In this dissertation, I examine the rhetorical analysis of a recent reproductive technology court dispute, Davis v Davis. This case was rendered by the Tennessee State Supreme Court by Justice Daughtrey on June 1, 1992. The opinion seeks to resolve the disposition of seven frozen embryos left in cryopreservation during an in vitro fertilization (IVF) agreement. / In my analysis, I first make an argument for the merger of postmodern, namely Foucauldian, and feminist voices. Later, I suggest that these postmodern feminists can mobilize around the Critical Legal Studies (CLS) to produce explicit change in the realm of IVF. Next, I explore the broad implications of postmodern feminism as applied to Davis. / In chapter seven, I apply the analysis of explicit change to a close reading of Davis. In my reconstruction of Davis, I turn to legal storytelling and feminist narrativity as a possible alternative reading. / Last, I conclude the major findings of the study and provide several suggestions for possible future research in the area. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-02, Section: A, page: 0370. / Major Professor: Marilyn Young. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1993.

The purpose of this study was to investigate perceived managerial communication behavioral differences between male and female managers employed by the State of Florida. The subjects were male and female senior-level managers from the Senior Management System (SMS) of state government. These managers represented each of the four administrative levels in the SMS (i.e., bureaus, departments, divisions, and agencies). Members of this class are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. / The subjects responded to a 40-item survey describing various task-oriented and social-emotional oriented communication behaviors. The respondents indicated how important they perceived these behaviors to be to them as managers and also how frequently they perceived that they used each behavior. Comparisons were made between the subjects according to sex and managerial level. / The study addressed the following objectives: (1) To identify managerial communication behaviors as perceived by male and female managers, and what differences, if any, existed because of gender or managerial level. (2) To discover the perception of the importance of task-oriented and social-emotional oriented behaviors, and what differences, if any, existed because of gender or managerial level. (3) To discover the perception of frequency of use of task-oriented and social-emotional oriented behaviors, and what differences, if any, existed because of gender and managerial level. / The objectives of this study led to several test hypotheses. The findings of this study are as follows: (1) On task-oriented behaviors, no difference existed between the sexes on their perception of the importance of task-oriented behaviors nor in their use of them. Also, when comparing the differences between the managerial levels, no statistical differences were revealed. (2) On socio-emotional behaviors, no difference was found between the sexes on their perception of the importance of nor in their use of socio-emotional behaviors. Similarly, no statistical difference was found when comparing managerial levels. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-02, Section: A, page: 0250. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1987.

Previous research on charismatic leadership has demonstrated that leaders exhibiting charismatic behaviors can have a significant impact on followers' attitudes, behaviors, and performance. This study attempted to extend charismatic leadership theory by investigating the relationship between charismatic leadership and group level concerns such as perceptions of group drive, group cohesiveness, and group performance within interacting workgroups. / In a laboratory setting with manipulated independent variables, a total of 199 college students were randomized into approximately 34 six member groups to complete a simulated group decision making task. Each of the 34 workgroups were "charge" with completing a group decision making task by an organizational leader portraying either charismatic behaviors or noncharismatic behaviors. The role of the organizational leader was portrayed by two male actors trained to deliver a group charge in both a charismatic and noncharismatic manner. / Results indicated that subjects exposed to a charismatically communicated group charge did not report significantly higher levels of group drive, group cohesiveness, or group performance than those subjects exposed to a noncharismatically communicated group charge. Contrary to what was expected, noncharismatically charged subjects reported significantly higher levels of cohesiveness and performed better as a workgroup than those subjects exposed to a charismatically communicated charge. Exploratory analysis also reveals that while charismatically charged subjects did not report significantly greater levels of group drive, cohesiveness, or perform better, they did report significantly more positive attitudes and perceptions toward the leader. This suggests that while charismatic leaders may have individual level effects as predicted by charismatic leadership theory, the strength of that effect may not be strong enough to overcome the interaction patterns and norms that develop within interacting workgroups. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-04, Section: A, page: 1392. / Major Professor: C. E. Wotring. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1996.

This content analytic study identifies the messages employed in the song lyrics of Andrae Crouch, a gospel artist, musician and songwriter. Several chapters equip the reader with a rationale for examining music as rhetoric, black gospel music and the lyrics of Andrae Crouch. The remaining chapters address the methods and procedures used to analyze the lyrics of Crouch and provides an overview of the findings. / Based on a content analysis of protest and labor movement songs by Knupp (1970), the author devised a coding scheme and tested for purposes of exhaustive, mutually exclusive and independent categories and reliability. / The author and another coder content analyzed twelve record albums containing ninety-seven gospel songs by Crouch. Eight of the twenty-six categories used in the study proved to be exhaustive, mutually exclusive, and coded reliably. Additionally, experts on the Bible and gospel music were employed to analyze the lyrics for the use of lyrical ascription. / The study reveals that Crouch's lyrics transcend economic, racial, and social issues and address the individual's spiritual growth. Crouch's use of biblical lyrical ascription was explicit in 53% of his songs with 76% coming from the New Testament. Traditional song lyrical ascription was identified in only 4% of Crouch's lyrics. Finally, Crouch's lyrics represent three distinct periods. The first period, Albums 1-6, reveals the explicit use of "Jesus," "Christ," "Lord," "God," and "Savior" in Crouch's lyrics. The second period, Albums 7-11, use these names the least; however, Crouch's secular appeal is the highest. Period three, Album 12, shows Crouch returning to his initial style to depict God in his lyrics. / Avenues for future research on gospel music are described after the research methodology has been reviewed. Improvements for content analyzing the lyrics of gospel songs should result. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-12, Section: A, page: 3955. / Major Professor: Thomas King. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1990.

In response to the current situation regarding the study of social influence in organizations, this study examined the role of target communicator style in managers selecting compliance-gaining strategies and communicator styles. / Subjects were 248 managers working in a variety of organizations located in a southeastern state. Respondents reflected a large number of occupations and professions. / Respondents were mailed a questionnaire. They were provided three target descriptions and requested to indicate how likely they would be to invoke various compliance-gaining strategies and communicator styles with a boss and subordinate having an attractive, unattractive, or contentious communicator style. / The study employed a repeated measures design with two within-subjects factors, target communicator style and target status. A MANOVA was performed to test four hypotheses and eight research questions. Two questions were noninferential and required the calculation of means. / Statistical significance was reached for the four hypotheses. Managers were (a) less likely to use "hard" strategies with an attractive subordinate versus an unattractive or contentious subordinate, (b) less likely to invoke "hard" strategies with an attractive boss versus an unattractive or contentious boss, (c) less likely to invoke "hard" strategies with their boss than their subordinate, and (d) more likely to use reason with a boss than a subordinate. / Statistical significance was also reached in answering the research questions. It was found that managers were (a) more likely to use reason with an attractive boss versus an unattractive boss, (b) more likely to use friendliness with their boss than subordinate, (c) more likely to use friendliness with an attractive subordinate than with an unattractive or contentious subordinate, (d) more likely to use bargaining with an unattractive boss than an attractive boss and (e) more likely to use bargaining with a contentious boss than an attractive boss. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-12, Section: A, page: 3549. / Major Professor: James Potter. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1988.

