Communication Doctoral Work

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Online Interaction and Identity Development: The Relationship between Adolescent Ego Identity and Preferred Communication Activities
(North Dakota State University, 2011) Tobola, Cloy Douglas
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the types of communication activities adolescents reported as important and used most frequently, and how these communication preferences were reflected in adolescents' identity development status. Participants were approximately 600 new university students who completed a survey regarding 18 communication activities, along with the Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory identity subscale. Data analysis was conducted in two phases. To reduce the frequency and importance data to a manageable size, exploratory factor analyses and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. Two identical factors were identified and validated related to the importance and the frequency of communication activities. The first factor comprised four items related to online ''performance": online gaming, participation in virtual reality settings, live chat with strangers, and live chat with groups unknown to the individual. The second factor comprised four communication activities that occurred on social networking sites as individuals created lasting "exhibits" of themselves: updating a personal profile, viewing the profiles of others, posting status messages, and sharing pictures or other content (articles, jokes, videos) with others. Analysis of means indicated that the three communication activities rated as most important and frequently used were face-to-face interaction, voice calls and text messaging. These were followed by social networking activities, and then writing activities such as blogging. The performative activities identified in the exploratory factor analysis were ranked as least important and least frequently used. Regression analysis revealed small but statistically significant negative relationships between the reported importance of performative activities and identity development status, and between the reported frequency of performative activities and identity development status. Small positive relationships were also identified between the importance of face-to-face interaction and identity development status, and the importance of voice phone calls and identity development status. Small positive relationships were also identified between the frequency of face-to-face communication and identity development, between the frequency of voice phone calls and identity development, and between the frequency of email use and identity development.
Intercultural Communication Competence Theory: Integrating Academic and Practical Perspectives
(North Dakota State University, 2011) Vevea, Nadene N.
Over the past five decades, scholars of intercultural communication have attempted to define, describe, and otherwise operationalize the concept of competency in an intercultural interaction. This study constructed a comprehensive theory of intercultural communication competence (ICC) grounded in the extant literature and the practical or everyday understanding of the concept. Using classroom data that was validated by a metasynthesis of existing qualitative or ethnographic studies describing ICC, the academic definitions and lay descriptions were each explored and then compared to find points of convergence and points of divergence. The comparative analysis provided the foundation for the development of tenets: ICC is an outcome; ICC is externally perceived and measured; and ICC is bound by the cultural context in which it takes place, conditions regarding interaction goals and power roles of the interactants, and culture specific elements for the holistic ICC theory proposed by this study. An examination of the implications of the newly constructed ICC theory and its future application and implications were explored.
A Rhetorical/Interpretive Analysis of Edward R. Murrow's Criticism of Broadcast Journalism: Implications for Broadcast Journalism Educators
(North Dakota State University, 2012) Quanbeck, Aaron
Corporate influence has been an ongoing concern for working journalists. Even in the early days of television, Edward R. Murrow saw a bleak future for society if broadcasters succumbed to corporate greed and failed in their responsibility to inform the public. This rhetorical study of Murrow's 1958 speech to the Radio-Television News Directors Association, guided by Perelman's theory of the universal audience and presence, argues that Murrow's speech prioritized broadcast journalism's obligation to a democratic society and warned that commercial intrusion was impacting the profession's moral obligations. At the same time, in appealing to a particular audience, Murrow deemphasized the role of individuals in the process, including both working journalists and the viewing audience. I apply the findings of my rhetorical analysis to a qualitative case study analysis of three collegiate broadcasting textbooks to examine how closely Murrow's vision for the industry is being passed on to the next generation of broadcast journalists. My findings suggest that tensions exist between the two, including Murrow advocating a more proactive rather than a reactive approach to broadcast journalism. I conclude by offering recommendations to broadcast educators in helping young journalists balance the obligations Murrow envisioned for the industry and the corporate realities of broadcasting.
