Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Grounded theory analysis, informed by a socio-cultural lens, was applied to the narratives of eighteen motorcycle riders in order to understand, from the rider’s perspective, receptivity to warning messages regarding motorcycle helmet use. This study relied upon narrative analysis to identify patterns in communication that surround motorcycle riders’ experiences. Socio-cultural cues identified importance in the process of interest development in motorcycle riding, search for information regarding motorcycle riding, response to danger within the motorcycle riding experience, and attitude toward protection messages. Narratives specific to danger, or experiences of motorcycle accidents were analyzed for comparison with fear appeal theory. Special focus was applied to Terror Management Theory (TMT) and applied to the communication surrounding the real experiences of motorcycle accident and the perceived threat of danger while motorcycle riding. Communication evidencing relational influence was examined for examples of socially constructed interpretation of social identity and an individual rider's perspective of their lifeworld. The analysis revealed evidence of the TMT concept of burying or denying thoughts of danger. The TMT concept of lifeworld influence on behavior was evidenced in riders who did not accept warning messages involving helmet use. Examples of attitude and behavior change where present in two study participants’ narratives that described experience of severe injury and also the death of a friend. The riders cited these occurrences as experiences that inhibited their previous behavior of placing thoughts of motorcycle injury and death in the back of mind. Although small in number, this participant group offered multiple categorizations of rider descriptions. The narratives offered distinction in time of life when riding interest developed. As well, motorcycle training facilities were often noted as a source of communication from which riders obtained influence on their future behaviors. From this information insight was gained to offer suggestions for future research on time of message delivery. Riders who develop interest in riding as adults represent a category on which to focus preliminary educational messages. Individuals who have not yet developed an interest in motorcycle riding may benefit from societal cues that demonstrate safe riding behavior. Future research in mass media appeals focused on motorcycle riders are suggested, as is development of educational programs for delivery to high school audiences.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Physicians were interviewed and asked about their perspectives on communicating with patients, media, and the ways in which the biomedical and biopsychosocial models function in the practice of medicine. Fisher’s Narrative Paradigm was the primary critical method applied to themes that emerged from the interviews. Those emergent themes included the importance of a team approach to patient care; perspectives on physicians as bad communicators; and successful communication strategies when talking to patients. Physicians rely on nurses and other support staff, but the most important partnership is that between the physician and patient. Narrative fidelity and probability are satisfied by strategies physicians use in communicating with patients: using understandable language when talking to patients; engaging in nonverbal tactics of sitting down with patients, making eye contact with patients, and making appropriate physical contact with them in the form of a handshake or a light touch on the arm. Physicians are frustrated by media’s reporting of preliminary study results that omit details as well as media’s fostering of expectations for quick diagnostic processes and magical cures within the public. Furthermore, physicians see the biomedical and biopsychosocial models becoming increasingly interdependent in the practice of medicine, which carries the story of contemporary medicine further into the realm of partnership, revealing its humanity as well as its fading paternalism.