MA Theses - DO NOT EDIT: Recent submissions
Now showing items 21-40 of 49
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A Thematic Insight To A Dialogic Approach Of NBA Organizations Twitter Content
This study focuses on how, if at all, NBA organizations are creating dialogue with their publics through the use of the social networking site Twitter. With the use of Kent and Taylor's dialogic approach to public relations, ... -
Supporting People With Diabetes: The Roles Of Health Literacy And Communication Of Support
(Communication, 2014-12)In the U.S., the number of people with diabetes is estimated to surpass 330 million by 2030. Previous research has focused on the direct link between communication and a person's overall health. Strong patient-provider ... -
I Listen To You Every Day: Parasocial Relationships And Self-disclosure In Christian Radio
(Communication, 2014-09-17)Involvement with characters is an important part of our media rich environment. Researchers have examined different forms of character involvement, most often in television. Though unique because of its focus on the ... -
An Exploration Of Social Media's Influence In Parasocial Relationships Between Sports Fans And Sports Figures
(Communication, 2014-03-12)This study used sixteen in-depth interviews with sports fans who claimed to have a favorite sports figure in order to explore parasocial relationships. Parasocial interaction theory was the framework used to explore these ... -
The Impact Of Online Non-partisan Videos On Self-reported Intention To Vote
(Communication, 2014-03-12)Previous studies have concluded that Web-based get out the vote (GOTV) messages do not impact voting behavior. However, the primary shortcoming of these studies has been the form of GOTV media studied, focusing on lean, ... -
Negotiating Identity Creation Through Personal Narrative In A Christian Recovery Group
(Communication, 2013-07-22)Alcohol and substance abuse affects 23 million Americans each year and many seek treatment through mutual help groups and rehabilitation centers. Similar to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Celebrate Recovery (CR) is a mutual ... -
CMC v/s FtFC- Media Effect On Millennials' Self-disclosure Behavior
(Communication, 2013-03-20)This study examines the effect that computer-mediated communication (CMC) and face-to-face communication (FTFC) have on Millennials' communication behaviors. The study specifically focuses on the self-disclosure aspect and ... -
Competing Discourses Surrounding Primary Caregivers Of Hospice Patients
(Communication, 2013-03-20)The aging of the baby boomer generation has resulted in dynamic growth in end-of-life care. In the year 2030, 22% of Americans will be over the age of 65. Given this projection and the lack of communication research based ... -
Identifying Media Consumption Habits And Media Literacy Skills In College Undergraduates
(Communication, 2012-07-25)In the United States, media literacy education is not as advanced as in other English speaking regions such as, Great Britain, Canada, and Australia. Most teachers and students in the US are unaware of issues involved in ... -
Can Political Candidate's Use Of Facebook To Influence Real World Outcomes? An Analysis Of Uses And Gratifications Needs, Online Participation And Offline Outcomes On Candidate's Facebook Pages
(Communication, 2012-07-25)Facebook pages are becoming an ever-increasing way to market and promote people, products and ideas on social media. This thesis explores whether or not political candidate's Facebook pages can influence real world offline ... -
When Religion And Organization Conflict
(Communication, 2011-10-11)After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the United States became a much different place to live and work for Muslim-Americans. Muslims are one of most discriminated, misunderstood, and feared groups in the US. This qualitative ... -
A Public Marriage: A Comparison Of Organizational Change Communication Between Two Cultures Involved In A Municipal Government Facilities Merger
(Communication, 2011-07-14)This study compares the change communication of two public organizations (a City and School District) during a municipal government facility merger as well as the effects of the merger on the organizations' cultures. It ... -
Influences Of Decision-making: A Qualitative Analysis Of Primiparae's Birthing Plan Decisions
(Communication, 2011-07-14)In the U.S., the rate of delivery by cesarean section has increased more than 50% since 1996. On the other hand, home births increased 5% since 2005 and continue to be on the rise. Previous research is limited in examining ... -
The Evolution Of The Rag: An Analysis Of The Social, Political And Technological Influences On The Birth Of One Underground Newspaper In The 1960s
(Communication, 2010-07-19)This research examines the influences which led to the beginnings of The Rag, an underground newspaper in Austin, TX, that would last for 11 years and give voice to a generation of young adults that were intent on changing ... -
Thin-ideal Depictions On Retail Fashion Web Sites Popular With Teenage Females: An Exploratory Content Analysis
(Communication, 2010-07-19)The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the body type portrayals teenage females are exposed to during an online shopping experience. The researcher conducted an exploratory content analysis of prominent ... -
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder And Support Groups
(Communication, 2009-09-16)The purpose of this qualitative study used several methodologies in order to discover why individuals with OCD choose to participate or not participate in a face-to-face and/or online support group. The primary researcher ... -
Municipal Immigration Ordinances: An Analysis Of Newspaper Coverage Of A Controversial Issue
(Communication, 2009-09-16)In 2006, the cities of Farmers Branch, Texas, and Hazleton, Pennsylvania, attempted to enact municipal immigration ordinances. The Farmers Branch ordinance would have banned apartment owners or managers from renting to ... -
Russia's Portrayal In The Western Media: A Quantitative Analysis Of Leading Media Agency News Stories In 2007
(Communication, 2008-08-08)This study examined Western media news coverage about Russia. Representative samples from the leading Western wire and international broadcasting services - the AP, BBC and DW - were selected and analyzed using content ... -
Seeing Is Perceiving: The Influence Of Race As A Peripheral Cue On The Stereotypical Perception Of A Spokesperson In An Advertisement
(Communication, 2008-08-08)Due to the vast amount of stimuli individuals come in contact with daily, people often tend to look for easy-to-process cues to help them make quick judgments about what they are seeing (Petty & Cacioppo, 1986). While ... -
Hollywood To Hilltop: Does Celebrity Status Act As A Peripheral Cue In Voting Decisions
(Communication, 2008-08-08)Given the increase in Hollywood celebrities running for political office and the young adult population's cultural tendency to glorify the lives of celebrities, this research explored tenets of the Elaboration Likelihood ...