Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2021, Mass Communication (Communication)

Despite high adoption rates of new communication technologies in Kenya, the role of emerging technologies in the Kenyan child trafficking market and the influence of online anti-child trafficking activists in combating child trafficking remain under-researched. In this study, I have used digital ethnographic approaches that included virtual interviews, online participant observation, and social media analytics to realize five main findings. First, emerging media technology has been used by criminals to traffic children, whereas it also provides opportunities to online activists to combat child trafficking. Second, there are different types of online claims-makers actively advocating against child trafficking. Third, the claims-makers framed the exploitation and risky situations that victims of child trafficking go through as sexual exploitation, organ harvesting, infant trafficking, child marriage, organized begging, terrorism, organized crime, and child labor. Fourth, the claims-makers used the 5P framework to diagnose and offer a prognosis of the child trafficking situation. Finally, the claims-makers were able to influence diverse sentiments among their target audience. This study has practical and theoretical recommendations for researching and designing social and behavior change interventions against child trafficking and other social challenges.

Committee: Stephen Howard Prof. (Committee Chair); Thomas Smucker Dr. (Committee Member); Jatin Srivastava Dr. (Committee Member); Laeeq Khan Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: African Studies; Behavioral Sciences; Communication; Mass Communications; Mass Media; Social Research; Sociology; Sub Saharan Africa Studies

Doctor of Education, Ashland University, 2020, College of Education

This study examines group processes and leadership of a zoo executive team at a Midwestern zoo while determining what type of animal images are ethically appropriate and ethically conflicted for use in social media (Instagram). Using the four animal and human associations, this study examined how group processes are used to establish a mutually agreed-upon set of standards for what is ethically appropriate for social marketing imagery of zoos. The instrumentation used included one-on-one interviews, survey, a questionnaire and a focus group. The results of this study suggests that effective group processes include: behavior modification, cohesion, feedback, leadership, fostering perception change, and fostering learning. The results also suggest how zoo professionals navigate in reaching decisions for policy development and common goals for the organization more efficiently and effectively.

Committee: Judy Alston Dr. (Committee Chair) Subjects: Animals; Behavioral Psychology; Educational Leadership

MA, University of Cincinnati, 2019, Arts and Sciences: Communication

This study analyzes the discourse of community participation within a multi-stakeholder bureaucratic model of public health intervention in West Bengal, India, and highlights the role that vulnerable populations play in the well-meaning participatory health interventions designed for them. A total of 13 individuals (including 5 in-depth interviews and one focus group discussion with 3 community health worker s and 5 affected individuals) were interviewed for the project. Two research questions guide this thesis including: RQ1: How do stakeholders across various agencies construct the discourse of the nature of arsenic problem in West Bengal? and RQ 2: What roles do members from the affected communities play in the current well-meaning participatory processes and with what implications? The dataset revealed stakeholders depended on specific discourses (technical, economic, bureaucratic and moralistic) to discuss the nature of the problem of groundwater arsenic. It also highlighted how marginalization and gender inequalities are played out in the participatory health discourses.

Committee: Shaunak Sastry Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Zhuo Ban Ph.D. (Committee Member); Stephen Depoe Ph.D. (Committee Member); Heather Zoller Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2018, Journalism (Communication)

Convincing Western society of a "nutrition turnaround" towards more plant-based eating habits is imperative to save the planet and the health of society. Wiemer (2018) examined the media effects of tailored (to internal or external motivations) video messages on people's progress and intention to change towards a plant-based, vegan diet. Consistent with her hypotheses, participants' intention, perceived behavioral control and moral obligation to follow a plant-based, vegan diet was positively strengthened by watching a tailored intervention message. Pro-vegan advocacy journalists and NGO campaigners are therefore advised to tailor the content of their pro- vegan communication to appeal more effectively to narrower target groups. However, they can better affect their audiences' attitudes and perceived social pressure through campaigns that integrate veganism into everyday life and turn it into a socially accepted and desired behavior over time. Conceptualizing vegan eating habits as social practice, rather than a cognitive choice, opens up new approaches to intervention and advocating communication strategies.

Committee: Anne Bartsch Prof. (Committee Chair); Parul Jain Dr. (Committee Member); Alexander Godulla Prof. (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Journalism

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2015, Media and Communication

This study follows the example of early research in other taboo health topics such as family planning, leprosy, and HIV/AIDS, by first examining baseline Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) variables to build an initial research base for a menstruation- related health communication study. The primary objective of this study is to explore the relationship among important psychosocial variables pertaining to menstruation and menstrual hygiene; hence, the variables selected include: knowledge of menstruation and menstrual practices, attitude towards menstruation and menstrual practices, cognitive involvement in menstruation and menstrual practices, behavioral involvement in menstruation and menstrual practices, and adoption of menstrual practices. Another objective is to determine which of the above-mentioned factors are predictors of correct and safe hygienic practices in the context of menstruation. A quantitative methodological approach was adopted to conduct the study. A structured questionnaire was used to survey respondents and collect data. Sample size of the study was 475. A probability random sample consisting of both women and men, from Ahmedabad city, India, was selected using multi-stage clustered sampling technique. Descriptive and analytical statistical techniques were employed to analyze the data and prepare the findings. SPSS software was used to conduct appropriate analyses. It was found that knowledge, attitude, and cognitive involvement in menstruation and menstrual practices were high whereas, behavioral involvement in menstruation and menstrual practices were low. Hypothesized relationships between knowledge and attitude towards menstruation among men; knowledge, attitude towards menstrual practices and adoption among women; cognitive involvement and knowledge of menstrual practices in men and women; and behavioral involvement and knowledge of menstrual practices for men and women were statistically significant. Descriptive statistical analyses, (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Srinivas Melkote Dr. (Advisor); I-Fen Lin Dr. (Other); Sung-Yeon Park Dr. (Committee Member); Ewart Skinner Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Health; Marketing; Mass Communications; Mass Media

MDES, University of Cincinnati, 2015, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Design

This research aims to investigate a new tool for designers to foster behavior change via interaction design. To respond to this question, a set of case studies was conducted to analyze the existing interaction designs which are successful in changing people's behavior. Later on, the findings were synthesized and developed into a new design method. Then this tool was used to design a mobile app which aims at developing the cross culture connection between the incoming international students and the native students in the United States. The goal of this thesis research is to provide the designers a way to think about how to foster behavior change more naturally and effectively. Ultimately, this method can also be used in other design disciplines to better behavior change.

Committee: Peter Chamberlain M.F.A. M.Phil. (Committee Chair); Ian Bellomy M.F.A. (Committee Member); Benjamin Meyer M.F.A. (Committee Member) Subjects: Design

Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, 2010, Communication and Development Studies (International Studies)

The twin challenges of HIV and the political crisis had debilitating effects on the communication efforts of health organizations in Zimbabwe. This study explores the effects of the Zimbabwean political crisis on the implementation of behavior change programs by eight implementing organizations in Zimbabwe. This thesis is a product of triangulation of methods, that is, ten interviews, two focus group discussions and documents review. Drawing from the structural intervention approach, this study analyzed political obstacles to successful health programming in Zimbabwe and highlighted the bi-directional causal connections between HIV and conflict. Key findings for the study are the government ban of field operations of NGOs, widespread violence against beneficiaries and staff, collapse of public health delivery system, migration, decline in funding and abuse of power by political leaders. The study raises questions of program design of the behavior change programs, dealing with an intransigent government, donor funding in conflict zones, human resources capacity of NGOs and civil society's role in development in Zimbabwe. This study recommends safe participatory communication strategies, capacity strengthening, creative partnerships and the positive deviance approach as alternative and potentially effective measures for health programmers in conflict settings.

Committee: Rafael Obregon PhD (Committee Chair); Mandinyanya Chikombero PhD (Committee Member); Andrew Ross PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication