The illicit use of prescription stimulants among college undergraduates is a prevalent and dangerous problem on college campuses across the United States. Though classified by the U. S. Drug Enforcement Agency as schedule II controlled substances (U.S. Department of Justice, 2008), undergraduates obtain these medications through peers and friends, and report misusing of these stimulants to aid their concentration and studying (DeSantis, Webb, & Noar, 2008). Because extant research concludes that the prevalence of the misuse of prescription stimulants (MPS) peaks among undergraduates, this research was guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1985, 1991) as well as a memorable messages framework (Knapp, Stohl, & Reardon, 1981), and sought to examine the messages that college students recall about MPS, how those messages are associated with student’s intention to use stimulants directly, as well as indirectly through changes in attitudes, normative beliefs, and efficacy, and finally, to examine if receiving a memorable message predicts changes in intention to use, or actual use of stimulants over time. Data for the main study were collected in October 2014, and 137 undergraduate students reported a memorable message about MPS and were retained for analysis. Four weeks later, a follow-up survey was launched, and 89 undergraduates also completed the second survey. Results suggest that undergraduates do recall memorable messages about MPS, and the content focuses on the themes of academics, health outcomes, and responsible use. Additionally, memorable messages tended to be more negative than positive, and came from a variety of sources including close friends and peers, family members, instructors, and medical professionals, to name a few. Further, participants’ attitudes and normative beliefs were positively associated with behavioral intention at Time 1. Additionally, behavioral intention at Time 1 was positively associated with behavioral use at Time 2. The findings from this research provide several practical implications for future health education and promotion campaigns.

Research is necessary to uncover ways to improve adolescent nutrition and reduce obesity rates, particularly in the Appalachian region, which has high rates of food insecurity and adolescent obesity. The current study examines rural cultural norms about food, memorable messages adolescents received about nutrition, and the sources of identified memorable messages. Adolescents shared memorable messages during comprehensive, semi-structured, small group interviews in which participants revealed their individual experiences. Thematic framework analysis is used to present the range and nature of memorable messages about nutrition and to develop strategies for future health campaigns and interventions. This qualitative method of sequential inductive analysis provides transparency of data and resulting interpretations through thematic identification and indexing. Analysis revealed themes of messages that featured critical pieces of the rule-structure of memorable messages – specifically, adherence and consequence regarding nutritional behaviors. Prominent memorable messages of adherence included topics of balance (e.g., MyPlate), type (e.g., junk food), and timing (e.g., “don’t eat after 7 p.m.”). Messages with elements of consequence included communication of short-term (e.g., “breakfast gets your blood flowing) and long-term consequence (e.g., obesity, etc.). Adolescents identified family members, educators, and media as salient sources of memorable messages.

Title: Swedish consumers say – ”Subliminal marketing is smart marketing!” Authors: Vickie Hedgren and Angelica Persson Adviser: Klaus Solberg Søilen Level: Dissertation in Marketing, 15 ECTS, Spring 2015 Keywords: Subliminal, Messages, Advertising, Advertisement, Neuromarketing, Psychology, Subconscious, Primal instincts, Subliminal techniques, Ethics, Acceptance, Emotional Connection Purpose: The purpose of this dissertation is to find out what Swedish consumers think about marketing that is meant to influence their subconscious in their decision making, with a focus on subliminal messages, and whether it is ethically acceptable. This will be carried out by examining the two following research questions: 1. What marketing methods aimed at building a psychological connection with the consumer are ethically acceptable and in what areas of marketing or situations? 2. Is it ethical to use subliminal marketing for a cause-related brand, a luxury brand or aimed at a specific income group? We will further examine theories and studies done over the years as well as carry out our own to come up with our conclusions. Frame of Reference: We start of by presenting overall theories regarding subliminal advertising which leads us to various breakdowns such as psychology, primal instincts, subliminal techniques, ethics, causerelated marketing, high- and low end consumers. Methodology: The dissertation is based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative studies. We conducted one survey with 200 respondents and two interviews with marketers. We bring up the importance of validity, reliability, generalizability, carefulness and criticism. Empirical Framework: We will present the collected data from the performed online survey as well as the information from the two personal interviews. Conclusion: Swedish consumers have a high level of ethical acceptance when it comes to marketing that is meant to create a psychological connection. The conclusions made are that 1. Out of the 14 methods we chose to include in our dissertation, 12 of them had a high level of ethical acceptance; subliminal messages in fashion advertising and in an active situation is ethical 2. It is more unethical if a good-cause company uses subliminal marketing than if a luxury brand uses it.

Internet English used for online communication influences spoken and written language forms. However, little analysis on the question of electronic English can be found – it is studied in a superficial way in literary sources present. The purpose of this study was to explore the language of English chat room messages as a variety of Electronic English. The objectives of the research included the analysis of chat room English in comparison to speech and writing as well as the study of graphological, morphological, and syntactic features of the language of online communication. Qualitative content analysis, comparative analysis, and descriptive method were chosen for the study. To support the scientific data discussed 1100 of chat room sentences were surveyed and 153 presented as practical examples. The research demonstrated that English used for online communication is a separate mode of language possessing features different from the ones of spoken and written forms of language. / Elektroninė anglų kalba įtakoja sakytinę bei rašytinę kalbos formas. Tačiau informacijos susijusios su internetinės anglų kalbos analize galima rasti vos keliuose šaltiniuose. Šio darbo tikslas yra analizuoti pokalbių svetainėse naudojamą anglų kalbą kaip elektroninės anglų kalbos rūšį. Remiantis darbo tikslu, iškelti uždaviniai analizuoti pokalbių svetainių anglų kalbą lyginant ją su sakytine bei rašytine anglų kalba, tirti grafologinius, morfologinius bei sintaksinius ypatumus pokalbių svetainių anglų kalboje. Atliekant tyrimą naudojama turinio analizė, literatūros analizė bei aprašomasis metodas. Analizuojama 1100 praktinių pavyzdžių, 153 pateikiami kaip empirinis darbo pagrindas. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad elektroninė anglų kalba negali būti laikoma nei sakytine, nei rašytine ir turi būti pripažinta kaip atskiras anglų kalbos porūšis, turintis specifinių bruožų.

