Successful project management plays an important role in contemporary business. To accomplish successful project delivery, a project manager has to do more than simply work within predefined project management constructs and techniques. One major additional element is team motivation, but understanding how motivation works from the project manager's perspective remains unclear. To gain further insight, the Project Management Institute (PMI) online research network was used to discover currently held perceptions regarding team motivation by project management professionals. Factors that cause low levels of team motivation were explored and perceptions regarding successful motivation techniques were measured. In addition, the study introduced the project stages concept into team motivation theory by assessing perceptions regarding the relation of team motivation factors based on project stage. / A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Communication in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science. / Spring Semester, 2007. / December 8, 2006. / Team, Project Stages, Project Management, Motivation / Includes bibliographical references. / Jonathan Adams, Professor Directing Thesis; John DuBard, Committee Member; Philip Grise, Committee Member.

This paper examined the users and marketing efficacy of MP3 music blogs. MP3 blogs are a specific type of blog that feature posts about musicians and have sample MP3s available for download. This study found that artists looking to gain access to an early adopter and non-mainstream music audience might find some success approaching blogs as a promotional tool with the hopes that blog chatter would influence a larger, more mainstream music audience, but would not likely generate sales within the core readership by simply making songs available for download. A factor analysis identified four uses for music blogs: free music, learn about a band, be in on the buzz, and library building. Qualitative data added a fifth use, being a part of the blog culture and community. Regression demonstrated that using blogs for the purpose of obtaining free music negatively affected album purchases. / A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Communication in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science. / Spring Semester, 2006. / April 3, 2006. / Philip Grise, Uses and Gratifications, Online Marketing, Blogs / Includes bibliographical references. / Steven McClung, Professor Directing Thesis; Jay Rayburn, Committee Member; Philip Grise, Committee Member.

"Hollywood Counterterrorism: Violence, Protest and the Middle East in U.S. Action Feature Films" demonstrates how Western discourses of counterterrorism and the Middle East have shaped Hollywood cinematic productions through sourcing and collaboration with private and official institutions. I historicize how terrorism emerged to become a privileged concept in the representation of Hollywood cinema and how hegemonic counterterrorism discourses of the Middle East are encoded in film aesthetics and narrative in the process of U.S. motion picture production. The account of the dissertation delineates how the Hollywood simulacrum of Middle East terrorism is a site for cultural, racial and religious conflict pertaining to mediated representations of political and religious violence. The economic policies and wars of such a social order have become naturalized and all-pervasive in the Hollywood action film genre. / A Dissertation submitted to the College of Communication and Information in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Fall Semester, 2009. / October 30, 2009. / Arabs Hollywood, Film Production, Muslims, Middle East, Counterterrorism, Terrorism / Includes bibliographical references. / Andrew Opel, Professor Directing Dissertation; Cecil Greek, University Representative; Donna Nudd, Committee Member; Stephen McDowell, Committee Member.

This dissertation is a rhetorical examination of a virtual community that has developed around Formula As—a Romanian print and Web based publication that over the course of fourteen years has built a readership of eight million despite the unstable Romanian transition media environment. The purpose of this study is to help understand the manner in which the Formula As magazine brings together a geographically fragmented public into a community and explore the role of storytelling in the rhetorical construction of this community. The dissertation employs an eclectic theoretical perspective and a rhetorical-based methodology. This study's theoretical framework brings together concepts from different areas of inquiry such as virtual community and computer-mediated communication, public sphere, interactive journalism, and hermeneutics. Fisher's narrative paradigm serves as the interpretive lens that is used in this study to gain insight into the dynamic of building community among the readers of the Formula As magazine. To uncover the distinctiveness of the Formula As community, this study proposes a virtual community conceptual model containing six conditions—community self-refernce, common interests and goals, membership boundaries, shared history, common discursive space, and interactivity. One of the major findings of this study is that at a very basic level, virtual communities are quite similar. The Formula As readers are brought together in an imagined community that has social reality for them. The shared Romanian cultural memory, flexible group boundaries, and the exchange of naturistic remedies information and cooperation in humanitarian work enable Formula As participants to develop a history together. At a fundamental level, the Formula As community members sustain connections and imagine themselves and others as constituting a community through the shared practices of interpreting the community texts and making public participants' stories of involvement with the magazine's community. From a rhetorical perspective, this study revealed that in the Formula As community, storytelling provides participants with a safe avenue for disclosing sensitive personal information while the discursive space of the magazine becomes the locus for shaping public opinion on a series of specific social issues. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Communication in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Fall Semester, 2005. / August 25, 2005. / Online Journalism, Paul Ricoeur, Hermeneutics, Narrative, Storytelling, Computer-mediated Communication, Romanian Media, Online Cooperation, Imagined Communities, Sociomental Network, Formula As, Online Community, Virtual Community, Internet, Rhetoric / Includes bibliographical references. / Marilyn J. Young, Professor Directing Dissertation; Gary Burnett, Outside Committee Member; Davis Houck, Committee Member; Andrew Opel, Committee Member; Stephen D. McDowell, Committee Member.

The purposes of the study were to examine the potential of video games as mood changing tools, and to compare the effects of interactive media to mood and enjoyment with those of traditional media. Mood management theory was employed as a theoretical framework. Specifically, since interactive media require more cognitive intervention, this dissertation predicted 1) video games would enhance mood among members of the bad mood condition better than members of the good mood condition, and 2) video game would be more effective than DVD clips to change bad mood. A factorial design with two mood conditions (good vs. bad), media condition (video game vs. DVD clip) and time (pre- vs. post-media exposure) was employed to examine the predictions. The sample was recruited from large-lecture classes in the Department of Communication at FSU. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the four conditions. It was found that video games were effective in changing mood. Specifically, consistent with mood management assumptions, members of the bad mood group reported greater positive mood increase and negative mood decrease than members of the good mood group. In a cross-medium setting, the expected mood and media interaction effect was not observed. However, when video game skill was used as one of the factors, mood management expectations were partially supported. Specifically, video game players increased their positive mood greater than DVD clip viewers, only when their video game skill was highly competent. Based on these results, this dissertation concludes that 1) video games are media that can be considered as possible mood enhancers, 2) although media interactivity is often defined as the amount of technological features a medium provides, perceived interactivity may better explain the effect of interactivity on media users' affective, cognitive and behavioral responses, 3) video game skill or familiarity with the game is a significant predictor of mood enhancement and enjoyment among video game players, 4) the intervention potential of a media message or a media type is a significant predictor of enjoyment in cross-medium comparison setting, and 5) enjoyment is obtained when positive factor of mood increased. / A Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Communication in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester, 2008. / December 13, 2007. / Enjoyment, Media Effect, Video Game, Mood Management, Mood, Interactivity / Includes bibliographical references. / Arthur A. Raney, Professor Directing Dissertation; Susan Losh, Outside Committee Member; Gary R. Heald, Committee Member; Steven McClung, Committee Member.

