UTSA Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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This collection contains electronic UTSA theses and dissertations (ETDs), primarily from 2005 to present. The collection is not comprehensive; search the UTSA Library Catalog for a complete list of UTSA theses and dissertations.
Since 2023, the UTSA Graduate School has required all theses and dissertations to be made publicly available in Runner Research Press. However, authors are able to request an embargo. Embargoed ETDs will not be downloadable until after their embargo expires.
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Browsing UTSA Electronic Theses and Dissertations by Department "Communication"
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Item Bigger than Football: Corporate Social Responsibility, Domestic Violence and the National Football League(2017) Simpson, Jayne M.This work is a thematic analysis of the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as it relates to the National Football League (NFL), namely in their efforts to address issues of domestic violence. In examining the cases of NFL players Ray Rice, Greg Hardy, and Josh Brown – all who were accused of and arrested for being violent with their wives and/or girlfriends through taking data from the official NFL site as well as news media, themes surrounding the NFL’s intentions and actions on the topic of domestic violence can be drawn. Each case is structured into a timeline of events on the part of the players, the league, and public opinion. In comparing the stance the NFL takes publicly on the issue of domestic violence in their 2016 social responsibility report to the actual courses of action taken in these three and several other cases, a contradiction between the promise and delivery can be drawn. Themes of inconsistency, leniency, transition of blame, and lack of remorse can be seen on the part of the NFL. These themes are met by another theme from stakeholders, including NFL employees, retired and active players, and fans at large – disappointment. The purpose of this study was not only to add to the body of work available in both CSR and organizational communication, but also to call attention to the topic of domestic violence within organizations like the NFL.Item Carnival and color: The influence of tattoo shop experiences on tattoo choices(2012) Nowlin, Sanford B.Tattoos have moved beyond symbols of rebellion and resistance in America, evolving into mainstream body ornamentation. Many researchers conclude that the pervasive nature of tattoos in American culture signify the art form has shifted from a period of artistic renaissance into a period of commoditization, raising significant questions about the changing meaning of tattoo. By conducting an ethnographic examination of one tattoo parlor serving multiple generations of tattoo enthusiasts, this research project examines the role of the tattoo shop as a place of agency for those seeking tattoos. Observations of the shop and interviews with artists and patrons reveal that by balancing contrasts---danger and safety, hygiene and clutter, high art and low art, tradition and innovation---the tattoo shop becomes a place of learning, negotiation, self-expression, and self-creation for clients seeking a place in a world constantly in quest for meaning. Through their interactions with shop artists, customers engage in individual agency by selecting symbols that represent permanence, choice, identity, empowerment, and control. Resistance to dominant social norms remains a key component in the narratives many tattooed people wish to convey through their body art, although the form this resistance takes may vary generationally.Item Chuy Visits the Market: Using a Coloring Book to Reduce Rates of Type II Diabetes among Latinx Children(2021) Rodriguez, Adriana GabrielaThis pilot study assesses the feasibility of using an original culturally-tailored coloring book, entitled Chuy Visits the Market, to teach Latinx children about healthy eating behaviors. The book features a talking Chihuahua named Chuy as the protagonist, and was developed with Social Cognitive Theory and the Theory of Planned Behavior in mind, to teach children about healthy foods and dietary choices. Participants were 20 Latinx children in South Texas between the ages of 5 and 11 years old, who completed the coloring book and were interviewed about their experience and perceptions. Interview responses were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's (2006) six-phase guide to thematic analysis. Participants' experiences with and perceptions of the coloring book were represented by seven overarching themes and eight subthemes. Themes and subthemes encompassed: learning the importance of healthy food choices; learning characteristics of healthy food including their food groups and colors; enjoying coloring and book activities; positive perceptions of Chuy as likable, having admirable traits, and sharing similarities with participants; and intention to eat more healthy food after completing the coloring book. Results support the