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Full-Text Articles in Leadership Studies

Upward Communication In Organizations: The Connection To Company Culture And Employee Engagement, Janet K. Clancy-Feliciano Jan 2016

Upward Communication In Organizations: The Connection To Company Culture And Employee Engagement, Janet K. Clancy-Feliciano

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

In today’s American society, effective upward and downward communication between supervisors and subordinates is lacking now more than ever before. The importance of effective downward communication from organizational leaders receives ongoing attention, but more attention needs to be given to the importance of open reception to upward communication. It is critical that leaders in organizations build trust and encourage upward communication from employees in order to maintain organizational wellbeing and to avoid employee dissatisfaction. To help close the gap in this area of communication, this study focused on and collected data utilizing on-line surveys and employee interviews in order to …


The Uses And Gratifications Of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients’ Use Of A Facebook Group, Kathleen Jardim Schutt Tillman Jan 2016

The Uses And Gratifications Of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients’ Use Of A Facebook Group, Kathleen Jardim Schutt Tillman

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Social media continues to change the way that people communicate and engage with each other. As part of this change, the adoption of social network sites (SNSs) such as Facebook facilitates communication amongst people in various ways, including through its ability to allow for the creation of interest-specific groups. Through this capability and the resulting democratization of information sharing via digital media technologies, there are also significant changes to health communication and how patients seek information and emotional support especially when facing chronic disease conditions such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Therefore, for this thesis, a study was conducted to examine …


Meeting The Needs Of A Culturally And Racially Diverse Student Body Online, Gretchen Elizabeth Hormel Nov 2015

Meeting The Needs Of A Culturally And Racially Diverse Student Body Online, Gretchen Elizabeth Hormel

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The citizens of the United States contribute a rich blend that includes (but is not limited to) cultural heritage, race, gender, sexuality, and socio-economic backgrounds. Therefore, it is integral that online curriculum meets the challenge of effectively communicating with a diverse student body, as well as effectively facilitates a democratic learning environment. An online academic environment that is respectful and responsive to diverse backgrounds and perspectives is oftentimes referred to as a democratic online learning environment. Research indicates that seven components make up a democratic online learning environment and include: 1 - Culturally competent staff (Thorpe, 2002, p. 115, Ramsay, …


The Journey: Communication Styles In Coaching At The Division 1 Level, Lindsay Christine Sherbert Nov 2015

The Journey: Communication Styles In Coaching At The Division 1 Level, Lindsay Christine Sherbert

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The following study explores different approaches to leadership and various coaching styles of both assistant and head coaches at Gonzaga University. Using interpersonal communication and the cognitive dissonance theory as theoretical basis, this study asked Gonzaga coaches to discuss their communication styles with their athletes and to describe how critics voices and the pressure of winning has impacted the way they coach today. Data are taken from interviews from six coaches and five current athletes. Gonzaga athletes were interviewed to measure and gauge the effectiveness of each coaching staff’s communication level and coaching styles, both on and off the court/ …


The Influence Of Organizational Messages On The Persistence Of Reticent Behaviors, Kathleen Veroninca Mcnaul Sep 2015

The Influence Of Organizational Messages On The Persistence Of Reticent Behaviors, Kathleen Veroninca Mcnaul

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Communication reticence has the potential to negatively impact an individual’s ability to succeed in organizational life (McCroskey & Richmond, 1979, Richmond, 2009). A probable reason for this impact stems from what research has identified as a cultural preference for extroverted temperament traits over introverted traits (Allik & McCrae, 2004, Cain, 2012, McCroskey, Richmond & McCroskey, 2009). This study reviewed the biological and environmental origins of reticence, linking reticence to the introverted temperament. From a symbolic interactionist perspective, it explored the relationship between organizational messages concerning preferred temperament traits and the persistence of reticent behaviors. A quantitative approach, employing a two-part …


Ethical Crisis Communication On Social Media: Combining Situational Crisis Communication Theory, Stakeholder Theory, And Kant's Categorical Imperatives, Kayla Christine Murphy Sep 2015

Ethical Crisis Communication On Social Media: Combining Situational Crisis Communication Theory, Stakeholder Theory, And Kant's Categorical Imperatives, Kayla Christine Murphy