Story-Selling: The Persuasive Effects of Using Stories in University Recruitment
(North Dakota State University, 2012) Burns, Michael Edward
The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the persuasive effects personal stories have on the university recruitment process. Specifically, this study explored how Fisher's (1984) concepts of narrative probability and fidelity influenced Ajzen's (1991) theory of planned behavior model using a four-staged quasi-experimental study. Jablin's (1982) anticipatory socialization phase of organizational assimilation theory acted as a context for this applied dissertation. This study evolved over four stages while working with the North Dakota State University Office of Admission. The first stage provided qualitative data exploring students' opinions of using story-based recruitment material. Focus groups also revealed what types of stories would be helpful for prospective students during the college admission process. Stage two developed and tested the narrative probability and fidelity scales based on Fisher's (1984) narrative paradigm. These newly created scales were used to determine the level of narrative probability and narrative fidelity in each of the experimental conditions. Stage three consisted of the creation and testing of the recruitment videos used in each experimental condition. The final stage tested the story-based recruitment and control videos on prospective students visiting North Dakota State University. The results of this dissertation were obtained using a series of ANOVAs, regression analyses, and path model testing techniques. Overall, the results suggested that high levels of narrative probability and narrative fidelity do positively influence prospective students' attitudes toward choosing a university and have a less powerful, but still positive, influence on their subjective norms beliefs and perceived behavioral control of choosing a university. The theory of planned behavior model was also supported by this data. The results of each stage of this study produced theoretical and practical implications. This dissertation concludes with a discussion of the results, implications, limitations, and future research opportunities.
Are You Buying What They're Selling?: Ethnographically Exploring Organizational Identification through Employees' Everyday Talk
(North Dakota State University, 2012) Western, Kai Janovsky
The purpose of this study was to explore how employees' reflect organizational identification strategies in their everyday talk at a big-box retailer. Previous studies on organizational identification have mostly been organization-centric, focusing on the strategies organizations employ to induce employee identification. This study fills this gap by exploring the employee side of the identification process. Using ethnographic methods, the researcher conducted complete participant observation and textual analysis to understand how employees reflect, mock, and/or rebel against the organization's identification strategies in their narratives and rites. This study used a three phase approach to gain a deeper understanding of how employees used everyday discourse to reflect their connection with an organization. In Phase I, complete participant observation and informant interviews were conducted during the 2011-2012 holiday season at a big-box retailer, Big Alpha. Data were coded using thematic analysis. The second phase consisted of textually analyzing organizational artifacts to determine how Big Alpha employed organizational identification strategies. In the last phase, participant observation and informant interview data were compared to the strategies found in Phase II to determine what identification strategies employees reflected in their everyday talk. Findings indicate that employees enact specific identification strategies that reflect identification and disidentification. Additionally, employees utilized the tactic of espoused shared values, indicating their identification with their work group more than with Big Alpha. This study extends organizational identification theory by revealing specific five new tactics and one new strategy that employees use that connect them or disconnect them from the organization. This study also extends research on temporary workers as findings indicated that seasonal, part-time, and college student workers may not perceive themselves as having "real jobs." Finally, this study found that there may be a worker class system that influences the extent to which employees may or may not identify with the organization. These findings suggest practical implications and areas of future research.
Navigating the Turbulent Dual Roles of Parent/Coach
(North Dakota State University, 2012) Larson-Casselton, Cindy Lee
This study explores the nature of the communication between parent and child as the context changes to place them into the roles of coach and member of the team. Previous studies of parents coaching their own children are limited, suggesting the need for further examination in this area. The parent/coach is becoming far more common in competitive contexts due to the growing number of programs available for children without a corresponding growth in the number of adults able and interested in coaching (Turman & Schrodt, 2004). The study examines and extends role theory, conflict theory, and communication privacy management (CPM) theory.
Vigilance versus Complacency: Communication Strategies Used During Fargo’s Recent Major Floods to Confront Risk Fatigue
(North Dakota State University, 2012) Attansey, Matthew Ignatius
This study explored and evaluated the communication strategies used by Fargo city leaders to persuade residents to work together as a community to withstand the repetitive flood hazards that threatened the city on a yearly basis, especially in 1997, 2006, and 2009. The literature review explored vigilance and complacency as well as strategies used by high-reliability organizations (HROs) to manage crises with little or no failures. Difficulties in processing multiple messages, desensitization, and fatigue were identified as barriers to remaining vigilant in the face of multiple crises. The communication strategies applied by the HROs to maintain vigilance were shown to be working; however, limited application of those HRO communication strategies to communities have been undertaken in the field. Individual, in-depth interview data were collected. The data revealed the emergence of risk fatigue as a result of multiple flood experiences; however, the strength of the communication strategies applied by city leaders made members of the community demonstrate resilience through their individual and collective actions to respond when called upon. The findings also revealed that all the HRO principles and tenets were identified from the evaluations of the residents to show that HRO principles can be transferred to communities to make them high reliability communities (HRCs).