use of Chuy Visits the Market as an effective and enjoyable tool to teach Latinx children about healthy eating, with the ultimate goal of helping to combat the disproportionate rates of type II diabetes among Latinx youth.Item Collaborative Storytelling In Dungeons and Dragons And CMC Friendship Maintenance(2024) Espinoza, Alanna ShellieThis study examines collaborative storytelling in Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) and computer mediated communication (CMC) friendship maintenance among long-term friends. The theoretical foundations for this study are the Communicated Narrative Sense-Making (CNSM) Theory (Koenig Kellas, 2018) and the concept of co-telling (Mandelbaum, 1987). For this study, 15 individuals who have played D&D online for more than six months with friends they have met in person participated in in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was used to identify two emergent themes. The theme of styles of collaborative storytelling, which looks at the different ways that collaborative narratives are shaped in D&D and the focus of the told narratives, provided insight the process of collaborative storytelling in online D&D groups. The theme online collaborative storytelling as “more than,†refers to the finding that the experience of stories collaboratively told in D&D as real, as working together, and as a commitment work together to make online D&D feel like a more meaningful mode of CMC friendship maintenance. This study expands the research on CNSM theory and co-telling to include fictional and improvisational stories as meaningful types of collaborative storytelling that can influence relationship quality and relationship maintenance.Item Communicating About Clinical Depression: A Thematic Analysis of Successes and Failures in Real-Life Support Attempts(2019) De La Cerda, YomaliSocial support has been shown to be critical to coping and recovery for individuals with depression; however, ineffective attempts to communicate support often make the recipient feel worse, which is especially damaging to those who are depressed. There is little research that explores the efficacy of social support attempts from the perspective of those with depression. This study examined clinically depressed participants' accounts of real-life interactions to identify the characteristics of messages perceived as supportive versus unsupportive when depression was being discussed. A thematic analysis of participants' descriptions revealed that supportive interactions were characterized by listening, legitimizing, relating, and caring; whereas unsupportive interactions were characterized by minimization, ignoring, criticizing, and attacking. Ultimately, results from this study can be used improve supportive outcomes for individuals with depression.Item Communicating Family Histories Through Photography: Identity Negotiation Theory(2019) Johnson, Christian RachelThis research paper is a qualitative interpretive study that analyzes the role that photographs play when communicating family histories. When viewing a picture from the perspective of an outsider, one can only imagine that moment in time-based on what they see. However, when they hear the stories of what happened, the identities of individuals and their families are revealed. A review of the literature shows that the narratives are essential factors of how people socially construct the world around them, and photographs help elicit those memories. The identity domains within the Identity Negotiation Theory are used to explain the communication phenomenon that is rooted in describing ones' self. There are three primary roles of photographs in narrative development within family identity. Depending on the type of picture (inclusion of loved ones, marking a special occasion, or saving memories to share later), it is through the storytelling of those pictures (details, jokes, and positive stories) that create the identity of the individual. Each person of the family or those who are in the picture are pieces to the bigger picture which is the family identity. These themes are essential reasons for choosing family photographs for this study. The styles of stories ranged from detailed ones to jokes and humor, to positive and uplifting stories.Item COVID-19 and the Imperatives of Forging Research, Policy, and Practice Interface at the Grassroots Level -- Promises, Challenges, and Agenda for Action(2021) Dove, Sophia AnnetteLike many other infectious diseases in the past, COVID-19 has once again revealed health disparities in the United States and across the world, highlighting the urgency to forge effective partnerships between researchers, policy makers and community organizations. Using grounded theory and in-depth interviews, this research explores the promises and challenges that exist in the communicative interface between health researchers/practitioners, policy makers and community organizations in the state of Texas and Bexar County in particular. The goal of this research was to suggest pathways to building a sustainable communication infrastructure that strategically addresses