This research explored video games in the context of mood management. Specifically, the goal was to determine if playing a massively multi-player online game (MMOG) would allow respondents in varied mood states to achieve or perpetuate an optimal level of arousal during game play. The MMOG chosen was World of Warcraft. A total of 63 males and 18 females participated in the research. The study involved a short-term field experiment in which the respondents' moods were manipulated prior to game exposure. Three groups comprised the research (boredom induced group, stress induced group, and a control group). An experimental mood scale based on absolute values (2 = bored, 1 = sort of bored, 0 = feel good, 1 = sort of stressed, 2 = stressed) collected data on self-reported mood states during game-play as a method to determine levels of arousal. The means of the mood scale were compared to the optimal arousal zone (OAZ) in which a mean score of .50 or less was considered within the zone. A WrisTech monitor collected cardiovascular measurements as an additional method to determine arousal levels. The mood and cardiovascular measurements were collected in 5-minute intervals across 30-minutes of game-play. The calculations of a one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ORM-ANOVA) found significant results to support the main hypothesis and answering the primary research question stating that mood state would improve as a result of being exposed to game-play for a 10-minute and 30-minute time frame. Additionally, a favorable outcome was found for the hypotheses and research questions that involved a reduction in stress based on a decrease in cardiovascular reactivity during game play. Key Terms: mood management theory, massively multi-player online games (MMOG), World of Warcraft, optimal arousal zone (OAZ), mood scale, WrisTech monitor. / A Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Communication in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester, 2008. / March 17, 2008. / Mood Management Theory, Massively Multi-Player Online Games (MMOG), World Of Warcraft, Optimal Arousal Zone (OAZ), Mood Scale, Wristech Monitor / Includes bibliographical references. / Arthur A. Raney, Professor Directing Thesis; Nancy Everhart, Outside Committee Member; Laura Arpan, Committee Member; John DuBard, Committee Member.

The first essay extends Cronin, Brady and Hult's (2000) model of quality, satisfaction and purchase intentions to include the antecedent of environmental responsiveness. The findings support those of Cronin, Brady and Hult (2000) in that there is a positive, direct relationship between quality, satisfaction and purchase intentions. The findings also suggest that environmental responsiveness leads to positive assessments of satisfaction and quality. It is thereby suggested that environmentally responsive organizations' products lead to high quality assessments because "green" products are viewed as being technologically advanced and quality is defined as having technological excellence. Therefore, "green" products, by definition, are perceived to be of high quality. Also, it is suggested that environmentally responsive organizations' products lead to greater customer satisfaction because of individuals' intrinsic motivations to act in the least detrimental way possible. Therefore, "green" products are preferred because they fulfill this response to engage in beneficial activities. The second essay considers the effects of four promotional types (i.e. advertising, public relations, word of mouth and expert testimonials) on the relationships between environmental responsiveness, quality, satisfaction and purchase intentions. The findings suggest that environmental responsiveness has positive affects on quality and purchase intentions, but that the relationships are not highly effected by the different forms of promotion. Advertising, public relations and word of mouth promotions suggest a weak relationship between environmental responsiveness and satisfaction, whereas expert testimonial is the sole promotion to strengthen this relationship. A possible explanation to this finding is the high level of credibility associated with expert testimonials that is not associated with the other forms of promotion. This high level of credibility eases the skepticism consumers' associate with environmental claims, which increases their level of satisfaction with the "green" product. / A Thesis Submitted to the College of Communication in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science. / Spring Semester, 2009. / April 6, 2009. / Sustainability, Marketing / Includes bibliographical references. / Jay D. Rayburn, Professor Co-Directing Thesis; J. Joseph Cronin, Jr., Professor Co-Directing Thesis; Gary R. Heald, Committee Member.

