Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, August, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 193-209)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 395-417).

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on March 2, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Dr. Debbie S. Dougherty, Dissertation Supervisor. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Villanova University, 2007. / Communication Dept. Includes bibliographical references.

The unifying theme of the chapters presented in this thesis is that intra-group interaction impacts on in-group identity content, and this content provides a foundation for social action and social behaviour. The primary goals of this thesis are first, to demonstrate that social realities can be established and transformed through interaction; and second, to investigate why the process of intra-group interaction can spark and exacerbate social conflict. In Chapter 1, I review and attempt to theoretically integrate the disparate literatures on group discussion, identity and action. In Chapter 2, I investigate the effect of interaction on the positive-negative asymmetry effect (PNAE). In Study 2.1, participants were more likely to discriminate on rewards than fines, and find allocating rewards to be a more legitimate and pleasant act than allocating fines. Conversely, participants thought allocating fines would have a more negative effect on recipients and felt more negative about allocating fines than rewards. In Study 2.2, when in-group advancement was obstructed, no PNAE was found: obstruction was sufficient justification for out-group punishment in its own right. When in-group advancement was not obstructed, the PNAE reversed after group discussion, such that more hostility occurred when participants administered fines than when they awarded rewards. This reversal was mediated by processes of norm formation. In Chapter 3, I describe three studies which show that consensual intra-group discussions about a negatively regarded out-group increased inter-group hostility. Study 3.1 compared group discussion about immigrants with individual reflection. Results showed that group discussion informed the content of stereotypes, which led to support for anti-immigrant policies. In Study 3.2, participants discussed either an irrelevant topic, the out-group stereotype, or the out-group stereotype plus what concrete actions should be taken towards that group. Only discussion of the stereotype significantly increased hostility, suggesting that the psychological products of discussion per se (cohesion, identification, etc.) are not solely responsible for hostility. Rather, social validation of the stereotype explained why its discussion increased hostility. Study 3.3 replicated these results with a behavioural measure. In Chapter 4, I present two studies which controlled for the content of interaction by showing participants short films of similar others having a group discussion. Study 4.1 investigated the paradoxical finding that when groups discuss potential courses of action against an out-group, they are less likely to act than when they discuss simply the out-group stereotype (Chapter 3). Results suggested that when group discussions imply that there is social consensus about a course of action, even the advocacy of extreme actions can increase support for (more moderate) social action. Study 4.2 manipulated whether or not the discussants consensualised on the out-group stereotype, whilst controlling for discussion content. Only when the discussion ended in consensus did participants identify with the discussants and perceive norms for social action. In Chapter 5, I address how social identities and their associated (self-) stereotypes can disadvantage members of low status groups, but how they can also promote social change. The data demonstrates that consensualisation in small groups can transform (or reconfirm) such stereotypes, thereby eliminating (or bolstering) stereotype threat effects. In Study 5.1, female participants were asked why men are (or are not) better at maths. They generated their answers individually or through group discussion. Stereotype threat was undermined only when they collectively challenged the stereotype. Content analyses suggest that discussions redefined in-group and out-group stereotypes, providing the basis for stigma reversal or confirmation. In Study 5.2, male and female participants confirmed or challenged the stereotype in same-gender discussion groups or no discussion, baseline conditions. After a discussion that confirmed the stereotype, women displayed signs of stereotype threat and men’s performance was “lifted”. When they challenged the stereotype, the difference between men and women on the maths test was eliminated. Overall, the results reported in this thesis suggest that intra-group interaction enables group members to develop an understanding of their common ideology, which may establish the consensual basis of their identity content. If such consensualisation occurs, this provides them with a sense that their perceptions of reality are socially valid, and gives rise to (implicit or explicit) in-group norms. This provides individuals with a solid foundation upon which they may act. The implications of these conclusions are discussed in Chapter 6.

Thesis (M.Couns.)--University of Waikato, 2006. / Title from PDF cover (viewed June 12, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 173-177).