health disparities in the city of San Antonio and beyond. The study's findings indicate the importance of early involvement in planning, the importance of quality relationships (following characteristics identified through the organization-public relationship theory), the importance of sharing knowledge with all stakeholders, and appreciating the structural barriers that exist leading to compounded trauma. These findings work together to illustrate how challenging yet imperative it is to establish and maintain strategic partnerships during and prior to any health crisis for an effective and enduring community response.Item Dare to Dance: Exploring Dance, Vulnerability, Anxiety and Communication(2020) Rodriguez, Gabriela E.This qualitative study explores how communication, dance, vulnerability, and anxiety intertwine. I observed, interacted with, and interviewed different dancers from the UTSA Dance Department to learn about their experiences performing on stage, particularly as they pertain to managing their vulnerability, anxiety, and communication. Three themes emerged from the data: occupying the mind, dealing with emotions, and showing emotion through dance. The findings provide a clearer understanding of how dancers communicate and manage their emotions to the audience. Each dancer takes a different approach on how they manage their feelings. The participants know what works for them and what doesn't due to their performing experience which allows them to know what they want to communicate to the audience. In sum, this research helps give an understanding of communication, dance, vulnerability, and anxiety through a performer's perspective.Item Dark Charade: A Qualitative Study of Cybervetting and Identity Management(2020) Pustelnik, GrantCybervetting is one of the processes through which organizations seek to collect information about potential employees. As we move toward a more digital future with an increased prevalence on social media sites and their sphere of influence, cybervetting has also increased in prevalence. Past research indicates that cybervetting primarily consists of surveillance of applicants' social media accounts. As cybervetting's prevalence has increased, so has public knowledge of its existence, and past research also indicates that this has influenced how individuals present themselves on their public social media profiles. Therefore, organizational and online identity management in the era of cybervetting has become a priority for many potential job applicants. This qualitative research study explores how people manage their online identities in light of the practice of cybervetting by employers and organizational policies about social media. The study's findings demonstrate that many individuals are aware of cybervetting to some degree and that the approaches people take to identity management range based on the nature of their position and career path. Three key ways through which individuals engage in identity management are through obscurity (e.g., concealing content), through organizational policy (e.g., following organizational guidelines), and through promotion (e.g., promoting a personal brand).Item Effective communication between Asian ESL tutees and college English tutors(2011) McMahan, RyanThis study investigates the dynamics between Asian ESL learners and college-level English tutors. The participants consisted of five Asian ESL learners and three college-level English tutors. One-on-one sessions between the tutors and tutees were observed at the tutors' private residences. Tutees were then interviewed in private immediately after the sessions. These interviews were analyzed using phenomenological description, reduction, and interpretation. The themes that manifested themselves in the reduction and interpretation are interrelated and contribute to the study of intercultural communication. Nonverbal communication -- a theme common to all participants -- is arguably at the heart of the tutoring session, because when the tutor demonstrates that he or she is receptive to the tutee's contextual cues (nodding, frowning, changes in posture, etc.), a sense of shared meaning occurs, which is the foundation of relational empathy. The resulting feeling of empathy then allows the tutor and tutee to bond, thereby developing a sense of rapport, which is another theme that all five participants cited as essential to the phenomenon. Lastly, the resulting warmth and friendliness associated with rapport allows the tutee to devote more time to learning English grammar. The phenomenon under study involved the dynamics between Asian ESL learners and college-level English tutors, so the implications for the field of intercultural communication are apparent. Suggestions for future research are offered.Item English-language Latino themed programming (ELLTP): How does Latino social identity represented in ELLTP relate to Latino viewers' self-esteem?