Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2015, Curriculum and Instruction (Education)

This quasi-experimental study investigated the impact that daily writing instruction and bi-weekly pen pal correspondence had on third graders' writing development and reading comprehension in a Midwest, rural elementary school. The treatment group participated in a 12-week writing intervention program in which they exchanged letters with second-grade pen pals on a bi-weekly basis. Letters were informative, expressive, and autonomous, as they were based on daily graphic organizers students completed, on which they wrote about school-related subjects of their choice. The control group did not participate in the writing intervention program, as they received their typical writing instruction. Both groups' reading comprehension scores were assessed via a S.T.A.R. pretest, which was administered prior to the writing treatment, and a S.T.A.R. posttest, which was administered after the writing treatment had concluded. Results showed that students whose writing substantially developed experienced development in the following areas: 1) text structure; 2) written expression; 3) audience awareness; and 4) voice. There was substantial interplay amongst the first three components, which resulted in a pronounced voice throughout students' letters. Conversely, students whose writing did not develop throughout the 12-week period did not develop in the four aforementioned areas, and thus never established a consistent voice in their letters. Quantitative results showed that while between-group differences in the pretest to posttest reading comprehension scores favored the treatment group, the results were not statistically significant.

Committee: Gene Geist Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Krisanna Machemes Ph.D. (Committee Member); Sara Helfrich Ph.D. (Committee Member); Jeesun Jung Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Language Arts; Literacy

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2018, Arts Policy and Administration

This case study explores the similarities and differences in film programming strategies for commercial movie theaters and nonprofit movie theaters. Movie theater attendance in the US film market has been declining since the beginning of the 21st century, and the number of movie theaters is also going down. Competition inside traditional film exhibition industry and outside from alternative streams are getting severe. The study adapted Margaret Wyszormirski's Triple- Bottom Line for arts policy to a triple-bottom-line for film programming, pointing out the three key bottom lines of film programming as content choice, audience development, and financial management. Two movie theaters near OSU main campus area, Gateway Film Center (nonprofit) and AMC Lennox Town Center 24 (for-profit), are compared in these three aspects. This study shows and analyzes their film programming strategies, and their film programmers' thoughts and rules in making film programming decisions.

Committee: Margaret Wyszomirski (Advisor); Shoshanah Goldberg-miller (Committee Member) Subjects: Arts Management; Motion Pictures

Master of Arts, University of Akron, 2017, Theatre Arts-Arts Administration

Research has long supported the benefits of the arts, specifically to students in grades K-12. Although arts programs have been decreasing over the last decade, nonprofit organizations have created strong programs that enrich students in the arts and create opportunities for collaborations with the community. The Weill Institute of Music at Carnegie Hall developed the Link Up music education outreach program to provide a beneficial means of music education in collaboration with partner host organizations and schools and has proven to be highly effective.

Committee: Elisa Gargarella (Advisor); Ramona Ortega-Liston (Committee Member); Jonathan Willis (Committee Member) Subjects: Arts Management; Music; Music Education

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2015, Arts Policy and Administration

In the face of declining attendance rates and aging subscriber bases, American symphony orchestras have begun to seek out new ways to market classical music to a younger demographic. This target group includes the Millennial generation, which has displayed a widespread disinterest in classical music alongside a higher level of comfort with (and reliance on) technology than any previous generation. In response, many performing ensembles are experimenting with augmenting their concerts with technology such as social media interaction, projections and smartphone applications. It is important to note that although many new and interesting digital genres are made possible by the advancements of technology, this thesis focuses on classical music as performed by acoustically traditional symphonic instruments. This study explores the current phenomenon of implementing technology in the concert hall as an audience development tool using case studies of the Philadelphia Orchestra, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, and Elevate Ensemble. The data suggests that these performing ensembles are including technology in three main areas of their audience development strategy: targeting specific niche demographics, programming new and community-based repertoire, and increasing social engagement. These themes point to the conclusion that the injection of technology alone into the concert experience is not enough to make classical music concerts appealing to the next generation. Orchestra administrators must be willing to mindfully consider each part of the traditional concert structure as an opportunity to modernize, while still keeping the celebration of quality classical music central to their mission.

Committee: Wayne Lawson PhD (Advisor); Shoshanah Goldberg-Miller PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Art Education; Arts Management; Music

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2014, Arts Policy and Administration

This study addresses issues in the museum sector emerging from a rapid demographic transition towards older population structures. There are now more people aged 65 and above than there have been at any other point in US history. People in late adulthood are still vigorous and do not display their ages. The aging of the population reflects potentially changing demographic features among art audiences, and may indicate a shift in arts participation. Consequently, meanings associated with senior audiences need to be revised in a way that reflects the vitality and energy of the newly aged population. Based on the previous studies, this study aims to reveal the changing perspectives on arts and aging. By arguing that there are common sets of assumptions about senior audiences in museums, this study tries to envision a new definition of the word "senior" with a different connotation - as a potential audience for the arts. This study is not arguing that museums require sweeping and fundamental reform of their audience development strategies. It is calling for a small change of perspective that allows museums to take note of potential older adult audiences.