This study identifies communication, demographic, social and behavioral factors that predict smokeless tobacco use among Florida adolescents. The study merged multiple Florida Anti-Tobacco Media Evaluation (FAME) data sets from May 2000, October 2000 and May 2001, focusing on adolescents (ages 12-17). The data contained measures of smokeless tobacco use, prevalence of smoking and other substance use and a series of predictor factors that included demographic characteristics, social environment, risk-taking behaviors and receptivity to anti and pro-tobacco promotions. Nonparametric Chi-square analyses were used to test relationships identified in six research questions. The analyses featured a subsample of high school age males and comparisons between a subgroup of male nonathletes versus male athletes. Across these six research questions there are five patterns that are especially notable. Race, grade in school, job status and anti-tobacco promotions predicted smokeless tobacco use among both the male adolescents and the nonathlete/athlete subsamples. In predicting receptivity to anti-tobacco promotions, only grade was an important predictor among both the total male subsample and the male nonathletes versus male athletes subgroups. Smokeless tobacco use was related to alcohol consumption, cheating in school, and lying to parents among both the male adolescents, and the subsample of male nonathletes versus athletes. Two of the key patterns were found only for the total male subsample. Male adolescents who used smokeless were also more likely to use other high-risk products, including cigarettes and cigars. Finally, among the total male subgroup, siblings and best friends' use of tobacco were positively associated with adolescent smokeless tobacco use. Overall, the findings from this study support the traditional views that older male adolescents are more likely to use smokeless tobacco products. Male athletes, when compared to male nonathletes, were more likely to use smokeless tobacco. Across the 29 variables that have been previously related directly or conditionally to tobacco use, in 25 analyses, the variables were also related to smokeless tobacco use for the total male subsample. Considering these 25 analyses, however, in only eight (8) instances were there differences in the responses given by male nonathletes versus male athletes. These analyses provide a deeper understanding of the factors that predict smokeless tobacco usage among adolescents. These findings should help communication and health professionals design and target messages aimed at preventing high school males from using smokeless tobacco. / A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Communication in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Arts. / Fall Semester, 2006. / November 6, 2006. / Adolescents, Receptivity, Smokeless Tobacco, Athletes / Includes bibliographical references. / Gary R. Heald, Professor Directing Thesis; Jay D. Rayburn, Committee Member; Steven McClung, Committee Member.

The focus of this thesis centers on the recovery of primary sources. The eulogies within this text serve as examples of speeches which do not fully adhere to the generic propriety of their classification, yet still produce significant rhetorical action embedded within themselves. These eulogies highlight the link between memory and knowledge, and the influence each has upon the other. It is the attempt to persuade public memory in their given rhetorical situation which makes these particular speeches so rhetorically attractive. The goal of this thesis is not to judge whether or not the rhetors are successful with their method of persuasion, the aim is to make manifest the rhetorical action within the texts themselves. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Communication in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Spring Semester, 2005. / December 10, 2004. / Precedence, Eulogy, Genre, Rhetoric / Includes bibliographical references. / Davis Houck, Professor Directing Thesis; Marilyn J Young, Committee Member; Joe Richardson, Committee Member.

Children with phonological impairment (PI) are at increased risk for reading and spelling difficulties. To date, research has focused primarily on the phonological awareness abilities of children with PI as means of examining factors that impact their literacy development. However, research in the area of morphological awareness indicates that it is an essential skill, beyond phonological awareness, necessary for the successful acquisition of reading and spelling. This study investigated the morphological awareness abilities of children with PI as little is known about their morphological awareness skills. By examining the morphological awareness of children with PI, a better understanding of factors that might place these students at risk for reading and spelling difficulties can be developed. Eighty-eight first grade students, 44 students with PI, or a history of PI, and 44 students with typical speech and language skills (TD), were recruited as participants. All participants completed an assessment battery designed to measure expressive phonology, morphological awareness, phonological awareness, letter-name knowledge, receptive vocabulary, reading, and spelling. Descriptive quantitative research methods were used to answer the study's research questions. Specifically, independent samples t-tests were used to determine whether there were differences in morphological awareness abilities between students with PI and students with TD. Regression analyses were used to determine whether the morphological awareness of children with PI and children with typical development account for significant independent variance on measures of reading and spelling. Results from the t-tests suggested significant differences between children with TD and children with PI on all measures of morphological awareness. Regression analyses suggested morphological awareness predicted significant unique variance on the spelling measure for both groups as well as for reading for children with TD; morphological awareness did not significantly predict additional variance on the reading measure for children with PI. Results indicate that children with PI are significantly outperformed by typically developing peers on measures of morphological awareness. This gap in performance may help explain, to some extent, the differences in reading abilities between children with PI and children with TD. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Communication Disorders in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester, 2008. / April 2, 2008. / Morphological Awareness, Phonological Impairment / Includes bibliographical references. / Kenn Apel, Professor Directing Dissertation; Laura Lang, Outside Committee Member; Howard Goldstein, Committee Member; Shurita Thomas-Tate, Committee Member.