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This guide was created to serve as a tool for crisis communications to assist in crafting ethical responses to crises using social media as the primary communications channel. The guide combines Stakeholder Theory (Freeman, 1984)—a management theory that focuses on the importance of different groups of people, not just shareholders—with Situational Crisis Communication (Coombs, 2007). The guide also adheres to two of Kant’s Categorical Imperatives as the ethical basis and marker. To create the guide, the author relied on archival, or documentary, research to provide the background information and theory to inform the creation of the guide. The guide is …


Online Gender Discussions: Student Experiences In Discussions Of Gender Diversity, Rory Andrew Mckenzie Jul 2015

Online Gender Discussions: Student Experiences In Discussions Of Gender Diversity, Rory Andrew Mckenzie

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examined graduate level students’ experiences of (mainly gender) diversity in the online classroom. The philosophical framework for this study came from John Rawls’ work utilizing the veil of ignorance as a strategy to create more objective determinations free from situational and circumstantial biases. Both critical pedagogy and the theory that individuals construct social and cultural meaning through communication provided the theoretical foundations for the thesis. The study analyzed experiences of the students via their contributions to the online discussion boards.. The study also utilized interviews of current and former students to discuss their experiences with diversity in their …


Mentoring African-American Women Through Inclusive Male Executive Suite, Tamika Bowser Wright Jul 2015

Mentoring African-American Women Through Inclusive Male Executive Suite, Tamika Bowser Wright

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Women in corporate environments often operate under the glass ceiling, but the term ‘glass ceiling’ is limited in its perspective. It does not account for African-American women in corporate environments who operate under a stronger barrier – the concrete wall. In order to maneuver around the barrier, an action-oriented approach must be taken and mentoring is the structured tool that can help African-American women around this barrier. Through the use of the feminist standpoint theory, and methodical interviews to gain further insight about the position of African-American women in today’s work structure, a formal mentoring will be developed and implemented …


Partisan Media And Polarized Politics: A Meta-Analysis Of The Relationship Between Partisan Selective Exposure And Political Polarization, Kaitlin Marie Thornal Jul 2015

Partisan Media And Polarized Politics: A Meta-Analysis Of The Relationship Between Partisan Selective Exposure And Political Polarization, Kaitlin Marie Thornal

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The increasing levels of political polarization in America have communication scholars, political scientists, and media pundits alike examining the causes of this trend, many of whom look to blame the proliferation of partisan media for this societal ill. An abundance of research exists on the effects of selective exposure to partisan media and the rise of political polarization in America today, thus, this thesis explores how partisan selective exposure and political polarization are related through a modified qualitative meta-analysis of existing research on these two topics. The social identity (Tajfel & Turner, 1986) and social comparison (Festinger, 1954) theories provide …


Creating A Sense Of Community In Online, Graduate Education, Dominique Therese Bredeson Jun 2015

Creating A Sense Of Community In Online, Graduate Education, Dominique Therese Bredeson

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This study investigates aspects of creating a sense of community in online, graduate education environments. Specifically, this study was designed to seek out very precise, practical actions that professors and universities can enact to create a greater sense of community for their online, graduate students. This study conducted research exclusively on a small, private, liberal arts university in the northwest United States, focusing exclusively on the institution’s MA program with online options. The courses observed were comprised of roughly 185 students. This study used both quantitative and qualitative data to uncover specific actions that professors and universities might take to …


Marketing In Ethnically Diverse Markets, Candice B. Ward-Ferris Jun 2015

Marketing In Ethnically Diverse Markets, Candice B. Ward-Ferris

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

As illustrated by the 2010 U.S. Census data, the demographics of the United States have changed. If companies concentrate their marketing solely on the majority demographic, they could lose an opportunity to capitalize on the spending power of other non-majority consumers or create brand identification with other cultural or ethnic groups. As companies appeal to various demographics, they also have an obligation to avoid harm and produce a benefit – what William David Ross refers to as one’s prima facie duty (Ross, 2002). Appealing to various co-cultures or ethnic groups has been a focus for both advertisers and researchers for …


How Social Is Social? Nonprofit Audience Engagement By Types Of Facebook Posts, Linda Mckay Jun 2015

How Social Is Social? Nonprofit Audience Engagement By Types Of Facebook Posts, Linda Mckay

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

In the 1960s, philosopher Jürgen Habermas introduced his idea of the public sphere—a space where citizens could meet openly to discuss all manner of issues facing society, free of controlling influence like the state. The discussions integral to Habermas’s public sphere rely on Buber’s relational theory of dialogue wherein participants meet in the “between” to understand each other. Modern scholars, conjecture that the Internet and possibly even social networking sites (SNSs) like Facebook and Twitter are the modern-reincarnation of Habermas’s public sphere. This study reviews current literature supporting the theory that SNSs can function as modern-day public spheres and conducts …


