Theses and Dissertations, Capstones, and Directed Research
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Electronic theses and dissertations, and graduate and undergraduate Capstones and Directed Research.
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Browsing Theses and Dissertations, Capstones, and Directed Research by Department "Communication Studies"
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Item A Burkeian Analysis of Three Organizations According to General Systems Theory(1975-08) Carpenter, Hellen I.; Salem, Phil; Gabbard-Alley, Anne; Stedman, AlexNo abstract prepared.Item A Course of Study in Speech for Beginning Students in the Senior High Schools, Houston, Texas(1940-08) Brandstetter, John W.; Seabury, Hugh F.; Rogers, J.L.; Wiley, E.O.No abstract prepared.Item A Cultural Critique of Contemporary Science Fiction Film(2014-05) Henry, Christopher Guy; Mandziuk, RoseannThis thesis provides an in-depth analysis of how gender, class and violence are portrayed in current American science fiction films. The examination was based on viewing, reporting, and analyzing a set of recent popular movies: Elysium, Iron Man III, The Hunger Games, Gamer, and In Time. Within the science fiction genre, the directors, writers, and actors are not constrained by any factual cultural rules or precedents, so in essence, these people have the creative power to create any society they want. As this analysis reveals, however, these films actually contain extremely misogynistic, classist, and violent messages. Through the application of sociological categories and semiology, this analysis demonstrates how powerful these messages are in shaping audience perceptions. The research concludes that these films are very profitable, influential, and reflective of what the current culture desires, and perhaps, demands, of entertainment. This research is significant and vital because it reveals that even in science fiction, where there is the power to change conceptions of gender, class, and violence, as a culture we ultimately choose to promote and consume regressive and detrimental messages.Item A Descriptive Analysis of Speech Communication in an Organization: The Texas Department of Public Safety as a System(1975-08) McCraw, Linda Ward; Porter, M. ErinNo abstract prepared.Item A Hissing and Reproach Among Her People: The Radical Abolitionist Rhetoric of Maria W. Miller Stewart(1996-05) Aikin, Kelly; Burkholder, Thomas R.; Mandziuk, Roseann M.; Bell-Metereau, RebeccaNo abstract prepared.Item A Perspective on Jurgen Habermas's Universal Pragmatics as Used for Rhetorical Methodology(1986-12) Holley, Tracey M.No abstract prepared.Item A Rhetorical Analysis of Parliamentary Speeches Delivered on the Irish Question in 1921(1972-08) Emilienburg, Kay Albritton; Porter, Erin; Alley, A. Gabbard; Lynch, VernonNo abstract prepared.Item A Rhetorical Analysis of Religious Messages Directed at Women(2019-08) Scivally, Indigo; Fox, RebekahThe purpose of this thesis is to analyze and critique the rhetorical messages aimed at women found on the websites of popular Evangelical Christian organizations such as “Focus on the Family” and “Christianity Today,” which produce and publish Christian faith materials such as blogs, podcasts, books, teaching materials and more. These organizations are generations old, “Focus on the Family” being founded in 1977 (Focus on the Family, 2019), and “Christianity Today” in 1956 (Christianity Today, 2019), and are widely used amongst those in the Christian faith. “Christianity Today” claims to reach over 5 million Christians through its network every month (Christianity Today, 2019), and “Focus on the Family” boasts an audience of over 38 million people through their radio and online presence globally (Focus on the Family, 2019). Many of the messages within these organizations specifically target the female audience, and offer advice and solutions for Christian wives, mothers, working women, and young adults the like. The rhetorical ideological analysis of their websites serves to better understand the beliefs, attitudes, motives, and practices that they are attempting to spread. Coupled with the literature review, this thesis creates a picture of the harm these messages directed at women can cause to their self-image, self-esteem, and general well-being.Item A Rhetorical Analysis of Some of the Senate Speeches of Ralph W. Yarborough(1971-12) Adams, Donald E.No abstract prepared.Item A Rhetorical Analysis of the Final Summation Argument Delivered by Racehorse Haynes at the T. Cullen Davis Trial(1981-12) Chamberlain, Norlene; Benjamin, James; Salem, Philip; Smith, MiltonNo abstract prepared.Item A Rhetorical Evaluation of Radio Messages Directed Toward the Mexican American Population of San Marcos, Texas(1976-08) Conoley, Catherine Ellen; Gabbard-Alley, A.; Gratz, Robert; Miller, DamonNo abstract prepared.Item A Rhetorical Study of President William Jefferson Clinton: The Creation of Whiteness and Blackness in Political Communications(2001-05) Mahoney, Daniel PatrickNo abstract prepared.Item A Rhetorical Study of Third-Party Radicals in Presidential Elections(1998-08) West, Hollis Marshall; Burkholder, Thomas; Mandziuk, Roseann; Burnette, AnnNo abstract prepared.Item A Roller Coaster of Love: Examining Perceptions of Intimacy, Commitment, and Satisfaction in On-again, Off-again Relationships(2010-05) Crook, Brittani; LeClair-Underberg, Cassandra F.; Keeley-Vassberg, Maureen; Gomez, Luis FelipeOn-again, off-again relationships, dating relationships in which the partners that have broken up and renewed at least once (Dailey, Pfiester, Jin, Beck, & Clark, 2009a) are becoming common alternatives to the traditional non-cyclical style of dating relationships. More and more individuals are returning to previous relational partners to give the relationship another chance. Approximately twenty percent of people are likely to participate in on-again, off-again relationships at some point in their lives (Dailey, et al.). Despite the growing numbers of participation in this type of relationship, little is known about how individuals communicate within these relationships. Research about on-again, off-again relationships suggests that individuals who participate in these types of relationships have different experiences than individuals that participate in traditional non-cyclical relationships (Dailey, Hampel, Roberts, accepted; Dailey et al., 2009a). Since research has examined