Men engage in fewer health-promoting behaviours than women. Despite being more active than women, the majority of men are inactive. Physical activity (PA) decreases the risk of developing numerous chronic conditions and may be an optimal behaviour to target in men’s health interventions. However, informational resources and health-promotion interventions for men are lacking. To address this gap, we conducted two studies using the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM; Witte, 1992) as a guiding framework. Study 1 examined relevant and appealing health message content for men and explored the relevance and applicability of EPPM constructs to men’s health messages and PA messages in particular. Four semi-structured focus groups and four semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted. Participants (n=26) easily related to the EPPM constructs. Participants preferred demographically-tailored health messages that addressed modifiable behaviours (e.g. PA) and self-regulatory strategies (e.g. planning) and included reputable sources, strong language, and sex appeal. From these findings, four sets of PA messages with different combinations of risk and efficacy information were developed. Study 2 tested the effectiveness of these EPPM-based messages to increase men’s PA intentions and behaviours. Inactive participants (n=353) were randomly assigned to one of four message groups and read four health messages over four consecutive days. Intentions were assessed at baseline and the first follow-up (Day 5) while manipulation check items were assessed at Day 5. PA behaviour was assessed at baseline and the second follow-up (Day 14). Men who received low efficacy and risk information were less likely to meet the Canadian PA guidelines at Day 14 than men who only received low efficacy information (OR=2.15 95% CI:0.963-4.80, Wald=3.49, p=0.062). Providing risk information led to increases in PA behaviours (F(1, 157)=7.29, p=0.008, d=.22). Intentions to be active were greater in the high efficacy group than the low efficacy group (F(1, 345)=4.10, p=0.044, d=.21). Bivariate correlations indicated a disconnect between fear and efficacy perceptions, intentions, and defensive avoidance. From these collective findings, we provide insight into the EPPM as it relates to men’s PA behaviours, propose preliminary recommendations regarding the development of PA messages for men, and suggest areas for future research. / Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2011-08-30 17:32:12.392

The prevalence of type II diabetes is high among African-American women but research that emphasizes black mothers and their adult daughters is rarely studied in social sciences or communication research. Though existing research addresses various domains of the mother-daughter relationship scant information addresses the significance of talk or the transmission of health information between African-American diabetic mothers and their non-diabetic adult daughters. For that reason, this dissertation investigates information sharing among a sample of African-American mothers with type II diabetes and their non-diabetic adult daughters.This study's two primary research objectives were to: 1. describe whether and how African-American type II diabetic mothers and their non-diabetic adult daughters engage in information sharing about type II diabetes; and to 2. describe whether and how the sharing of health-related communication messages shapes African-American mothers' diabetic health behavior and/or shapes adult non-diabetic daughters' diabetic-related health behavior.This study used a modified grounded theory approach, in which I concurrently collected, coded and analyzed data. While an intention behind grounded theory is to develop theory "from the ground up," I also used the Health Belief Model (HBM) and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) to inform research questions. I conducted 10 interviewswith members of mother-daughter dyads; two with each mother and two with each daughter. I concluded my interviews with both mother and daughter present, yielding a total of 50 interviews. Dyads were comprised of African-American type II diabetic mothers (age 45 and older) and their non-diabetic adult daughters (age 20 and older) living in New Mexico, Ohio and Kentucky.Information gathered from interviews yielded five patterns of communication used by mothers and daughters to talk about type II diabetes. The patterns encompassed the ongoing ways in which mothers' and daughters' negotiated the illness. This study described this negotiation as a unique "culture" that entailed 1) an historical knowledge of diabetes, 2) a present and personal experiences of living with diabetes and 3) an understanding of the future implication of diabetes for mothers, their adult daughters, and their entire family.This study represents the first step toward understanding the diabetic interaction between mothers and adult daughters living with a chronic illness. Results suggest that mothers and daughters are motivated to talk about diabetes, even though talk does not always address prevention in their health behaviors. This study is useful to inform practitioners of the significance of oral tradition as one mode of transmitting health care information within African-American culture and the value of integrated medical visits, particularly for diabetic mothers and their adult daughters. As well, health communication scholars can use this information to develop, test and implement innovative health education media and message strategies for families and mother-daughter dyads that address diabetic health information.

This quasi-experimental, pre-and-post-test, multi-method design examined e-prompting, and its impact on adherence to a desk-situated workplace exercise program. Fifty volunteer inactive office workers were recruited from a Canadian college. The intervention tested the effectiveness of a 12-week, twice-daily, low resistance, exercise band program with or without e-prompting. Pre-and-post-test data were collected through two questionnaires and measurements of strength/endurance. Additionally, the intranet exercise web site recorded participants' frequency log in data. Quantitative findings showed significant strength improvements in three of the measures (leg press, chest press, bicep curl). Data from the pre-and-post questionnaires found significant positive movement in four questions. Analysis of qualitative data identified two themes, barrier to physical activity and convenience suggesting that the intervention enhanced participants' self-efficacy to perform and adhere to an exercise program. The combination of e-prompting combined with a desk exercise program appears to have the potential to increase physical activity among inactive office workers.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--George Mason University, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Jan. 18, 2008). Thesis directors: Paul Amman, Duminda Wijesekera. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Information Technology. Vita: p. 198. Includes bibliographical references (p. 189-197). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 104-113). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 31-34).