Mentoring Latina Leaders: Establishing And Nourishing A Positive Mentoring Relationship, Jacqueline Resendez Jun 2015

Mentoring Latina Leaders: Establishing And Nourishing A Positive Mentoring Relationship, Jacqueline Resendez

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Helping someone maximizes the interaction that takes place between individuals because it provides a purpose for communication. The unique experience of exchanging information and support also results in the gratification of being able to impact another person’s life. Mentoring relationships support Buber’s I-Thou relationship of respectfully helping others when the opportunity exists. The cost and benefits shared while learning from each other also expand on Homans’ (1961) social exchange theory that suggests that the purpose behind human behavior is based from the exchange between each other. With more motivation to engage in a collaborative relationship, aspiring leaders have advanced personally …


Climate Change Discourse And Gendered Communication, Meagan Newsom Pierluissi Jun 2015

Climate Change Discourse And Gendered Communication, Meagan Newsom Pierluissi

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Climate change is one of the most critical threats facing the 21st century. The effects on the planet, humankind, jobs, food supply, and other vital resources increase every year. Those communicating these details to the American public through mass media are doing so with gendered discourse. This study analyzes three speeches from predominant climate change communicators representing three different platforms: politician Al Gore, cultural figure Leonardo DiCaprio, and climate scientist James Hansen. Using discourse analysis informed by feminist standpoint theory, this study suggests that frames, words, phrases, and communication styles embedded in discussions of climate change continue to use gendered …


Increasing Civic Engagement: Adopting A Communities For All Ages Model In Gilbert, Az, Kathleen Mary Stringham Jun 2015

Increasing Civic Engagement: Adopting A Communities For All Ages Model In Gilbert, Az, Kathleen Mary Stringham

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The Gilbert Historical Society is expanding their vision and programming to encapsulate a Communities for All Ages (CFAA) approach. CFAA is an intergenerational approach where people of different generations purposefully work together to address the needs of a community. Gilbert is seeking to encourage social capital and civic engagement within the town. High levels of social capital, resulting in increased civic engagement, have proven to have a positive effect on many aspects of a community (Debertin, 1996, Forward, 2000, Grillo, Teixeira & Wilson, 2010, Henkin, Brown & Leiderman, 2012, Liberato, Brimblecombe, Ritchie, Ferguson & Coveney, 2011, Putnam, 1995, Robins, 2008). …


Creating A Customer Centric Organization, Theresa Kiefer May 2015

Creating A Customer Centric Organization, Theresa Kiefer

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The objective of this research project is to demonstrate how organizations, and their employees, may benefit from following a customer centric business model to include having a better understanding of the organizational goals and roles of employees. The study is built on the philosophy that organizational culture--and messages that both frame and result from that culture—plays a vital role in the daily lives of employees, which can enhance or detract from the customer experience. The research also examines the implication that poor service has on customers, employees and the organization as a whole and investigates the negative, residual effects of …


The Virtual High School: Teaching Best Practices And Diversity, Demetrius Aquino Prado May 2015

The Virtual High School: Teaching Best Practices And Diversity, Demetrius Aquino Prado

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Statistics reveal that the enrollment in virtual schooling is ever-increasing in the United States. Current research of online teaching best practices, diversity and differences in post-secondary institutions is more prevalent than research that engages online teaching at high school institutions. This study unveils the experiences of online teachers at the Antelope Valley Union High School District’s (AVUHSD) Virtual Academy in the in Quartz Hill, California. The purpose for the research is two-fold. How cognizant are the AVUHSD’s Virtual Academy teachers in regards to online best practices and techniques (Kerr, 2011, Hlebowitsh, 2012, Pearcy, 2014)? To what extent are Virtual Academy …


Internal Social Media Networks And Team Environments, Tamyra Js Howser May 2015

Internal Social Media Networks And Team Environments, Tamyra Js Howser

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Internal social media networks have become an effective knowledge-sharing computermediated communication channel for employees within organizations. In a business environment that requires employees to do more with less resources, work in geographically diverse locations and come together quickly for organizational needs, online channels are an accessible and inexpensive way to accomplish goals. Employees are considered the most important audience for an organization and are considered equal in value to investors and external customers. But employees need meaning behind their work for long-term satisfaction. Viktor Frankl, a Jewish psychiatrist and neurologist, survived the Holocaust and experienced the responsibility of living a …


