PHD, Kent State University, 2024, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Foundations, Leadership and Administration

This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study aimed to investigate how undergraduate students' everyday texting experiences related to their social connectedness. This research was conducted through a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews. The quantitative phase involved a survey distributed to a sample of undergraduate students, assessing their texting frequency, demographic variables (age, gender, race/ethnicity, and living arrangements), and levels of social connectedness using the Social Connectedness Scale-Revised (SCS-R; Lee et al., 2001). The subsequent qualitative phase involved semi-structured interviews with a subset of participants selected based on their survey responses to gain deeper insights into their texting behaviors and perceptions of social connectedness. The study's findings indicated that while texting frequency significantly predicted social connectedness among undergraduate students, demographic variables do not show a substantial impact. Additionally, students' perceptions of texting as a tool for maintaining social connections varied, with some viewing it as a convenient means of communication and others finding it insufficient for meaningful interaction. Key motivations for using texting included convenience, immediacy, and the non-intrusive nature of asynchronous communication (Liu et al., 2014; Hall et al., 2018). Texting was generally viewed as less effective than face-to-face interactions for developing deeper social ties (Derks et al., 2008; Uhls et al., 2014). This study contributed to the limited research on digital communication and social connectedness among undergraduate students by highlighting the significant role of texting frequency in predicting social connectedness (Ehrenreich et al., 2019; Harley et al., 2007). It also underscored the need for educational institutions to develop programs that leveraged texting to enhance peer connections while promoting the balanced use of digital and face-to-face interaction (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Enrico Gandolfi (Committee Chair); Richard Ferdig (Committee Co-Chair); Frank Ryan (Committee Member) Subjects: Adult Education; Communication; Curricula; Curriculum Development; Education; Educational Technology; Instructional Design; Mass Media; Mental Health

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2010, Psychology/Clinical

In the last decade, electronically-mediated communication (EMC) has increased dramatically as a format for social interaction, particularly among adolescents. Despite this increase, little research has focused on the behaviors occurring in EMC, most notably through text messaging. The purpose of this study was to address questions regarding the frequency and compulsivity of adolescents' texting, its relation to adjustment, and moderators of the relation between compulsivity of texting and adjustment. Participants were 211 8th graders who completed a survey about their texting behaviors. Most adolescents (80%) reported sending text messages between a few days a week and every day, with 23% reporting that they send and receive over 100 text messages each day. Females reported greater compulsivity of texting than males. Frequency of texting was related to compulsivity of texting, although only 9% of students reported compulsively texting at the rate of sometimes or more. Compulsive texting was positively related to aggression and negatively related to academic adjustment. Self-control, including effortful control and conscientiousness, moderated the relation between compulsive texting and internalizing problems, academic adjustment, and prosocial behavior. There was a protective effect for high self-control, such that compulsive texters with high self-control showed more positive adjustment than those with less self-control. Limitations of this survey study included limited generalizability of results due to the age and ethnic distributions of the sample and the lack of longitudinal data, which precludes conclusions about temporal directions of effects. Finally, ideas for future studies and important implications of this study, such as parental supervision of texting and school-related responses to texting, were discussed.

Committee: Eric Dubow PhD (Advisor); Jean Gerard PhD (Committee Member); Montana Miller PhD (Committee Member); Dara Musher-Eizenman PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Education; Psychology

