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Textese as an Identifiable Genre
No full textThis 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 other and textese represents the symbols that have learned meaning in relationships. Finally, communication accommodation theory is supported as the use of textese as a genre is directly tied to the socio-historical context of the relationship where texting is happening. Research questions asked: if the relationship or audience, situation, and experience impact the use of textese, which aspect of the context impacts the use of textese the most, and does textese meet the qualifications needed to be a genre. Generic application was used to define textese as a genre and then surveys were sent to a population of 1000 users who had English as a primary language, were between the ages of 18 and 40, and had experience texting. Additionally, survey results showed strong negative correlation to the use of textese and the formality of the relationship and situation. The study shows support for the definition of textese as a genre as the respondents identified that certain situations provoke similar needs and expectations and thus a particular type of rhetoric. SIP, CAT, and SI are supported based on this new understanding of the socio-historical context and the primacy of interpretation of the texting situations
Self-Presentation on Fan Sites on Social Media
No full textSports 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 existing research on fan communication behavior and social identity. Basking in reflected glory (BIRG) and cutting off reflected failure (CORF) were among the communication behaviors identified in the literature. Research for this thesis was conducted using comments posted during the 2014 MLB baseball season to gamethreads on the team blogs of the Baltimore Orioles, a winning organization, and Toronto Blue Jays, a losing team. Comments were coded to indicate the posting fan’s intent to identify with or distance from the team. Results indicate that fans of losing teams do attempt to distance themselves from their team, but also BIRG as much as fans of winning teams. Further research is needed to determine whether there are BIRGing and CORFing differences between men and women, as well as how the level of identification a fan has with her team affects the tendency to BIRG and CORF
Internal Social Media Networks and Team Environments
No full textInternal 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 life that was something greater than the self. He wrote when a person possessed high meaning in their lives, they were more likely to help others in need. This philosophy transcends well into the current workplace. Employees deserve a trusting, open and collaborative workplace in order for them to give themselves more freely to their organization. This thesis explores whether these networks contribute to a team environment and how technology or human patterns make the difference for team success. This study is grounded in multiple theories, including media richness, organizational social capital and community of practice, and utilized a quantitative meta-analysis to determine themes of existing research. Three themes emerged from the analysis: virtual teams spend much of their energy on re-adjusting behaviors rather than the actual work, online internal social media networks are effective for knowledge-sharing, but pose a challenging environment for team-building, and rules and structure are necessary for team success. The analysis shows a need for more study on the true role of internal social media within organizations and how virtual teams can be successful within these unique environments
Marketing in Ethnically Diverse Markets
No full textAs 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 decades. Two marketing techniques that have been successful at reaching non-majority audiences are targeted and multicultural marketing, the rationale for which is conceptualized within two communication theories: communication accommodation theory and distinctiveness theory (Grier & Deshpandé, 2001, Brumbaugh, 2009, Johnson & Grier, 2011, Holland & Gentry, 1999). This study conducts a content analysis of three newspapers’ advertisements containing people in the Washington, D.C. metro region to test if targeted, multicultural, or other approaches are being utilized in one specific, diverse market. A codebook was used to guide the interpretive approach to coding, and the results provide a current assessment of how companies are appealing to an ethnically diverse audience, as well as identify patterns or themes across and within publications
Partisan Media and Polarized Politics: A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship Between Partisan Selective Exposure and Political Polarization
No full textThe 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 the theoretical framework for this study. Central to the relationship are four main themes: 1) Evidence suggests that partisan selective exposure contributes to political polarization, 2) American political elites are polarized, 3) Most Americans are tuned to something other than the news and thus, are not politically polarized by partisan media, 4) Politically engaged partisans, those who occupy the fringes of the American electorate and yet, wield immense political influence, are the most polarized by selective exposure to partisan media. The findings of this meta-analysis suggest that increased polarization of politically engaged partisans due to these factors has serious implications for our nation’s democratic processes. Further research is needed to explore the effects of a tuned out American electorate and how to re-engage them in a national political conversation
The Journey: Communication styles in Coaching at the Division 1 Level
No full textThe 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/ field. Some coaches discovered early on in their careers that winning games wasn’t always the formula to becoming a successful coach. For most, they found that teaching with passion and building relationships with players was what truly left a lasting impression. Athletes found that their performance levels improved on the court/field when their coaches instilled confidence in them and when they developed a strong player/coach relationship that was built off trust. Coaches that understood how to push their athletes out of their comfort zones and that found ways to help their athletes transition from the high school level to the collegiate level were found to be the most effective from their currents players
Parlance, Perception, And Power: An Inquiry Into Non-Standard Language Use In Digital Media
No full textThis 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 digital acculturation and comfort with/willingness to use Internet slang. Results of both investigations support the “moderate and appropriate” use hypothesis. Findings reveal, in part, that “accommodative codeswitching” (in the study, using non-standard language) in online communication is an effective, yet powerful and often unwieldy tool for building credibility and fostering engagement with constituents
Climatic Variation and Seed Persistence: Freeze-Thaw Cycles Lower Survival via the Joint Action of Abiotic Stress and Fungal Pathogens
Get PDFGlobal climate change is altering thermal cycles in soils during late winter, a transition that may directly threaten seed survival via abiotic stress, facilitate infection by soil-borne pathogens, or both. Using field-collected soil and seeds of the perennial bunchgrass Elymus canadensis, we tested the hypothesis that soil freeze–thaw events limit survival within the soil through direct effects on seed persistence and amplification of soil pathogen attack using a factorial experiment that manipulated freeze–thaw cycles (constant freeze vs. freeze–thaw) and fungicide addition. Freeze–thaw treatment resulted in lower seedling emergence and delayed emergence time relative to constant-freeze controls. Fungicide-treated soils had greater emergence relative to untreated soils; the lowest seedling emergence was observed in no-fungicide, freeze–thaw-treated soils (%). The strong effects of thermal variability and fungi on seeds were mitigated through interactions at the seed–soil interface, as subsequent experiments showed that fungicide and freeze–thaw treatments alone do not influence dormancy. Our work demonstrates that changes in freeze–thaw events directly limit seedling emergence, delay seedling phenology, and provide opportunities for fungal pathogens to limit seed persistence. As recruitment from seeds is a key determinant of plant population dynamics, these results suggest that climatic variation may generate unique consequences for populations under changing climate regimes
