Electronic Theses and Dissertations (2010 - Present)
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/10657/1
The University of Houston Libraries collect and make publicly available all electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) produced in UH graduate and PhD programs through the UH institutional repository. ETDs become available after the student submits them to the UH Graduate School, the document is approved by all appropriate parties, and any embargo on the document expires.
Collection Scope
UH Libraries began publishing ETDs from several UH Colleges in 2010. As of Summer 2014, all UH Colleges that require a thesis or dissertation for graduation began submitting these documents in electronic format. Below is a list of UH Colleges that currently participate in the ETD program and their coverage dates in this repository.
UH College | Coverage Dates |
---|---|
C.T. Bauer College of Business | 2010-Present |
Cullen College of Engineering | 2012-Present |
Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management | 2015-Present |
College of Education | 2010-Present |
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences | 2012-Present |
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics | 2012-Present |
College of Optometry | 2010-Present |
College of Pharmacy | 2010-Present |
College of Technology | 2012-Present |
K. G. McGovern College of the Arts | 2016-Present |
G. D. Hines College of Architecture & Design | 2016-Present |
Graduate College of Social Work | 2012-Present |
Additional Information
- Online access for content outside these coverage dates may be available electronically through ProQuest.
Note: As of Fall 2017, all theses and dissertations produced at UH will be submitted to ProQuest. Additionally, some UH Colleges have contributed content to ProQuest at different periods of time in the past. - For print theses and dissertations found outside these coverage dates, please consult UH Libraries’ catalog.
- Additional information on submitting ETDs can be found at the UH Graduate School.
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Browsing Electronic Theses and Dissertations (2010 - Present) by Department "Communication, Jack J. Valenti School of"
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Item A CONTEMPORARY EXAMINATION OF DEMAGOGIC TECHNIQUES: SELECTED SPEECHES FROM THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN(2010-12) Ash, Morgan; Haun, Martha J.; Olson, Beth; Williamson, Robin M.A new media landscape exemplified by online political news media and the 24-hour news cycle has created a new context for political discourse, and the resurgence in demagoguery scholarship reflects a shared desire to characterize the effectiveness and evolution of demagoguery in this context. The purpose of the current study is to gather information on the presence of demagoguery in contemporary United States political campaigns, focusing on the 2008 presidential campaign between Republican candidate John McCain and Democratic candidate Barack Obama. The study will apply Martha Haun’s (1971) theory of demagoguery, which builds a model in which to analyze the rhetoric of individuals based on their psychology, their historical context and the sociological factors characteristic of demagogues. Societal contexts which favored the rise of historically significant demagogues were compared with the context faced by the 2008 candidates, and several similarities were identified between past and present. A content analysis of the candidates’ speeches showed that both candidates’ speeches contained demagogic techniques, and distinct patterns of demagogic technique use by each candidate revealed very different rhetorical strategies.Item A Critical Analysis of the Communication Style of Nelson Mandela(2014-12) Thayer, Mandy R.; Haun, Martha J.; Northup, Temple; Williamson, Robin M.Nelson Mandela was an internationally known leader, who transitioned from a tribal childhood, a freedom fighter, an attorney, and prisoner for more than twenty-seven years to the presidency of South Africa. His interpersonal communication style and impression management strategies were studied to help determine how he was able to promote his image and achieve his lifelong goal of defeating the apartheid government with the purpose of South Africa being a democratic nation. This paper drew upon Erving Goffman’s (1959) Impression Management, face impressions and Burke’s Dramatistic Pentad to analyze selected speeches of Mandela and his interpersonal communication style. Key communications experiences throughout his life were also researched in the literature to determine impacts that these had on his character and relationship development. The study showed that Mandela was successful in maintaining his image, integrity, and goals with his experiences, interpersonal skills and strategies. This study helped to illuminate the skills that Mandela was able to develop in his communication style and interpersonal relationships that also helped him manage conflict. His success enabled him to speak to varied audiences and successfully relate to them. Mandela developed a style of relationship centered leadership.Item A CROSS-CULTURAL COMPARISON AND EXAMINATION OF WORKPLACE BULLYING IN SINGAPORE AND THE UNITED STATES(2011-12) Lim, Jingpei; Lee, Jaesub; Xiao, Zhiwen; Atwater, Leanne E.This study explored the levels of exposure to workplace bullying in Singapore and the United States and investigated how victims in the two countries coped with the bullying. Furthermore, this