Communication and Leadership Theses and Projects Communication research is designed to explore, explain, and predict communication phenomenon. Approaches

Communication and Communication and Leadership Theses and Leadership Theses and

ProjectsProjectsCommunication research is designed to explore, explain, and predict communication phenomenon. Approaches to communication come from many academic traditions and utilize both qualitative or quantitative research. Much of communication research is context specific. In this site we are primarily offering you topics or themes that could help you getting started thinking about an area of communication research worthy of an MA thesis. Consider these good starting points!

Department of Communication and Leadership Studies, Gonzaga University.

These thesis possibilities are meant as a These thesis possibilities are meant as a springboard to get you on your way to springboard to get you on your way to

thesis work.thesis work.

Some of these will appear in Some of these will appear in more than one category. more than one category.

Re-visit your COML 508 syllabus for a refresher Re-visit your COML 508 syllabus for a refresher on the creative thinking process and remember, on the creative thinking process and remember, research is both fun and important.research is both fun and important.

Thesis TopicsThesis Topics

► HealthHealth

► Injured athletes: How self-Injured athletes: How self-talk and communication with talk and communication with others aides in the others aides in the rehabilitation processrehabilitation process

► Direct to consumer Direct to consumer advertising of prescription advertising of prescription drugs: Do print ads give drugs: Do print ads give consumers enough consumers enough information?information?

► Public RelationsPublic Relations

► A case for the necessity and A case for the necessity and inherent ethics of public inherent ethics of public relationsrelations

► Father Joseph Mary Cataldo’s Father Joseph Mary Cataldo’s public relations campaignpublic relations campaign

► The role of public relations in The role of public relations in the environmental crisis: the environmental crisis: Danger and opportunityDanger and opportunity

► Interpreting Lies in Interpreting Lies in consumers, politics and consumers, politics and relationships: Interpersonal relationships: Interpersonal Reception Theory revisited.Reception Theory revisited.

InterpersonalInterpersonal► The dynamics of birth order: A study The dynamics of birth order: A study

of the way birth order affects of the way birth order affects interpersonal communicationinterpersonal communication

► Proxemics: A valid explanation of the Proxemics: A valid explanation of the human conditionhuman condition

► How does color tint our How does color tint our communication? A study of race as a communication? A study of race as a factor of communication and factor of communication and perceived attractivenessperceived attractiveness

► Studying honesty and discretion Studying honesty and discretion through historical examplesthrough historical examples

► Power and nonverbal communicationPower and nonverbal communication

► Interpersonal deception: Lying to get Interpersonal deception: Lying to get a datea date

► Social Penetration Theory and the role Social Penetration Theory and the role of race, gender and culture.of race, gender and culture.

► Servant leadership and interpersonal Servant leadership and interpersonal communication: Old wine in new communication: Old wine in new bottlesbottles

► Biblical interpretation & Biblical interpretation & communication A fundamentalist communication A fundamentalist approach to scriptural revelation is approach to scriptural revelation is an inadequate paradigm for a an inadequate paradigm for a complete appreciation and complete appreciation and interpretation of Christian scripture.interpretation of Christian scripture.

► A comparative look at collegiate and A comparative look at collegiate and professional athletes’ styles of self professional athletes’ styles of self talktalk

► Media influence in shaping a man’s Media influence in shaping a man’s self-worthself-worth

► Men are from Mars, women are from Men are from Mars, women are from Venus: A content analysis of gender Venus: A content analysis of gender differences in personal differences in personal advertisementadvertisement

OrganizationalOrganizational► Perceptions of gender differences Perceptions of gender differences

in the workplacein the workplace

► Learning organizations and Learning organizations and communication theory: A communication theory: A preliminary investigation preliminary investigation between the presence of a between the presence of a learning organization and profitlearning organization and profit

► Implications and applications of Implications and applications of the study of nonverbal behavior the study of nonverbal behavior in organizationsin organizations

► Critical theory of organizations in Critical theory of organizations in three culturesthree cultures

► Electronic mail in organization: A Electronic mail in organization: A help or a hindrance?help or a hindrance?