(2012) Mora, Adolfo R.In mainstream television, Latino images have largely been absent or negative for the past five decades. Today, not only does English-language Latino themed programming (ELLTP) offer contradictory images to these traditional images, but such content reflects imagery that is culturally relevant to Latinos' social identity. Using social identity theory and self-categorization theory (SCT), this thesis examined how the identity categories (i.e., accessibility, norms, prototype, and fit) embedded in ELLTP content influenced Latino's self-esteem. Four hundred ninety-three ELLTP viewers completed a self-administered questionnaire collected through Facebook in addition to courses at a Latino-serving Southwest university. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted to test whether identity categories predicted shifts in self-esteem either at the personal (i.e., self-worth and self-capability) and/or collective level (i.e., ethnically-involved and ethnically-committed). Results revealed that, with the exception of the fit category, accessibility (i.e., national ethnic identity), norm (e.g., familism and language), and the prototype category (e.g., mainstream value and criminal attributions) predicted shifts in Latinos' self-esteem. Additionally, specific ELLTPs and viewing ELLTP through the Web predicted shifts in Latino's self-esteem. Discussed are various possible internalizations of ELLTP identity categories in relation to viewers' self-esteem. Theoretically, this thesis expanded the applicability of SCT into a media context, but most importantly, how its concepts were related to ELTTP viewers' self-esteem.Item EXAMINING THE ROLE COMMUNICATION PLAYS IN NEGOTIATING ATHLETIC IDENTITY IN RELATION TO MENTAL HEALTH AND STIGMA(2024) Sutherland, AmberThis study examines the intricate dynamics of athletic identity negotiation and mental health stigma among collegiate student-athletes. Through the exploration of three research questions, the study investigates how student-athletes navigate their athletic identity in relation to their team and mental health, negotiate the stigmas surrounding mental health, and propose actions to improve mental health literacy and treatment utilization. Drawing from the Communication Theory of Identity (CTI) and utilizing Stigma Management Communication Theory (SMC), Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT), and Disclosure Decision-Making Model (DD-MM), the research examines the multifaceted aspects of identity and stigma. Findings reveal the influence of social dimensions on athletic identity formation, highlighting the role of shared experiences and societal expectations. While acknowledging the complexity of addressing mental health in collegiate athletics, the study underscores the importance of holistic approaches that prioritize athlete-centric interventions. By amplifying student-athletes' voices and integrating evidence-based strategies, institutions can foster a supportive environment conducive to mental well-being.Item Exploring the Experiences and Communication of Living with Bipolar Disorder among Latinx College Students in the United States(2021) Gamboa, LeonardoThis study seeks to explore the multiple ways in which Latina/o/x/Chicanx college students in the United States, who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, experience and communicate their conditions of living with the disorder and whether and how their understandings about their health, illness, and identity connect with the dominant discourse related to mental health. This research draws on critical theoretical perspectives and employed a qualitative research design to collect and analyze data, specifically autoethnography and in-depth interviews in the forms of pláticas. Using Anzaldúa's (1987, 2002, 2015) concept of nepantla, participants and the researcher (who was also a participant of the study) illustrate how they communicated conceptions of identity, health, and illness within ambiguities. Findings show that participants experienced ambiguities stemming from competing discourse and expressed feeling caught between worlds as they simultaneously coped with stigma from multiple directions; participants appropriated and resisted domination through agentic efforts to emancipate themselves; finally, participants grappled with normative discourse that informed their logic as they negotiated what is normal vs. what is abnormal.Item Exploring the Role of Online Pharmacies in Ghana(2022) Eab-Aggrey, NaessiambaThe online pharmacy industry is growing globally, including in the developing world. This study explores the role of online pharmacies in Ghana from the pharmacists’ perspective. In particular, it seeks to understand how pharmacists perceive online pharmacies in Ghana in terms of their larger socio-cultural, policy, and communication dimensions, as well as challenges that they face and foresee in implementing online pharmacies given the resource-poor settings in Ghana. Twenty-one in-depth interviews were conducted and analyzed using the thematic analysis approach. Findings indicate that while online pharmacies were in a nascent stage in Ghana, most pharmacists perceived them as beneficial, offering benefits such as convenience, enhancing access to medication, reducing violence, and gender discrimination