Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Commons^™

Front Cover, Title Page, Contents, Editorial Board

Basic Communication Course Annual

No abstract provided.

The Importance Of Fostering Interpersonal Relationships With Family And Peers Through Face-To-Face Communication, Keith Andrew Fulcher Ph.D.

NYS Child Welfare/Child Protective Services Training Institute

It is through the relationships with peers and family that we are best able to fulfill the human need to belong and connect to others. It is human touch that can only be experienced in face-to face communication that allows us to recognize the humanity in each other and continue to treat each other as human beings should and remain civil. Face-to-face communication fosters positive human relationships with others and family; conveying the message of importance and acceptance within our relationships. It is important to have face-to-face conversation to allow us to recognized the humanity in all of us and …

Nike's Corporate Social Advocacy (Csa) Practices As Related To Strategic Issues Management (Sim) And Threats To Organizational Legitimacy, Eve Heffron

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research examined how corporate social advocacy (CSA) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts impacted perceptions of authenticity. Using an experimental survey, participants were randomly exposed to Nike's actions related to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement via mock-online news articles. Participants completed a survey that contained Likert-type scale items regarding attitudes (perceived corporate intent, perceived authenticity, brand trust, and brand credibility) and behavioral intentions (word of mouth intentions (WOM), and purchase intention (PI)). Results indicated that positive attitudes significantly increased when Nike implemented an action step after taking a public stance on a controversial social-political issue. Further, results revealed …

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 …

Perceptions Of Risk Of Health Disparities Amid Previously Identified Political Corruption And Ageism In Slovakia, Marta N. Lukacovic, Deborah D. Sellnow-Richmond, Monika Durechova

International Crisis and Risk Communication Conference

This study examines the role of traditional versus new media’s impact on citizens’ perceptions of risk within elder care. We analyzed survey data from 112 Slovak citizens regarding their social network activity and perceptions of corruption, ageism, and health disparities in the Slovak elder care system. Previous research (Lukacovic, Sellnow-Richmond, & Durechova, under contract) identified three prominent sociopolitical issues present in the Slovak medical system among Slovak UGC discourse regarding Slovak healthcare inequity: corruption, threats to dignity, and discrimination. Here, we examined the extent to which social media users perceive the prevalence and subsequent risk of experiencing health disparities within …

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.

Interviewing, W. Robinson

Syllabi

This course will provide the opportunity to clarify, illustrate, expand andupdate concepts, principles and research in the field of interviewing by reading, discussing andpractice/application. We will look at the importance of, types of, and purposes of interviewing.Hopefully, together, we will experience a practical course that does not simply ask students tolearn how-to performance skills; but also starts them thinking about the process and demonstratesthe relevance of interviewing for daily life (WI).

Communication And Aging (Online Course), Elizabeth Gill

Syllabi

A survey of the research in key areas related to aging and communication. Course introduces central theories of communication and aging and approaches to studying intergenerational communication. Communication’s influence on societal attitudes about aging and intergenerational communication, and the impact of communication on issues of independence, wellbeing, healthcare, close personal relationships, decision-making, and other communicative contexts related to aging will be examined. 

Communication And Conflict Management (Online Course), Elizabeth Gill

Syllabi

This course examines the nature of interpersonal conflict, its causes and consequences. The focus is on application of communication theories and research that illuminate why people behave as they do in conflict. The course also focuses on how to effectively manage conflicts and improve interpersonal communication quality. 

Communication In Families, Elizabeth Gill

Syllabi

This course provides an examination of communicative structure,function, and process among family members. The family system as a whole and major subsystems(parent-child, siblings, spouses) are explored. Emphasis is on the role ofcommunication in the construction, maintenance, and change of family relationshipsthroughout the family lifecycle.

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 …

Communication Theory, W. Robinson

Syllabi

A survey of communication theories in rhetorical, public, interpersonal,organizational, and mediated contexts.

