Theses and Dissertations
This collection includes both ASU Theses and Dissertations, submitted by graduate students, and the Barrett, Honors College theses submitted by undergraduate students.
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- All Subjects: Communication
Description
The discussion board is a facet of online education that continues to confound students, educators, and researchers alike. Currently, the majority of research insists that instructors should structure and control online discussions as well as evaluate such discussions. However, the existing literature has yet to compare the various strategies that instructors have identified and employed to facilitate discussion board participation. How should instructors communicate their expectations online? Should instructors create detailed instructions that outline and model exactly how students should participate, or should generalized instructions be communicated? An experiment was conducted in an online course for undergraduate students at Arizona State University. Three variations of instructional conditions were developed for use in the experiment: (1) detailed, (2) general, and (3) limited. The results of the experiment indentified a pedagogically valuable finding that should positively influence the design of future online courses that utilize discussion boards.
ContributorsButler, Nicholas Dale (Author) / Waldron, Vincent (Thesis advisor) / Kassing, Jeffrey (Committee member) / Wise, John (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2012
Description
Depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts or actions are on the rise in adolescents (National Institute of Mental Health, 2015; Bridge, Asti, & Horowitz, 2015). Parents, school administrators, and therapists are searching for resiliency factors with in at-risk groups to aid students in need. In previous work, Luthar and Zigler (1992) reported that intelligent youth are more resilient than less intelligent youth under low stress conditions but they lose their advantage under high stress conditions. This study examined whether intelligence (reflected in grade point average; GPA) and maladaptive (internalizing and externalizing symptoms) behaviors are negatively related in adolescents, and tested whether level of stress, reflected in emotion regulation and friendship quality, moderated that association. It also probed whether the relationships differ by gender. Sixth-graders (N=506) were recruited with active parental consent from three middle schools. Adolescents completed self-report questionnaires Regarding demo graphics, maladaptive behaviors, emotion regulation, and friendship quality, and GPA data were collected from the school. Regression analyses found that GPA was negatively related to externalizing symptoms. Girls with poor friendship communication report significantly higher maladaptive behaviors. This relation was more pronounced for girls with high GPAs, as predicted. Results support the theory that intelligent female adolescents are more reactive under adverse circumstances. Future efforts should follow students through middle school into high school to evaluate whether friendships remain important to adjustment, hold for boys as well as girls, and have implications for relationship interventions.
ContributorsGonzales, Ashlyn Carol (Author) / Luthar, Suniya (Thesis director) / Davis, Mary (Committee member) / Infurna, Frank (Committee member) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-12
Description
Wildlife endangerment and extinction is a significant and pressing issue. Environmental research notes that if humans hope to preserve wildlife, change needs to occur within the next decade. Therefore, it is important to understand the kinds of messages young adults are receiving about wildlife. This communication may affect their attitudes, beliefs, and ideals toward nature. Communication and socialization remain significant factors in cultivating environmental values in individuals. Memorable messages remain a socialization tool utilized to promote values in others.
This study explores the kinds of wildlife messages and underlying values individuals receive by asking them to recall a memorable wildlife message. The study analyzed 108 memorable messages from individuals between the ages of 18-35. The study employs a content analysis to examine message content and values. The study employed sensitizing concepts, such as Stern's Value-Belief-Norm theory to examine the messages’ underlying values, such as altruism and progressivism. Results indicate messages revolve around themes of preservation, stewardship, sanctity, domestication, and complexity of conservation. Of the 108 messages, 66 messages conveyed altruistic and progressive values as defined by Stern while other messages conveyed appreciation, awareness, and dominative values. Additionally, wildlife messages were received mostly through mediated sources. Implications for parents, the media, and wildlife are explored.
This study explores the kinds of wildlife messages and underlying values individuals receive by asking them to recall a memorable wildlife message. The study analyzed 108 memorable messages from individuals between the ages of 18-35. The study employs a content analysis to examine message content and values. The study employed sensitizing concepts, such as Stern's Value-Belief-Norm theory to examine the messages’ underlying values, such as altruism and progressivism. Results indicate messages revolve around themes of preservation, stewardship, sanctity, domestication, and complexity of conservation. Of the 108 messages, 66 messages conveyed altruistic and progressive values as defined by Stern while other messages conveyed appreciation, awareness, and dominative values. Additionally, wildlife messages were received mostly through mediated sources. Implications for parents, the media, and wildlife are explored.
ContributorsMays, Tiffany (Author) / Waldron, Vincent (Thesis advisor) / Kassing, Jeffrey (Committee member) / Nadesan, Majia (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2016
Description
Previous literature suggests that engineers are known for lacking communication skill and training, despite an illustrated need for it established by accredited engineering organizations. Limited research has been done to effectively include communication competencies in engineering education. The current study sought to identify what communication competencies research engineers need to function at a research and development center, and to develop recommendations for training for both university and workplace setting. This qualitative case study included semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 10 employees of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s premier research center: Engineer Research Development Center (ERDC). The sample consisted of six research engineers and four other allied professionals. The analysis indicated that engineers valued the three main competencies of collaboration, audience adaptation, and interpersonal understanding. These are built upon foundational skills, including oral and visual communication skills, written skills, and active listening skills. Results also showed that engineers preferred an integrated approach to engineer communication training and identified university courses and workplace trainings as two different sources of communication learning. Findings were consistent with two theories of communication learning: communication across the curriculum (CXC) and communication in the disciplines (CID). Practical applications are offered for educators in communication and engineering fields, as well as career development professionals.
ContributorsWallace, Kaylynne (Author) / Waldron, Vincent (Thesis advisor) / Lee, Nicole (Committee member) / Kassing, Jeffrey (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2023
Description
This thesis explores the dialogue surrounding the perceptions of the 2020 election among "theDonald.win" forum site users. More specifically, I examined the representations that arose from the comments posted by users concerning the current state of elections in America. What emerged from the representations was a plethora of conspiracy talk. The preexisting literature establishes a catalog of explanations and contributions as to why conspiracy talk is prominent. Explanations for conspiracy talk in the literature ranged from fandom to paranoia in America. This thesis identifies and analyzes the themes, representations, and emotions that are organically created by theDonald.win forum users, with a special focus on conspiracy talk. The uniqueness of this thesis though is its use of the theory of hyperreality, a theory proposed by Jean Baudrillard, to understand users' social realities. By analyzing the comments collected by the users of the site, I construct a vivid representation of the reality within which commentators reside.
ContributorsMartinez, Tyler (Author) / Nadesan, Majia (Thesis advisor) / Kassing, Jeffrey (Committee member) / Cayetano, Catalina (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2021