against women in the pharmacy profession. Also, online pharmacies were perceived to bridge the gap in care between the hospitals and the community pharmacies and in addressing some of the cultural barriers that have long impeded clients from accessing care. On the other hand, respondents pointed to the lack of adequate infrastructure such as roads, internet connectivity, addressing systems acting as hindrance to Ghana's online pharmacy. Finally, it was noted that involving and communicating with varied stakeholders was key to the success of the online program. This study will help online pharmacy industry players in Ghana understand the industry's general scope, its benefits, pitfalls, challenges, and the way forward.Item Facebook disclosure's impact on relational satisfaction and maintenance: a comparative analysis between long-distance romantic relationships and geographically close relationships(2014) Zhong, LingziThe primary proposes of this study are to investigate the impact of public self-disclosure on Facebook on long-distance romantic relationship partners' relational satisfaction and maintenance and to compare such an impact between long-distance romantic relationship partners and geographically close relationship partners under the theoretical framework of communication privacy management. This study employed 632 online surveys for analysis. Study results revealed that both the frequency of Facebook disclosure and the motivations to disclose were positively related to long-distance romantic relationship partners' relational satisfaction and maintenance. Study results also indicated that there was not a significant difference between long-distance romantic relationships and geographically close relationships in terms of the impact of Facebook disclosure on relational satisfaction and maintenance. These results were analyzed from the perspective of communication privacy management theory.Item Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting and the Communicative Interface Between Non-Government Organizations and the State/Policy in Egypt(2017) Galal, AngieGlobal efforts to end female genital mutilation/ cutting (FGM/C) have intensified in recent decades because of the rising awareness that such a practice is an act of violence against women and girls. Numerous research articles on FGM/C have been published; however, they mostly focus on the prevalence, the medical consequences and its management. On the other hand, the field of communication which is vital in understanding and combating FGM/C has been largely overlooked or ignored. Egypt being one of the three countries, hosting more than 100 million women and girls who have been subjected to FGM/C, is also significantly understudied (as per the systematic literature review conducted by the author). This study assessed the communicative interface between the civil society organizations and the state in Egypt in the context of FGM/C. In particular, drawing on critical theoretical perspectives, it examined the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of community based organizations vis-à-vis the prevention of FGM/C amidst the repeated changes in policy and explored the nature of the relationship between the local organizations and the Egyptian state and whether and how this relationship had been improving or hindering the process of bringing about behavioral and social change at the grassroots level. This thesis attempts to bring a fresh perspective in communication, believing that the tensions, negotiations, and conflict experienced by people and organizations in everyday life are all part of a larger concept of communication. A total of six in-depth interviews were held with key informants working in government and local non-profit organizations. Primary and secondary sources were used for critical analysis to ensure triangulation. The emerging themes revealed tension in the relationship between the government and local organizations as apparent in the government’s recent attempt to tighten control over the operations of NGOs through a new legislation. The marriage between the state and religion is one of the key factors perpetuating an ambiguous and ambivalent stance in regards to FGM/C in Egypt. Other examples of hegemony, power and control is evident in the findings, which shed light on issues of patriarchy and the state’s submission to global governance and norms.Item Gimmick or Game-Changer? Closed- and Open-Ended Content Analyses Examining Individual Qualities and Personality Traits Associated with Selective Exposure to and Enjoyment of 3D Film(2017) OBrien, ErinThe three-dimensional stereoscopic (3D) film has fallen in and out of favor in Hollywood several times over the years: first in the 1950s, then in the 1980s, and most recently in the 2000s and early 2010s. In all cases, the trend has experienced a surge in profits and popularity, followed by a fairly sudden abatement. To explore the latest rise and fall of 3D, the present study used a self-reporting survey featuring both closed- and open-ended questions to examine personality traits that may be associated with