Small Group Communication, Samantha Szczur

Syllabi

This course covers the definition, structure, and functions of small groups. It examines theories and processes of communication that occur in formal and informal groups in professional, civic, and other contexts. Special attention is paid to the ways in which communication in small groups relates to critical and analytical thinking in small group decision making and problem solving, diversity in small groups, roles and leadership in small groups, and oral presentations in small groups. 

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. 

Promoting Support For Public Health Policies Through Mediated Contact: Can Narrator Perspective And Self-Disclosure Curb In-Group Favoritism?, Riva Tukachinsky, Emily Brogan-Freitas, Tessa Urbanovich

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

An online 2 × 2 factorial experiment (N = 203) examined the effect of parasocial contact on support for public health policies in the context of opioid addiction. We hypothesize that because of an intergroup dynamic, individuals are less likely to engage with an outgroup character than an in-group character featured in a news magazine article. Results support the in-group favoritism hypothesis. The study examines two narrative devices for overcoming this tendency: the narrator’s perspective and amount of insight into the character’s inner world through character self-disclosure. We find support for the narrator perspective but not for the self-disclosure effect. …

(Dis)Respect In The Classroom: A Gendered Perspective Of Academia, Abriana Nichole Vesconte

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine gendered practices and the experiences of women instructors within academia. Women face different challenges than men in the classroom, and many times, they are challenged by their students. In order to complete this study, I conducted narrative interviews with women faculty ranging from Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs), contractual instructors, as well as tenured and untenured professors at a Midwest university. I was able to interview eight women faculty members of varying positions. After completing the interviews and analyzing the data from each instructor, three prominent themes emerged. These themes are: (1) public …

Shyness In The Classroom: A Study In Nonverbal Communication Codes, Nora E. Radway

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

This study examined the experiences of shy, introverted, and apprehensive students in the college classroom. This study was framed by multiple goals theory to discover how these students use nonverbal communication to achieve their task, identity, and relational goals in the classroom. Shy, introverted, and apprehensive students face challenges in the classroom especially when asked to verbally participate or give presentations that their more outgoing classmates may not face. Participants (N = 16) participated in focus groups where they discussed their experiences, perceptions, and feelings about participation in their college courses. Results showed that these students do experience apprehension …

“Standing On The Front Lines And Down In The Trenches With Her”: An Exploration Of The Dialectical Tensions And Competing Goals Of Adult Children Of Mentally Ill Parents, Kelley Hodgson

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Mental illness is a pervasive health epidemic in the United States and worldwide, and available data suggest that mentally ill adults are statistically more likely to be parents than non-parents. The prevalence and continued growth of parental mental illness means that millions of children in the United States have a parent with some form of mental health issues.

This dissertation contributes to and extends existing literature on children of mentally ill parents by exploring 15 adult children’s subjective perspectives on how they navigate the tension-wrought experience of having a mentally ill parent, and how this has implications for the management …

Cat In The Classroom: Understanding Instructor Behavior And Student Perceptions Through Communication Accommodation Theory, Terrell Kody Frey

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Adjusting one’s communication is a fundamental requirement for human interaction (Gasiorek, 2016a). Individuals adapt communication behavior according to the circumstances surrounding the situation, resulting in different patterns and forms of speech relative to spouses, family members, coworkers, or friends. Yet, researchers in instructional communication have not yet substantially applied adjustment as a theoretical lens for understanding instructor-student classroom interactions (Gasiorek & Giles, 2012; Soliz & Giles, 2014; Soliz & Bergquist, 2016). Apart from overlooking this useful theoretical approach, instructional communication scholarship can also be improved by accounting for 1) shifting group identities in higher education that change how instructors and …

Mobile Technology And Classroom Relationships, Joe C. Martin

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

This dissertation examines the relational implications of the presence of mobile technology within the basic communication course. To guide the research and interpret the results Mottet, Frymier, and Beebe’s (2006) rhetorical and relational goals theory is utilized. To investigate this phenomenon a survey design was employed, and participants were asked to respond to open-ended, closed-ended, and descriptive questions. Results of this study shed light upon how and when university students use technology, as well as the positive and detrimental results such usage has upon the development and quality of their relationships in the classroom, both with instructors and other students. …

