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The purpose of this research was to examine instructor verbal immediacy behaviors in virtual classrooms and their effects on student motivation and affective learning. Undergraduate students were divided into two treatment samples. Each group was asked to imagine they were enrolled in an online course and were reading the course homepage. Two different homepages were constructed using verbal immediate vs. nonimmediate items similar to those described by Witt & Wheeler (2001). Semantic differential-type instruments similar to that used by Richmond ( 1990) were administered to evaluate participants' state motivation and affective learning. Although no reliable effects on state motivation were discovered, the results suggest a possible interaction effect between sex and immediacy with regard to affective learning.

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Few organizational communication studies examine the organizational aspects influencing career satisfaction specifically among non-white cultures in the medical physician population. This study examines minority physicians' perceptions of extrinsically controlled work environment factors in comparison to their white counterparts. Three research questions were analyzed from a 17-question survey tool to measure: physician satisfaction levels with autonomy over medical decision-making; autonomy over non-medical workplace decisions; and hospital cost containment efforts. These organizational variables have served as major points of discourse within the healthcare arena and they relate to the enigmatic nature of career satisfaction. Determined by the volume of respondents representing each race and ethnicity, five categories were selected for comparison: Asian/Pacific Islander, Indian/Pakistani, White/Non-Hispanic, Hispanic, and Black/African American. Participants that were surveyed included all physicians listed on the medical staff roster of a Southeastern, not-for-profit hospital group, regardless of status and medical specialty. The primary findings indicate that substantial variance exists among racial and ethnic subgroups regarding satisfaction with the dependent measures. Due to low numbers of minority health care physicians, previous studies have commonly measured physician job satisfaction aggregately, failing to differentiate cultural groups. Interestingly, when minority and non-minority groups were aggregately juxtaposed, no significant differences were reported in the data. However, when satisfaction was measured contrasting minority subgroupings with that of non-minority physicians, significant variations emerged from the data set. This study contributes to understanding better the organizational experiences of minority physicians in healthcare and the body of knowledge concerning minority health research as a whole.

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The United States has a troubled history with race relations. African Americans have immeasurably experienced racism and racial oppression in various forms and in many sectors of the American society. One of the sectors that the racial inequalities of our past have affected is the employment sector. Many Americans experience the workplace on a daily basis and therefore experience the inequities that persist in such environments. This study explores African American experiences with race in the workplace and the way that race shapes today's workplace. Specifically, this study analyzes the experiences of African American professionals working at for-profit organizations and their perceptions of the way that race shapes their organization's culture. This study employs a constant comparative analysis of qualitative interviews using Critical Race Theory as a guide. The interviews explored the manner in which race, Diversity and Inclusion (DandI) programs, and communication affect organizational culture. The thesis further questions if and how organizations are working to create and sustain a more equitable workplace for all employees. The findings suggest that African American professionals perceive that their organizations are welcoming and inclusive of all minority groups. They also perceive the organizational culture to be friendly and family-oriented where open, positive, and encouraging communication exists. The professionals feel that their organizations are generally interested in diversity, however they feel the organization's engagement with diversity practices is not sufficient. The findings of this study could be used as a tool for organizations to reevaluate their diversity practices and to ensure that they are creating an equitable workplace. / Master of Arts / The inequalities caused by racism and the systematic oppression of African Americans in the United States are present in many areas of contemporary American life. African Americans are still faced with problems that stem from the country’s past with race and are affected by these problems in many ways. One area that African Americans must deal with race is the workplace. The inequalities that were created in the past have caused race to play a significant role in the way that African Americans experience the workplace. This study explored the experiences of African American professionals in the workplace and the way they perceive race to play a role in shaping their organization’s culture. The findings of the study explain that African American professionals perceive that race has a definite effect on their organization’s culture. The professionals believe that their organizations have a general interest for diversity, but they have not adequately addressed the lack of racial and ethnic diversity in the workplace. They reported that the organizations are inclusive and provide an environment where they can be productive and develop professionally. Today’s organizations have made a step in the right direction of diversity, but there is much work left to do.

Comprometimento organizacional é um tema complexo e que vem gerando, na literatura e na prática, discussões em relação à análise dos antecedentes e das variáveis que possam avaliá-la. Para as organizações que vem passando por uma transformação rumo a participação estratégica tão almejada e nem sempre alcançada mostra imperativo o gerenciamento de um comprometimento afetivo. Para este trabalho foi realizada a análise da literatura existente, seguida de uma pesquisa de campo. Por meio de uma pesquisa exploratória, descritiva e quantitativa, buscou-se responder se existe relação entre uma comunicação interna eficaz e o comprometimento afetivo das pessoas nas organizações. A literatura mostrou que a comunicação é um dos principais fatores de comprometimento e que o processo de comunicação é um processo fundamental na estratégia do comprometimento. Assim, essa comunicação deve ser planejada, dispondo de canais e instrumentos diversos, permitindo assim a atuação sinérgica de todas as áreas da organização. A partir destes aspectos e conceitos elaborados, foi desenvolvida uma pesquisa de campo, que envolveu 79 funcionários de uma empresa do ranking das ?100 Melhores Empresas para Você Trabalhar?, de 2003, publicada pela Guia da Revista Exame, da Você S. A. Os resultados demonstraram que existe uma forte dependência e associação entre a comunicação interna eficaz, planejamento da comunicação organizacional e o comprometimento afetivo, permitindo concluir que o comprometimento afetivo está associada a comunicação interna eficaz. / Organizational commitment is a complex theme that has been generating, both in literature and practice, discussions concerning the relationship between the past data and variables that may evaluate them. The organization looking for the strategic participation but not exactly finding that shows the need of an affective commitment. In order to find out that, it was searched the existing literature followed by a field research. Through an exploratory and descriptive research, it was explored if there is any relationship between an efficient internal communication and the affective commitment among people within an organization. The literature showed that communication is one of the main commitment factors and that the communication process is fundamental in the commitment strategy. It means, communication must be planned, with different channels and tools, permitting in this way, all areas to act synergistically in the organization. Elaborating these aspects and concepts, it was developed a field research, involving 79 employees from a company presented in the ?100 Melhores Empresas para Você Trabalhar? ranking, in 2003, published by the Revista Exame Guide, Você S. A. The results demonstrated that there is a great dependence and association among an efficient internal communication, organizational communication plan and the affective commitment, so that it´s possible to conclude that the affective commitment is associated to an efficient internal communication.