selective exposure to and enjoyment of 3D film, following a Uses & Gratifications approach. Five hypotheses were tested, holding that individuals who prefer 3D would be low in need for cognition, high in need for escape, high in need for diversion, male, and extroverts. None of these hypotheses were supported, as the vast majority of participants across all personality and demographic categories did not report a preference for 3D. However, upon further testing, a few interesting relationships were identified. These findings were enhanced by two open-ended questions about film-viewing preferences, which provided further details regarding audience opinions on 3D. Generally, individuals reported a preference for 2D because of the drawbacks traditionally associated with 3D, including physical discomfort and higher cost. Although unexpected, these results may be useful when considered as an updated look at audience preferences and priorities associated with the film-viewing and theater-going experiences.Item Growing up with cancer: Communication patterns among healthy siblings of childhood cancer survivors(2016) Sinclair, KristenThe aim of this qualitative study was to uncover the experiences of healthy siblings during their ill sibling's childhood cancer event. This is a retrospective study focusing on the adult perspective of past events. Fifteen adult participants were interviewed to find out if their sibling's childhood cancer event had changed how the family communicated with one another and, in turn, shaped their present interactions. With the help of in-depth interviews, participants recalled their everyday experience and the changes in their families after diagnosis and treatment of their sibling's cancer. Overall, this study reveals that healthy siblings experienced emotional strain, behavioral changes, and a loss of communication within the family. Emotional strain was marked by feelings of loneliness, feeling forgotten, and feeling ignored. In terms of behavior, they became more independent, more compassionate, and took on new roles in the family such as care-taking and assisting with household chores. The majority of respondents reported less communication with their parents about their sibling's cancer event. Most parents did not talk to the healthy siblings about cancer, and most healthy siblings often chose not to talk to parents about their ill sibling's cancer. This led the children to make sense of the illness on their own, impacting their understanding of cancer, as there was little co-construction within the family system. A Grounded Theory approach helped to generate rich descriptions. Themes and categories emerging out of the interviews were analyzed with the framework of Systems Theory and Symbolic Interactionism.Item Humor, marital typology and expectations in new marriages(2011) Pratt, Brittany MarieThis research investigates the use of humor regarding expectation negotiation among newlywed individuals, paying particular attention to differences between gender and marital typology. Newlyweds were surveyed to determine the relationship between gender, conflict avoidance, humor use and marital typology regarding expectation negotiation. Results indicate that the use of humor to negotiate expectations in new marriages does differ across both gender and marital typology. Overall, the findings provide additional evidence as to the challenges of the newlywed period. Many of the characteristics of this important stage are observed in this study, however it is clear that our understanding of the newlywed period is not yet exhaustive.Item Ideologies of intervention: Analyzing NATO propaganda leaflets using articulation theory(2012) Tripe, Halli BethThis thesis examines propaganda leaflets dropped by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces in Kosovo in 1999 and Libya in 2011. Using Stuart Hall's articulation theory (1986) as a theoretical and methodological framework, this thesis analyzes the textual and visual messages communicated by NATO's propaganda leaflets, with a particular focus on the ideological components of those messages. Three major themes were found in the leaflets dropped by NATO in Kosovo: appeals to family values, the use of war imagery, and the demonization of Slobodan Milosevic. In the leaflets dropped in Libya, four major themes were found: messages aimed at soldiers, rhetorical appeals to family, the use of war imagery, and the use of nationalist imagery. The similarities and differences between the messages employed by NATO in both conflicts are analyzed. The most significant similarity between the messages on the leaflets disseminated in Kosovo and Libya was the use of war imagery. The potential international implications of the ideological assumptions espoused in the NATO propaganda leaflets are discussed. This thesis argues that the expansion of NATO, and particularly NATO's ideological justifications for military intervention as espoused in the leaflets dropped in Kosovo and Libya, threatens to undermine Westphalian sovereignty, and signals the rebirth of imperialism on humanitarian or ideological grounds.