Understanding The Interaction In Mediation Caucuses: Negotiation Positions, Disputant Assessments, Bias And Neutrality, Angela Cora Garcia

Natural & Applied Sciences Faculty Publications

Previous research on how mediation helps disputing parties to reach resolution has not addressed the interaction in caucuses (i.e. separate meetings) between mediators and individual disputants which may be held in addition to the joint mediation sessions. This discourse-analytic study of videotaped mediation caucuses reveals both constructive and potentially problematic aspects of participants’ interaction during the caucuses. While some disputants engaged in constructive actions, such as articulating their bottom line negotiating position or sharing information with the mediator which had not been revealed in the joint session, others produced negative assessments of the opposing disputants. Also, mediators’ openness in expressing …

Undoing Gender: An Analysis Of How Women Communicate Within The Agricultural Industry, Shala R. Larson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent history, women have entered more business-like positions in the agricultural industry. This thesis seeks to understand how women in agriculture describe their workplace communication and whether they feel they are part of a muted group. Twelve women were interviewed regarding their experiences as women in agriculture and were asked whether they feel valued in their positions and how they communicate with their male co-workers. Specifically, interviewees were asked if they ever felt the need to alter their communication to complement, emulate, or otherwise adjust to masculine communication styles. The majority of women interviewed reported having to strategically choose …

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 …

Reducing Secondary Trauma And Compassion Fatigue In The Dark Side Of Interpersonal Communication Classrooms, Mary E. King, Albra Wheeler

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This essay describes the experiences faculty may encounter when teaching tough topics. When professionals are in the position as the individual who cares for, hears about, or witnesses the trauma and suffering of others, they might themselves be at risk for experiencing vicarious stress, or secondary trauma. If ongoing and untreated, this traumatic stress can morph into compassion fatigue, which can impede professional success and contribute to burnout. This essay reflects on the experiences of teaching the Dark Side of Interpersonal Communication where students openly shared course-related personal experiences. We reflect on how to successfully manage the delicate climate of …

Perspectives On Teaching The Family Communication Course, Tiffany R. Wang, Jeffrey T. Child

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This article discusses what undergraduate students enrolled in a family communication course should learn. It is intended to provide readers with a general direction on how to design or teach a family communication course so that students understand a communication-centered approach to family. This article highlightssome of the foundational theories and concepts grounding most family communication courses, content areas typically addressed when considering the family communication course, possible assignments that might be useful in teaching the course, and relevant issues related to teaching family communication. If instructors thoughtfully consider content and assignment decisions in the family communication course, they have …

Hearing Is Believing: Using Audio Feedback In The Online Interpersonal Communication Course, Krista Hoffmann-Longtin

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

The introduction to interpersonal communication course (IPC) is popular for both communication majors and nonmajors alike, and as such, many departments have designed online versions of the course. Teaching IPC in this format has challenges, given its dual emphasis on theoretical understanding and skill-building. This reflection essay explores the efficacy of providing audio feedback on essays in the online IPC course, as a way to create a positive online presence, manage the grading load, and encourage students to implement the feedback. The rationale for this approach to feedback and implementation strategies are provided, as well as a discussion of outcomes …

Journal Of Communication Pedagogy, Complete Volume, 2019

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

No abstract provided.

“More Than Just A Box”: The Co-Creation Of Social Identity Within Hispanic-Caucasian Multiethnic Family Systems, Anna-Carrie H. Beck

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Approximately 15% of all new marriages in the United States in 2010 were between spouses that shared different racial or ethnic backgrounds from one another. Socha and Diggs (1999) began to examine race as both an outcome of family communication as well as a factor that influences children's communication development in families because of the social pressure multiethnic families endure to fit a nuclear family model. This study utilized dyadic interviews of eleven multiethnic parent couples (N = 22 individuals; 11 dyads) in order to gain a deeper understanding of Hispanic-Caucasian multiethnic family systems. Communication in families plays a foundational …