Leaving the Family: Exit from Totalistic Organizations
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Hinderaker, Amorette Nicole
The purpose of this study was to explore how members exit totalistic organizations. Existing organizational communication research has treated employee membership in an employment institution as the universal organizational relationship. This study argues that certain organizational relationships are best understood not by the presence or absence of pay, however, but in relation to the extent of organizational reach into the member's life outside the organization. This study advances the notion that such totalistic organizations share important characteristics including value-based memberships, centrality of organizational values to the member's life, the involvement of primary relationships, and a requirement of organizational fealty. This study advances the study of organizational exit within this totalistic context. A microstoria narrative analysis was used to examine the exit narratives of members of both paid and unpaid totalistic organizations (police officers and firefighters: N = 50, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: N = 50) to gain a better understanding of exit from totalistic organizations. The findings of this study suggest several contributions to the study of organizational communication and exit. First, the findings of this study expand our definition of organizational memberships beyond current literature, which defines memberships based on payment. Second, consideration of totalistic exit challenges existing models of role/vocational socialization, suggesting that foundational values can originate from an organizational source. Third, the process of exit revealed by the narratives of this study suggests a view of exit that was unlike both current phasic models or considerations of volunteer exit. The process of exiting a totalistic organization was less linear and more prolonged than exit describe by existing literature, and was marked by deep personal doubts and fears. Finally, members of totalistic organizations described active concealment of both their decisions to exit, and the doubts about both the organization and the self that contribute to exit, suggesting a communicative pattern during the exit process that diverges from the expected announcement/exit phase of Jablin's (2001) model.
Explaining Adolescent Behavior Intention to Consume Fast Food Using the Theory of Planned Behavior
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Fudge, Julie Lynn
This study tested the utility of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to explain adolescent fast-food consumption among 349 high school adolescents. Subjective norms were further investigated to identify how parents and friends influenced adolescent fast-food consumption. Study participants completed a paper-based questionnaire measuring adolescent attitude, subjective norms for parents and friends, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention. Path analysis revealed that TPB explained adolescent fast-food behavioral intention to consume fast food. The model identified parent subjective norms had the strongest relationship with adolescent behavioral intention to consume fast food. Parent norms differed across age and grade in high school. Older adolescents perceived more approval for eating fast food than younger adolescents. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Funding the Technology of a Research University
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Ostrom-Blonigen, Jean
Using the central information technology unit (CITU) on the North Dakota State University (NDSU) campus, this project triangulated two independent studies in an effort to converge data findings. The studies were conducted in an effort to determine whether CITU’s budget constraints were known to its stakeholders and how the extended use of the theory of Communication Privacy Management (CPM) into this organizational communication setting might be possible. The studies, which were both conducted by a CITU employee (participant/observer) included: 1) an online email survey involving 244 non-student employee participants and 2) interviews with 21 non-student employees. In Study #1, the participant/observer and two independent coders found, with the exception of CITU’s leadership, that NDSU’s non-student employees did not appear to consider CITU’s budget constraints in their IT needs/requests of CITU. From these results, the participant/observer and two independent coders identified a communication opportunity for CITU to create a message linking CITU’s inability to meet the campus’ IT needs/requests directly to its budget constraints. In Study #2, the participant/observer and two independent coders again found, with the exception of CITU’s leadership, that NDSU’s non-student employees did not appear to consider CITU’s budget constraints in their IT needs/requests of CITU. Additionally, the participant/observer and two independent coders found the presence of all six CPM propositions and four facets of communication identified in both the CPM and organizational communication literature. Even in an open-records state, such as North Dakota, CPM may be useful in describing the communication challenges surrounding both private and traditionally private information within newly formed organizations like CITU or within existing organizations that function more as a set of unrelated individuals. Central IT units or other organizations that are experiencing relationship dissatisfaction with their stakeholders due to budget constraints must work to invite their stakeholders to be co-owners in their budget difficulties, so that they understand why their IT need/requests are not being met. In order to accomplish this task, CITU’s message must be simple and consistent and must be accompanied by a firm set of negotiated rules. When messages are consistent and understood, satisfied co-ownership exists.
