Communication Studies

It is within this context of a “marketing perspective” that I want to examine the Master of Arts in Communication Studies (MACS) program at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. The “problem” is the current lack of a marketing plan for the program. Although documentation does exist concerning the proposal to create the graduate program (1986-88), and a four-year review of those objectives (1992), no systematic attempt has been made to create a marketing framework for the graduate degree. The focus of this master’s thesis will be that marketing framework.

Socialization is a difficult process in most professions. The movement from outsider to insider can be made more or less stressful depending on co-workers. Nursing is a particular field that tends to make it difficult for newcomers to "fit in" (Meissner, 1986). Therefore, the question arises, do co-workers affect the socialization process of new nurses in the hospital setting with respect to task performance, social support, sponsorship, and coaching factors? In this study three hospitals were utilized in the Erie, PA area. The criteria for this study specified nurses who have been in the hospital setting between 3 months and 2 years. A total of 29 surveys were entered into the study. A self administered survey was employed and developed from material found in the literature review and was modeled after the Mentoring and Communication Support Scale (Hell et. al., 1989). The survey consisted of 24 quantitative questions, 3 qualitative questions, and an optional space for name and phone number. Respondents were grouped based on a mean split, with Group 1 above the mean, and Group 2 below the mean. Each group was analyzed using a t-test comparing them to each of the 4 dimensions and to each individual question. The analysis found a significant probability (p<=.005) in 3 of the 4 dimensions (task, sponsorship and coaching). The qualitative answers supported this finding. In addition, mentoring was found to be an important element in those nurses who were more highly socialized.

The goal of this research project was to discover the developing culture as it is revealed in the communication aspects of the employees in a wholly employee owned corporation. The critical focus of the study was to discover if this corporation differs from a traditional corporation in its attempts at meeting the communication needs of the employees who are now the stock owners, as well as the producers of the goods for the corporation. It might be natural to assume that differences may exist in the way that communication takes place in this type of organization. This study focused on whether or not this is true, and in what manner differences were detectable.

The story of television is but a speck on the time line of world history. Yet during its relatively short life span, the medium has come to pervade our society. It informs us daily of world events, news of which at one time took months to reach us, if it ever got there at all. It educates us about science, history, sociology, politics, art and almost eveiy other discipline once relegated only to books. It entertains us with stories, fantasies, and humor. It provides us with contemporary role models and enlightens us about the kind of lifestyles we can live. In the privacy of our own homes, it introduces us to interesting local, national, and world figures we might otherwise never come to know. Political figures represent one of the most influential groups of people television brings to our attention on a regular basis, especially during political campaigns.

The purpose of this study is to identify, select, and analyze techniques, methods, and principles in Neuro-linguistic Programming, Reality Therapy, and Control Theory that can be employed for improving superior-subordinate communication. A content analysis of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Reality Therapy, and Control Theory along with a conceptual analysis on what the implications of these programs and principals are for managerial communication is undertaken.

The Neuro-linguistic Programming techniques of Mirroring and Matching, Pacing and Leading, Modeling, Association Shifts, PEGASUS, Outcome Matching, and the Meta Model of Linguistics is examined for their implications in managerial communication. Also, this research examine Reality Therapy's four basic steps of self-discovery along with Control Theory principles for their appropriateness and possible applications for managerial communication. The goal of this thesis to examine these outlined theories for application in a practical managerial communication model that provides managers with concrete methods and ideas that can be used in their everyday communication interactions with their subordinates.

This thesis involves an ethnographic study of the cultural values and communication channels of a social service agency from March 1, 1995 through February 29, 1996. Founded in 1961, Stairways is proud of its vision to "create a healing community" by raising awareness of mental illness and collaborating with various community entities to provide living facilities and services for persons with mental illness. Early in 1995, organizational leaders launched a campaign to engage employees in addressing organizational change as Stairways moves into the next century. A study of the agency at this particular time can provide insights into what occurs with culture and communications during organizational change. How cultural values and communication methods are manifest in this specific mental health agency may be helpful to the study of other social service agencies and organizations in general.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the reasons why small groups may make effective or ineffective decisions. This research combined two related studies to examine both the effects of group cohesion on small group decision quality and the groupthihk phenomenon effect on small groups. A qualitative approach was used in examining the data. The attempt to create cohesion among group members proved highly successful, and as a result many of the problems that are often associated with cohesive groups appeared. The results of this study lend support to Hirokawa and Pace's theory that group decision-making quality is dependent upon key aspects of interaction between group members. Furthermore, the propositions that proved true continue the research into Janis' theory of groupthink. Overall this study offers further insight into the reasons why small groups make effective or ineffective decisions.

