RSS 1.0Communication electronic theses and dissertations (MU)
The items in this collection are the theses and dissertations written by students of the Department of Communication. Some items may be viewed only by members of the University of Missouri System and/or University of Missouri-Columbia. Click on one of the browse buttons above for a complete listing of the works.
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Recent Submissions
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Imagining Madam President: a critical typology of fictional female presidents and intersectional presidentiality in U.S. politainment
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)The purpose of this dissertation is to systematically explore and illuminate fictional female presidential portrayals in politainment, or the symbiotic fusion of entertainment media and politics. Grounded in literatures ... -
"Resilience can look really messy:" an exploration of resilience among former foster youth
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)The present study explores the process of resilience for FFY. This exploration began with understanding how FFY define resilience, followed by how they engage in communicative processes to enact resilience. Using the ... -
The golden years: new technology, positive health, and the experience of aging
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)[EMBARGOED UNTIL 8/1/2023] This study examines how media and technology is perceived to play a role in the experience of aging for older adults. Focusing on the health status and health outcomes (i.e., mental health, social ... -
COVID-19 compliance across societies: testing health messaging models in the U.S. and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)[EMBARGOED UNTIL 8/1/2023] The purpose of this study is to test the theories of communication about health crises and theories of persuasive health communication that have been applied to COVID-19 in a different cultural ... -
An affective (dis)ordering of difference: a practice approach to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in veterinary medicine
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)[EMBARGOED UNTIL 8/1/2023] Recent organizational theorizing contends that ontological assumptions around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) must be reconsidered. I argue that an underlying assumption of separation ... -
Lovesick: the effects of political partisanship and COVID-19 vaccine perceptions on online romantic partner selection
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)Many studies have reported the positive relationship of perceived political similarity with dating intention in the world of online dating. However, there are currently no studies which consider this relationship alongside ... -
Media's impact on political polarization in the family
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)Are we all in this together? Around 87 percent of Biden voters and 95 percent of Trump voters can at least agree on the answer to this ever-pressing question: no, we are not (Pew Research Center, 2020). Americans are ... -
Ethnonational affective polarization as a mediator of pro-national media on political misperception in Montenegro
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)Recognizing the potential threat of political misperception to democracy and democracy processes, scholars have extensively studied the causes and effects of this phenomenon. It is well documented that partisan and social ... -
Men and maternal care: how men make sense of their experiences with a partner's pregnancy, labor, and delivery
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2021)Men often report wanting to be involved in a partner's pregnancy, labor, and delivery but may feel unsure of what to do or if they are allowed to participate. Existing studies describe men's participation and are mostly ... -
A friend that sticks closer than a brother: a hermeneutic phenomenological analysis of resilience in Black bereaved mothers that have lost a child to gun violence
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)Despite literature considering the impact of child loss on parents, communication scholars have yet to examine the resilience of bereaved Black mothers. Specifically, this present study examined the role of Black sisterhood ... -
Gender, race, nostalgia, and fanship: factors affecting parental mediation of Disney animated films
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)This dissertation explored several gaps in the literature related to parental perceptions of Disney animated films and parental mediation of those films including how willing parents are to use Disney animated films to ... -
Border pedagogy: how white teachers cross intellectual borders to enhance students' critical thinking skills in racially homogeneous, low poverty spaces
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)This research addresses the challenges of engaging students in critical conversations about controversial topics in racially homogeneous settings. Data analysis from this qualitative, phenomenological study reveals how ... -
Idealization of intimate partner violence in romantic relationships: examining the role of television's influence on endorsement of controlling behaviors
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2022)Media messages of romantic relationships are prevalent, and these messages can influence how individuals behave in their romantic relationships, as well as influencing scripts and schemas about specific relationship ... -
A model for examining the effects of fake news and social endorsement cues on information seeking about public health risk
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2021)This study investigates the effects of fake news and social endorsement cues (e.g., number of likes and shares) of social media on individuals' information seeking intentions in the context of public health risk. Particularly, ... -
Sensemaking and identity management amidst major organizational change
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2021)Organizational change is inevitable and its impacts will affect all members, albeit to different degrees. These changes also bring about uncertainty, especially as it pertains to one's organization-based identities. However, ... -
Do black men really love black women? : A qualitative study on how mass media shape black men's perception of black women for long-term romantic relationship -- or not
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2021)When confronted with the presence of a Black man in relationship with a non-Black woman whether in media messages or real life, more often than not Black women are also met with feelings of rejection and inadequacy. It is ... -
All of the doors are closed : a hermeneutic phenomenological study exploring Black gay male experiences of stigma in Black church organizing
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020)The African American community has become a key site of resistance to accepting same-sex relations in the United States. Scholars have suggested that this resistance is most accurately explained by Black religious affiliations ... -
Messaging universal vote by mail : an exploration of the factors that influence message processing for niche policy topics
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020)According to the federal government, the current model of voting in the United States has changed little since the country's founding even as voting has moved from wooden ballot boxes to electronic voting machines and ... -
Justifying brutality : news readers' perceptions of police violence and race
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2020)[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Over the past few decades, police brutality has attracted the attention of the American public and news media. With increased attention, one topic of ... -
A silent children's rights movement : an exploration of resilience in former foster children
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2019)[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Foster care is becoming a more prevalent diverse family form and serves a critical role in our society. Researchers, policymakers, and practitioners ...