This thesis deals with the analysis of the current status of the marketing mix, communication strategy and activities of village Vinné related tourism. SWOT analysis and questionnaire surveys are also part of the analysis. Our main objective is based on the findings to make recommendations for improvement of communication strategy of the village with specific tactics that would be applicable immediately, by June 2016. The recommendations include schedule for their implementation and design of visual identity and slogan for Vinné. As the attraction of the village can attract all ages, the aim of this thesis is also to identify behavioral differences in the selection and planning vacations of people under 30 years and over and recommend time and form of marketing communication.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-06-20T18:42:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 raphaelsilvasouzaoliveiracarvalho.pdf: 4172749 bytes, checksum: 4ace8f239e3cee1a3461cb7403a79fe4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-07-13T15:25:27Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 raphaelsilvasouzaoliveiracarvalho.pdf: 4172749 bytes, checksum: 4ace8f239e3cee1a3461cb7403a79fe4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-07-13T15:25:37Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 raphaelsilvasouzaoliveiracarvalho.pdf: 4172749 bytes, checksum: 4ace8f239e3cee1a3461cb7403a79fe4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-13T15:25:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 raphaelsilvasouzaoliveiracarvalho.pdf: 4172749 bytes, checksum: 4ace8f239e3cee1a3461cb7403a79fe4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-29 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / Compreender as nuances sobre a contemporaneidade é recair sobre um sistema complexo de relacionamentos múltiplos, que configura visões diversificadas sobre a realidade a partir dos discursos. Com estes pressupostos teóricos, - baseados nas correntes do Interacionismo Simbólico e dos Estudos Culturais - o papel das organizações e a forma pelas quais estas se posicionam discursivamente no ambiente social, por meio das práticas de comunicação, tornam-se caminhos possíveis para o entendimento do cenário contemporâneo. Assim sendo, vemos o tabagismo como um dos grandes temas de nossa época. A cultura do tabaco, entendida desde o plantio até as formas de consumo, retoma momentos históricos desde antes do período das grandes navegações perdurando até os dias de hoje. O estudo se propõe e investigar as formas pelas quais organizações como a Souza Cruz (produtora brasileira de cigarros industrializados) e o Ministério da Saúde (representante do poder público) expõem, em seus discursos institucionais, representações públicas sobre a identidade dos fumantes. Por meio da metodologia de análise de discurso – na compreensão teórica de Mikhail Bakhtin – buscamos analisar os textos institucionais das duas organizações investigando aspectos enunciativos que representem publicamente a “realidade” dos fumantes. Em seguida, com a aplicação do método do Grupo Focal aferimos os discursos dos próprios fumantes sobre a condição de consumidores, posteriormente analisados com os mesmos padrões estabelecidos para as organizações. Nosso objetivo é perceber aproximações e afastamentos entre os discursos, que se constituem pelo diálogo e configuram possíveis leituras sobre a realidade. / Understanding the aspects of the contemporary world is to fall on a complex system of multiple relationships, which sets up the most diverse views about reality from speeches. With these theoretical assumptions - based on Symbolic Interaction and Cultural Studies - the role of organizations and the way in which they position themselves discursively in the social environment (through communication practices) become possible approaches to the understanding of the contemporary scenario. Thus, we see smoking as a major theme of our time. The tobacco culture, which can be understood from planting to forms of consumption, incorporates historic moments since before the Age of Discovery, and lasts until the present day. This study aims to investigate the ways in which organizations such as Souza Cruz (Brazilian producer of manufactured cigarettes) and the Ministry of Health (government representative) set out, in their institutional speeches, public representations about the identity of smokers. Using discourse analysis as methodology - in the theoretical understanding of Mikhail Bakhtin - we analyze the institutional texts of the two organizations investigating enunciative aspects that represent publicly the "reality" of smokers. Then, applying the method of Focus Group we measure the speeches of the smokers themselves about the condition of consumers, then analyzed with the same standards established for the organizations. Our goal is to find approaches and departures between the discourses that are constituted by dialogue and configure possible understandings of reality.

