The widely used mobile phone, as well as its related technologies had opened opportunities for a complete change on how people interact and build relationship across geographic and time considerations. The convenience of instant communication by mobile phones that broke the barrier of space and time is evidently the key motivational point on why such technologies so important in people's life and daily activities. Mobile phones have become the most popular communication tools. Mobile phone technology is apparently changing our relationship to each other in our work and lives. The impact of new technologies on people's lives in social spaces gives us the chance to rethink the possibilities of technologies in social interaction. Accordingly, mobile phones are basically changing social relations in ways that are intricate to measure with any precision. In this dissertation I propose a socioscope model for social network, relationship and human behavior analysis based on mobile phone call detail records. Because of the diversities and complexities of human social behavior, one technique cannot detect different features of human social behaviors. Therefore I use multiple probability and statistical methods for quantifying social groups, relationships and communication patterns, for predicting social tie strengths and for detecting human behavior changes and unusual consumption events. I propose a new reciprocity index to measure the level of reciprocity between users and their communication partners. The experimental results show that this approach is effective. Among other applications, this work is useful for homeland security, detection of unwanted calls (e.g., spam), telecommunication presence, and marketing. In my future work I plan to analyze and study the social network dynamics and evolution.

Today’s military encompasses a wide variety of families who are affected by deployments in multiple and complex ways. Following deployments, families must reconnect in their relationships and reestablish their way of life. Appropriate and effective communication during this time is critical, yet many military couples struggle with this process. Moreover, student service members/veterans and their families are in a unique position. In addition to coping with changes in their marital relationship, student veterans may feel isolated or unsupported on college campuses, often experiencing anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, or suicidality. The current study seeks to bridge the gap between the military family literature and the student service member/veteran literature by examining how deployment experiences, mental health issues, and communication patterns influence post-deployment relationship adjustment among student veterans. Analyses tested whether communication style and/or current mental health concerns mediate associations between combat experiences and couples’ relationship adjustment, as well as between experiences in the aftermath of battle and relationship adjustment. Results suggest that although posttraumatic stress is significantly related to deployment experiences among student veterans, participants report no significant negative effects of deployment on relationship adjustment. Communication style, however, was significantly associated with relationship adjustment, and a lack of positive communication was found to correlate with PTSD diagnosis. Research and clinical implications are discussed.

How we share our good news with people can have a significant effect on our lives. Sharing good news on social media sites involves a process called capitalization. Capitalization has been shown to increase well-being when others provide appropriate responses in face-to-face interactions. To see if this effect on well-being extends to our online presence, this study utilized the social media site Facebook to observe if capitalization predicted well-being and relationship satisfaction. This study used data collected from 137 participants recruited from an undergraduate participant pool and from Amazon Mechanical Turk. Consistent with hypotheses, participants who reported receiving active and constructive responses after sharing a positive event on Facebook also reported greater personal well-being and relationship satisfaction. Although future experimental research is needed to establish causality, the current results suggest that the ways in which friends respond to social media posts are associated with personal and relationship well-being. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T18:16:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jose Rodrigo Paulino Fontanari.pdf: 1160818 bytes, checksum: 4eeaf8c3a0d6645e434d1ff24228b14f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-02-25 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The current research approaches the comunicative modality we name: olfactory communication . We understand the perfume as a media form. We have investigated the history of the perfume in several civilizations and its use in the rituals. We have inserted some discoveries regarding the smell in the communication of the human being since their early age. As the contemporary civilization has privileged the senses of distance (the sight and the hearing) to detriment of the proximity senses (the smell and the taste), we have attempted to verify the translation of the perfume for the visual code. In such a way, therefore executives advertising propagated in the feminine magazines Claude, Elle, Marie Claire and Nova in the period of 1993 the 2004 are analaysed. The work is supported in the concepts of ecology of the communication proposed by Vicente Romano, of the ethology of the communication by Boris Cyrulnik, as well the concepts of primary, secondary and tertiary media of Harry Pross. In the same proportion of the suffering of the proximity senses, we observe of the bonds of the affection. To carry out of this research, Semiotics of the Culture was chosen, wich understands the body, the perfume and the smell as cultural possessing texts of great informative capacity in ample direction. Through this semiotics, the paradigms will be constituted as object of study object and to tack the three spheres of the research (body, perfume and smell). This triad shows as one of the possible ways to keep the interpersonal communicative bonds of proximity / A presente pesquisa aborda a modalidade comunicativa que denominamos comunicação olfativa . Compreendemos o perfume como forma de mídia. Investigamos a história do perfume em diversas civilizações e seu uso nos rituais. Inserimos algumas descobertas a respeito do olfato na comunicação do ser humano desde seus primeiros anos de vida. Uma vez que a civilização contemporânea tem privilegiado os sentidos de distância (a visão e a audição) em detrimento dos sentidos de proximidade (o olfato e o paladar), procuramos verificar como se dá a tradução do perfume para o código visual. Para tanto, são analisadas peças publicitárias veiculadas nas revistas femininas Claudia, Elle, Marie Claire e Nova no período de 1993 a 2004. O trabalho apóia-se nos conceitos de ecologia da comunicação proposto por Vicente Romano, de etologia da comunicação de Boris Cyrulnik e também de mídia primária, secundária e terciária de Harry Pross. Na mesma proporção do padecimento dos sentidos de proximidade, observa-se o esmaecimento dos vínculos do afeto. Para a elaboração desta pesquisa, elegeu-se a Semiótica da Cultura, que entende o corpo, o perfume e o olfato como textos da cultura possuidores de grande capacidade informativa em sentido amplo. Por meio dessa semiótica, serão constituídos os paradigmas para focar o objeto de estudo e alinhavar as três esferas de pesquisa (corpo, perfume e olfato). Essa tríade revela-se como uma das possíveis maneiras de manter os vínculos comunicativos interpessoais de proximidade

