Department: Ph.D. Degree Program

Abstract: Participants (N=88) in a two-condition (Facebook post information level: high vs. low) mixed factorial design took part in a laboratory experiment that utilized eye tracking to gauge what areas of the page in common news layouts attract viewers’ gaze, and whether this viewing amount of information about the story disclosed in the Facebook posts. […]

Abstract: The movement to free Al Jazeera journalists (#FreeAJStaff), imprisoned by Egyptian authorities, utilized Twitter over almost two years, between 2014 and 2015. This study applied a social networks approach to study patterns of information flow, social mediators, and clusters, formed by the #FreeAJStaff movement on Twitter.Analysis of 22 months of data found social mediators […]

Abstract: Institutional knowledge and collective learning are invaluable resources for the corporate communications profession.  How corporations and government agencies have historically communicated with publics provides historical parameters for developing public communication competencies and ethical standards.  Through the lens of organizational learning and historical analogy, this study examines public relations in the era of the Great […]

Abstract: This study, in the context of encouraging participants to enroll in a company’s employee wellness program, uses gain-loss framing (Rothman & Salovey, 1997) and social comparison theory (Festinger, 1954) to examine the effects of messages on participant perceptions of self-efficacy for maintaining a healthy weight, consuming healthful foods and body satisfaction. A 2 (framing: […]

Abstract: The current study examined the effects of 3 types of Facebook reaction icons (positive, neutral, negative) and valence of comments (positive, neutral, negative) on brand attitude, trust, information seeking, purchase intention, and eWOM intention towards a health brand. Additionally, the study also assessed potential moderating effects of social media use on the relationship between […]

Abstract: Although recent empirical findings have suggested evidence of expression effect over reception effect, there remain both theoretical and methodological complexities concerning whether and under what condition message expression and reception exert influence on various psychosocial outcomes. Relying on social support theory and computational social science approaches, this study aims to examine the effects of […]

Today we encounter online content from a plethora of sources, in email, social media feeds and websites. Native advertising complicates this landscape, as this content mimics news but may be completely advertiser-influenced. Native advertising changes the public’s ability to assess the source, and thus credibility, creating content that has gained the attention of the FTC […]

Abstract: On October 31, 2016, a bit of copy/paste began spreading around Facebook, encouraging people to “check-in” to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in Canon Ball, North Dakota, even if they weren’t physically at the site. The goal? Help confused police combatting protestors of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Ultimately, the post was debunked as fake, […]

Abstract : This study examined the effects of a chief executive officers’ (CEO) self-disclosure on consumer-brand relationships and the moderating role of brand relationship norms. To test the proposed hypotheses, a 2 (the level ofCEOs’ self-disclosure: high versus low self-disclosure) × 2 (the types of brand relationship norms: exchange relationship versus communal relationship) factorial design […]

Abstract: This study examines message strategies of PSAs that can effectively discourage young adults from texting while driving. We test the effect of matching young adults’ perceived social distance and construal levels in processing PSAs on perceived threat, attitude toward texting while driving, and intentions to engage in preventive behavior. The study reveals significant persuasive […]