► Ethnography of flight attendants: Ethnography of flight attendants: From come fly me to present day From come fly me to present day flight attendantflight attendant

► Corporate leadership: An Corporate leadership: An examination of the relationship examination of the relationship between gender and between gender and management systemsmanagement systems


► GlobalizationGlobalization

► New refugee policy must utilize New refugee policy must utilize communication modelscommunication models

► The rise of India in the U.S. The rise of India in the U.S. imagination: 2000-presentimagination: 2000-present

► EthicsEthics

► Ethical considerations of digital Ethical considerations of digital manipulation in documentary manipulation in documentary photographyphotography

► Advertising, ethics, and childrenAdvertising, ethics, and children

► Ethical implications of the Ethical implications of the internet on societyinternet on society

Mass MediaMass Media► The success of Volkswagen integrated The success of Volkswagen integrated

marketing communication: An marketing communication: An application of Volkswagen strategies application of Volkswagen strategies for the Volkswagen campusfor the Volkswagen campus

► Effective negative advertising in Effective negative advertising in political campaignspolitical campaigns

► Who shapes the American media?Who shapes the American media?

► From Shakespeare to reality: A From Shakespeare to reality: A journey from an oral culture to a journey from an oral culture to a visual society”visual society”

► Talk radio – America’s national party Talk radio – America’s national party lineline

► TV violence and Cultivation TheoryTV violence and Cultivation Theory

► Faith and reason in Middle Earth: Faith and reason in Middle Earth: A narrative criticism of J.R.R. A narrative criticism of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”

► Is our print media gender biased? Is our print media gender biased? A content analysis of major A content analysis of major newspaper’s female by-lines & newspaper’s female by-lines & the stories they’re writingthe stories they’re writing

► McCarthyism in the 1950’s: An McCarthyism in the 1950’s: An historical application of the spiral historical application of the spiral of silence theoryof silence theory


Mass MediaMass Media► What is the relationship between What is the relationship between

pre-marital sex on television and pre-marital sex on television and the reality of teen pregnancy?the reality of teen pregnancy?

► Cosmopolitan magazine: Does it Cosmopolitan magazine: Does it pick up where Seventeen pick up where Seventeen magazine ends in the magazine ends in the representation of women?representation of women?

► Inside Islam and the American Inside Islam and the American media: How does the media media: How does the media portray Islam?portray Islam?

► Media bias and the creation of a Media bias and the creation of a skewed perspectiveskewed perspective

► Tracing media influence through Tracing media influence through time: Agenda Setting Theorytime: Agenda Setting Theory

► Direct to consumer advertising of Direct to consumer advertising of prescription drugs: Do print ads prescription drugs: Do print ads give consumers enough give consumers enough information?information?

► Legal considerations when Legal considerations when making advertising decisionsmaking advertising decisions

► The inherent, antagonistic The inherent, antagonistic relationship between journalists relationship between journalists and public relations practitioners and public relations practitioners results in consequences which results in consequences which have a negative repercussion on have a negative repercussion on the publicthe public

► Sisters in the media: A study of Sisters in the media: A study of portrayals and realitiesportrayals and realities

Mass MediaMass Media► The link between violence in The link between violence in

television and the emotional television and the emotional problems of teenagersproblems of teenagers

► Music in advertising: Listening to Music in advertising: Listening to current trendscurrent trends

► What has America’s print media What has America’s print media communicated regarding the communicated regarding the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil exploration issue?exploration issue?

► Cross cultural study of women in Cross cultural study of women in the U.S. and Japan by analyzing the U.S. and Japan by analyzing women’s magazineswomen’s magazines

► A cultural perspective on turning A cultural perspective on turning literature into film: A fantasy literature into film: A fantasy theme analysistheme analysis

► More than words can say: Values More than words can say: Values of the imagery in print of the imagery in print advertisingadvertising

Thesis TopicsThesis Topics► Intercultural/Intercultural/

InternationalInternational

► Communication differences Communication differences between America and Japanbetween America and Japan

► Inside and outside. What Inside and outside. What communication strategies do communication strategies do American born Chinese use when American born Chinese use when interacting with each other?interacting with each other?