張櫻. / 呈交日期: 2006年5月. / 論文(哲學博士)--香港中文大學, 2006. / 參考文獻(p. 193-215). / Cheng jiao ri qi: 2006 nian 5 yue. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Lun wen (zhe xue bo shi)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 2006. / Can kao wen xian (p. 193-215). / Zhang Ying.

The purpose of this study was to understand how early adolescents talk about cross-racial and cross-ethnic friendships. Gordon Allport's intergroup contact theory provided the framework for studying the elements needed for inter-racial and inter-ethnic friendship formation. Qualitative data were drawn from four separately recorded peer group conversations. Participants (n=18) were recruited from Parrish Middle School in Salem, Oregon. Patterns that emerged from the data were sorted, categorized and identified according to the tenets of intergroup contact theory or extensions of intergroup contact theory. Analysis also looked at the use of metaphors and storytelling among adolescents. Results showed that while intergroup contact theory tenets of interdependence and common goals can foster cross-ethnic and cross-racial friendships, most students form these friendships through friendship chaining and common interests. Dual racial identity and peer group influence can also be positive factors in cross-racial and cross-ethnic friendship development. Further, storytelling examples by adolescents showed similar techniques to those used by adults. Overall the results from this study support intergroup contact theory as continuing to be a useful conceptual framework for encouraging cross-group relations.

While a growing body of literature exists examining how intersecting social identities and structural organizations shape the on-campus hookup script, research examining the impact of technology on the hookup culture has been virtually nonexistent. Addressing this gap, this study adds to a current body of literature on the hookup culture and online dating by exploring how a diverse sample of young women and non-binary, femme individuals understand and negotiate interpersonal sexual scripts through the mobile dating app Tinder. Ultimately, findings from 25 in-depth interviews reveal how Tinder has shaped the sexual scripts of young adult dating into a "hybrid hookup script." Unlike the traditional college hookup culture, which centers the hookup script on fraternity parties, sexual dancing, and drinking, the hybrid hookup script reintroduces traditional dating practices, such as formal dates, into the modern sexual scripts of young adults. Specifically, the hybrid hookup script maintains the traditional gendered expectation that men initiate conversations and dates, while incorporating the patterns of drinking and the expectation of non-relational sex central to the on-campus hookup culture. Nearly all participants engaged in the hybrid hookup script to some extent; yet, women of color were overrepresented among those who eventually opted out of Tinder altogether. In particular, experiences of sexual and racial harassment created an environment in which women of color felt racially objectified and fetishized. As a result, the majority of women of color indicated that they deleted the app and did not intend to go back. Overall, results underscore how the Tinder app may be operating to rearticulate existing hierarchies of gender and race.

