<p> Videogames are complex media objects that require significant input from the player for their enjoyment. The multiple experiences and outcomes that can emerge when an individual plays a game present difficult methodological challenges for games researchers. This dissertation proposes two complementary methods for studying this complexity: <i>temporal data collection</i> and <i>situational analysis</i>. These help delineate both how players acquire knowledge from a game system and use their previous knowledges in future videogame experiences by focusing on the moment-to-moment decisions and actions that the player takes in a given situations. In addition to providing a way to investigate player skill and knowledge of a system over time, this method also provides a way to understand how the meanings that players and scholars make from games develop over the course of their play. </p><p> By expanding on previous definitions of the <i>repertoire</i>&mdash;the sets of skills and knowledges that player rely on in overcoming a game&rsquo;s challenges&mdash;, I develop models for how knowledge is acquired, incorporated, and utilized over the course of an individual game and different game genres. These models developed through the individual situations that occurred in my analysis of these games and show how knowledges and skills develop not only within a single game, but are translatable from game to game. I developed the concept of a <i>technique</i> to provide a means for scholars and designers to understand how an individual&rsquo;s performance is practiced and evolves as they learn more about the game system and come to grow comfortable with particular actions. The second performance model developed in this dissertation, the <i>play style</i>, describes the general ways that a player approaches a game and how different goals, both internal and external, can effect how knowledge and skills are used. </p><p> Lastly, through the temporal data collection and situational analysis methods, I am able to further elucidate the roles that luck plays in videogames&mdash;an undertheorized arena of gameplay experience. I provide three distinct ways that scholars can discuss the experience of luck and how it intersects with the repertoires of skill that a player develops: designed chance mechanics, glitches, and botches. <i>Designed chance mechanics</i> are the elements of a videogame that provide randomness to the game system and must be understood and responded to appropriately by the player in order for their success. <i>Glitches</i> are aberrations in the software or hardware that can develop unexpectedly through player action. Lastly, a <i>botch </i>, adapted from the world of professional wrestling, provides a model for understanding how feelings of luck emerge from unexpected situations that are not intelligible within the repertoires of player knowledge. With these concepts, I have provided the field of game studies a comprehensive method for discussing the forms of luck that emerge from the player&rsquo;s subjective experience, the system&rsquo;s designed uncertainty, and mixtures of the two. By offering models of performance and consideration of a largely overlooked concept like luck, I provide a nuanced look into the complicated development of skill that occurs in the performance of videogame play.</p><p>

M.B.A. / The purpose of this audit was to investigate factors related to the communication structure at Western Platinum Mine. These factors had been investigated regarding their validity regarding all levels ofcommunication. The factors included the following: I. Top-Down Communication 2. Bottom-Up Communication 3. Lateral Communication 4. Objectives ofCommunication 5. Informal Communication 6. Meetings 7. Feedback 8. Written Communication 9. External Communication 10. General Attitudes towards Western Platinum Mine The researcher relied on both quantitative and qualitative research techniques. During the audit, analysis were carried out by means ofthe following data collection methods: • Individual focus interviews with top management, • Focus group discussions with junior level staff, and • Self completion questionnaires were completed by supervisors and middle management When comparing the conclusions with the research hypotheses a high correlation was evident between the original hypotheses and the information generated by the research. It was established that communication, at the lower levels, needs attention. Messages are totally distorted and employees rely on the " ... grapevine ... " Top Management's perception that communication is sound, was proved to be a fallacy. The research thus proved that the hypotheses in fact was in general accurate, correct and evident. As a result of the research a proper communication strategy was developed for Western Platinum Mine which could satisfy all the objectives...