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2010, Psychology/Clinical

Over the past several years, text messaging has dramatically increased among youth, but there is limited research on how compulsive texting relates to children's adjustment. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relation of compulsive texting to adjustment indices drawn from literature on internet addiction (e.g., academic adjustment, aggression, internalizing symptoms) and, based on the Uses and Gratifications Model, examine how motivations for texting (e.g., efficiency, escapism, intimacy, perceived control over social interactions) moderated the relation between compulsive texting and the adjustment variables. For exploratory purposes, sex was examined as an additional moderator. Survey data were collected from 403 students in the 8th and 11th grades in a rural Midwestern community. Correlational analyses supported the hypothesis that higher levels of compulsive texting would relate to higher levels of aggression and internalizing symptoms and lower levels of academic adjustment. Sex differences were found on the relation between compulsive texting and internalizing symptoms and on the relation between compulsive texting and academic adjustment. For these relations, significant correlations were found only for females. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses supported the hypotheses that the escapism motivation for texting and the perceived control over social interactions motivation for texting moderated the relation between compulsive texting and internalizing symptoms, for both males and females. These motivations strengthened the relation between compulsive texting and internalizing symptoms, suggesting that they could serve as vulnerability factors. Although the study is correlational and causality cannot be determined, the findings have implications for theory and practice. For example, it could be that deficits in coping skills (escapism motivation) or discomfort in face-to-face social interactions (perceived control over social interaction (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Eric Dubow PhD (Committee Chair); Carolyn Tompsett PhD (Committee Member); Anne Gordon PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2022, Public Health

Many behavioral interventions involve text messaging strategies for promoting behavior change or management. However, the dose of the text messaging intervention is nearly always considered fixed, and no experimentation is done to improve dose selection. Dose refinement is important because the frequency of text reminders and amount of time spent per text message may affect how well the intervention works for an individual, as well as whether the dose is likely to induce “psychosocial” toxicity. Extensive statistical methods exist for dose-finding in pharmaceutical applications; however, the relevance of these designs to dose-finding in the context of text messaging interventions is limited. Historically, the primary objective of Phase I dose-finding trials for therapeutic agents was to determine the highest dose that can be safely administered without producing an unacceptable number of toxic responses, while the primary objective of dose-finding for behavioral interventions is the simultaneous assessment of efficacy and toxicity responses for therapeutic optimization. Further, many dose-finding designs for the optimization of two or more therapeutic agents based on bivariate binary outcomes are complex and rely on parametric models that may not be easily understood and implemented by non-statisticians. Thus, this study aimed to develop a utility-based nonparametric adaptive dose-finding method for the optimization of text message frequency and amount when both efficacy and toxicity responses were available. A simulation study of the proposed algorithm was conducted, and the algorithm's performance was assessed in terms of its probability of successful identification of the true optimal dose combination and its misclassification error. The results of this study showed that the algorithm generally performed well in most clinically plausible scenarios. Using the recommended 3 starting doses, it was able to identify the true optimal dose combination at least 56.5% of (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Abigail Shoben (Advisor); Patrick Schnell (Committee Member) Subjects: Biostatistics

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.), Franklin University, 2022, Business Administration

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) need to stay abreast of advances in communication technologies to be student centric, but institutional adoption of Short Messaging Service (SMS) text varies widely and research on incorporation for advising is limited (Arnold et al., 2020; IPEDS 2020; Santos et al., 2018). This quantitative study explored advisor use and perceptions on values, motives, and institutional support of SMS texting as a communication channel with students and the possible variables impacting those factors. Theoretical concepts in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and adaptive leadership guided the study as well as existing survey research on Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) in higher education (Duran et al., 2005). Survey responses from 402 advisors nationwide were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. SMS use was reported among all genders, experience levels, and programmatic formats and advisors overall had a positive view of the communication channel. Motives for use varied between subgroups within the sample and SMS was predominantly used to gain access to richer mediums. A statistically significant association between learning environment and SMS incorporation indicated that online advisors were more likely to use SMS texting for student communication. A statistically significant difference was also identified between median institutional support scores for SMS users and non-users with the directionality indicating users were more likely from SMS supportive institutions. Furthermore, advisors reported using SMS texting for both transactional and relational communication, even when their institution did not support the channel with training, policies, or technology. The study sheds light on the prevalence of SMS use and calls for leadership to gain greater awareness of their local-level policies, industry-wide practices, and system integrated options in managing the university-to-student connection. For HEIs (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Brenda Jones (Committee Chair); Yuerong Sweetland (Committee Member); Patrick Bennett (Committee Member) Subjects: Adult Education; Business Administration; Business Education; Communication; Continuing Education; Education Policy; Educational Evaluation; Educational Leadership; Educational Software; Educational Technology; Higher Education; Higher Education Administration; Management; Mass Communications

