Communication Masters Theses

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An Analysis of the Arguments Used in the Home School Issue
(North Dakota State University, 1988) Meyer, Jaime Paul
"An Analysis of the Arguments Used in the Home School Issue," by Jaime P. Meyer is a study employing a twelve point method of analysis taken from the work of Ch. Perselman and L. Olbrechts-Tyteca. This study sought to answer the question: Are the values in the arguments of those for or against conditional home schooling in North Dakota consistent with the values underlying the laws of the state? Chapter I established the nature of the study. Chapter II provided a review of the literature concerning home schooling in North Dakota. Chapter III identified the similarities of the values in the arguments stated by those for conditional home schooling and the laws of the state. Chapter IV noted the dissimilarities of the values in the arguments stated by those against conditional home schooling and the laws of the state. Chapter V concluded that the values in the arguments of those for conditional home schooling are more consistent with the values underlying the laws of North Dakota than the values in the arguments of those against conditional home schooling.
The Sojourn and Communication Self-Efficacy Enhancement: A Study of Travelers' Perspectives
(North Dakota State University, 2009) Waserman, Vanessa
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the sojourn, or overseas travel, and the development of traveler intercultural communication self-efficacy. Self-efficacy, an individual's perception of his or her own ability to accomplish tasks (Bandura, 1997), originates from the psychology discipline and has rarely been applied to communication. The study examines and extends the work of Milstein (2005), a communication scholar who investigated the relationship between the sojourn and intercultural communication self-efficacy and found a positive relationship between the two. This study investigated how the experience of the sojourn affects traveler perceptions of their own intercultural communication self-efficacy. Data were collected through individual face-to-face interviews with participants. The researcher selected a convenience sample of 20 respondents who had all participated in separate sojourns. Participants in the study differed in age, ethnic identity, sojourn destination, and purpose for the sojourn. Responses to interview questions were tape recorded and transcribed preceding analysis and categorization of data based on emergent themes. The perceptions of travelers were analyzed to understand how the sojourn affects self-efficacy. Results of the study supported a positive relationship between the sojourn and development of intercultural communication self-efficacy among travelers with no previous exposure to multicultural settings prior to the sojourn. Travelers with prior exposure to multicultural settings in the home culture did not perceive an increase in intercultural communication self-efficacy as a result of the sojourn. How the background of the traveler may affect perceptions of the sojourn and the specific types of events abroad that were perceived as contributors to self-efficacy development are discussed.
Extending the Diffusion Model in Risk Communication: A Case Study of Risk in a Public Health Campaign
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Beauchamp, Kimberly A., M.S.
Everett Rogers' (2003) diffusion model provided a theoretical framework through which to measure change among publics. However, use of Rogers' diffusion model can lead to research shortcomings such as lack of consequence research, change agent tendencies, proinnovation bias, and inadequate research methods. Through new model development, the current study introduced a specific data analysis process that distinctly measured and merged a relationship between communication, outreach, and scientific effects. The application of a public health campaign served to test the new model's ability to overcome previous diffusion research shortcomings. Using an integrated approach of diffusion and gap analysis, the study investigated and quantified effects of risk communication. This new model has value in that it supports the collaborative efforts of multi-disciplinary projects, while promoting and strengthening the position of each discipline through joint research. The model serves to help researchers seek, find, and work within a respected and common ground platform.
Powerful and Powerless Language in Health Media: An Examination of the Effects of Biological Sex and Topic Focus on Language Styles
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Fandrich, Ashley Marie
Powerless language has been shown to influence audience perceptions, and the media has been shown to influence health behaviors. However, little research has looked at powerless language in health media. This study expands current research regarding powerless language through an examination of written health media. A content analysis on the use of powerless language in health-related articles was conducted for 12 popular magazines over a one-year time span. Analysis compared differences in use of powerless language relative to three variables: biological sex of the author, the biological sex of the audience, and the magazine's overall topic focus. Female authors and health-focused magazines used more powerless language than male authors and generic-focused magazines. Powerless language was more often directed towards a female audience than a male audience. Implications of such findings and suggestions for future research are also discussed.
Corporate Communication on Facebook: A Multi-Method Approach to Corporate Use and Stakeholder Perceptions of Social Media
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Hedberg, Kathryn Marie
This study looked at how corporations are currently using Facebook and what stakeholders' perceptions are of current corporate Facebook usage. A content analysis of nine corporate profile pages was conducted. Pages were coded for the presence or absence of relational development strategies under the categories of information dissemination, disclosure and involvement. A survey was also distributed to the fans of the nine corporate profiles in order to gain the fan perspective. Results showed that while corporations include disclosure and information dissemination strategies, they rarely use involvement strategies. This lack of interactivity is inconsistent with the fan perspective of corporate profiles, where fans called for more interaction and use of all relational development strategies on the corporate profile.