study assessed the extent to which face concerns (self-face and other-face) relate to the use of coping strategies. A questionnaire was administered to employees from Singapore and the United States. In order to participate in this study, participants had to have previous working experiences or they had to be currently working in a full-time or a part-time position. The sample size had a total of 721 participants, of which, 295 participants were Singaporeans and 369 participants were Americans. The results of this study supported the proposed hypothesis, whereby employees from United States reported that they experienced higher levels of exposure to workplace bullying than employees from Singapore. Moreover, a factor analysis revealed that there were three types of coping strategies used by both Singaporeans and Americans: negative reactance, indirect/passive fielding, and active solution. Results further showed that both Singaporeans and Americans tend to use indirect/passive fielding most frequently, followed by negative reactance, and then active solution. Self-face needs were directly and significantly correlated to the use of negative reactance and indirect/passive fielding for both Singaporeans and Americans. However, correlation analyses indicated that there were no significant differences between self-face concerns and active solution for employees in the two countries. Additionally, results revealed that other-face needs were not related to the use of any of the three coping strategies for Singaporeans but there was a significant negative correlation between other-face needs and negative reactance for Americans only.Item A Qualitative Case Study of the IRB Review Process and Consent Form through a Legal and Moral Framework(2022-05-12) Rentcome, Jessica; Yamasaki, Jill; Madrid-Morales, Daniel; Griffith, KristoferInformed consent documents (ICDs or “consent forms”) are a founding ethical principle of human subjects research designed to empower patients with the knowledge to choose. The consent form can be a particular mechanism of protection for vulnerable groups, such as oncology patients, who face unique health literacy challenges. Yet in the last 20 years, consent forms in the oncology setting have doubled in length and complexity, in part because research itself has become more complex, but also because the document has become cluttered with legal jargon intended to protect institutions and researchers rather than the patient (a legal framework versus a moral one). The lengthened, burdensome consent form in conjunction with low-to-average health literacy rates in the United States begs the question: How did we get here? Who is approving these documents and practices? This case study at Beacon Cancer Center seeks to better understand the role of the IRB in reviewing and approving consent forms in the oncology setting.Item A Qualitative Investigation of Communication Privacy Management (CPM) within Families with Hereditary Non-polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC)(2014-05) Galvan, Carmen M.; Yamasaki, Jill; Peterson, Susan K.; Vardeman-Winter, JenniferThis study examined communication privacy management (CPM) among persons with Lynch syndrome (LS), specifically seeking to understand (a) the prompts that motivate participants to share LS health information, (b) the relatives with whom they share the information, and (c) the mediums through which they communicate the information. Based on responses from 32 LS mutation carriers, the vast majority of participants demonstrated high permeability orientations with close and distant family members through in-person visits, phone, email, and social media. Participants characterized by moderate permeability shared what they considered important LS-related health information with close, distant, and conflict family groups through phone, email, social media, through other family members, and through email and postal mail attachments. Though there were very few instances of low permeability, participants in this category chose not to share any LS information with certain family groups due to level of health importance, maturity, appearing weak, not wanting to cause stress, or because they did not think their relatives would care or be interested in the information. The implications of this study could provide the basis for a more widespread approach by offering physicians, genetic counselors, and family members a new understanding of communication privacy and hesitancy in sharing, as well as new means of raising genetic risk awareness among all family groups.Item A Qualitative Study on the Perceptions of the Lack of Physically Disabled Public Relations Practitioners(2018-12) Sebesta, Amanda; Vardeman-Winter, Jennifer; Yamasaki, Jill; Vera, Dusya M.This paper explores the perceptions of physically disabled practitioners in the public relations field. The purpose of the study was to get disabled practitioner’s perspectives on the industry to explore how the public relations field is falling behind when recruiting from this group. A qualitative study was done using open-ended interview questions, with the goal of receiving experiences from disabled practitioner’s on their time in the industry, discrimination they faced, and how they feel public relations can improve.Item ADVERTISING OR PR, TELLING OR SELLING? A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON HOW PRACTITIONERS CONSIDER STEALTH MARKETING AND USER-GENERATED CONTENT IN AN ONLINE ENVIRONMENT(2012-12) Navarro, Jessica 