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2020, Instructional Technology (Education)

This research study was inspired by the quest to use technological strategies to enhance maternal and child healthcare delivery in Kogi State. Given the technological innovation that the human race has witnessed in every sphere of life in the contemporary world, this study focuses on mobile text messaging as an aspect of that revolution that could improve maternal and child healthcare in Kogi State. With mobile phones commonplace among both rural and urban dwellers, the study looked at the possibility of using the device to construct culture-sensitive messages that would motivate pregnant women and new mothers to keep regular hospital appointments. The World Health Organization's (WHO) approval for the exploration of ehealth strategies in healthcare has become the incentive to governments and non-governmental organizations to leverage its offerings. This qualitative research study was undertaken within the contemplation of Creswell and Creswell's (2018) postulation that health science researchers begin with the theoretical framework of adoption of health practices for improved quality of life. Data were collected from community and religious leaders, maternal and child healthcare providers, as well as pregnant women and new mothers in the state. A thematic coding of data was adopted while textual analysis was used for data synthesis. Results show enthusiastic support of all participants for the strategy.

Committee: David Moore Professor (Committee Chair); Dwan Robinson Associate Professor (Committee Member); Greg Kessler Professor (Committee Member); Benjamin Bates Professor (Committee Member) Subjects: Health Education; Technology

MA, University of Cincinnati, 2018, Arts and Sciences: Communication

The pressures and expectations that young adults in romantic relationships face become increasingly complex with the incorporation of various information communication technologies (ICTs). The purpose of this project is to investigate normative relational behaviors and expectations via smartphone use for developing romantic partners and to better understand how these couples manage normative behaviors. This study utilizes a qualitative approach, specifically semi-structured interviews for data collection. There were a total of 20 participants in the age range of 18 to 24 (M = 19.35, SD = 1.31). Through an inductive iterative approach to analysis, there were three main findings. First, mobile technologies, specifically text messaging, afford everyday talk for romantic couples, which introduces an autonomy-connection dialectical tension that couples must manage. Second, smartphone features, like read receipts and Snapchat streaks, afford continuous communication for couples, consequently adjusting expectations for synchronous and asynchronous forms of communication. Third, there are implicit normative behavior expectations (i.e., response times) and patterns of expectancy violations that frequently occur across couples. Taken together, these findings highlight specific affordances and features of mobile technologies that are pertinent within the developmental phase of romantic relationships, which consequently affect relationship communicative dynamics.

Committee: Pamara Chang Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Stephen Haas Ph.D. (Committee Member); Tony Liao Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication

MS, Kent State University, 2016, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Health Sciences

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if a 30-day period of delivering beverage related daily text messages via SMS had an effect on the beverage consumption of college students (N=8). An email invitation to participate in the study was sent to 3,527 undergraduate students at a Midwestern university; recruitment flyers were also posted on the university's campus encouraging students to participate. Students were instructed to complete an online survey prior to the study that consisted of demographic information and a 24-hour beverage recall. Participants received one text message per day for 30-days through an app called Remind, which displayed nutrition information, tips, facts, and debunked myths of various non-alcoholic beverages. After the intervention, participants completed a post-study survey that consisted of the same demographic information and 24-hour beverage recall as the pre-study survey. A satisfaction questionnaire was added to this post-study survey. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired samples t-test. There was no significant difference found in all beverage consumption between pre- and post-study except for milk intake. Participants reported drinking a significantly greater amount of milk at the time of the pre-study period than at the time of the post-study period. Results also indicated that participants favor text messaging above all other modes of communication when receiving health related information. Data showed that college students had a positive attitude towards text messaging interventions and thought the messages presented in this study were effective motivators for influencing beverage choices.