Il progetto di ricerca è articolato in tre moduli di indagine (studi), ciascuno finalizzato a coprire specifici ordini di obiettivi: - un primo studio finalizzato ad analizzare come un messaggio preventivo sul tema AIDS sia metabolizzato nello scambio interpersonale fra pari e come questo influenzi la finalizzazione pragmatica (ri-uso) che l'individuo fa delle informazioni preventive. - un secondo studio volto a comprendere come il medium di rilevazione di un focus group (Face to face vs Online) ne influenzi il processo di costruzione dei dati (in termini sia di caratteristiche conversazionali dello scambio sia di contenuti evocati nella discussione). - un terzo studio dedicato alla verifica cross-culturale (stabilità e variabilità) dei risultati raccolti nei primi due studi. In concreto lo studio è stato realizzato conducendo: - 16 focus groups omogenei con giovani (18-25 anni) - in due contesti socio-culturali (Italia e Canada) - e tramite diversi media di rilevazione (face-to-face vs. forum vs. chat vs. forum+chat) - introducendo in ogni gruppo un messaggio preventivo sull'AIDS come stimolo di discussione. Le verbalizzazioni dei 16 focus groups sono stati analizzati con diverse tecniche - analisi psico-sociale del discorso; analisi del contenuto software based (T-lab); analisi conversazionale di alcuni estratti significativi; analisi quantitativa del discorso (Atlas.ti) - al fine di una migliore copertura degli obiettivi d'indagine: La ricerca evidenzia interessanti stabilità cross-culturali dei risultati: - sia rispetto al ruolo dello scambio sociale nel metabolizzare il processo dalla ricezione all'uso di un messaggio preventivo - sia rispetto alle ricadute del medium di rilevazione sulla costruzione dei dati nella ricerca qualitativa. / The research project consists of three studies, each one aiming to achieve specific objectives: - Study I attempts to describe how an HIV-AIDS preventive message is metabolized in a peer group exchange and how this influences individuals' re-use of health information in daily life. - Study II aims to describe how data collection strategies frame findings production in qualitative research. In particular the study has focused on how the data collection medium (face-to-face vs. the Internet) structures interviewer-interviewees interaction and, thus, data construction. - Study III is intended to verify the cross-cultural variability and stability of the first two studies main findings in two countries. Concretely, the study design consists of: - 16 homogeneous focus groups with young people aged 18 to 25 in two socio-cultural contexts (Italy and Canada) trough different media (face-to-face vs. forum vs. chat vs. forum+chat). - In each group an HIV-AIDS preventive message was introduced as a further discussion stimulus. All focus groups transcripts were analysed by different techniques - psychosocial discourse analysis; software based content analysis (T-lab), conversational analysis; computer based quantitative discourse analysis (Atlas.ti) - in order to better achieve the research objectives: The study outlines an interesting cross-cultural stability of findings in regard to:- the role of interpersonal exchange in metabolising the passing from the preventive information reception to its use in daily life; - the influences of data collection media on the qualitative findings production process.

Family conversation between homes is difficult to initiate at mutually agreeable times as neither participant has exact knowledge of the other's activities or intentions. Whether calling to plan an important family gathering or simply to connect with family members, the question is: Is now a good time to call? People expect friends and family to learn their activity patterns and to minimize interruptions when calling. Can technology provide awareness cues to the caller, even prior to the initiation of the call? This research focuses on sampling the everyday activities of home life to determine environmental factors, which may serve as an indicator for availability. These external factors may be effective for identifying household routines of availability and useful in determining when to initiate conversation across homes. Several workplace studies have shown a person's interruptibility can be reliably assessed and modeled from specific environmental cues; this work looks for similar predictive power in the home. Copresence, location, and activity in the home were investigated as correlates to availability and for their effectiveness within the social protocol of family conversation. These studies indicate there are activities that can be sensed, either in real-time or over some time span, that correlate to self-reported availability. However, the type and amount of information shared is dependent upon individual preferences, social accessibility, and patterns of activities. This research shows friends and family can improve their predictions of when to call if provided additional context, and suggests that abstract representations of either routines or explicit availability status is sufficient and may be preferred by providers. Availability prediction is feasible in the home and useful to those outside the home, but the level of detail to provide in particular situations needs further study. This work has implications for the development of groupware systems, the automatic sensing of activity to deal with interruption, and activity recognition in the home.

The HIV prevalence in Zimbabwe is one of the highest globally, standing at 14.5% for the ages 15-64 years, and notably 16.7% for women and 12.4% for men. The urban areas have a slightly higher prevalence rate than the rural areas in Zimbabwe. A phenomenological study was carried out whose objective was to formulate guidelines to improve HIV and AIDS communication for women in Zimbabwe, as a key contribution in mitigating the HIV epidemic. The study took place in Harare and Bulawayo, which house most of the urban population. Young urban women aged 20-29 years who have lived in either city for at least the last 12 months, were interviewed using face-to-face in-depth interviews (n=25) and eight focus group discussions took place (n=62). Purposive, convenience, cluster and snow-balling sampling were used. Key informants were purposively sampled, using the snowball method; in-depth face-to-face interviews were held (n=5). The key informants, who provided expert knowledge on the study topic, comprised NGO and government entities in HIV and AIDS communication work. Colaizzi’s method of analysis was used. The UNAIDS Communication Framework for HIV and AIDS gave the direction for the study. It highlights the context in which people live in, and emphasizes that, unlike previous communication models, knowledge alone is inadequate to effect behaviour change. The context is comprised of government policy, culture, socioeconomic status, spirituality and gender relations, with emphasis on the community and regional cooperation, in Africa’s case. The themes for the study were Communication, HIV and AIDS knowledge, Perceptions and belief, and Urban women’s context.The key findings were: mass communication generates awareness for HIV and AIDS while interpersonal communication has a role to play in translating awareness into behaviour change; the knowledge level on HIV and AIDS of young urban Zimbabwean women is high; their risk perception is low; the context they live in is primarily a patriarchal one and one of urban poverty and this makes them vulnerable to HIV infection. It is envisaged that the guidelines, informed by the study and literature, will assist the government and its partners in HIV and AIDS communication strategy and implementation. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)