Discussing Race Online: A Study Of Video Conferencing As A Distance Learning Tool, Leland Gilbert May 2015

Discussing Race Online: A Study Of Video Conferencing As A Distance Learning Tool, Leland Gilbert

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Teaching tolerance and promotion of diversity is an increasingly important aspect of education programs in the United States (Allen, 2011). Student resistance to ideas related to Critical Race Theory has been documented by numerous scholars, and presents significant challenges to teachers of diversity courses (Alexander-Floyd, 2008, Cooks, 2003, Donadey, 2002, Davis & Steyn, 2012, Heinze, 2008, Johnson & Bhatt, 2003). The distance learning environment presents unique challenges to instructors when dealing with student resistance (Ouzts, 2006), and online diversity education programs may benefit from the utilization of a variety of technologies to facilitate dialogue, discussion, and self-reflection among students (Chang …


Incorporating Situational Crisis Communication And Attribution Theories Into A Crisis Communication Plan For Xyz Organization, Linda Kay Gorman May 2015

Incorporating Situational Crisis Communication And Attribution Theories Into A Crisis Communication Plan For Xyz Organization, Linda Kay Gorman

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

A crisis can be defined as “an unexpected, non-routine event that creates uncertainty and threatens an organization’s priority goals” (Dean, 2004, p. 192). If not handled properly, it may have negative effects on the organization’s reputation and overall viability. Therefore, it is essential that organizations prepare an effective crisis response plan to implement once a crisis occurs. Situational crisis communication theory (SCCT) is a proven theory used in developing effective crisis response strategies. This theory asserts that organizations must select the crisis strategies most appropriate to the type of crisis (Coombs, 2006). Heider’s attribution theory asserts that how we react …


Textese As An Identifiable Genre, Christian Miemiec May 2015

Textese As An Identifiable Genre, Christian Miemiec

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This study is focused on determining if textese (the acronyms, shortcuts, emoticons, etc., used in texting) is a definable genre. The study uses communication theory centered on understanding how people interact in the computer mediated communication space to manage and foster strong relationships and understand each other when there are little or no visual and verbal cues. Defining textese as a genre helps support social information processing as the study supports the position that textese can be used for close relationships. Using textese is shown to support social interactionism as textese is an indicator of how well people know each …


Self-Presentation On Fan Sites On Social Media, Christopher Keough May 2015

Self-Presentation On Fan Sites On Social Media, Christopher Keough

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Sports fans can be emotional and loyal beings, living and dying by their teams’ performance. As people, however, even the most loyal sports fans are aware of how they are perceived by others. This thesis explored fan communication behavior on social media to determine whether sports fans would maintain a strong interest in self-image when surrounded by peers with the same perspective. Tajfel and Turner’s (1986) social identity theory states that individuals use group associations to project a positive self-image. Selective self-presentation states that when people meet online they can curate a positive perception (Walther, 2005). The literature review studied …


Social Change Through Digital Communication: A Project Designed To Explore The Positive Impact That Advertising And The Media Have In Emplowering Change For Women Within Organizations, Katie Anne Albang May 2015

Social Change Through Digital Communication: A Project Designed To Explore The Positive Impact That Advertising And The Media Have In Emplowering Change For Women Within Organizations, Katie Anne Albang

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This is a project that examines gender stereotypes, social perception, power and fear as factors as to why there are few women in leadership positions. It also explores how social change through digital communication strategies such as advertising are effective ways to empower women and help reach gender equality in the workplace. This project looks at how advertising campaigns have begun to focus on empowering women, gender equality and the attempt to eliminate stereotypes through digital media and communication initiatives. In addition, the interactive universalism philosophy and ethical assumptions along with the social identity theory are used to support the …


Front-Of-Package Food Labels: Consumer Knowledge And Purchase Decisions, Trisha Deanne Knebel May 2015

Front-Of-Package Food Labels: Consumer Knowledge And Purchase Decisions, Trisha Deanne Knebel

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This study was conducted to determine if a relationship exists between front-of-package food labels and consumer purchase decisions, and whether there is a difference in purchase decisions between those who believed they did versus those who believed they did not understand the meanings of the labels. The philosophical assumption of this research was framed around Aristotle’s Golden Mean (Aristotle, trans. 2014), which guided the study based on the virtue of moderation. Through the theoretical basis of the uses and gratifications theory by Elihu Katz (Katz, Blumler, & Gurevitch, 1973), this study also compared food purchase decisions of participants who did …