Learning the Ropes of Emotion Labor: How are Certified Nursing Assistants Socialized to Manage Emotion?
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Wenzel, Kristina Anne
This project explores the organizational socialization of emotion among certified nursing assistants employed in nursing homes. Six certified nursing assistants in the encounter phase of organizational socialization participated in this study which seeks to understand how certified nursing assistants learn the ropes of emotion labor. The results of this study offer partial support of Scott and Myers (2005) research as results indicate four essential categories of new certified nursing assistants' experiences: (a) customer service Ill expectations, (b) repeated exposure to emotional events, ( c) observational-infonnation seeking, and (d) being selected for emotion management capacity. Additionally, this study describes the workplace emotion new certified nursing assistants experience during the encounter phase of organizational socialization. This study concludes with theoretical and practical applications and suggests areas for future research.
The Role of Cyber and Face-to-Face Verbal Bullying on Adolescent Victims
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Farrell, Laura Catherine
The purpose of this study was to examine adolescent verbal bullying across communication media (e.g., face-to-face [F2F], cyber, both). Media Richness Theory (MRT; Daft & Lengel, 1984; 1986) and hyperpersonal communication (Walther, 1996) are the guiding theories in this study. Results suggested three of the four emotional outcomes [happiness, self-esteem, and peer satisfaction] were not significantly different across verbal bullying media, while the fourth emotional outcome [relational victimization] was significantly different. Results also suggested differences in frequency of bullying communication types between bullying media. There was a significant difference in the frequency of bullying type and grade level; however, there were no significant differences in the frequency of bullying medium based upon biological sex. These results indicate a bullied victim is most affected when the verbal bullying occurs though multiple mediums. Directions for future research are also offered.
Life Coaching and VISTA Members: What is the Nature of Impact?
(North Dakota State University, 2010) McGregor-Pfleger, Deborah
Research related specifically to coaching has increased gradually over the past few years. Most of the research has revolved around executive coaching, and there are limited research studies about certified coaches. To date, there are no studies that specifically focus on the nature of impact of life coaching on VISTA members. In this study of a pilot project pairing life coaches with VISTA members, five VISTA members participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews and five VISTA members participated in a focus group. It is clear from the research data that the nature of impact included many areas including time management, conflict resolution skills, objective perspectives, core values and career exploration. In addition, the experience of having a life coach as a part of the VISTA member experience made it more manageable and enjoyable.
Military Marriages: A Look at Dialectical Tensions, Deployment, and Military Life Through Navy Wives' Eyes
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Fawcett, Erienne Lee
This qualitative study explored the lived military relationships of eighteen Navy wives whose husbands were stationed on the Naval Air Station Whidbey Base in Oak Harbor, Washington. The researcher performed interviews to better understand how internal dialectical tensions- autonomy-connection, novelty-predictability, and opennessclosedness - were manifested throughout deployment, and what strategies were used to cope with those tensions. Results suggested that a variety of tensions characterized these marital relationships throughout the course of a deployment. The tensions that coincide with military lifestyles were often addressed by using the reframing coping strategy. A military/non-military external tension emerged from the data that influenced the internal tensions and coping strategies of Navy wives. The knowledge gained from this study may help military couples balance tensions throughout the deployment process and create more satisfactory relationships.
Entertainment Media's Satirical Effects on Teenage and Adult Attitudes of Political News Organizations.
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Chianak:as, Joseph Lawrence
This study explored the effect of satire in persuasion by comparing attitude changes between adults and teenagers. It revealed that satire was effective in changing attitudes and that satire had a greater effect on changing teenage attitudes than adult attitudes. In this study, participants rated the trustworthiness and competency of political news organizations and then watched comedic segments from entertainment media that satirized the political news organizations. After the satirical segments, participants re-evaluated the trustworthiness and competency of political news organizations. The satire proved to be effective in negatively changing the perception of trustworthiness and competency among political news organizations, and teenage attitudes had greater change than adult attitudes. The factors involved in attitude change were analyzed, and suggestions for future research were also offered.