This study examined various aspects of Communicator Style within a sample (n = 28) of college-level teachers aged 64 to 75. The purpose of the investigation was to generate descriptive data about the observed communication behaviors of educators in this age group by comparing teachers' self reports with students' (n = 645) assessments of their teacher's style. Teachers who participated from Florida State University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and the University of West Florida selected one of their classes to serve as volunteers. During the last four weeks of the same semester, teachers and students completed the Teacher Communicator Style survey and answered demographic and background information questions. Teachers additionally responded to a measure ("Teacher Communicator Style-Time Series") which elicited responses to changes in Communicator Image over their college teaching career based upon the respondent's recollections. These instructors also answered an open-ended question which asked them to identify any changes in communication style that had occurred over their career. Findings showed the following: teachers and students differed significantly on three of the eleven style subconstructs (Dramatic, Attentive, Friendly); students assigned higher ratings to teachers more often than teachers assigned to themselves; teachers' Communicator Image (scores obtained from the respondent's recollections of past behaviors) peaked 10 years ago and reached a plateau thereafter; female students assigned higher style ratings to teachers more often than male students; and graduate students rated teachers higher than did undergraduates. Other findings related to style emerged around the instructor's orientation toward teaching or research. Results showed that instructors oriented toward teaching received higher style scores on the Open and / Impression Leaving subconstructs than those oriented toward research. Overall, the results suggest that there is more congruity than incongruity between the self-reported style ratings of older teachers and assessments given by their students. Responses to an open-ended question provided additional data on teachers' perceptions of change in their communicator style across their college teaching career. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-12, Section: A, page: 4144. / Major Professor: James C. Moore. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1991.

Using performance management techniques in business and industry has been a proven method for increasing desired behaviors under study. Casey (1990) and Wolf (1978) have both suggested additional outcome measures which need to be addressed if continued research is to be conducted in an effective manner. These include measures of social validity, cost of intervention, and measuring the correlation of both sales volume and sales-related behavior. This research project attempts to take into consideration all of the variables suggested above by conducting an applied study using performance management techniques and measuring the additional outcome measures. / To test these suggestions, an applied research project was conducted in which employees of a national restaurant chain from the state of Florida were presented with a series of interventions designed to increase sales volume and sales-related behavior. Consumers were also polled as to their reactions about the behaviors which the employees were now practicing. / The results are a study which has attempted to measure all areas of responsible applied research as promoted by Casey (1990) and Wolf (1978). It is hoped that this research project will demonstrate that these standards should be adhered to by all researchers while conducting current and future research. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-03, Section: A, page: 0761. / Major Professors: Jon Bailey; Barry Sapolsky. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1994.

New technologies have given rise to new media and new uses of existing media. The remote control device (RCD) has allowed television viewers greater opportunity for selective exposure, selective attention and control over their viewing habits. Past research on RCD usage has been based on self-report, wherein viewers "remember" how often they use their RCD to change channels and why they used it. / This study recorded RCD activity in a naturalistic setting, monitoring channel changing and other RCD behaviors and determined discrepancies between reported and actual RCD use. This is one of a few academic studies of RCDs that does not rely on a survey (respondent recall), but rather records actual behaviors in the participants' home. This study also examines viewers' uses of RCDs within the framework of selective exposure. / Slightly over 374 hours of television viewing by 44 participants yielded 13,680 channel switches. It was found that viewers made an average of 36.6 channel changes per hour. In other words, they watch channels for an average of one minute and 38 seconds between changes. Further analyses revealed an audience of channel "surfers" as 80% of the switches took place after a channel was on for less than five seconds. Participants watched an average of 6.3 different channels and almost half (49%) of the total viewing time was spent watching the four major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox). / A profile distinguishes three types of RCD users: (1) consistently high channel changers; (2) consistently low channel changers; and (3) conventional channel changers (those who engage in high and low channel switching). These three groups differ in the average number of channel changes per hour as well various RCD and television viewing behaviors. / The implications of this study's findings as they relate to television programming, the advertising industry and new communication technologies are also discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-12, Section: A, page: 3675. / Major Professor: Barry S. Sapolsky. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1994.

Copyright infringement is not a recent phenomenon; however, the prevalence of the Internet and piracy software has made infringement easier to commit and harder to prosecute. Research identifies the offenders to be in their late-teens and early 20s, an age group that has been christened Generation Y or Millennials. This study confirmed that 19- to 25-year-old college students pirate music at an alarming rate; however, their responses indicate that they are pirating less than previously suggested. This study also determined through survey and focus group research that a disparity exists between legal and cultural mores. According to Posner's theory means-end rationality, if current deterrents fail to prevent future infringements, the justice system must adapt modifications to penalties or jurisprudence is not fulfilling its purpose.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3694. Adviser: Mark A. Hasegawa-Johnson. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 167-173) Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.