13 research outputs found
“Remember a week ago when Tom Hiddleston could do no wrong?” Tumblr reactions to the loss of an Internet boyfriend
No full textTumblr's uniquely featured blogging platform provided the space Hiddleston fans needed to react and subsequently analyze his unexpected relationship with Taylor Swift
An Assessment of the Emerging Media Campaign Utilized to Engage the UW-Stout Career and Technical Education Graduate Student
No full textPlan BEngaged communication is key to the success of online graduate students (Salter, 2012), and as
such, fundamental to the success of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) hybrid (online
and face-to-face coursework) graduate programs at University of Wisconsin-Stout. Further,
research has shown engagement of the online student results in increased student retention
(Salter, 2012; Junco & Timm, 2008; Tinto, 1993). To better engage the CTE graduate students,
an emerging media campaign was developed, including an eNewsletter and LinkedIn Group.
This study sought to determine if this campaign increased engagement for the current group of
59 CTE graduate students.
By using existing quantitative data from the eNewsletter and LinkedIn Group, and both
quantitative and qualitative data from an online survey of the CTE graduate students, this mixed
methods study revealed that the emerging media campaign was indeed successful in increasing
student engagement. More specifically, this study and reviewed research shows that a well-
selected emerging media platform paired with frequently posted, relevant content can indeed
increase the engagement and community desired for the online graduate student
Trust and credibility from desktop to handheld
No full textA discussion of the responsibilities of both the rhetorician and
audience regarding issues of trust and credibility, this essay lays an
historical background of rhetoric dating from ancient Greece through
to modern-day rhetorical applications. Traditional oral rhetoric is
juxtaposed with written and multi-media rhetoric. Following the
advancements to modern-day rhetoric, audience responsibility is
demonstrated as applied to various historical contexts and rhetorical
situations. Issues of usability and trust come into play as empirical
studies of iPad and email newsletter usability tests are discussed
including how usability serves to create trust. Everyday trust and
credibility is also noted through the mention of daily web usage
and common preferences for visiting the same websites frequently
as opposed to venturing out to new ones regularly. Collectively
this research suggests that both the rhetorician and the audience
carry the burden of responsibility regarding trust and credibility
Virtual Resources for Volunteer Managers to Connect with Volunteers
No full textPlan BAfter completing a literature review that examined sources that discusses common strategies that successful virtual leaders use, both a survey and interview-based research study were conducted. Survey and interview questions were focused on asking participants--eight volunteer managers at non-profit organizations in the state of Wisconsin with active volunteer programs--if they followed these recommended strategies and the levels of virtual integration. Participants were also asked to comment on their impressions of virtual volunteer management to assess the efficacy of virtual leadership strategies and identify which aspects put volunteer managers at an advantage or at a disadvantage. The results of this research indicate that this sample of volunteer managers found the ability to send out information more frequently to volunteers living at greater distances from the participants’ organization site, and thus removing physical travel to be an advantage of virtual communication. Some aspects of connection to volunteers were viewed as improved, including volunteers having access to other staff members and more impersonal meetings. Aspects seen as disadvantages included barriers in forming personal connections to volunteers, frequent technical difficulties, and fatigue from a completely virtual management system
Content analysis of consumer reviews of the Amazon Echo Dot 2nd and 3rd generations
No full textPlan BVoice-controlled smart speakers allow people to communicate hands-free with wireless speakers through natural speech. The Amazon Echo Dot is currently the most popular cloud-based smart speaker in the U.S. and features the virtual personal assistant Alexa. The Echo Dot performs functions natively and by accessing third-party applications or skills. It offers internet search, home automation, digital entertainment, and online shopping, but to make it as valuable to consumers as a smartphone, Alexa will need to have more capabilities. To that end, Amazon is encouraging the creation of apps to facilitate Alexa's functionality. Through content analysis of reviews of the Echo Dot 2nd and 3nd Generations, reviews of Alexa Skills, and consumer questions and answers on Amazon's product pages, this study attempts to provide insight to help developers of Alexa Skills and the next generation of smart speakers as well as technical communicators educating users about the Dot. Research questions are 1) What are the most common words in reviews of the Echo Dot 2nd and 3rd Generations? 2) What do users like about the devices? 3) What do they dislike? 4) What Alexa Skills do reviewers like and want the Echo Dot to have
Use of enterprise social network for workplace communication in a financial services organization
No full textPlan BThis study sought to look at the use of Enterprise Social Networks (ESNs) in the workplace as a tool for team communication and a place to foster a sense of community. A survey with 22 participants was conducted at a financial services corporation to determine the employees' perception of whether the chosen ESN, Yammer, provided an effective means of communication within teams and helped create a sense of community through special interest and employee resource groups. Participants responded to multiple choice and open-ended questions to provide insight into the use of the ESN and its perceived effectiveness. In general, participants felt that the ESN was an effective tool for communication within their team; furthermore, there was a correlation between using it more often (once a day or more) and finding it effective. However, the results were inconclusive as to whether the ESN helps to foster a sense of community in the workplace, and further research needs to be conducted on this topic
The Standardized Quantity Recipe: A Valuable Artifact for the Technical Communication Field
No full textPlan BRecipes offer procedural and directional communication to a user within a specific environment. The recipe as an artifact has been underutilized by the technical communication field for examining guided communication between user and technology. Standardized quantity recipes utilized within institutional kitchen environments represent a distinct genre of technical communication. Modifications, annotations, and adaptations frequently made to standardized quantity recipes offer insight into both recipe communication and the standardized quantity recipe as a genre. A comprehensive literature review supported the standards and elements recommended for the layout and communication required by a standardized quantity recipe. This study used a two-phase approach to review standardized quantity recipes within an institutional kitchen environment. The first phase of the study reviewed previously utilized recipe documents to establish what recommended elements were present. Additionally, the first phase reviewed the modifications, annotations, and adaptations present in the recipe documents. The second phase of the study observed recipe documents being utilized within an institutional kitchen setting which included the observation of modifications, annotations, and adaptations being added to recipe documents by a user. Both phases were applied to analyze the standardized quantity recipe as a genre and technical communication artifact. Results of the study indicate the ever-changing nature of the recipe and call for further research of the recipe document in the technical communication field
How rhetoric may reduce the ill effect of emotional labor & lead to more fulfilling careers in service industries
No full textColor poster with text, illustrations, graphs, and tables.University of Wisconsin--Stout. Research Service
Reviews: Greg Hearn, Jo Tacchi, Marcus Foth and June Lennie. Action Research and New Media. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press, 2009, 292 pages, ISBN 978 1572738676 (pbk)
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