► PedagogyPedagogy

► Pedagogical implications of Pedagogical implications of Greek and Roman education Greek and Roman education on a contemporary speech-on a contemporary speech-communication curriculumcommunication curriculum

► Developing communication Developing communication curriculum for the community curriculum for the community collegecollege

► Communication in the Communication in the classroom: The dynamics of classroom: The dynamics of language and nonverbal language and nonverbal expression in secondary expression in secondary educationeducation

Thesis TopicsThesis Topics► EthicsEthics




► PoliticalPolitical

► The emerging media revolution: The emerging media revolution: Considering the influence of new Considering the influence of new media forms on democratic media forms on democratic societysociety

► New refugee policy must utilize New refugee policy must utilize communication modelscommunication models

► Negative political campaigning Negative political campaigning and its affects on the American and its affects on the American votervoter

► F_*# Censorship on the ‘Net! A F_*# Censorship on the ‘Net! A critical review of the critical review of the Telecommunication Decency ActTelecommunication Decency Act

TechnologyTechnology► Digital communication: An Digital communication: An

exploratory examination of how exploratory examination of how this phenomenon is changing this phenomenon is changing communication landscapecommunication landscape

► The emerging media revolution: The emerging media revolution: Considering the influence of new Considering the influence of new media forms on democratic media forms on democratic societysociety

► F_*# Censorship on the ‘Net! A F_*# Censorship on the ‘Net! A critical review of the critical review of the Telecommunication Decency ActTelecommunication Decency Act


► Electronic mail in organization: A Electronic mail in organization: A help or a hindrance?help or a hindrance?

► Dot-com journalism: Will it Dot-com journalism: Will it overpower print journalism?overpower print journalism?

► The necessity of surveillance in The necessity of surveillance in today’s worldtoday’s world

Gender/Race/ClassGender/Race/Class► How does color tint our How does color tint our

communication? A study of race communication? A study of race as a factor of communication and as a factor of communication and perceived attractivenessperceived attractiveness

► Cross cultural study of women in Cross cultural study of women in the U.S. and Japan by analyzing the U.S. and Japan by analyzing women’s magazineswomen’s magazines

► Is there a common experiential Is there a common experiential thread in the stories of girls and thread in the stories of girls and women leaders through their women leaders through their development that we can development that we can develop into a theory or program develop into a theory or program that can enrich the leadership that can enrich the leadership and self-actualization potential of and self-actualization potential of girls?girls?

► Gender, Language and Gender, Language and Communication Styles.Communication Styles.

► Sexism/ageism: Still alive and Sexism/ageism: Still alive and kickingkicking

► Racial representation in the Racial representation in the Abercrombie and Fitch corporate Abercrombie and Fitch corporate identityidentity

► The normalization of payday The normalization of payday loansloans

► Cosmopolitan Magazine: Does it Cosmopolitan Magazine: Does it pick up where Seventeen pick up where Seventeen magazine ends in the magazine ends in the representation of women?representation of women?

► Native Americans on television in Native Americans on television in the 21the 21stst century century

Gender/Race/ClassGender/Race/Class► If Men are from Mars and Women If Men are from Mars and Women

are from Venus, then who is from are from Venus, then who is from Earth?Earth?

► Perceptions of gender differences Perceptions of gender differences in the workplacein the workplace

► Men are from Mars, women are Men are from Mars, women are from Venus: A content analysis from Venus: A content analysis of gender differences in personal of gender differences in personal advertisementadvertisement

► Standpoint theory, Standpoint theory, postmodernism and Marxism.postmodernism and Marxism.

► Iron images: Media masculinity Iron images: Media masculinity and the impact on adolescent and the impact on adolescent malesmales

► Media influence in shaping a Media influence in shaping a man’s self-worthman’s self-worth

► Is our print media gender biased? Is our print media gender biased? A content analysis of major A content analysis of major newspaper’s female by-lines & newspaper’s female by-lines & the stories they’re writingthe stories they’re writing

Rhetoric / Visual RhetoricRhetoric / Visual Rhetoric► Three kings: A look at the Three kings: A look at the

persuasive speaking skills of persuasive speaking skills of presidents Abraham Lincoln, presidents Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John F. Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John F. KennedyKennedy

► A neo-Aristotchian criticism on A neo-Aristotchian criticism on the effectiveness of trash talking the effectiveness of trash talking during sporting competitionsduring sporting competitions


► Father Joseph Mary Cataldo’s Father Joseph Mary Cataldo’s public relations campaignpublic relations campaign

► More than words can say: Values More than words can say: Values of the imagery in print of the imagery in print advertisingadvertising

► Claude Monet: The art of Claude Monet: The art of communicating emotions in artcommunicating emotions in art


► EnvironmentalEnvironmental

► What has America’s print media What has America’s print media communicated regarding the communicated regarding the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil exploration issue?exploration issue?