1984-; Yamasaki, Jill; Smith, Brian G.; Olson, BethAs technology advances and makes online communication available to mass audiences, consumers are increasingly making their opinions on brands, products and services available by generating reviews, posts and conversations online. Unlike traditional forms of advertising and public relations, this form of user-generated content significantly relies on consumer participation and feedback. Previous scholarly literature has noted the value of a third-party endorsement lending credibility to a brand message, and companies seem to agree, devoting significant financial resources and personnel to manage user-generated content online. Additionally, organizations are using “stealth marketing” techniques to imbed producer messages into user content, raising issues of potential ethical considerations for practitioners. Through 12 interviews with practitioners from various backgrounds, this study explores how marketing, advertising and public relations professionals view the value and functional responsibility of user-generated content, along with the ethical implications of working with consumers to create and deliver brand messages.Item AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE STUDENTS: USING A CRITICAL RACE APPROACH TO EXPLORE DIVERSITY PEDAGOGY IN PUBLIC RELATIONS(2012-12) Moore, Kynetta 1984-; Vardeman-Winter, Jennifer; Tindall, Natalie T. J.; Ni, LanThe purpose of this study was to explore African American female students’ perceptions and experiences with diversity in their public relations education. Additionally, the purpose of this study was to gain insight from the experiences of future African American female practitioners preparing for public relations careers. To frame this study, the critical race theory (CRT) was explored to investigate to what extent diversity pedagogy (e.g., race, ethnicity, and culture) was included in students’ training both inside and outside the classroom. The study used qualitative one-on-one, in-depth interviews with African American female public relations students. Findings suggest that students’ perceive their experiences with diversity in public relations curriculum have not armed them to tackle demographic disparities in the workforce. Furthermore, students reported that diversity initiatives or acknowledgement outside the classroom (e.g., internships and industry-related organizations) were scarce. This study expanded diversity theory in public relation research by providing scholars guidance on how to improve diversity theory and research in public relations scholarship and programs that can be applied in the workforce to embrace diversity initiatives, training, and advancement. Practical implications include cues to action and suggested factors communicators can employ to improve diversity pedagogy in public relations training.Item AGENDA SETTING EFFECTS IN THE AGE OF INTERNET: ANALYZING THE TRANSFER OF POLITICAL CANDIDATES’ ATTRIBUTES FROM NEWSPAPERS TO TWITTER CONVERSATION DURING THE 2018 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN PAKISTAN(2020-12) Nayani-Merchant, Zainab; Hellmueller, Lea; Harlow, Summer; Arif, RaufStudying the transfer of candidate salience and attributes from media agenda to public agenda has gained traction in the past few decades. However, most studies analyzing agenda setting effects with respect to candidates are conducted in countries with free and fair media. There are very few agenda setting studies in countries with censored media. Having three subsequent successful elections in the country with heavy restrictions imposed upon media, this study attempts to fill the gap by focusing on the candidates during the 2018 Pakistani General Elections. The relationship between their coverage in traditional media, and their portrayal in the political deliberation on Twitter is investigated. The three major candidates in the 2018 elections were analyzed for this study – Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto. Their five substantive attributes – ideology and issue positions, culture, qualifications and experience, personality and image, and, integrity – were tested for their valence in newspapers and then compared to conversation on Twitter. Results showed that there was a skewed relationship between the narrative on newspapers and the Twitter conversation. Out of 14 variables, there was a relationship between the two media in only 8 of them, while the rest had significant differences, showing that agenda setting effects are not direct in countries with regulated media.Item “All Moms Need to Know about This”: A Qualitative Analysis of New Mothers’ Perceptions around Pelvic Floor Disorders for a Preventative Practice Campaign(2019-05) Spiers, Alaina Renee; Vardeman-Winter, Jennifer; Yamasaki, Jill; Antosh, DanielleThis study’s purpose was to decrease women’s chances of developing a pelvic floor disorder (PFD) by creating a theory-based, preventative campaign for new mothers utilizing the extended parallel process model (EPPM) as a framework. By finding new mothers’ knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors surrounding PFDs, their perceived levels of severity, susceptibility, self-efficacy, and response-efficacy toward PFDs before and after becoming more educated on the issue were also uncovered. This paper found that increasing new mothers’ level of knowledge with specific messages on PFDs significantly raises their perceived levels of severity, susceptibility, self-efficacy, and response-efficacy toward the issue. The study also