Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University proudly showcases the work of undergraduate honors students by sharing this collection exclusively with the ASU community.
Barrett accepts high performing, academically engaged undergraduate students and works with them in collaboration with all of the other academic units at Arizona State University. All Barrett students complete a thesis or creative project which is an opportunity to explore an intellectual interest and produce an original piece of scholarly research. The thesis or creative project is supervised and defended in front of a faculty committee. Students are able to engage with professors who are nationally recognized in their fields and committed to working with honors students. Completing a Barrett thesis or creative project is an opportunity for undergraduate honors students to contribute to the ASU academic community in a meaningful way.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 29
Description
My thesis is an experiment in the power of social media and networking. The compelling question is: How can we as journalists motivate people to connect with Facebook/blog postings enough to share them with their own networks? This is a huge issue with journalism because it is a challenge to move people and to get them to share information.
My thesis project took the form of a networking blog for adoptable animals at the local pound. I created unique photos of the dogs and wrote up bios for them so that they became more accessible to people who could not physically visit the shelter very often. I brought the dogs to life by sharing a part of their story and encouraging people to care about what happened to them. This issue is especially close to my heart because I have loved animals all my life and started fostering dogs a few years ago.
The project was a huge success. I profiled 37 dogs and they amassed hundreds of thousands of views both on my Wordpress site and on the project Facebook page. Five of my dogs were euthanized, about a 13% euthanasia rate. Compared to the owner surrender euthanasia rate of previous years, this rate is remarkably low. In 2012, about 43.86% of owner surrenders were euthanized. In 2013, about 39.19% of owner surrenders were euthanized. In 2014, about 33.27% of owner surrenders were euthanized. My euthanasia rate was essentially less than half of the last year’s owner surrender euthanasia rate.
I think I absolutely proved my point. The power of networking in unique ways and leveraging the influence of social media cannot be underestimated. Less dogs were killed because of my project. If that’s not success, then I don’t know what is.
My thesis project took the form of a networking blog for adoptable animals at the local pound. I created unique photos of the dogs and wrote up bios for them so that they became more accessible to people who could not physically visit the shelter very often. I brought the dogs to life by sharing a part of their story and encouraging people to care about what happened to them. This issue is especially close to my heart because I have loved animals all my life and started fostering dogs a few years ago.
The project was a huge success. I profiled 37 dogs and they amassed hundreds of thousands of views both on my Wordpress site and on the project Facebook page. Five of my dogs were euthanized, about a 13% euthanasia rate. Compared to the owner surrender euthanasia rate of previous years, this rate is remarkably low. In 2012, about 43.86% of owner surrenders were euthanized. In 2013, about 39.19% of owner surrenders were euthanized. In 2014, about 33.27% of owner surrenders were euthanized. My euthanasia rate was essentially less than half of the last year’s owner surrender euthanasia rate.
I think I absolutely proved my point. The power of networking in unique ways and leveraging the influence of social media cannot be underestimated. Less dogs were killed because of my project. If that’s not success, then I don’t know what is.
ContributorsTotten, Emma Kathleen (Author) / Jean-Thornton, Leslie (Thesis director) / Roschke, Kristy (Committee member) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
In Spring 2015, I decided to study abroad in Granada, Spain. After scouring the Internet, I realized there was a lack of resources and information for study abroad students coming to the city. I decided to use my thesis project as an opportunity to create a multimedia, interactive e-book to help prospective study abroad students. This book walks them through what steps they need to take to prepare themselves and functions as a guide for when they arrive. It is a culmination of my own research, interviews with locals and surveys amongst other study abroad students.
ContributorsLongbons, Chandler Tenell (Author) / Thornton, Leslie (Thesis director) / Roschke, Kristy (Committee member) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
This project is a strategic online media proposal for aBloom Salon. In order to provide the salon with a successful social media proposal, there must be an analysis of the current situation informed by secondary and primary research. aBloom in Latin means transformation; this salon specializes in holistic beauty. At this salon all the products are organic, natural and raw. They use a non-toxic ammonia-free color line and have a Raw Beauty Bar where clients can create all-natural custom products. This proposal aims to increase aBloom Salon's brand awareness in the most effective way possible. The project started by analyzing the salon's website, Facebook page and Instagram content and following-up with recommendations for improvement. In addition to that analysis, research was conducted on current clients to gage their social media habits and purpose for using social media. Salon owner, Alejandra Martinez, currently averages 20 to 30 clients a week and said she would like to increase to 25 to 35 clients a week. Martinez was promoting her salon through her website, word-of-mouth, Facebook, Yelp, Instagram and cross-promoting efforts with likeminded businesses.
ContributorsHashemian, Sepeedeh (Author) / Wu, Xu (Thesis director) / Roschke, Kristy (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Community Resources and Development (Contributor) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
The purpose of this project was to establish a digital and social media presence to support a personal fitness trainer and d�TERRA essential oils wellness advocate in growing her health and wellness businesses. The first portion explores the role of digital and social media tools for health and wellness professionals. It incorporates use of both secondary and primary research methods including focus groups and in-depth interviews. The second portion is a campaign proposal that serves as a creative response to the research and findings of the first portion. The proposal includes recommendations for strategic use of new brand building and social networking tools such as a personal website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and About.Me pages. It also offers collateral material for brand outreach, social media calendars and a 10-page social media guidebook offering suggestions on how to strategically implement the campaign elements.