A Dual Examination of Content and Effects: News Media Representations of Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Effects of Attributions on Community Members’ Supportive or Discriminatory Feelings, Behavioral Intentions, and Behaviors Toward the Disability
(North Dakota State University, 2014) Farrell, Laura Catherine
The media has the ability to influence societal perceptions about important issues. This study involved a dual examination of content and effects of news media representations of a prominent health issue—autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that now affects 1 in 88 individuals (CDC, 2013). Study 1 examined the presence of attributions of ASD and signaling “stigma” cues in news media and Study 2 investigated the effects of attributions of ASD emphasized in news media on community members’ emotions, behavioral intentions, and behaviors toward the disability. Study 1 revealed associations between certain attributions and signaling “stigma” cues and indicated news circulation plays a role in the appearance of cause attributions and social skill deficit cues. The results also illuminated intriguing trends in the presence of certain attributions of ASD and signaling “stigma” cues in news media over the past 16 years. Study 2 shed light on the direct and indirect effects of attributions about ASD emphasized in news stories on community members’ emotions, behavioral intentions, and actual behaviors; these findings partially align with attribution theory. This research provides a holistic understanding about the presence and power of language emphasized in news stories about ASD. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
On the Network to Damascus: Emerging Adulthood, Social Networks, and Conversion in American Religion
(North Dakota State University, 2014) Pritchard, Andrew Donald
Competing social networks are central to the process of conversion from one religious or spiritual orientation to another. Although numerous sociological, psychological, quasi-economic, and theological forces have been explored as components of an individual’s network ties to a religion, the characteristics of the communication that occurs through those ties have been ignored in most research into conversion. This omission hinders a fuller explanation of the conversion process, because the means and manners of communication are the mechanisms through which other social network forces must operate. This disquisition studies communication at the crucial, initial “preaffiliation” stage of the conversion process (Gooren, 2010) and a stage of life at which a religious practitioner is especially likely to proceed through conversion, the “emerging adulthood” years from ages 18 to 25 (Arnett, 2000). Data from an online survey (N = 473) were used to predict the influence of family communication patterns, continued communication with parents through media, beliefs about the appropriateness of online media in religion or spirituality, and consumption of media from an emerging adult’s childhood religion or a new religion on an emerging adult’s likelihood of exploring new religious beliefs, practices, and identities. Outcome variables included the importance of religion to an emerging adult, his or her attachment to the childhood religion, a “quest” orientation toward religious or spiritual development, perceived support from a group or community in college associated with either the childhood religion or a new religion, and the emerging adult’s likelihood of continuing to identify with his or her childhood religion. Results demonstrate that numerous variables in family communication, attitudes toward media in religion, and consumption of religious media significantly influence emerging adults’ approach to the preaffiliation stage of conversion. Family communication patterns, using iv communication media to discuss religious or spiritual subjects with one’s parents, and watching television programs or visiting websites associated with the childhood religion are especially significant factors seeming to inhibit conversion. Avenues for further exploring these connections are proposed, and conceptual integration of communication into explanations of the conversion process are discussed.
Communicating CSR: A Longitudinal Examination of the Petroleum Industry's Social Issue Adoption
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Tulibaski, Katherine Lynn
The purpose of this study was to examine the institutionalization of corporate social responsibility (CSR), CSR communication, and social issue adoption of the world’s largest petroleum companies over time. Previous research on CSR and institutional theory have established that CSR is institutionalized; the current study builds on that knowledge to examine whether the social issues companies adopt as CSR may also be institutionalized and it does so from a longitudinal perspective in relation to a complete industry. Specifically, this study engaged in a textual analysis of 75 CSR reports using MAXQDA, a qualitative data analysis software, to understand how 15 of the world’s largest petroleum companies communicate about their CSR within voluntary, yet formal CSR reports from 2007-2011. Analysis of the reports consisted of three phases. First, a working schema of social issues was developed from past research and the content of the reports; this phase identified social issues that were present and prevalent in the reports. Second, data were analyzed to examine, in detail, what companies were communicating about the social issues, as well as how they were communicating about them over time. Finally, the CSR reports were coded for the institutional and/or competitive language that was used to describe the social issues within the reports. Findings indicate that social issues adopted as CSR are also institutionalized, and there are seven key and consistent social issues the companies discussed: society and community development, stakeholder engagement, environmental performance and stewardship, workplace safety and health, corporate governance, low carbon growth and technological development, and energy security, supply, and demand. Additionally, the CSR communicated by an industry over time is largely consistent with very little variation in content or format both within the same company over time and between companies over time. Further, companies utilize both iv institutional language and competitive advantage language to discuss their CSR efforts. This study extends our knowledge about CSR communication by suggesting that social issues are also institutionalized, and highlighting consistency in content and reporting over time, thereby indicating that institutionalization occurs at the macro, meso, and micro-levels of organizing.
