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.

Information technology (IT) professionals are continually placed in diverse employment arrangements as organizations continually look for ways to cut costs, enhance performance and maximize organizational goals. Organizations are using strategies beyond hiring permanent employees to achieve objectives in alternative sourcing. Even though the cost differential is positive when employing non-permanent individuals instead of permanent employees, little is known about the effects on the IT professional.This field study was designed to test the effects of employment arrangements on the IT professional's psychological contract and the effects of the level of fulfillment of their psychological contract on their organizational citizenship and innovative work behaviors using psychological contracts and social information processing theories. IT professionals were sampled from four different employment arrangements.The empirical findings show that there are differences in the IT pro proessional's psychological contract as explained by their employment arrangement, as well as by their perceptions of the characteristics of their particular employment arrangement. Permanent full-time IT professionals consistently had higher perceptions of their employer's obligations to them, than did IT professionals from the other employment arrangement categories. The level of fulfillment of the IT professional's psychological contract explained differences in their organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB) as a collective, with significant differences in the advocacy participation and obedience citizenship behaviors. This study also found significant relationships with the level of fulfillment of the IT professional's psychological contract and their innovative work behavior, as well as their organizational citizenship behaviors individually, specifically loyalty, advocacy participation, obedience, and functional participation. The primary predictors of the dimensions of OCB were the levels of fulfillment of the psychological contract as it relates to the scope, focus, and tangibility dimensions.The exploratory analysis into the characteristics of the employment arrangement provides a clearer understanding as to what encompasses the actual employment arrangement for IT professionals of differing categories. Independent contractors indicated significantly more job control than permanent full-time and contract company workers. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time have greater job stability than do independent contractors and contract company workers. Permanent full-time have greater benefits provided than the other three categories of IT professionals.

More research is needed to be able to fully understand the role that social media plays in elections, specifically in local elections. Candidates need to understand how it works and how they can effectively use this new communication medium. By exploring Diffusion of Innovation Theory, Social Information Processing Theory, and the Two-Way Symmetrical Model of communications this study sought to answer one overarching question: how should a candidate employ social media in a local election? This qualitative, single case study explores the 2014 recall and general election in Yorba Linda, California. Councilman Tom Lindsey and candidate Matt Palmer are the primary subjects of study. Observations were made through analysis of documentation, interviews, and participant and direct observation. The researcher was employed as the campaign manager for both Lindsey's and Palmer's campaigns. The findings support the use of social media in local campaigns on a case by case basis. Determining use depends on the demographics of the voters and the abilities of the candidate. The data suggests that social media needs to be part of comprehensive strategy that includes traditional communication tools. Observations from the case study illustrate the need for candidates to engage in two-way communication that is monitored and regulated. This study begins to establish social media as a tool that candidates can use to inexpensively reach voters in a way that showcases the candidate's personality and allows them to connect on a personal level with constituents. Social media will play a role in politics at all levels.

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在高工時的社會下，工作對於生活的比重愈來愈高，工作意義感對個人的重要性也與日俱增，因此，如何提升員工的工作意義感便成為了企業組織需面對的課題。過往探討工作意義感的研究顯示，除了工作特徵外，人際互動亦會對工作意義感有所影響，其中又以領導行為對於部屬工作意義感的型塑具有關鍵的重要地位。然而，對於領導行為的影響歷程，目前卻較少有量化的實徵研究出現，尤其是作為普遍於華人文化中的領導風格，家長式領導如何影響部屬的工作意義感，對華人企業主管在管理上更是格外重要。有鑑於此，本研究立基於社會訊息處理理論，探究家長式領導對於部屬工作意義感的影響，並探討工作目的與正向自我的中介效果。透過兩階段問卷施測，共收集190份有效問卷。研究結果發現仁慈領導能顯著預測工作意義感，而正向自我與工作目的在其中的中介作用則獲得部分支持。最後針對研究結果進行討論，說明理論貢獻、管理意涵、研究限制及未來研究方向。 / In modern society, employees are working longer hours than ever before. Therefore, finding meaning of work is important to employee today, and how to contribute to the perceived meaningfulness of work become a critical issue for every enterprise to face. This research model based on social information processing theory offers a theoretical approach for examining the causal effects of paternalistic leadership, a prevalent leadership style in Chinese business organizations, and the mediating role of work purpose and positive self-perceptions on subordinate meaningfulness of work. Using data form Taiwanese firms including 190 employees, results from structured equation modeling techniques supported partly our hypothesized model. Overall, this study supports and adds to the range of positive self-perceptions effects associated with paternalistic leadership and are suggestive of interventions that organizations can make to improve work meaningfulness of workers. Implications for the theory and practice of leadership are discussed.