Chevron's Power of Human Energy: A Case for Corporate Social Responsibility as Identification Inducement
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Roers, Michelle Marie
With corporate social responsibility (CSR) emerging as an inescapable business priority around the world, organizations are developing elaborate CSR campaigns to highlight their good deeds and influence important stakeholders. Despite its potentially powerful persuasive influence, however, we know surprisingly little about the actual messaging used in contemporary CSR campaigns. Accordingly, this study investigates a major multinational-and controversial-company's CSR campaign to examine CSR messages' propensity for inducing positive organizational identification. A case study applying Cheney's (1983b) organizational identification inducements reveals that Chevron's Power of Human Energy CSR campaign extensively and strategically uses CSR messaging to induce identification. This study thus suggests that organizations are using complex, versatile, and wide-ranging identification inducements in contemporary CSR campaigns-including eliciting identification via employee and outsider voices. Results are discussed in terms of practical and ethical implications for researchers, communication practitioners, and society.
The A3 Report as Knowledge-Accomplishing Activity: A Practice-Oriented Analysis of Situated Organizational Problem Solving
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Hatton, Angela Yvonne
The A3 report is a lean practice innovated by Toyota motor company. The A3 report, a growing trend in organizations, is promoted as a communication tool, but it has not been studied from a communication perspective. In this study I interview twelve professionals who use A3 reports in their work and identify the ways in which A3 reports enable and constrain organizational communication. This study illustrates the communicative enactment of knowing and identifies how the A3 report structures organizational problem solving and creates knowledge-accomplishing activity. The A3 report constrains information through its concise 11 by 1 7 inch paper size and enables knowledge production through discussion and the Japanese consensus-building concept of nemawashi. I submit that organizational use of the A3 process creates bridges between communities of practice and allows organizational actors to span traditional boundaries and engage in knowledgecreating conversations, thus furthering understanding of the communicative constitution of the organization.
Longdistance Romantic Relationships: Connections Among Conflict, Uncertainty, Maintenance, and Mediated Communication Use
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Frahm, Whitney Allison
Conflict, uncertainty, and relational maintenance have been frequent topics of study in long-distance relationships (LDRs); however, these concepts have not been studied concurrently. Interviews with 22 college students were used to study the influence of mediated versus face-to-face communication on conflict, uncertainty, and maintenance in LDRs. Interview data indicate that distance, distrust, and frustration with mediated communication are significant sources of conflict in LDRs. Conflict is most often discussed via mediated communication, although couples overwhelmingly prefer face-to-face interaction. Uncertainty and subsequent conflict were highest when using text-based communication (i.e., text messaging and Facebook); the telephone was preferred to maintain LDRs.
Purchasing for a Cause : Millennials' Perceptions of the Cause-Related Marketing Campaigns of Susan G. Komen for the Cure
(North Dakota State University, 2011) Phillips, Alicia Elizabeth
Millennials make up the largest generation to date and are highly involved in the support of social causes. Due to their philanthropic interests, Millennials have recently become the target of cause-marketing campaigns. Two studies utilizing focus groups were conducted with 70 college students in order to study the Millennial generation's perception of cause-related marketing campaigns. Study 1 focused on Millennials' general perceptions of cause-related marketing. Study 2 examined the Symbiotic Sustainability Model by focusing on Millennials' perceptions of partner number and relationships of a specific NGO (non-governmental organization), Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Focus group data from both studies indicated that Millennials were very familiar with cause-related marketing campaigns and see the marketing on a daily basis. Participants noted that donation amounts, donation methods, partner congruency, and transparency were all important factors in evaluating cause-related marketing campaigns. The participants were optimistic about cause-related marketing in theory. but were resentful of corporations and sympathetic of NGOs in the examples that they gave. Susan G. Komen for the Cure was seen negatively because they were perceived as monopolizing and dominating the cause market. Participants also believed that pink ribbon breast cancer marketing was too common and had negative effects on pink cause-related marketing campaigns.
Emerging Political Identification of Young Adults
(North Dakota State University, 2011) Isaacson, Jason Douglas
Research has more than adequately established the importance of the role of parents in the political socialization of young people. However, there is surprisingly little research that examines if and when young people deviate from their parental influence. Once deviation occurs, who replaces parents in the role of influencing the development of the political self? This research examined the development of political identification in young people ages 19-24 to discover if young people deviate from their socialized political attitudes usually instilled by their parents. It also sought to discover what outside influence is having the strongest effect on the subjects after such deviation occurs. These variables include their university, parents, professors, peer groups, media outlets, and religious affiliation. Interestingly, after the parents, the subjects' peer groups tested as having the strongest effect on the subjects deviating from their parental political norms. In addition, specific political affiliation was correlated to specific variables; for example the variable "religion" was an accurate predictor of political identification for self-identifying conservatives. The research also reinforced the notion that interpersonal relationships arc the most influential in the development of the political self.