had practical value in that it facilitated the construction of ready-to-implement campaign materials.Item An Analysis of Internal and External Factors Influencing the Defintion of Sexual Assault(2018-12) Wilson, Alexis B.; Yamasaki, Jill; Xiao, Zhiwen; Threadcraft-Walker, WhitneyThere has been lots of discussion regarding several prominent members of Hollywood accused of sexual assault in which sparked several different movements. These movements have caused the issue of Sexual Consent to be brought to the forefront. The aim of this qualitative study is to identify the major factors that influence differing views of consent for college students. Undergraduate and graduate students 18–25 years of age were interviewed. The semi-structured interviews were coded and analyzed to determine similarities and differences between participant responses. It is hoped that this study will give a general understanding of consent and the factors that help to contribute to its meaning and messages.Item An Examination of the Portrayal and Stereotypes of Latinos on Television: The George Lopez Show and American Family(2015-05) Montano, Al Ignacio; Santana, Arthur D.; Yamasaki, Jill; Sisk, Christina L.Grounded in Cultivation Theory and Critical Race Theory, this study investigates The George Lopez Show and American Family with specific focus on Latinos and their portrayal in American television. This study represents a new examination of modern television and explores why and how stereotypes are perpetuated and challenged on Latino-oriented shows. The paper also critiques, reviews and describes prominent Latino figures throughout the past century on American television and film and examines how they’re represented. Comparable studies were analyzed to provide further insight in the coverage and portrayal of Latinos in American television. A qualitative content analysis study was completed through observing episodes of both The George Lopez Show and American Family. Results obtained by coding the gathered data and using pre-set established stereotypes, revealed that there are formulas that work with sitcoms and dramas through themes such as major vs. minor characters, flashbacks and sitcom tropes. The themes help illustrate how stereotypes are perpetuated and challenged on television by how they promote positive behaviors and dialogue through negative, damaging behaviors and discourse.Item AN EXPLORATION OF MULTICULTURALISM IN CHINA‟S PUBLIC RELATIONS EDUCATION: FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF TEXTBOOKS(2011-12) Sun, Jia; Vardeman-Winter, Jennifer; Ni, Lan; Wen, XiaohongThis study expands on global public relations literature by examining how China’s public relations education has adopted the concept of multiculturalism in its textbooks. Overall, this study was guided by relevant literature in globalization and multiculturalism, as well as public relations practice and education in China and the United States. Then, a qualitative content analysis of 20 Chinese public relations textbooks revealed Chinese public relations educators’ perceptions of global public relations and the relationship between culture and public relations. These results indicate an increasing focus on culture in the practice and education of public relations in China. Moreover, results of this study provide insight into the challenges that global public relations practitioners and scholars face within different cultural contexts.Item Animus, Anima, and Shadow: Gender Role Representation in Fantasy Films of the Third Wave Feminist Era(2010-12) Lopez, Caroline; Olson, Beth; Haun, Martha J.; Verheyen, ClaremarieResearch on representation of gender in 20th century media suggests that traditional attitudes towards gender, which call for aggressive, dominant male behavior and passive, submissive female behavior, have been propagated through negative framing of characters who challenge those attitudes. Traditional attitudes have been especially prominent in fantasy tales, though some research suggests that contemporary (third-wave feminist era) fantasy does support alternative views. A quantitative study of fantasy films of the era reveals that characters who challenged tradition were still more likely to be framed negatively than those who did not. Qualitative analysis was then used to determine the reasons for, and the significance of this continued correlation.Item Beyond the Great Firewall: A Case Study of Inter-media Agenda Setting Effects between Chinese and Western Reporting on Corruption in China(2017-05) Liu, Leiyu; Camaj, Lindita; Choi, Hojoon; Tedin, Kent L.This study examines inter-media agenda setting effects between Chinese and Western reporting on the single case of Zhou Yongkang’s imprisonment. Through a comprehensive content analysis of 323 Chinese-language news articles from Chinese state-run media, mainland Chinese media, Hong Kong media, Taiwanese media, Western media, and immigrant Chinese media, this paper explores how attribute agendas in different types of media’s news reports are mutually correlated. Results show Chinese state-run media’s agendas dramatically impact attribute agendas in mainland China and Hong Kong media’s reports on Zhou Yongkang’s issue, while the inter-media agenda setting effects of Chinese state-run media does not reach Taiwanese media, Western media, and immigrant Chinese media. Also, this study content analyzes 652 Chinese-language Tweets on Zhou Yongkang’s issue. Findings suggest attribute agendas of Chinese-language Tweets most significantly correlate with