dissertations

The central purpose of this experiment is to scientifically test whether interpersonal communication influences individual perceptions in a dating environment. This study uses interaction appearance theory (IAT) as an empirical foundation for understanding the relationship between communicative outcomes and personal opinions. According to IAT, cognitive impressions of aesthetic appearance are highly fluid and vulnerable to the results of multiple social interactions (Albada, Knapp, & Theune, 2002). While most empirical investigations have provided additional support for this theory, no studies have tested whether IAT applies to various other social constructs. As such, this investigation was designed to address this gap in …

Theories Of Culture, Identity, And Ethnomusicology: A Synthesis Of Popular Music, Cultural, And Communication Studies, Alyssa Santos

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

How Digital Media Affects The Nature Of Social Interactions, Johnny Liang

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for evaluating and understanding the roles of digital media, in particular the mobile phone and the internet, in our interpersonal and societal relationships. Though this paper is essentially grounded in research, drawing from the work of psychologists, cyber anthropologists, philosophers, and professors of communication studies as well as years of personal observations, it should be understood as more of a theoretical rather than research-based primer on the effects of digital media in our everyday lives. While this paper includes various ways digital connections can improve our relationships, it primarily discusses …

Disclosing Personal Information On Social Networking Sites And Social Support, An Mai

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

With the Internet growing faster than ever, online social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook are becoming more popular. At last count, there were over 845 million active Facebook users who are interacting online. The continued influx of computer technology allows for newer means of communication in order to foster interpersonal relationships and promote self-disclosure (Ledbetter, Mazer, Degroot et al., 2011); they are necessary in order for online interactions to occur and friendships to be maintained. These modern tools, however, can also be a factor in hindering interpersonal relationships. The current study aimed to understand how the frequency of making …

Teaching Effective Strategies Of Communication Within Blended Families, Pamela S. Bell

All Capstone Projects

Project explored communication in step families (blended families). A literature review was conducted, and workshop developed.

The Delicacy Of Social Relationships: How Seemingly Small Choices In Formulating Talk Can Have Large Consequences For Relationships, Paige Clairmont

Honors Theses and Capstones

This thesis demonstrates that relationships are constantly being reproduced in every moment of interaction. Talk is the way relationships are reproduced, thus both relationships and talk are dependent on one another. The following analysis discusses four distinct aspects of social action: (1) preference organization, (2) taboo talk, (3) laughter, and (4) repair.

How Can An Organization Use The Differences In Behavior And Perception Of Its Members To Build Collaborative Relationships? - A Case Study On An Ethiopia-Japan Cross-Cultural Organization For Development -, Akie Nawa

Capstone Collection

This study explores differences in behavior and perception between the Japanese and Ethiopian staff members of a small development Non-Government Organization (NGO) based in Japan. Eight categories of difference are identified: ways to get work done, the value of money, pride, positive attitude and cheerfulness, attitude towards work and learning, openness and informality, sense of ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’, and humaneness. In order to supplement the findings, a previously conducted study on this subject was consulted; this helped to identify additional differences. This study also explores ways to use these differences in behavior and perception effectively to build a more collaborative …

Sectarianism In Northern Ireland: Youth Work And The Art Of Having The Difficult Conversation, Dan Knishkowy

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This report is the outcome of a month-long exploratory study on youth work in Northern Ireland regarding sectarian issues. It is an investigation of how sectarianism transfers from generation to generation, and how this often results in cycles of violence. The goal of this exploration was to find out what efforts are being made to combat this cycle at a youth level, and gain a more nuanced understanding of how these efforts can be effective. Data was obtained through literature, structured interviews, and participation and observation in a youth workshop. It is concluded that cross-community contact at a youth level …

A Practical Guide For Pastors In The Nonverbal Communication Process, Mark Pope

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to offer pastors a practical guide in understanding the nonverbal communication process within the ministry setting. The project will bridge research in secular nonverbal communication and integrate the requirements of scripture as they apply to the pastor`s interaction with his people. For this to be accomplished the process must recognize how scripture applies to how the pastor is to interact in his daily life as well as his calling. To do so, the project will integrate secular nonverbal communication studies; questionnaires received by pastors of the topic, and biblical requirements from 1 Timothy 3. …

The Effect Different Synchronous Computer Mediums Have On Distance Education Graduate Students' Sense Of Community And Feelings Of Loneliness, Lorene Heuvelman-Hutchinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Because distance education is such a rapidly developing educational venue, knowing what factors impact success must be known. Loneliness and sense of connectedness, or community, are issues facing graduate distance education students. These issues may influence retention. The theoretical framework of a Community of Practice assisted in understanding the development of community using computer-mediated communication (CMC) systems. The research questions answered included whether the type of synchronous CMC used (text- or video-based) could impact loneliness and community from a distance. An experimental design (randomized subjects, control group, posttest only) was used with distance education graduate students to address the research …

Working The Room: Skills For Mastering Social Situations, Carol A. Watson, Wendy Moore

Presentations

Provides tips to help people successfully navigate social functions, particularly professional events.

Effect Of Parallel Talk On The Language And Interactional Skills Of Preschoolers With Cochlear Implants And Hearing Aids, Sharon A. Raver, Jonna Bobzien, Corrin Richels, Peggy Hester, Anne Michalek, Nicole Anthony

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

Children with profound congenital hearing loss often do not have the same prelinguistic opportunities for social and verbal interaction as their peers with typical hearing [14]. Consequently, language and social skills may be challenging for this group, even after they are provided with amplification or a cochlear implant. This pilot study examined the effectiveness of using a parallel talk intervention to increase the language and interactional skills of three preschoolers with deafnesss. Results revealed that all participants increased verbal turn-taking and that two of the three increased initiated and responded vocal/verbal comments, and initiated and responded nonverbal responses during a …