ContributorsNichols, Emily Jaye (Author) / Wu, Xu (Thesis director) / Roschke, Kristy (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
An in-depth analysis of Homeview Realty and Homeview Financial was conducted. A marketing plan for both companies was prepared for this project. Homeview Realty and Homeview Financial are in the midst of dynamic industries. The landscape of doing business in the real estate and mortgage industries are constantly changing and evolving. Thus, it is vital for Homeview Realty and Homeview Financial to constantly be knowledgeable in these fields. With this dynamic aspect, the landscape for marketing has also changed; it became digital in nature. Thus, it is important to analyze Homeview Realty and Homeview Financial currently and create a live marketing plan that can be updated when needed. With a marketing plan in hand, Homeview will be able understand its business model, mission, goals, and objectives and in turn be able to create marketing campaigns compatible with the companies objectives and strategic directions.
ContributorsCrowley, Rachel Victoria (Author) / Ostrom, Lonnie (Thesis director) / Montoya, Detra (Committee member) / Mirshak, Paul (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / School of Accountancy (Contributor)
Created2014-05
Description
The Athleta Esprit de She is a national women's racing series owned and produced by Life Time Athletic Events, a branch of the company Life Time Fitness. Esprit de She (EDS) has fourteen events per year in areas ranging from Minneapolis, MN to San Diego, CA. These events include 5K/10K runs, triathlons, duathlons, and cycle tours. The purpose of this study was to determine recommendations for the brand from both a marketing and event production standpoint. Through the use of a survey, the research team received participant feedback regarding the events. Once receiving participant survey responses, the research team used Importance-Performance Analysis to analyze the data. The goals of the study were to see how participants perceive the production of the event as well as the social media presence of the brand. Participants also provided insights as to whether or not they are ready to accept a greater challenge with a longer distance race. The overall aim of this study was to see what changes needed to be made to both the brand as well as the events themselves in order to improve the overall customer experience with Esprit de She.
ContributorsFlanagan, Kelly Lynn (Author) / Hultsman, Wendy (Thesis director) / Montoya, Detra (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Community Resources and Development (Contributor) / WPC Graduate Programs (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / W. P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
The format for news has been in a state of evolution since it was introduced to the online platform. Given this digital space for creative freedom, some journalists have ventured towards producing original video content specifically for online. The issue that arises with this content is that there is no widely accepted, perceivable structure for the format, unlike other news mediums (i.e.- print journalism, broadcast journalism). This thesis takes an in-depth look at an online video news experiment conducted at Arizona State University's student news organization, the State Press, with the intention to understand the viability of the project and online video news as a whole and to offer a set of guidelines that could direct a student media organization in the creation of such content.
ContributorsJeffrey, Courtland Emmett (Author) / Manning, Jason (Thesis director) / Roschke, Kristy (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
Advertising persuades people to change some part of their life. Whether it is promoting one presidential candidate, or buying one kind of ketchup over another. Advertising expands in how it's presented based on societal changes socially, economically and technologically. AMC network's critically acclaimed show, Mad Men, revolves around the personal lives of ad executives during the golden age of advertising, the 1960's. Everything that's compelling has change. In the show, character developments, change within the industry, and various social events impact the advertising work that is done throughout the show. By examining the clients and ads produced in Mad Men, and the process in which they were produced, to the actual process and actual ads that ran in the 1960's, will give a sense of how accurate or inaccurate the show is. By creating modern ads for these clients and products, obstacles that are encountered based on the current industry and social state will become visible. Doing this will allow for a comparison of artistic styles from the past and now, observing what design elements may have changed or stayed put.
ContributorsDemano, Gian-Franco Alcantara (Author) / Gilpin, Dawn (Thesis director) / Roschke, Kristy (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
Influencer marketing occurs when a brand elicits an individual to publicly promote or review its product in exchange for some benefit, which can often be either monetary or material. This practice has exploded in today’s marketing and advertising industry due to its high return on investment for businesses and income potential for influencers. With this new and evolving process comes a struggle to establish and maintain regulations between brands, consumers, and influencers. Because influencer marketing is purely based on authenticity and trust between the influencer and the consumer, disclosure or lack thereof can seriously impact the validity of the endorsement. I conducted a study in which consumers were shown a staged influencer post and asked to answer a series of questions regarding compensation, appeal, authenticity, and influence, under three different conditions. Condition A showed an influencer’s post with only general information, Condition B revealed that the post was in collaboration with Tory Burch, and Condition C stated that Tory Burch told the influencer when and where to make the post. I found that as the influencer disclosed more about how she was compensated and controlled by the brand, respondents found the content less appealing, less authentic, and reported that they thought a brand had more influence and compensated her more to create the post. These findings support the idea that influencer marketing requires a level of honesty and trust between the consumer and influencer, and a lack of this causes negative sentiments and less effective results. Moving forward, brands and influencers alike must work to foster more transparent and authentic connections in order be in compliance with FTC regulations as well as maintain meaningful connections with consumers.
ContributorsLoy, Brooke Ellise (Author) / Giles, Charles (Thesis director) / Montoya, Detra (Committee member) / Department of Marketing (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
In today’s society we see a strong encouragement of those who put effort into various aspects of their life. Additionally, we also see a strong push towards making oneself more attractive to reap social benefits. However, a paradox exists between effort and attractiveness. In a society that values both effort and attractiveness, why do we see negative reactions to those who put effort into their appearance, and can we make these effects go away? How can cosmetic companies alter those reactions to suit their advertising needs? Through a pretest and a main study we show how consumers react to differing amounts of perceived effort in a cosmetic product, and how we can alter the effect that effort has by priming consumers with the idea of their ‘natural self’ vs. their ‘ideal’ self.
ContributorsDaniels, Michelle Elizabeth (Author) / Samper, Adriana (Thesis director) / Montoya, Detra (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor) / Department of Marketing (Contributor)
Created2014-05