The purpose of this study was to examine multiple dimensions of written language produced by eighty-nine children in grades 2, 3, and 4 in narrative and expository writing samples. Two written composition samples were collected from students exhibiting typical development in second, third, and fourth grades using one narrative and one expository writing prompt via a scripted, generated elicitation method. Additionally, participants completed group-administered, norm-referenced measures of receptive vocabulary, word level reading, and reading comprehension. The writing samples were transcribed into Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (SALT; Miller & Chapman, 2005), coded, and analyzed for developmental progression of linguistic elements represented by the five factors of productivity, grammatical complexity, grammatical accuracy, lexical diversity, and macrostructure. Reading comprehension scores were used as covariates in the multivariate analyses of variance. Results indicated that levels of productivity and macrostructure increased steadily with age. Across the narrative and expository samples examined, levels of productivity were highly correlated and nearly equivalent within each grade, whereas a trend was noted for levels of macrostructure in the expository genre to increase more sharply from second to third grade than in the narrative genre. There was a grade effect for grammatical complexity in the expository genre, whereas there were no significant differences between grade levels for narrative grammatical complexity. Interestingly, the second graders scored higher than the third and fourth graders on measures of grammatical complexity (especially MLTu) in their expository samples. Comparison of grammatical complexity levels across genres revealed a small, negative correlation across all three grade levels. No grade level differences were detected for grammatical accuracy and lexical diversity in either genre; although, there was a trend for fourth graders to produce a higher number of grammatical errors than second and third graders. Students in each grade performed similarly regardless of genre type on measures of grammatical accuracy and lexical diversity. Relations among measures of microstructure and macrostructure were revealed between productivity and macrostructure in both genres and between macrostructure and grammatical accuracy in the expository genre. Inter-correlations of measures within grade level are discussed. There were no significant effects of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or gender on writing outcomes. Interestingly, trade-offs in performance on certain linguistic features appeared to occur for second and fourth graders. Results of this study suggest that variables of written microstructure and macrostructure were sensitive to grade and genre level differences, that productivity (a measure of microstructure), and macrostructure were related in both genres for all three grade levels, and that one cannot assume the older students will outperform younger students on all measures. This latter finding was thought to be due to a trade-off between linguistic and cognitive demands for second and fourth graders. Consequently, future research needs to establish these trade-off trends occur in larger samples and examine the effects of different academic contexts (e.g., variable elicitation techniques, discourse structures, content specific assignments) on this phenomenon. The findings of this investigation are discussed in light of grade level standards for writing and the identification of students with writing difficulties. Multiple suggestions are presented for educational implications of the results, and specific directions provided for future research. / A Dissertation submitted to the School of Communication Science and Disorders in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester, 2010. / November 13, 2009. / Writing, Writing Development, Microstructure, Macrostructure, Linguistic Feature Analysis / Includes bibliographical references. / Kenn Apel, Professor Directing Dissertation; Barbara Foorman, University Representative; Lisa Scott, Committee Member; Shurita Thomas-Tate, Committee Member.

Inequalities exist between the health statuses of the general population compared with minority sub-groups in the United States. Researchers suggest one environmental factor potentially effecting such inequalities is the uneven coverage of health information in the media. The following study is a content analysis of the health articles available in three popular women's magazines, which target audiences across sub-populations. The magazines used in this study are Self, targeting U.S. women in the general population, Essence, targeting U.S black/African-American women, and Vanidades, a Spanish-language magazine targeting Latina/Hispanic women. A total of 934 articles across a sample of 64 magazines were content analyzed. Articles featuring health-related information within the sample of 64 magazines were selected and coded for their coverage and emphasis of 13 serious health risks. Following the data collection, analyses were used to answer a series of research questions. The results indicate that health information in both Self and Vanidades is strongly correlated with the prevalence of the 13 serious health risks, while the correlation for Essence is weaker. Although the relationship between prevalence and coverage is generally high, all three of these magazines devote less than 5% of magazine space to the 13 serious health risks. However, despite their race or ethnicity, women will discover a greater number of stories, and a greater amount of space devoted to those stories, when they consult Self magazine. This study offers valuable information regarding the availability of health information in these three women's magazines. The study also identifies the diseases that the three magazines should focus on if they want to address the high-risk causes of morbidity and mortality among their target audience. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Communication in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master’S of Arts. / Summer Semester, 2008. / July 1, 2008. / Women's Health, Colorectal Cance, r Cervical Cancer, Breast Cancer, Cancer, Lung Cancer, Stroke, Cirrhosis, Liver Disease, Infant Mortality, Serious Health Risks, Minority Populations, Health Communication, Communication Theory, Communication, Women's Magazines, Magazines, Content Analysis, Essence, Self, Vanidades, HIV/AIDS, Diabetes, Colon Cancer, Heart Disease, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, African American, Blacks, Hispanics, Latinos Latinas, African-American, African Americans, Health Status, Health Gaps, Inequalities / Includes bibliographical references. / Gary R. Heald, Professor Directing Thesis; Juliann Cortese, Committee Member; Stephen D. McDowell, Committee Member.

A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MA in Communication Science at the University of Zululand, 2002. / In this thesis I will apply the principles of organisational communication to school management to develop a communication model that principals can use as part of managing schools as organizations. In the first phase I will do a literature review of organizational communication to help me design a communication model for schools. In the second phase I will do an empirical survey of principals' understanding of organizational communication, and oftheir present communication practices.

