This qualitative study uncovered the identity construction of occupational therapists located in two regions of the United States. In utilizing an organizational communication studies lens, it was discovered that occupational therapists possess multiple, conflicting, and intersecting identities. The four central categories that emerged from the data were: Therapist as catalyst of functional activity, Therapist as envoy of profession, Therapist as navigator of bureaucracy, and Therapist as member of interdisciplinary team. Therapist as catalyst of functional activity proves to be the preferred identity of occupational therapists and the subsequent identities work to support or interfere with occupational therapists ability to see themselves as a catalyst of functional activity for their patients. This study further problematizes the notion that individuals have preferred identities and the effects this has on identity construction. The examination also provides useful insights for the development of Occupational Therapy as a profession.

Despite a recent plateau in the number of international students coming to the U.S., international students still make up a significant portion of the student body at institutes of higher education. Along with attendance at schools, many international students live in campus housing, such as residence halls, and are often placed with a U.S. roommate. Previous research has shown that international and U.S. students may have cultural conflicts, particularly when living together. Since many younger students may not be interculturally competent, it is left to the staff of Residence Life offices, such as resident assistants, to counsel students through their issues; yet many resident assistants do not receive any type of intercultural competence training. A needs analysis was conducted with the current Resident Assistants at The University of Montana, and the results were used to develop intercultural communication competence training for the incoming Resident Assistants in Fall 2009.Body of paper begins here.

To assist Opportunity Resources, Inc. (ORI) in lowering its turnover rate, an assimilation program was designed to be implemented within the ogranization to enhance communication difficulties and training deficiencies. Information was collected from 17 current and former employees (management and staff) of Missoula, MT's ORI. Based from the results, a Job Rotation Position (JRP) Assimilation Program was developed and tailored using Myers and Oetzel's (2003) interactive assimilation model.

Founded in 1961, with 1.5 million people from around the world attending meetings every week today, Weight Watchers has become a socially and economically significant weight loss organization with the potential to affect the lives of many people. With that in mind, this study describes and analyzes the rhetorical strategies of Weight Watchers. More specifically, this study depicts the metaphors used by Weight Watchers to describe its 2009 program, the Momentum Program. Which metaphors are used, how those metaphors function to create a reality for dieters, how those metaphors produce and filter meaning, and the actions those metaphors encourage and discourage are discussed. Additionally, the ways in which metaphors are embedded with Western cultures assumptions about obesity and weight loss is discussed. The implications of Weight Watchers use of metaphors to describe the Momentum program are discussed as a rhetorical device that reinforces notions of the docile body, mind/body duality, normalization of the ideal body, and the care of the self. Finally, the implications of the use of mixed or multiple metaphors are discussed as being neither contradictory nor complimentary.

In June of 2006, Merck gained FDA approval for Gardasil, a human papillomavirus vaccine. Shortly before, Merck also launched a large campaign to advertise the vaccine, which has continued through today. Because of the vast number of women the vaccine has the potential to affect, the product has become socially significant. Therefore, this study examines the Gardasil campaign and how it is persuasive. More specifically, this paper studies the rhetorical appeals Merck uses and explores the ethical strengths and limitations of the advertisements. The study explores how the Gardasil campaign blends elements of an informative Campaign with an advertising campaign, and the implications of doing so. Finally, based on Mercks blended campaign, this study makes suggestions for future blended campaigns.

Public relations has become an increasingly popular topic in the nonprofit community, and the demand for developing piblic relations as a core competency has increased as well. Since many nonprofit organization have limited time and resources for developing fuull-scale public relations programs, many rely on information obtained during one-day workshops or conference presentations presented by public relations professionals who have little or no experience with the concerns of the nonprofit setting. Using a program planning model, this paper describes how nonprofit organizations can increase the capacity and effectiveness of their public relations efforts by building relationships with key stakeholders.

Most previous research on childrens adjustment following the divorce of their parents has focused on the consequences of parents actions and communication choices. Relatively little is known about the impact that sibling relationships have on post-divorce adjustment. The current study was designed to explore the relationship between sibling social support (emotional, instrumental, and informational support) and adjustment. Data was collected from 34 participants using the Retrospective Interview Technique (RIT). Participants identified key turning points in their adjustment process and used those points as an interview guide to talk about support from and communication with their siblings. Numerical questionnaire data was also collected at three turning points. Findings revealed 12 categories of turning points, of which Move, Change in family composition, Change in contact with non-residential parent, Intrapsychic change, and Change in parent relationship status were the most frequently reported. Five trajectories of adjustment were also found, namely Steady, Interrupted, Stagnating, Turbulent, and Declining. From the interview data, examples of social support and communication topics were assessed. Social support was evident in the forms of emotional, instrumental, informational, and perceived support as were more implicit categories like time together and common cause. Conversation topics included parent relationships, the effect of the divorce on other family members, making sense of the divorce, and opinions. From the support and communication data, 7 sibling types were proposed. Siblings who gave equal support to each other fell into the categories of Separates, Pals, Allies, and Opponents. Relationships where one sibling offered more support than the other were categorized as Parent, Protector, and Encourager. Statistically, no relationship was found between sibling support and adjustment, although relationships between parent support and adjustment were found. Explanations and implications are proposed.

Current research on fictive kin primarily focuses on the assignment of the fictive kin relationship, and does not focus on how acceptance of an individual as fictive kin is communicatively constructed. This research offers a look into how young adults communicate acceptance in their fictive kin relationships. Four focus groups and seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with young adults regarding their interactions that co-constructed meaning in their fictive kin relationships and how acceptance as fictive kin was communicatively constructed. A grounded theory constant comparison method is used to analyze the focus groups and interviews. The data were used to develop themes and extend the current research on fictive kin. The findings of this study illustrates how individuals are accepted into fictive kin relationships as expressed in term of events that co-construct meaning such as activities with fictive kin, the themes of stories about and rituals with fictive kin, and messages of acceptance. Additionally, this study finds that fictive kin relationships among young adults are structured in two ways, with their family of origin or separate from the family of origin. Suggestions are made for future research focusing on longitudinal studies of fictive kin among single adults as well as the structure of fictive kin relationships.

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When new members begin their employment with an organization, they make a transition from being an outsider to an insider. A significant moment arranged by the organization to facilitate socialization is the New Employee Orientation (NEO). This evaluation examines NEO in relation to the encounter stage of the socialization process. Focusing on what and how information is provided during the NEO program at the University of Montana (UM), this evaluation is based on research of the informational components of Klein and Weaver (2000) and the socialization tactics from Van Maanen and Schein (1979). General conclusions regarding NEO and socialization as well as recommendations for improvement are presented for the benefit of the Human Resource Services office at UM.