As college sports become more intense and physical, a great deal of attention and scholarly research has begun to focus on the type of communication used during competition. For example, basketball has become vastly more intense and more aggressive and individual communication style has become part of the game. In this study, I am concerned with a type of communication called "trash-talking." Trash-talking is defined as "the act of a person, usually an athlete, who talks to an opponent in an excessively boastful or scornful manner." Most of the talk is a form of insults or "put-downs" that are communicated towards another person. Trash-talking has become a controversial issue for the media, fans, teams, owners and players, and was very evident in the 1992-93 National Basketball Association (NBA) season, especially during the playoffs. Recently trash-talking has appeared in the 1993-94 playoffs as well. Trash-talking was so pervasive that the NBA reconstructed its rules in an attempt to minimize it, and when it apparently began to incite physical aggression', the NBA took immediate action. Action against this style of communication on the court is not limited to the NBA, however. Most all professional and collegiate sports took steps to limit forms of trash-talking and thus reduce the possibility of talk escalating into physical aggression. From my experience as a collegiate basketball player and as one who watches collegiate sports, it appears that trash-talking is common in college basketball. In my study I examine how the players feel about trash-talking, the reasons for its use, and actions that trigger the escalation of trash-talking into physical violence. The research data came from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (West) (PSAC). Players participated in the study by filling out a short questionnaire, watching three short clips of trash-talking, and discussing these clips in a focus group.

This thesis determines the relationship of theoretical opinion with actual practices for successful special events. As a growing segment of marketing plans, special events constitute a strong and evolving public relations practice. Substantial funding from corporate organizations often accompany these events. As well, special events serve as fund-raising methods for many non-profit organizations. Despite their increasing use in professional arenas, special events require specific planning elements and criteria for success. Preliminarily, this thesis begins with a review of special event-related literature from speech communication experts to detect recommendations for special event planning. Next follows a developmental history of the 1993 Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (EUP) Spring Highlands Festival and its planning efforts. This is followed by quantifiable research data gathered at the 1994 festival through interviews, surveys and other response mechanisms. Special event elements, practices and procedures determined through these festival research methods are then compared and contrasted with the theoretical opinions defined in the literature review. Recommendations for future Spring Highlands festivals, and a comparison of theoretical vs. actual practices conclude this thesis.

The following thesis is a phenomenological study of the manner in which training games link with everyday experience. The presentation begins with an overview of simulations, a rigidly formatted game environment; gaming, the activity of playing games; and games theory, a mathematically-based description of how games work. I argue that a training game’s validity cannot be discussed without consideration of human discourse which is laced with ambiguity. Through Wittgenstein’s theory of language-games, my study suggests that discourse cannot be understood without taking into account the environment in which it takes place. Because training games attempt to teach skills meant for organizational settings, the study questions whether they can truly teach such skills outside the setting in which they are to be used. Research has argued that the link is made metaphorically and most studies support that claim, but this paper suggests that the games need to be observed tropologically for a richer understanding of what is happening.

The method of study includes the following: participation and observation of games, interviews, protocol writing, and protocol analysis of text. Observing two distinct games environments (Bamga, a card game used in a conflict management workshop; and the Bam, an experiential training session), I have written detailed account of each experience utilizing protocol writing techniques. Five participants in Bamga were interviewed about the game, and text was subsequently transcribed for the purpose of protocol analysis. The account from the Bam experience was coded in the same manner. In both cases, tropological phrases — metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche, and irony — as well as key ideas and environmental observations were marked. Finally the coding from the two situations was compared.