Suggestion, Perception, Reality: A Study Into The Relationship Between Suggestion And The Reality It May Produce, Perception, Reality: A Study Into The Relationship Between Suggestion And The Reality It May Produce., Scott Whippo May 2015

Suggestion, Perception, Reality: A Study Into The Relationship Between Suggestion And The Reality It May Produce, Perception, Reality: A Study Into The Relationship Between Suggestion And The Reality It May Produce., Scott Whippo

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Suggestion is a part of communication that cannot be stripped from or be considered separate from verbal and nonverbal communication. It is through the need to view the communication processes from a complete understanding that this study investigated the possible influence that suggestion may have on an individual’s perception of reality. The existing literature was reviewed with various results from different researchers, however, much of the literature supported previous research done by Spanos et al. (1984) and Bartels et al. (2006). Their research showed some indications that suggestion, and possibly priming may have an influence on an individual’s perception. Using …


Acclimation Does Not Mean Equality: Muted Group Identity Management Of Women In The United States Navy, Richard Russell Langbein May 2015

Acclimation Does Not Mean Equality: Muted Group Identity Management Of Women In The United States Navy, Richard Russell Langbein

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This thesis focuses on identity management amongst women, as part of a muted-group, within the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. This study considers cultural and social conditions encountered prior to their entry into the program to assist in evaluating communication and identity management methods to regain voice. The research is grounded in muted-group theory and seeks to build on existing research that follows the repeal of the Combat Exclusion Law. Existing research following the repeal centers on women in direct combatant roles. This study examines women in a high-paced academic and technical field. Ten women volunteered to participate to include narrative …


Parlance, Perception, And Power: An Inquiry Into Non-Standard Language Use In Digital Media, James Thomas Jarc May 2015

Parlance, Perception, And Power: An Inquiry Into Non-Standard Language Use In Digital Media, James Thomas Jarc

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This study investigated the effects of Internet slang use (inclusive of slang, initialisms, abbreviations, emoji, and hashtags) on perceptions of source credibility among constituents of nonDrit organizations. The author hypothesized that a user’s level of comfort/fluency with digital media would impact how they perceive organizations that use non-standard language online. This study used a content analysis of social media posts from 2 national organizations to analyze patterns of non-standard language use, and applied the engagement index (EI) to quantify constituent engagement actions with those posts on 3 social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram). An accompanying survey revealed correlations between …


Names Are Words: A Study Of Age, Gender, Class And Race, Alexandria Michelle Baker May 2015

Names Are Words: A Study Of Age, Gender, Class And Race, Alexandria Michelle Baker

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Just over 4 million babies are born in the United States each year, and as many people know each baby eventually gets a name. In an extension of research demonstrating both Symbolic Interaction Theory and the Coordinated Management of Meaning, through the use of semantics and pragmatics, the present study examined what names communicate about age, race, gender and class. Using data obtained from the first group of participants in Survey 1(i.e. names of each individual and their demographics), Survey 2 participants, a random sampling of Americans, were asked to look at 14 names and determine what those names communicated. …


The Salience Of University Dressors In The Work For Social Justice, Esmeralda C. Chapa Feb 2015

The Salience Of University Dressors In The Work For Social Justice, Esmeralda C. Chapa

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Social justice work is as relevant in the 21st century as it has ever been. Society abounds with inequalities in the various facets of life. In today’s society some continue to believe in the influence of universities to promote social justice work, however this work may be cast as the responsibility of those that need the change and not of those who know how to get change accomplished. The research questions for this study are: what are the institutional constraints to Dressor engagement in social justice work? How do Dressors overcome institutional constraints to social justice work? The theoretical basis …


Best Practices For Facilitating Diversity In The Online Classroom, Michelle Anne Rog Feb 2015

Best Practices For Facilitating Diversity In The Online Classroom, Michelle Anne Rog

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This project, Facilitating Diversity in the Online Classroom – Best Practices, explores four best practices for facilitating diversity in the online classroom. The philosophical and ethical framework for this study is built on Martin Buber’s belief that people must be open to dialogue and interested in participating in it and that they stay attentive to another’s uniqueness and how it matters. Grounded in the theory of Critical Pedagogy, this study urges teachers to be open-minded to change and to affect and shape he environment around them. The eLearning course is designed to offer teachers a foundational set of best practices …