Communicating CSR: A Longitudinal Examination of the Petroleum Industry's Social Issue Adoption
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Tulibaski, Katherine Lynn
Video summarizing Ph.D. dissertation for a non-specialist audience.
When Work and Family Merge: Understanding Intragroup Conflict Experiences in Family Farm Businesses
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Paskewitz, Emily Ann
Family farms experience conflict in the everyday operation of the farm (Weigel & Weigel, 1990). However, family farm members rarely bring up conflicts to the other party; rather, they keep their frustration to themselves or wait until things boil over. Waters (2013) noted family farm members avoid bringing up any conflict or issues, with one son noting “basically, dad says we’re doing this and I say okay” (Waters, 2013, p. 30). It is in this communicative environment that a business functions, attempting to remain profitable, while maintaining family bonds that are the foundation of the business itself. This project used intragroup conflict theory to explore the dynamics of everyday conflict in family farm businesses. Intragroup conflict theory presents four types of conflict (task, relational, process, and status) that influence group outcomes differently (Jehn, 1997). The first focus of this project was how these four conflict types influence three important outcomes for family farm members: job satisfaction, communication satisfaction, and profitability. Only status conflict significantly predicted all three outcomes variables for family farm members. Additionally, this project furthered intragroup conflict theory by exploring two potential antecedents for intragroup conflict: emotional intelligence (awareness of own and management of own) and family communication patterns (conversation orientation and conformity orientation). Conformity orientation significantly predicted task, process, and status conflict in the model. These findings were discussed in light of the previous theoretical work in family businesses, then in the family farm context specifically.
“What Do I Do?”: Exploring Elements of Solicited Advice and Relationship Satisfaction Between Emerging Adults and Their Parents
(North Dakota State University, 2016) DiTunnariello, Nancy
The purpose of this dissertation was to gain a better understanding of how emerging adult children respond to their parents’ advice, and uncover connections between advice and parent-child relationship satisfaction. Because emerging adults may experience uncertainty as they move toward adulthood, they may reach out to their parental figures when making new or important decisions. The current study took a closer look at the role elements of advice response theory (ART) played in an emerging adult’s decision-making process when asking a parental figure for advice. The study also considered the potential relationship between elements of ART and parent-emerging adult child relationship satisfaction. A total of 503 participants between the ages of 18 to 25 were recruited from a medium-sized Midwestern land grant institution. Participants completed an online survey to measure elements of ART, parent-child relationship satisfaction, and demographic questions. Six hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed. According to the findings of this dissertation, emerging adults consider parental advice characteristics and parent as advisor characteristics when deciding on the quality of the advice, and the intention to implement the advice received from their parental figures. Also, emerging adults reported that elements of ART play a role in parent-emerging adult child relationship satisfaction. Findings highlight that it is important for emerging adults to perceive their parental figures as trustworthy because perceived trustworthiness plays a large role in implementation intention, perceived advice quality, and perceived parent-child relationship satisfaction. Also, advice limitations do not play as large a role as previously expected.
Relational Maintenance Strategies, Positivity, and Constructive Financial Conversations in Romantic, Committed Partnerships
(North Dakota State University, 2016) Bourdeaux, Renee Jeneanne
Although a large body of research on financial management in marriages and conflict/divorce as outcomes of financial problems exists, the topic of how individuals describe the communicative processes leading to positive outcomes regarding financial conversations remains understudied. Because financial conversations emerge as a strong “tug-of-war” opponent to the successful partnership couples hope to achieve, this study sought to understand how romantic pairs talk about money in ways that lead to positive results. By using an interpretive approach, this study used online, open-ended survey questions to gather stories to better understand how married couples effectively discuss finances. The participant stories explained how individuals in committed romantic partnerships described successful conversations they had with their partner about money. The data were thematically coded using Spradley’s (1979) taxonomic coding categories. The stories from the 100 participants revealed specific strategies that couples used during positive financial conversations that led to positive relational outcomes. This study first reveals a taxonomy of tactics that individuals use in positive conversations about finances. Second, this study supports and offers new contributions to relational maintenance literature (Canary & Stafford, 1992; Stafford, 2011; Stafford & Canary, 1991; Stafford et al., 2000) regarding how maintenance strategies are used when talking about money. Finally, this study offers a taxonomy of reported relational outcomes for couples who have positive financial conversations. The knowledge gained from this study will be helpful to all couples who wish to positively navigate financial matters.