An Examination of the Coverage of HIV/AIDS in Uganda's Top Newspapers
(North Dakota State University, 2011) Napakol, Angella
The following thesis examined the coverage of HIV/AIDS in Uganda's top newspapers. Both evidence from previous literature and this study shows that HIV/ AIDS is a dangerous social, health, and demographic problem which has received varied media attention over the years. This study sought to investigate the different frames used in HIV/ AIDS news stories, the major themes associated with HIV/ AIDS, the different risk groups identified in the news stories, and the different preventatives/correctives provided in the HIV/AIDS news stories so as to discover what has been emphasized or de-emphasized in order to help the media become more valuable in HIV/ AIDS prevention. While some findings were consistent with previous literature, some were different. The general coverage of HIV/ AIDS news stories was low, with a fluctuating trend in the four-year period. The thematic frame emerged as the most used frame in both The New Vision and The Monitor. The themes of prevention, treatment, prevalence, awareness, moral issue, and stigma and discrimination appeared more frequently. Among the risk groups that appeared most were children, married couples. and women while some preventatives/correctives that appeared more frequently were diagnosis and antiretroviral therapy. The married couples appeared most in the risk group category for example. This group is a recent addition to the HIV/ AIDS risk group and has quickly become predominant as illustrated by this study hence showing that the concentration of HIV/ AIDS is constantly changing.
Online or Face-to-Face?: Relationship Satisfaction and Attraction in Romantic Relationships Across Two Media
(North Dakota State University, 2011) Zmyslinski, Anne Nicole
The purpose of this study was to examine romantic relationships that began through face-to-face (FtF) interaction or computer-mediated communication (CMC). Two hundred seventy-six participants who were currently in romantic relationships that began in person (196) or online (80) completed an online questionnaire. The study explored several relational variables (relationship satisfaction, intimacy, trust, communication satisfaction, physical attraction) and tested for differences in the two types of relationships; however, the data were not consistent with the hypotheses and research questions. Post-hoc tests revealed that sample characteristics (including sex, exclusivity of relationships, same/opposite sex relationships, and length of relationships) accounted for several differences when tested with the relational variables. Finally, the study sought to find which of these variables related to relationship satisfaction in relationships that began FtF and online. Trust and communication satisfaction significantly predicted relationship satisfaction in relationships that began FtF, and physical attraction and communication satisfaction significantly predicted relationship satisfaction in relationships that began online.
The Press and the Historical Development of Three Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Programs in the Upper Midwest, 1950-1980
(North Dakota State University, 2011) Teigen, Danielle Ann
From 1950-1980, women's intercollegiate athletic programs experienced exponential growth, with newspapers rarely detailing the journey until Title IX passed in 1972. This project examined how women's athletics developed at North Dakota State University, the University of North Dakota, and Minnesota State University Moorhead, as well as the correlating press coverage. Articles from two regional newspapers and three student newspapers from 1950-1980 illustrated the coverage women's athletics received, while women integrally involved in the three athletic programs from 1950-1980 supplemented the coverage and further explained the development. This thesis proposes a cohesive narrative of the press coverage associated with the development of three women's intercollegiate athletic programs in the Midwest from 1950-1980. The project also speculates on the reasons why different newspapers covered women's athletics in the area differently and why 1975 emerged as a watershed year for women's athletics at NDSU, UND, and MSUM.
Identification Inducement Strategies used by North Dakota State University to Recruit and Retain Multicultural Graduate Students
(North Dakota State University, 2011) Namuganga, Gladys Nabaggala
The desire to attract an increasing number of minorities is pushing institutions of higher learning to brand themselves and communicate with students in ways that ensure their identification with the institution. Students' identification with an institution is one way to increase their enrollment numbers at the institution. This study was interested in determining whether NDSU's Graduate School and Office of Multicultural Programs used Cheney's (1983a) organizational identification inducement strategies in their recruitment and retention material that targeted multicultural graduate students. A closed coding textual analysis was used to analyze the material. Three of the four strategies were present in the analyzed communication material. Results are discussed in terms of key findings and practical implications for NDSU and other institutions that are interested in increasing their enrollment numbers of multicultural graduate students.
Branding, Communication, and Millennials: A Look at the Communication Habits of the Largest Generation in History
(North Dakota State University, 2011) Mattix, Christopher James
Millennials are the largest generation in history and are frequently the targets of major marketing campaigns. However, no current research exists that focuses on Millennials' brand related communication habits. Focus groups with 50 college students were used to study the brand related communication habits of Millennials. Focus group data indicate that face-to-face communication is preferred by Millennials when communicating about brands and products; however, participants noted an increased use of digital communication (text messages, instant messages, social networks) when communicating a negative brand experience. Price, family tradition, and product type were found to have the biggest influence over what types of messages were communicated and with whom they were communicated.

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