► The environmental beat: A The environmental beat: A conflict industryconflict industry

► The role of public Relations in the The role of public Relations in the environmental crisis: Danger and environmental crisis: Danger and opportunityopportunity

► Crisis management: Crisis management: Environmental disasterEnvironmental disaster

► FaithFaith

► Biblical interpretation & Biblical interpretation & communication A fundamentalist communication A fundamentalist approach to scriptural revelation approach to scriptural revelation is an inadequate paradigm for a is an inadequate paradigm for a complete appreciation and complete appreciation and interpretation of Christian interpretation of Christian scripturescripture

► Faith and reason in Middle Earth: Faith and reason in Middle Earth: A narrative criticism of J.R.R. A narrative criticism of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”

Cultural StudiesCultural Studies► The American diet craze and The American diet craze and

communication: Fad, fraud, or communication: Fad, fraud, or effective?effective?

► McCarthyism in the 1950’s: An McCarthyism in the 1950’s: An historical application of the spiral historical application of the spiral of silence theoryof silence theory

► The inherent, antagonistic The inherent, antagonistic relationship between journalists relationship between journalists and public relations practitioners and public relations practitioners results in consequences which results in consequences which have a negative repercussion on have a negative repercussion on the publicthe public

► In what ways has media literacy In what ways has media literacy helped adolescents think helped adolescents think critically about media’s role in critically about media’s role in their lives?their lives?

► From Shakespeare to reality: A From Shakespeare to reality: A journey from an oral culture to a journey from an oral culture to a visual societyvisual society

► Media bias and the creation of a Media bias and the creation of a skewed perspectiveskewed perspective

► Dot-com journalism: Will it Dot-com journalism: Will it overpower print journalism?overpower print journalism?

Cultural StudiesCultural Studies► A cultural perspective on turning A cultural perspective on turning

literature into film: A fantasy literature into film: A fantasy theme analysistheme analysis

► Ethnography of flight attendants: Ethnography of flight attendants: From come fly me to present day From come fly me to present day flight attendantflight attendant

► What is the relationship between What is the relationship between pre-marital sex on television and pre-marital sex on television and the reality of teen pregnancy?the reality of teen pregnancy?

► Barthes, Ecco, Hall and Fouacult: Barthes, Ecco, Hall and Fouacult: studies on cultural hegemony.studies on cultural hegemony.

► Talk radio – America’s national Talk radio – America’s national party lineparty line

► The normalization of payday The normalization of payday loansloans

► The link between violence in The link between violence in television and the emotional television and the emotional problems of teenagersproblems of teenagers

► Antonio Gramsci: analysis of culture.

► McDonaldization of Higher Education

LeadershipLeadership

► The process of becoming (being) The process of becoming (being) authentic: Bernard Lonergan, authentic: Bernard Lonergan, communication and leadershipcommunication and leadership

► Servant leadership and Servant leadership and interpersonal communication: interpersonal communication: Old wine in new bottlesOld wine in new bottles

► A comparative analysis of A comparative analysis of effective and ineffective effective and ineffective leadershipleadership

► Corporate leadership: An Corporate leadership: An examination of the relationship examination of the relationship between gender and between gender and management systemsmanagement systems

► Is there a common experiential Is there a common experiential thread in the stories of girls and thread in the stories of girls and women leaders through their women leaders through their development that we can development that we can develop into a theory or program develop into a theory or program that can enrich the leadership that can enrich the leadership and self-actualization potential of and self-actualization potential of girls?girls?


► FamilyFamily

► Parental acceptance, Parental acceptance, communication patterns and the communication patterns and the development of self-esteem in development of self-esteem in relation to deaf children of relation to deaf children of hearing parentshearing parents

► Sisters in the media: A study of Sisters in the media: A study of portrayals and realitiesportrayals and realities

► Touch and nonverbal Touch and nonverbal communication: violations of communication: violations of trust?trust?

► MiscellaneousMiscellaneous

► Checkmate: Diverging moves in Checkmate: Diverging moves in legal communicationlegal communication

► Soccer hooligans: A content Soccer hooligans: A content analysis of soccer fans in America analysis of soccer fans in America and Englandand England

► Fetching the good out of evil: Fetching the good out of evil: Why alcoholics anonymous and Why alcoholics anonymous and the 12-Step Program are so the 12-Step Program are so effectiveeffective

► Ballroom dancing and expectancy Ballroom dancing and expectancy violationsviolations

Documents

Communication and Leadership Theses and Projects Communication research is designed to explore, explain, and predict communication phenomenon. Approaches