“You’re Not Part of the Family”: Understanding the Turning Points and Family System Consequences of High Conflict Mother-/Daughter-in-Law Relationships
(North Dakota State University, 2016) Anderson, Whitney Allison
Popular culture representations of in-law relationships are frequently negative, and research has affirmed the communication difficulties associated with these non-kin, nonvoluntary relationships. Mother-in-law/daughter-in-law (MIL/DIL) relationships face unique challenges, as these women compete for the position of “kinkeeper,” or the person who manages relationships throughout the family. When MIL/DIL relationships are characterized by conflict and negative feelings toward one another, the family system suffers. To better understand the implications of “high conflict” MIL/DIL relationships on entire families, 27 DILs were interviewed about the turning points they had experienced with their MILs and the repercussions of the MIL/DIL relationship throughout the family system. Nine turning point categories emerged inductively from the data, along with several consequences for relationships throughout the family system, including DIL/husband, MIL/grandchildren, and husband/mother. Findings indicate high conflict MIL/DIL relationships do not just lead to negative outcomes for the two women involved, but also for other members across the family system.
Cloudy with a Chance of Endorsements: Analyzing Vaping Communities through Taylor’s Strategy Wheel and Parasocial Interactions
(North Dakota State University, 2017) Daniel, Emory Stephen Jr.
The purpose of this dissertation is to launch a greater understanding of Taylor's Six-Segment Strategy Wheel (SSSW) and how it might pair with purchasing intentions with the use of parasocial interactions and celebrity endorsements. Recent research findings have concluded that younger viewers often consider their parasocial interactions/ relationships to be highly similar to their social interactions/relationships. Moreover, the dissertation presented addresses the question: since friends and family can influence our purchasing intentions; can parasocial influences have the same effect? What is it about parasocial interactions that make them useful to those viewing content? Also, within these interactions, what stands out the most? The present study uses research from the SSSW and other relevant theoretical frameworks to determine what were the most persuasive cues while watching an advertisement. This dissertation conducted two studies to help resolve these problems in more precise detail. First, a content analysis of YouTube comments for the channel Vape Capital's profile videos provided an insight of the visual sensory appeal of vape tricks and clouds. Also, the social component was also present with micro-celebrities on screen and the vaping community as a whole. Both sensory and social segments were the most used segments that influenced purchasing cues. The second study used focus group as a continuation of the research done in study one. Across the three focus groups conducted, the findings were similar to the content analysis. Focus group participants noted currently and retrospectively that they enjoyed the visuals, and were a separate collective group that disassociates themselves from traditional cigarette smokers. Lastly, although participants mostly liked the vapers on screen, they could not influence purchasing intentions exclusively. However, the micro-celebrities and videos conducted sparked purchasing inquiry. Participants were intrigued by the video and the positive interaction and stated that they would want to research the specific products listed in the video. Although this study is not a representation of all celebrity parasocial relationships with links to purchasing intentions, the study can spearhead a line of research to connect interpersonal communication and strategic communication.
“I’m Not Just Crazy.”: Exploring the Impostor Phenomenon in an Educational and Communicative Context
(North Dakota State University, 2017) Chromey, Kelli Jean
The purpose of the current study is to gain a better understanding of the impostor phenomenon (IP) and see which communication channels and instructional types are best to use when educating others on IP. Impostor phenomenon is the feeling of faking it in terms of professional, academic, career, or other life-area successes. The study also looked at correlations between impostor feelings and positive and negative workplace emotions and impression management techniques. Experimental conditions in the form of a survey were used to provide participants either an article or video, each with either a testimonial or research-based education. Findings suggest that participants in the testimonial instruction condition report higher IP scores than in research-based instruction condition and that the effects of channels tested were insignificant. The findings support the hypothesized outcomes in terms of emotion showing there are negative emotions related to work. Findings suggest IP is directly associated with ingratiation, exemplification, and supplication; indirectly associated with self-promotion; and unrelated to intimidation. Additionally, limitations and future directions are discussed.

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