on-again, off-again relationships as a whole, it is necessary to study the individual characteristics of an on-again, off-again relationship. The present study surveyed 227 people who were currently or previously involved in an on-again, off-again relationships. Participants completed an online questionnaire designed to assess attachment style, perceptions of intimacy, commitment, and satisfaction before and after a renewal of the relationship, and desire for reconciliation. Results suggest that attachment style was associated for differences in intimacy before and after a renewal, and satisfaction after a renewal of an on-again, off-again relationship. Specifically, preoccupied and fearfully attached individuals experienced significant differences in regard to intimacy before a renewal. Secure and fearfully attached individuals experienced intimacy and satisfaction in the post-reconciliatory phase significantly different. Further, intimacy and commitment seem to influence the desire for reconciliation that on-again, off-again partners experience in their relationship.Item A Rules Perspective on Interpersonal Communication Between Mothers and Daughters(1981-12) Bolner, Suzanne R.; Salem, Philip; Benjamin, James; Cheatham, RichardNo abstract prepared.Item A Study of the Application of Implicit Communication Theory to Teacher Immediacy and Student Learning(1991-08) Butland, Mark James; Beebe, Steven A.; Cheatham, T. Richard; Shields, PatriciaTeacher immediacy has surfaced as an important instructional communication variable, and yet little is known about how it functions to effect learning. To provide a theory that explains why teacher immediacy functions to facilitate learning, implicit communication theory is investigated. Subjects consisted of 625 undergraduate students who completed questionnaires later subjected to regression analyses. Previous findings for teacher immediacy's effects on learning were replicated. Teacher verbal and nonverbal immediacy significantly effects cognitive and effective learning. To provide a cleared explanation of why teacher immediacy functions to increase student learning, implicit communication theory was investigated. Findings indicate that implicit communication theory significantly explains learning. Specifically, the dimensions of pleasure and arousal accounted for over half of learning variance. Further, implicit communication theory is significantly related to the teacher immediacy construct. Pleasure and arousal mediate the effects of teacher immediacy on learning and aid in the identification of low-inference immediacy behaviors that effect learning. Results suggest that the integration of implicit communication theory with learning in general and instructional variables such as teacher immediacy in specific is appropriate and fruitful.Item A study of the effects of differential amounts of information on small group conflict(1974-08) Wilson, Bonita Gail; Gratz, Robert; Abernathy, Elton; Houston, RalphNo abstract prepared.Item A Vision of a Modern Future: A Fantasy Theme and Rhetorical Vision Analysis of the New York World's Fair of 1939(1992-12) Barrington, Thomas M.; Mandziuk, Roseann; Burkholder, Thomas; McGee, JonNo abstract prepared.Item Activating a Competitive Drive: A Training Program Created to Build a Foundation for Post College Success(2019-05) Cathey, Jason D.; Burns, Michael E.College is a tough time in the lives of millions each year; some students have to balance classes, jobs, and extracurricular activities. This balancing act on the path to graduation can be very stressful and can leave students feeling like they have no control and are not prepared for life post-graduation. Research shows that college graduates are not prepared to face work place challenges (Lykins, 2013). Also, research concludes that generation Z are not able to fulfil their full potential because they are still seen as novice in the workplace (Chillakuri and Mahanandia, 2017, p.1). However, it is in times of adversity where students can experience the major growth opportunities. One way for students to learn how to manage these challenges is to listen to motivational speakers and read self-help and leadership books to help build their strengths. However, these books and speakers do not often follow a skills-based training curriculum. Therefore, after synthesizing and coding 40 top motivational and leadership books, five central themes were extracted to create a skills-based training program for success. The training program developed in this thesis is tailored toward college students and the challenges they experience. The skills taught in the training program are representative of the five themes found from the thematic analysis: be present and know your why, take intentional actions toward your goals, take ownership of all your circumstances, preserve through all roadblocks, and compete against yourself. The training can be used to help college students develop skills that will allow them to have more confidence in their ability to follow their why, determine useful habit and compete for the work that keeps them happy.Item Advertising to the Modern Female Athlete(2017-12) Taylor, Brooke L.; Kaufhold, William; Nolan, Dave; Craig, ClayThis two-part study examined portrayals of women in social media posts (Instagram) from four top athletic apparel companies: Nike, Reebok, Lululemon and Jolyn. Interviews were conducted with gatekeepers – decision makers – who place the models who appear in these posts and ads to gauge the evolution of the portrayal of women in athletic clothing ads; and three diverse focus groups of female college athletes (synchronized swimming, basketball and golf) were conducted to measure their attitudes about how women were portrayed in the ads – specifically whether the portrayals objectified women. The gatekeepers both reported an evolution from the athletic wear ads featuring thin, traditional models in the 1990s to showcasing more athletic women, in more athletic poses, today. A structured sample of the seven most recent posts from each brand was collected and focus group participants were asked their opinions of the brands before and after exposure to the posts. Responses diverged between the various teams, with the golfers finding the posts the least objectifying and the basketball players reporting the most objectification. Discussion includes implications going forward for companies intending to advertise to the modern female athlete.