Committee: Margaret Wyszomirski (Advisor); Wayne Lawson (Committee Member) Subjects: Aging; Arts Management; Museum Studies; Museums

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2011, Arts Policy and Administration

Jazz, classical music, opera, musical plays, non-musical plays, ballet, and art museums/galleries are denoted collectively as the ‘benchmark arts activities' in the Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA) reports published by the National Endowment for the Arts since 1982. While the reports have documented public attendance at each benchmark arts activity, the extent and patterns of audience overlap among the activities have not been documented over the years. Given prior research findings that suggest increasingly diverse cultural consumption behavior and also given the expanding volume of interdisciplinary arts products, there exists a timely need to study reliable evidence for audience overlap in the United States. Using cross-tabulation method, this research has produced results showing audience overlap among the benchmark activities in the United States between 1982 and 2008 based on the SPPA data. The results of the research confirm significant audience overlap among all of the benchmark activities and highlight certain patterns of audience overlap in light of prior research findings on audience overlap. Further statistical and/or qualitative analysis of the results of this research should extend the implications of this research and add to the present understanding of cultural consumption behavior in the United States.

Committee: Wayne P. Lawson (Advisor); Margaret J. Wyszomirski (Committee Member) Subjects: Arts Management

Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, 2011, Communication and Development Studies (International Studies)

This thesis explores the state of community radio in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, and encourages a shift in focus within the development communication discourse toward a more practical and spirited exploration of small-media financial sustainability. Central to this exploration is the concept of international donor ownership of community radio, which has evolved from playing an initial kick-start supporting role for stations in East Africa to recently becoming a vital life-line for their sustainability. Guided by 59 in-depth interviews – from donor organizations, network representatives, and community radio managers/scholars in the region – and six case study stations, this thesis explores what happens when donors leave (a recent and widespread phenomena), and how the conceptualization of community can change depending on the motivations and interests of a station's financial owners. Based on 4-months of field research, this thesis offers a new typology for scholars and practitioners understanding of community media ownership.

Committee: Josep Rota Dr. (Committee Chair); Yusuf Kalyango Dr. (Committee Member); Duncan Brown Dr. (Committee Member); Rafael Obregon Dr. (Advisor) Subjects: Communication; International Relations; Journalism

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2009, Mass Communication (Communication)

This qualitative audience reception analysis explored the cultural believability of fictional portrayals of Latinos in English-language television programs. The informants for this study were predominately second and third generation Mexican Americans, living in the Los Angeles, California area. This research focused on the ways these Latino viewers experienced, interacted with, and assigned meaning to Latino television characterizations. Because these activities do not occur in isolation particular attention was given to the social construction and negotiation of meanings. Reception typically occurs and is discussed in informal settings, so the researcher employed the naturalistic methods of guided conversations and participant observation. During the field study, viewers discussed whether they could imagine a real-life person having similar characteristics to fictional characters on television. Moreover, they communicated the social significance of programs including fictional characters that reflect Latino persons' cultural realities in more inclusive and diverse, yet entertaining ways. Viewers wanted to see more second and later generation Latino characters in scenes where they would have an obvious presence in similar real-world settings. The main finding of this research indicated that the viewers in this field study not only paid close attention to cultural details in characterizations and their believability, they were able to recall these details after a long period of time, indicating that these details were highly salient in their believability judgments. Most notably, viewers repeatedly conveyed the perception that too often productions emphasized cultural extremes or exaggerations that did not reflect the ways they experienced their Latino identities. They were particularly concerned by the frequent use of stereotypes, the use of exaggerated foreign accents, and the lack of attention to differences in heritage nationalities and heterogeneity of Latino p (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Drew O. McDaniel PhD (Committee Chair); Newton Gregory PhD (Committee Member); Perla Jr. Héctor PhD (Committee Member); Jokisch Brad PhD (Committee Member); McKerrow Raymie PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Hispanic Americans; Language; Mass Media; Minority and Ethnic Groups

Master of Technical and Scientific Communication, Miami University, 2011, English

Writers trained in technical communication may now find themselves working in positions that are far more commercial than technical, and they must learn to use their skills in different ways to sell a product or service. The transition might initially seem challenging, but technical writers are trained to reach a target audience through various methods, including audience assessment and usability testing. This ability to connect with a target audience is essential for writers working in a marketing role. I demonstrate in this report how I used my education as a technical writer to successfully reach a commercial audience during my internship with DNA Diagnostics Center; first through a detailed explanation of the rhetorical decisions behind the redesign of a commercial website and then through a discussion of how I determined the needs of my audience to ensure an accessible final product.

Committee: Jean Lutz PhD (Committee Chair); Katherine Durack PhD (Committee Member); Phyllis Callahan PhD (Committee Member); Stuart Blythe PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Marketing; Rhetoric; Technical Communication; Web Studies

Master of Arts, University of Akron, 2009, Theatre Arts-Arts Administration

This thesis argues that the ongoing creation and performance of contemporary music is both vital to the cultural identity of the United States as well as an important instrument in developing audiences for classical music organizations. To support this belief, this thesis examines three chamber music ensembles: The Kronos Quartet, Bang on a Can All Stars, and eighth blackbird. These three ensembles have been successful in areas such as attracting diverse audiences of all ages and consistently performing to near or at capacity audiences, areas where other performing arts organizations constantly strive, yet continuously fall short. This thesis explores the effect that adventurous programming, combined with creative presentation, has in engaging a diverse audience base.

Committee: Durand Pope (Advisor) Subjects: Fine Arts; Marketing; Music

Master of Arts, University of Akron, 2008, Theatre Arts-Arts Administration

The proliferation of symphony orchestras has enriched American cultural life. However, as the environment has changed over the past decades, symphony orchestras have encountered new challenges and opportunities in developing audiences. To survive, symphony orchestras must identify challenges and adapt their programming and marketing to maintain audiences and to develop new audiences. This thesis discusses the special challenges in developing audiences in the twenty-first century, and proposes the development of young professional audiences as one possible solution.

Committee: Neil Sapienza (Advisor) Subjects: