Browsing Dissertations & Theses by Issue Date
Now showing items 1-20 of 49
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A Clash Of Cultures: Cultural Differences Within American And Japanese Animation
(Communication, 2007-08-23)This research examines the Japanese cultural phenomenon of anime, and the cultural values that allow issues deemed more suitable for adults to be included in anime and viewed by all ages in Japan, but not in the United ... -
A Whole New Ballgame: How Fantasy Sports Has Evolved In The Mass Media
(Communication, 2007-08-23)Fantasy sports, a game that allows players to run their own virtual sports franchise, has been considered a hobby enjoyed outside the cultural mainstream. But recent adoption of fantasy sports-related content in the mass ... -
U.S. Public Image: A Study Of The Perceptions Of International Students From Predominantly Muslim Nations
(Communication, 2007-08-23)After the United States-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, anti-Americanism increased among predominantly Muslim nations. This qualitative study used in-depth interviews to explore the perceptions of 11 international students ... -
Media Effects On Chinese And American Stereotypes In College Settings
(Communication, 2007-08-23)This study examines national stereotypes in the contexts of Chinese and American universities and discusses how mass media and previous personal contact affect perceptions of the outgroup separately and interactively. The ... -
Stories Of Success: Narrative Communication Themes And The Direct Selling Industry
(Communication, 2008-04-22)Despite the growing scholarly attention given to various aspects of narrative communication, little research has been conducted to identify and document narrative themes used in the storytelling efforts of successful direct ... -
Negotiating Matriarchy: The Discourse Of Single Mothers Taking Care Of Their Families On Small Incomes
(Communication, 2008-04-22)This study used ten in-depth interviews with single mothers on small incomes to analyze for discursive themes. Three theoretical frameworks of Symbolic Interactionism, Presentation of Self and Cognitive Dissonance were ... -
In One Ear And In The Other: The Net Effect Of Advertising Frequency
(Communication, 2008-04-22)This research used both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to explore the possible effects and functions that advertising may perform in developing individuals' attitudes. Using the Elaboration Likelihood Model ... -
Today's Army: An Examination Of The Differences Of Newspaper Coverage About America's Army In Small And Large Markets
(Communication, 2008-04-22)This study examines differences in coverage of prominent Army news stories in a daily newspaper in a rural town near an Army post and the nearest metropolitan area. Past media and visual effects research suggests that ... -
The Public's Role In Framing The Agenda In The Digital Age
(Communication, 2008-08-08)The rapid growth of the Internet has transformed the business of journalism by allowing the public many new ways to participate in the news process. This thesis focuses on the public's participation in online news forums ... -
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 ... -
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 ... -
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 ... -
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 ... -
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 ... -
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 ... -
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 ... -
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 ... -
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 ...