Master of Arts / Department of Communication Studies / Soo-Hye Han / Advancements in technology, particularly the introduction of online social networking sites, have expanded the modes available when handling the death of a loved one. This study examines how individuals use the Facebook profile pages of deceased persons to cope with loss and maintain relationships with them. An extensive content analysis of Facebook profiles of ten deceased individuals was conducted to investigate what the living discuss in their messages to the deceased in the semi-public setting of a Facebook profile page and if this content changes over the course of time. This analysis revealed that messages to the deceased reflect three themes: 1) processing the death, 2) remembering the deceased, and 3) maintaining the relationship. In addition to these dominant themes, the data also indicated that the content of messages shifted over time. Messages that contained the processing of death remained consistent over time, while posts that reflected remembrance of the deceased decreased, and messages that demonstrated relationship maintenance increased with time. This study utilizes the theoretical frameworks of continuing bonds and social information processing to draw implications of these findings. By examining the content written and how messages change over time, this study provides insight into how people cope with loss and maintain relationships with their deceased loved ones in the digital age.

Master of Arts / Department of Communication Studies / Charles J. G. Griffin / Space commentators and government officials draw on a variety of themes that shape how the public perceives space efforts. By constructing particular visions of outer space and the future of humanity, political leaders have inspired children to become astronauts and consoled the nation after a major tragedy. The future of space exploration and development will likely occur as an extension of existing paradigms that shape the material development of space transportation, space stations, and eventually living in space. Through qualitative interviews, this study illuminates the paradigms of persons working to advance the cause of space exploration and development. In particular, the study analyzes perspectives from individuals in the private sector. It seeks to highlight themes, such as leadership and possible material benefits, so that researchers may begin to construct theories about the specific conditions under which the future of space exploration and development may be shaped or evolve. This enhances our understanding of how themes operate to sustain or alter existing paradigms. In turn, a thematic analysis will generate new understandings of how envisioning seemingly impossible futures and social realities can transform those realities by drawing on conceptions of the past to inform the present and potential futures. To this end, this study employs imagination studies as a theoretical lens to understand how interviewees describe these future social realities. Specifically, the study discusses Engen’s (2002) theory of communicative imagination and seeks to refine it to encompass a process-based approach and flexibility. The presence of communicative imagination is explored in transcripts from qualitative interviews with persons employed in private businesses involved in the research and production of materials and services for space exploration and development. Results from the study reveal five dominant themes: leadership, inspiration and support, core motives, material benefits, and potential futures. Understanding how these themes interact in the process of communicative imagination illuminates the role communication plays in shaping social realities in a variety of circumstances.

Master of Arts / Department of Communication Studies / William Schenck-Hamlin / The following research project seeks to answer the question: “To what extent can differences among juvenile detention centers be explained on the basis of concepts of restorative and retributive justice?” To investigate, mission statements were collected from a national sample of Juvenile Detention Centers. A semantic network analysis was performed to answer the above research question. The computer program CATPAC was used to create 2-d images of the semantic analysis. From these images eight themes emerged through clusters: institutional identity, public safety, life skill values, family and child tie, and community and family tie, support from staff, support from environment, and support from environment and staff. These themes were reflective of retributive or restorative orientation. Results indicate that male public institutions are reflective of retributive justice while female public, male private, and female private institutions are more reflective of restorative justice. These findings suggest biases and treatment patterns within the juvenile justice system.

Master of Science / Department of Communications and Agricultural Education / Lauri M. Baker / The purpose of this study was to identify the needs of Kansas' agricultural producers in relation to financial and legal matters at a local level. The following research questions guided this study: 1) what services, identified by local producers, are needed in communities across Kansas to assist producers in times of financial and legal distress; 2) what are the perceptions among producers of the Kansas Agricultural Mediation Services (KAMS); 3) what brand attributes, names, and taglines would appeal to producers for an organization addressing their financial and legal distress; 4) how can organizations effectively market financial and legal services to producers? A qualitative study design was used in order to assess the research questions. Six focus groups were performed throughout the state in three different geographic locations. Participants were selected using purposive sampling in order to have one group of people familiar with the organization (KAMS) currently helping producers with their legal and financial issues and one unfamiliar group in each location. Grunig’s excellence in public relations model served as the conceptual framework for this study. Results of this study concluded that rural Kansas’ communities see a need for service organizations similar to KAMS. Participants value assistance with family farm transition planning as well as financial assistance. Participants saw marketing and promotion of the current services offered just as critical as having the services themselves. Participants felt these services should be marketed through two-way communication channels, such as social media, an organizational representative for face-to-face interaction, and collaboration with extension. Additionally, participants voiced strong opinions about various brand attributes.

Master of Arts / Department of Communication Studies / Sarah Riforgiate / College residence halls house thousands of students every year. This provides students an opportunity to live closely with new people and develop social skills sought by employers (Myers & Larson, 2005). Living with new people also provides the opportunity for anxiety and conflict (Ingalls, 2000). Many residents reject the idea of initiating or processing their own conflicts, often turning to destructive conflict management behaviors such as avoidance (De Cecco & Richards, 1974; Sillars, 1980). A clearer understanding of influences on student conflict behaviors will help colleges and universities assist students in having positive experiences living on campus. While attempts to understand student conflict management are varied, few consider behavior patterns as systems (Duran & Zakahi, 1988, Kiernan & Gray, 2013, Martin & Anderson, 1995). This qualitative study applies an organizational communication framework and structuration theory (Giddens, 1984; Poole & McPhee, 2005; Sewell, 1992) as a lens to address conflict behavior systems and structures within post-secondary residence halls. Theoretically, this research adds to existing scholarship by applying structuration theory to a non-business context, extending the theory beyond the employer/employee dynamic it is often constrained to. Additionally this study uses structuration theory in a practical manner (Sewell, 1992) in the hopes of informing and improving roommate pairing and conflict approaches. Twenty-three student residents participated in in-depth interviews to answer research questions designed to address communication practices that relate to rules and resources of conflict structures as well as how the dimensions of structuration, power, meaning, and norms, influence the use of rules and resources (Poole & McPhee, 2005). The study identifies resources of authority, space, favor reciprocity, mutual respect, routines, external others, and time and discusses the associated rules within college residence hall rooms. These rules and resources are informed by systems of “coexistent” and “engaged” harmony. Additionally the study identifies how the dimensions of structuration shape systems within the residence hall room and between the roommates by influencing the way rules and resources are used. Largely, this study contributes to the field of structuration research while attempting to incorporate pieces of Sewell’s (1992) critique in the form of practical implications.

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.

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.

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.