attribute agendas in Western media’s reports on Zhou Yongkang’s imprisonment, although immigrant media is most frequently referenced by Chinese-language Tweets.Item Black Women’s Perceptions of Health: Considering Cultural Identity as an Antecedent for the Situational Theory of Publics(2016-05) Powell, Jasmine C.; Vardeman-Winter, Jennifer; Ni, Lan; Hutchinson, Janis F.The purpose of this study was to understand Black women’s perceptions of health, specifically in regards to HIV/AIDS, and the ways in which their cultural identities influence health decisions according to the situational theory of publics. This study included in-person interviews with 15 Black women who attended a hip hop awareness concert or who were in the target audience, but chose not to attend. The following research will help public relations practitioners effectively predict the communication behavior of Black women based on the understanding of their constraints.Item Breast is best but bottle is next: Mothers’ perception of the portrayals of breastfeeding in the media(2010-12) Leigh, Jemine; Olson, Beth; Yamasaki, Jill; Shulsky, DebraThe ideology that breastfeeding is a recommended form of nutrition for babies has become widely popular in the United States. However, some social norms like the baring of the breasts make it difficult for the mother to feel comfortable in her nursing practices. The media are often argued to be an influencing factor in public perceptions, and this study considers the media as well as interpersonal sources as influential factors in a woman’s choice to breastfeed. The importance of this study lies in the need to hear from the mothers and their experiences. Concepts and ideas from social cognitive theory, and two-step flow theory were applied in the discussions and findings. This study included eleven face-to-face interviews of women with children and women who are pregnant. This qualitative approach was designed so individual women’s voices could be heard.Item Can You Really Go Home? a Qualitative Analysis of Attitude Change in College Students(2015-12) Curren, Daniel Francis; Vardeman-Winter, Jennifer; Buck, Suzanne; Yamasaki, Jill; Sanchez, JacquiIndividuals are born into membership groups and are socialized through affiliations, ideals, and systems of belief that are not of their own choosing. These memberships can include, but are certainly not limited to, family members, social communities, cultural groups, and political and religious affiliations. At some point in our lives, we are faced with beliefs or attitudes held by our membership groups that are in conflict with our own views or beliefs. Some of these inconsistencies are mild and avoidable, while others are severe and threaten our connection. This study is a qualitative examination of those extreme examples of dissonance which can lead to separation from our memberships. More specifically, it examines the extent to which college can play the role of catalyst in this separation. This examination is accomplished by conducting a series of narrative interviews with individuals who have attended college and experienced a change in attitude or belief held by prior membership groups. Experiences and themes are compared and contrasted to determine what effects college has on an individual’s shift in attitudes, values, and beliefs. Additionally, the ways in which the adoption of new attitudes, values, and beliefs affect communication with members of these groups is studied.Item Cartoon Network's Naughty Sister Station: Innovations of the Adult Swim Network in American Late Night Television Programming(2010-12) Mireles, Lucas; Jowett, Garth S.; Houk, Keith R.; Reed, JohnThis research is intended to focus on the relevance and efficacy of the Adult Swim network in late night adult-oriented television programming. Through an active historical case study, it will set out to identify the Adult Swim network as a constructive agent for the resurgence of mainstream adult-oriented animation shows and the diffusion of Adult Swim’s particular innovative television form onto other American television networks.Item Celebrity Social Media Influencers and the Diffusion of NFTs on Twitter(2023-05-24) Merkoulov, Andrei P.; Camaj, Lindita; Harlow, Summer; Huang, YanExpanding on the diffusion of innovations theory and using the two-step flow model of communication, this thesis examines the role of celebrity social media influencers (SMI) on Twitter and their marketing of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). This paper explored the effects that parasocial relationships may have in mediating audience attitudes toward the new innovation, and whether or not they choose to accept or reject it. Using an experiment-survey, participants were exposed to stimuli, created for the purposes of this study, of celebrity SMI tweets that promote NFTs along with answering a series of questions relating to participants’ attitudes and future use intention toward NFTs. Participants also answered questions about any presence of parasocial relationships they may have with the celebrity. This research explored the diffusion of innovations theory in our current media environment, the role of celebrity SMIs and parasocial relationships as it relates to the theory, and found a significant relationship between fans with a stronger parasocial relationship having a stronger future usage intention. Finally, this thesis calls for more opportunities to better understand the role that parasocial relationships can have in the diffusion of innovations theory.