Digital communications and computers are having a tremendous impact on the world today. In order to meet the increasing demand for digital communication services, engineers must design systems in a timely and cost-effective manner. The number of technologies available for providing a given service is growing daily, covering transmission media, devices, and software. The resulting design, analysis, and optimization of performance can be very demanding and difficult. Over the past decades, a large body of computer-aided engineering techniques have been developed to facilitate the design process of complex technological systems. These techniques rely on models of devices and systems, both analytic and simulation, to guide the analysis and design throughout the life cycle of a system. Computer-aided design, analysis, and simulation of communication systems constitute a new and important part of this process. This thesis studies different aspects of the simulation of communication systems by covering some basic ideas, approaches, and methodologies within the simulation context. Performance measurement of a digital communication is the main focus of this thesis. However, some popular visual indicators of signal quality, which are often generated in a simulation to provide a qualitative sense of the performance of a digital system, are also considered. Another purpose of this thesis is to serve as a model for developing simulations or template of other systems. In other words, students learning to simulate a system can use the work presented here as a starting point. / Master of Science

This study replicates and extends previous research on the relationship between interpersonal construct differentiation and message production in regulative communication situations (O'Keefe & McComack, 1987; O'Keefe, 1988). The research examines whether a subject's use of a particular message design logic (expressive, conventional, or rhetorical) and goal structure (minimal, unifunctional, or multifunctional) is related to his or her level of cognitive complexity, gender, and locus of control. Subjects (n = 160) were asked to complete the Crockett's (1966) Role Category Questionnaire (RCQ) and Levenson's (1981) Internal, Powerful Others, and Chance Scale. Subjects were also asked to respond to a hypothetical regulative communication task. Their responses were then classified according to criteria established by O'Keefe. The study found a significant positive relationship between construct differentiation and message design such that less complex subjects wrote expressive messages, moderately complex subjects wrote conventional messages, and highly complex subjects wrote rhetorical messages. There was a significant negative relationship between construct differentiation and goal structure such that less complex respondents sought multifunctional goals while highly complex subjects sought minimal goals. There were no gender related differences. The locus of control constructs (internality, powerlessness, and chance) were related to message design. Internal, powerful, and low chance orientated actors composed conventional or rhetorical messages. External, powerless, and high chance orientated respondents wrote expressive messages. Powerlessness was related to goal structure such that powerless actors sought multiple goals while powerful subjects sought minimal goals. The results ofthe study provide partial support for O'Keefe's (1988) theory of message design. In particular, the results confirm the premise that construct differentiation is a predictor of message design logic. The findings also identify locus of control as a predictor of message design. The negative relationships identified in the study suggest that there may be conceptual or methodological problems with O'Keefe's model which must be addressed before any additional conclusions can be made.

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This research explores corporate advocacy and support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Using organizational legitimacy theory as a theoretical framework, this research employed thematic analyses in order to study statements issued by Fortune's 50 most admired companies in response to the re-energized Black Lives Matter movement. These statements were studied using thematic content analysis in order to gauge corporate engagement with the movement, as well as indicate themes of authenticity or hypocrisy apparent in the statements. The study revealed major themes of support and authentic engagement, as well as highlighted the missing components that may indicate hypocritical stances to stakeholders. This research contributes to public relations scholarship through its examination of how practitioners strategically communicate around racial or social justice issues in the context of corporate social advocacy. Stakeholders grant legitimacy to companies and cyclically, that legitimacy is earned and reinforced by ongoing corporate actions, to include perceptions of authentic corporate engagement with controversial social-political issues. This study expands on public relations research about communicating corporate commitment to social advocacy, specifically as it pertains to contentious social justice issues. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. This paper is broken into five chapters. The first chapter includes an introduction to the study, a mention of the theoretical frameworks employed in the study, and a description of the study's relevance. Chapter Two includes an in-depth literature review of the theoretical frameworks relevant to the research, as well as background on the Black Lives Matter movement and its recent resurgence. The second chapter also highlights how organizations have responded to the BLM movement. Next, Chapter Three describes the study's methodology, a qualitative content analysis of official corporate statements about the BLM civil rights movement. Chapter Four then outlines results in the form of common themes identified across corporate statements. Last, Chapter Five provides the discussion, future research suggestions, and practical implications of the research conducted.

This research examined how black women's natural hair was perceived in a professional setting. Expectancy violation theory (EVT) suggests that people create patterns of communication but that these patterns can be disrupted when a person violates the established expectations. The theory was applied to perceptions of black women's natural hair in a professional setting. An experimental survey was used to assess whether participants viewed natural hair in the workplace as a positive or negative expectancy violation. Participants were asked to view a resume and complete Likert-type scale items to evaluate the resume. The items measured the candidate's professionalism, likeability, attractiveness and expertise. The photograph on the resume was manipulated to ensure consistency. The same black female model was used and only her hairstyle was changed. The credentials and name on the resume also remained the same. The study found no difference between perceptions of natural hair and straight hair.