Committee: Eun-Jeong Ha (Advisor); Karen Lowry-Gordon (Committee Member); Natalie Caine-Bish (Committee Member) Subjects: Health Sciences; Nutrition

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2013, Psychology/Clinical

There has been a major increase in cell phone ownership among children and adolescents in the past eight years (Rideout, Foehr, & Roberts, 2010) and many adolescents now prefer texting to calling on their cell phones when communicating with their peers (Haste, 2005; Skierkowski & Wood, 2012). While there are advantages and drawbacks to all new technological advancements, because text messaging is a fairly new phenomenon, there is limited research examining the behavior, including the risks and benefits involved in texting. Although texting in and of itself may not be problematic, opportunities arise in which participating in texting behaviors may be considered risky. However, research has shown that there are often mitigating factors for engaging in risky behaviors (e.g., parental monitoring, perception of risk, peer pressure) (e.g., Johnson et al., 2002; Lac & Crano, 2009; Teese & Bradley, 2008). Using the risk and protective factors model, the current study considered overall parental knowledge of their child’s behavior, including knowledge specifically related to texting, and adolescent perception of harm from texting to be protective factors for engaging in problematic texting behaviors. The present study found that 93% of participants reported having ever used text messaging and 71% of those who reported having ever texted indicated that they text every day. Correlation analyses indicated that higher frequency of texting significantly correlated with higher levels of compulsive texting (r = .53, p < .001) and significantly correlated with higher levels of overall engagement in risky texting behaviors (r = .55, p < .001). Additionally, perceived harm of texting and parental knowledge were negatively related to both compulsive texting and engagement in risky texting behaviors. Additionally, perceived harm of texting also had a moderating effect on risky texting behavior. For participants who reported low levels of perceived harm of texting, there was a str (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Eric Dubow PhD (Advisor); Carolyn Tompsett PhD (Committee Member); Marie Tisak PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Behaviorial Sciences; Psychology

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2009, Medicine : Epidemiology (Environmental Health)

Background: Adherence is a critical component to achieving successful outcomes in chronic illnesses like cSLE. Previous studies have indicated worse outcomes among non-adherent patients. Poor adherence to routine clinic visits is a significant problem in the management of SLE. Regular clinic appointments provide ideal opportunities for early intervention to avoid disease flares and maximize therapeutic regimens. Purpose: Our aim was to improve visit adherence using cellular text messaging reminders (CTMR) and assess its impact on disease outcomes in cSLE. Methods: An individualized CTMR was sent 7, 3, and 1 day(s) prior to each scheduled clinic appointment. Scheduling of subsequent follow-up clinic visits was also aided by CTMR as needed. Overall visit adherence was monitored prospectively over 8 months and compared to the historic visit attendance for each participant over the preceding 30 months (following standard of care [SOC]). Acceptable visit adherence was defined as attendance of >80% of the recommended visits as per the managing physician. Disease outcomes (SLEDAI- SLE Disease Activity Index and number of unplanned emergency room visits and hospitalizations) during the 8-month CTMR intervention period were compared to each subject's previous information during the SOC time period prior to the use of CTMR. Results: 70 cSLE subjects (ages 13-28 years old, 93% female, 51% African American) agreed to participate by providing cell phone numbers and cellular service providers. Of the 66 participants with complete data, 64% (42/66) had poor visit adherence (<80%) during the SOC time period. Overall, the proportion of subjects with good attendance improved from 36% to 56% (p=0.04). With CTMR, 52% (22/42) of non-adherent subjects had newly acceptable visit attendance (> 80%). In addition to positive attendance trends, rates of visit no-shows significantly decreased (p=0.004), while self-requested visit cancellations increased (p=0.0001). No important changes i (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Paul Succop PhD (Committee Chair); Hermine Brunner MD (Committee Member); Dennis Drotar PhD (Committee Member); Daniel Lovell MD (Committee Member) Subjects: Health