Master of Science / Department of Journalism and Mass Communications / Nancy Muturi / This study was designed to explore how Alzheimer’s caregivers use Facebook support groups. Specifically it describes what kinds of activities caregivers engage in when in Facebook support groups, explores the motivation behind participation, and details perceived advantages and disadvantages of the groups. Whether Facebook support groups are considered a primary and accurate source of disease information was also explored. The study was qualitative in nature and consisted of 20 caregiver interviews, conducted via phone and Skype. Guided by uses and gratifications theory (Katz, Blumler & Gurevitch, 1974), the study employed six research questions to fully explore the experiences of caregivers in Facebook support groups. Generally speaking, the study identified the primary theme of community, and three subthemes including context, advice and emotional release/support. There were also significant findings on the primacy and accuracy of information. The ability to more fully understand these themes in the context of the caregiver experience will provide health care professionals with a foundation on which they can build effective ways to tap existing Facebook support groups and bolster support as the Alzheimer’s epidemic grows exponentially between now and 2050.

While there are exemplary studies on the relationships between social networks and media such as television and the Internet, less is known about the social network consequences of mobile phone use during life-stage transitions. This study investigates the roles that mobile phones play in supporting the relationships of young people as they transition to and through their first-year of university in Toronto, Canada. Focussing on information practices during a transition that tests the resilience of support networks, this study queried the extent to which mobile phones play a role in keeping relationships intact, enabling students to maintain a sense of social cohesion and belonging. Data were collected from November 2007 to September 2008 through a longitudinal research design. Socio-technical concepts and network analysis techniques were applied to analyze the ways in which mobile communication is embedded in the everyday social life of young people aged 17-34. Set within the culturally-specific context of urban Canada, the data provided substantial evidence that mobile phones foster social cohesion within intimate relations but provide a more tenuous platform from which to nurture new relationships. First-year undergraduates have integrated the mobile phone into the way they engage with their social networks to a considerable degree, with commuter students experiencing additional tensions in negotiating relationships from home and on-campus. Findings showed that mobile phones were the devices of choice to mitigate feelings of loneliness, with deleterious consequences for the development of new relationships. Furthermore, the mobile phone was a key contributor to a rising sense of empowerment and autonomy for young adults as they negotiated identity transformations during their rite of passage into adulthood. Issues of trust and reciprocity in forming new relationships were mediated through a continuum of social media of which the mobile phone was the most intimate. Evidence of continuous access to social networks has broader implications for how mechanisms for coping with being alone and disconnection are acquired in this generation. Finally, observations of ritualistic interaction practices involving mobile phones may be theorized as small-scale evidence of larger societal shifts from collective constructs of community to that of networked individuals.

While there are exemplary studies on the relationships between social networks and media such as television and the Internet, less is known about the social network consequences of mobile phone use during life-stage transitions. This study investigates the roles that mobile phones play in supporting the relationships of young people as they transition to and through their first-year of university in Toronto, Canada. Focussing on information practices during a transition that tests the resilience of support networks, this study queried the extent to which mobile phones play a role in keeping relationships intact, enabling students to maintain a sense of social cohesion and belonging. Data were collected from November 2007 to September 2008 through a longitudinal research design. Socio-technical concepts and network analysis techniques were applied to analyze the ways in which mobile communication is embedded in the everyday social life of young people aged 17-34. Set within the culturally-specific context of urban Canada, the data provided substantial evidence that mobile phones foster social cohesion within intimate relations but provide a more tenuous platform from which to nurture new relationships. First-year undergraduates have integrated the mobile phone into the way they engage with their social networks to a considerable degree, with commuter students experiencing additional tensions in negotiating relationships from home and on-campus. Findings showed that mobile phones were the devices of choice to mitigate feelings of loneliness, with deleterious consequences for the development of new relationships. Furthermore, the mobile phone was a key contributor to a rising sense of empowerment and autonomy for young adults as they negotiated identity transformations during their rite of passage into adulthood. Issues of trust and reciprocity in forming new relationships were mediated through a continuum of social media of which the mobile phone was the most intimate. Evidence of continuous access to social networks has broader implications for how mechanisms for coping with being alone and disconnection are acquired in this generation. Finally, observations of ritualistic interaction practices involving mobile phones may be theorized as small-scale evidence of larger societal shifts from collective constructs of community to that of networked individuals.

An Ear for an Eye: Greek Tragedy on Radio examines the dramaturgical principles involved in the adaptation of Greek tragedies for production as radio dramas by considering the classical dramatic form’s representational ability through purely oral means and the effects of dramaturgical interventions. The inherent orality of these tragedies and Aristotle’s suggested limitation of spectacle (opsis) appears to make them eminently suitable for radio, a medium in which the visual dimension of plays is relegated entirely to the imagination through the agency of sound. Utilizing productions from Canadian and British national radio (where classical adaptations are both culturally mandated and technically practical) from the height of radio’s golden age to the present, this study demonstrates how producers adapted to the unique formal properties of radio. The appendices include annotated, chronological lists of 154 CBC and BBC productions that were identified in the course of research, providing a significant resource for future investigators. The dissertation first examines the proximate forces which shaped radio dramaturgy and radio listeners. Situating the emergence of radio in the context of modernity, Chapter One elucidates how audiences responded to radio’s return to orality within a visually-oriented culture. Chapter Two then analyses the specific perceptual and imaginative activity of individuals, considering how audiences experience acoustic space. I describe how the audience’s central position in the reception of radio drama is integral to the completion of the dramatic frame of radio. The second part of this dissertation addresses radiophonic dramaturgy and issues in representation. In Chapter Three, the didactic and nationalistic impetus for the adaptation of classics as radio plays is considered and the principles of radio adaptation are outlined. The final two chapters examine the formal properties of productions in adaptation through case studies to illustrate where the play’s inherent orality allows for ease in adaptation or where greater dramaturgical intervention is required. Chapter Four examines the construction of dramatic figures, music and song, the use of paratheatrical materials, and narrative strategies for the representation of action, space, and time. Chapter Five examines productions where greater dramaturgical intervention and innovation is in evidence, including the manipulation of perspective (in the CBC’s 2001 Medea), the use of music to modernize setting (in the 1998 CBC-BBC co-production of The Trojan Women), the use of experimental montage (in the BBC’s 1976 Ag), the introduction of flashback sequences (in the CBC’s 1987 Antigone), and solutions to the problem of what I term “dramaturgical erasure” (the inadvertent removal of silent figures from the perspectival field).

An Ear for an Eye: Greek Tragedy on Radio examines the dramaturgical principles involved in the adaptation of Greek tragedies for production as radio dramas by considering the classical dramatic form’s representational ability through purely oral means and the effects of dramaturgical interventions. The inherent orality of these tragedies and Aristotle’s suggested limitation of spectacle (opsis) appears to make them eminently suitable for radio, a medium in which the visual dimension of plays is relegated entirely to the imagination through the agency of sound. Utilizing productions from Canadian and British national radio (where classical adaptations are both culturally mandated and technically practical) from the height of radio’s golden age to the present, this study demonstrates how producers adapted to the unique formal properties of radio. The appendices include annotated, chronological lists of 154 CBC and BBC productions that were identified in the course of research, providing a significant resource for future investigators. The dissertation first examines the proximate forces which shaped radio dramaturgy and radio listeners. Situating the emergence of radio in the context of modernity, Chapter One elucidates how audiences responded to radio’s return to orality within a visually-oriented culture. Chapter Two then analyses the specific perceptual and imaginative activity of individuals, considering how audiences experience acoustic space. I describe how the audience’s central position in the reception of radio drama is integral to the completion of the dramatic frame of radio. The second part of this dissertation addresses radiophonic dramaturgy and issues in representation. In Chapter Three, the didactic and nationalistic impetus for the adaptation of classics as radio plays is considered and the principles of radio adaptation are outlined. The final two chapters examine the formal properties of productions in adaptation through case studies to illustrate where the play’s inherent orality allows for ease in adaptation or where greater dramaturgical intervention is required. Chapter Four examines the construction of dramatic figures, music and song, the use of paratheatrical materials, and narrative strategies for the representation of action, space, and time. Chapter Five examines productions where greater dramaturgical intervention and innovation is in evidence, including the manipulation of perspective (in the CBC’s 2001 Medea), the use of music to modernize setting (in the 1998 CBC-BBC co-production of The Trojan Women), the use of experimental montage (in the BBC’s 1976 Ag), the introduction of flashback sequences (in the CBC’s 1987 Antigone), and solutions to the problem of what I term “dramaturgical erasure” (the inadvertent removal of silent figures from the perspectival field).

Doctor of Philosophy / Hospitality Management and Dietetics / Junehee Kwon / Food allergies affect nearly 15 million Americans, and accommodating customers with food allergies has become a challenge for the restaurant industry. One third of the fatal food allergy reactions occurred in restaurants, and it is important for the restaurant industry to properly communicate and manage the food allergy risks. This study explored perceived risks and risk communication related behaviors of restaurant staff when serving customers with food allergies by using both qualitative (interviews) and quantitative (online survey) approaches. Telephone interviews with 16 restaurant managers were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and organized to identify themes. Most participants were aware of the severity of food allergy reactions but perceived that it was the customers’ responsibilities communicating their food allergies with restaurant staff before placing their orders. Training for service staff on food allergies and risk communication topics were limited, and some managers perceived such training unnecessary for restaurant business. Findings from interviews were used to develop an online survey instrument. The survey instrument was pilot-tested and distributed to restaurant employee panels by an online survey research firm. Of 1,328 accessed the survey, 316 usable survey responses (23.8%) were collected from full-service restaurant service staff. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, ANOVA, and regression analyses. Results indicated that limited information about food allergies was provided on printed (35.1%) or online menus (28.2%), and very few restaurants had separate menus (8.5%) or complete ingredient lists (14.6%) for customers with food allergies. Meanwhile, restaurant servers lacked knowledge about common food allergens (12.7% correct), differences between food allergies and intolerances (34.2% correct), and government regulations related to food allergies (15.5% correct). Most restaurant servers (82.0%) agreed or strongly agreed that initiating communication and preventing food allergy reactions were responsibilities of customers with food allergies. Perceived severity of food allergy reactions, previous communication training, sources of media exposure, and perceived responsibilities of preventing food allergy reactions were found to influence restaurant servers’ risk reduction and communication behaviors (R²=0.367, p<0.001). Restaurateurs, foodservice educators, food allergy advocates, and policy makers may use these findings when developing food allergy training and strategies to prevent food allergy reactions in restaurants.

Master of Science / Department of Journalism and Mass Communications / Angela M. Powers / Communication in sports continues to rapidly evolve, redefining roles of not only the fan, but the traditional media and the organization’s sports public relations professionals as well. The latter in particular has seen their role grow tremendously as new media continues to break down barriers between fan and organizations, giving them considerable influence on the slew of new content available to fans as well as how traditional media will cover sports in general. Utilizing Bey-Ling Sha’s Dimensions of Public Relations, this study employs in-depth interviews with the top communications professionals in the Big 12 to gain further perspective on the roles played by the fans and traditional media in the communication process, while also further gaining insight into the sports PR field.

Master of Arts / Department of Speech Communication, Theatre, and Dance / LeAnn Brazeal / Though communication and learning theory suggest that human interaction is a key component that could enhance both processes, little has been done to incorporate these findings into the basic public speaking course. This study is an attempt to develop a dialogic approach for teaching the introductory college public speaking course. Through the incorporation of standardized analytic grading rubrics, instructor feedback prior to the public speaking performance, peer workshops, and peer evaluations of performances, a process-centered teaching approach is developed that has the potential to increase cognitive learning, improve the quality of student speeches, and increase the consistency between public speaking sections. After implementing this teaching approach for one semester, the results showed an increase in cognitive learning but no improvement in the quality of student speeches or grading consistency. However, a review of other research and the qualitative data collected in this study suggest that there might be greater impacts than could be seen here and that this approach needs to be developed and implemented over a longer period of time for its effects to be fully seen.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l’Université de Montréal / Parmi les différents aspects qui font partie de la prévention dans une société, la sécurité routière tient une place importante. Les autorités concernées mettent en pratique différentes stratégies pour aider à éviter les accidents sur la route et par là, les morts et les blessés comme la conséquence immédiate la plus importante. Une de ces stratégies consiste à développer des campagnes sociétales qui ont comme objectif ultérieur de modifier les comportements nuisibles d'une population visée. Cependant, de telles campagnes ne produisent pas nécessairement les conséquences attendues par les responsables de leur conception. Pour réaliser cette recherche, nous avons utilisé la théorie de la Construction du sens, théorie qui fait partie de rapproche de la réception active en communication. Celle-ci, développée par Dervin (1989), considère ['information comme une construction de la part de l'usager et non pas comme la simple transmission d'un contenu. Dervin rejette le concept conventionnel de campagne de communication publique parce qu'il est basé sur une série de suppositions sur les caractéristiques des auditoires. L'auteure considère que la vie est remplie de multiples problèmes à résoudre, et donc, que les individus alternent sans cesse entre un état d'équilibre et un état de déséquilibre, ce qui fait que la réalité n'est jamais stable. La construction du sens signifie alors comment les gens conçoivent leur réalité et comment ils cherchent à composer avec ces discontinuités de la vie en conciliant leurs besoins d'information avec les ressources disponibles dans leurs milieux respectifs. Ainsi, un message peut donner lieu à une multiplicité de sens. L'information donc ne peut pas être reçue par quelqu'un, elle peut seulement être créée par celui-ci. Cette étude a approfondi le sujet des campagnes sociétales en regardant la façon dont de jeunes adultes chiliens interprètent trois messages sociétaux sur la sécurité routière. Ceux-ci ont été diffusés au Chili à la télévision pendant les années 1997 et 1998. La présente recherche a été développée à la lumière des principes d'une approche qualitative dans un paradigme interprétatif, c'est-à-dire, il s'agit d'une étude systématique voulant comprendre la signification qu'ont les phénomènes pour les individus depuis leur propre point de vue. Sur le plan méthodologique, nous avons effectué des entrevues en profondeur - dont la grille a été inspirée par la théorie de Dervin -, avec 20 jeunes universitaires au Chili, 10 jeunes hommes et 10 jeunes femmes, âgés entre 20 et 25 ans. Chaque interviewé a visionné trois messages sur la sécurité routière visant différents protagonistes, soit un piéton, un conducteur et un passager. 0 u A partir de notre recherche, nous pouvons dégager que les campagnes sociétales ont en général un fort potentiel dans le domaine de la prévention et de la santé publique dans une société. Dans ce contexte, nous pensons que pour aider à découvrir, à mettre en pratique et à exploiter ce potentiel, la théorie de la construction du sens s'avère très utile. Nous l'avons vérifié dans notre recherche, car ce modèle nous a aidé à plonger dans les expériences des jeunes par rapport à la sécurité routière et dans leurs interprétations des messages sur ce sujet. A partir de cette constatation, nous pouvons proposer que la conception optimale d'un message suppose toujours d'entendre et de connaître l'auditoire et c'est uniquement une fois que cette tâche est réussie, qu'on peut matérialiser ces connaissances acquises dans un spot donné. De plus, rapproche de la construction du sens nous a permis d'exprimer de manière spécifique le rôle qu'on devrait attribuer à un message sociétal. Ce message devrait avoir comme objectif d'aider les individus d'un auditoire dans leur démarche de recherche d'information pour améliorer les situations de vie qu'ils évaluent comme problématiques. Cette étude en fournit plusieurs exemples sur la thématique de la sécurité routière en plus de soulever certains enjeux d'ordre général au sujet des campagnes de communication publique.

Master of Science / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Karen Myers-Bowman / Today more and more teenagers are adopting cell phone communication as the primary way to communicate with their peers and parents (Lenhart, Ling, Campbell, & Purcell, 2010). Literature is vast on the negative use of cell phones by teenagers such as sexting and bullying (e.g., Draper, 2012) and on the negative implications it has on them and their relationships with peers (e.g., D'Antona, Kevorkian & Russom, 2010). However, it is very limited in exploring how cell phone use affects parent-adolescent communication. To investigate this question, ten parent-adolescent dyads who have used cell phones for more than six months participated in 25-40 minute interviews consisting of 14 open-ended questions about how they use cell phones to communicate. The teenagers’ ages ranged from 14 to 18 years of age and the average age of the teenagers was 16.6 years. Transcripts of interviews were analyzed for main themes. I found that parents and teenagers text each other more than call each other. They use cell phones to communicate for practical reasons, such as safety/checking in with each other, as well as for relational reasons, such as staying in touch with each other at a distance and sharing fun information with each other. These devices help the parents and adolescents be available to each other, facilitate quick yet flexible response times, and allow parents to teach responsibility. However, they also face challenges of overuse, which can hinder parent-adolescent communication, and can lead to miscommunication. The results of this study can be used by Family Life Educators to help new parent and teen cell phone users to learn about the benefits of cell phones as well as some of the expected challenges and help them get the most out of their cell phone communication.