Text messaging, e-mail, instant messaging, and social networking sites are changing the way people interact with each other. The popularity of these communication technologies among emerging adults in particular has grown exponentially, with little accompanying research to understand their influences on psychosocial development. This study explores the relationship between communication technology usage (text messaging, e-mail, instant messaging, and social networking) and adolescent adjustment among 268 high school students. It was hypothesized that use of communication technology would be related to psychological adjustment, including identity development, relationship attachment and peer conflict. Participants were recruited from three public high schools in central Florida (69% female, 81.9% White). Time spent using communication technology was significantly correlated with psychological symptom severity (i.e. anxiety and depression), identity distress, peer aggression, and existential anxiety. It was also significantly but negatively correlated with relationship avoidance. Degree of usage of communication technology for interpersonal communication was significantly correlated with peer aggression, relationship anxiety, and existential anxiety. Those with a preoccupied style (high in relationship anxiety, low in relationship avoidance) spent significantly more time using communication technology than those in the dismissive (high in avoidance, low in anxiety), fearful (high in both), and secure (low in both) styles. Further analyses and their implications for adolescent development will be discussed.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T16:44:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ADM - Camila K Colnago.pdf: 913602 bytes, checksum: 2bcc5ea6b6a7cb0a09dfc54b017900d8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-10-18 / Organizational communication, understood as a strategic element for management and administration in modern organizations, represents an important means of information flow and relationship between the inside environment of companies and their outside world: their customers, the market and society in general. Communication, as a rule, enables companies to build up their organizational culture and corporate identity and allows them to create a competitive and coherent institutional image. The purpose of this dissertation is to analyze the role of organizational communication in creating and maintaining a solid and strategically defined image as well as to check on how communication is currently carried out at Brazilian companies in practice. An exploratory and qualitative survey was done through applying non-standardized interviews to nonprobabilist sample, for convenience, in the cities of São Paulo - SP and Vitória - ES. On the occasion, the interviewees, who are professionals in the area of communication, described their professional experiences and practices related to the strategic utilization of organizational communication practices in forming the institutional image of their companies. The survey results showed that companies have been trying to get rid of the old concepts of vertical, instrumental and mandatory communication and that many times they have been able to establish much more participative, dialogic and strategic communication processes / A comunicação organizacional, entendida como elemento de caráter estratégico para a gestão e a administração das organizações modernas, representa um importante canal de troca de informações e relacionamento entre o ambiente interno das empresas e o mundo exterior a elas: seus públicos, o mercado e a sociedade em geral. É a comunicação, via de regra, que viabiliza a construção da cultura organizacional e da identidade corporativa, e que permite que as organizações gerem no ambiente externo uma imagem institucional coerente e competitiva. O objetivo desta dissertação é analisar qual o papel da comunicação organizacional na construção e manutenção de uma imagem institucional sólida e estrategicamente definida para as empresas, e verificar, na prática, como é a comunicação praticada nas empresas brasileiras atualmente. Foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa exploratória, viabilizada através da aplicação de entrevistas despadronizadas, a uma amostra não-probabilística por conveniência, efetuadas nas cidades de São Paulo - SP e Vitória - ES. Na ocasião, os entrevistados, profissionais da área de comunicação, relataram suas experiências profissionais e práticas desenvolvidas acerca do tema questionado, ou seja, da utilização estratégica da comunicação organizacional para a formação da imagem institucional de suas empresas. Os resultados da pesquisas demonstraram que as empresas têm tentado, na medida do possível, romper com os antigos conceitos da comunicação verticalizada, instrumental e mandatória, e têm conseguido, muitas vezes, instituir processos de comunicação mais participativos, dialógicos e estratégicos