Theses and Dissertations
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Item Open Access Contagious conspiracies: unmasking the role of conspiracy theories in online anti-vaccination communities(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Henery, Giovanna Leah, author; Martey, Rosa M., advisor; Long, Marilee, committee member; Arthur, Tori, committee member; Clegg, Ben, committee member; Burgchardt, Carl, committee memberConspiracy theories in online anti-vax communities reinforce ingroup formation by showcasing an us vs. them dynamic between a "marginalized" ingroup and an oppressive, sinister outgroup, as well as promoting the group's digital affective public and reinforcing their perceived libidinal economy. This is achieved through anti-vax-related posts that villainize public figures, posts that adopt hate speech and bigoted rhetoric, and posts that blend anti-vax and non-anti-vax-related content together, as well as the use of digital communication tools provided by social media platforms. While traditional research has focused on the psychological and sociological aspects of these beliefs, the functional role of conspiracy theories in shaping the dynamics of non-mainstream online communities remains underexplored. Employing a mixed-methods approach that combines Critical Technocultural Discourse Analysis with a discourse analysis conducted by a multimodal large language model (LLM), this dissertation addresses this gap by investigating the role conspiracy theories play in the functionality and communicative practices of online anti-vaccination communities. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of social identity theory (SIT) and affective publics, this dissertation analyzes public content posted between June 1, 2023 and November 15, 2024 to the largest and most active anti-vaccination groups on two social media platforms, Facebook and Gab Social, to examine how identity, community, and platform architecture influence conspiracy theory discourse. The findings reveal how these communities operate across platforms. On Facebook, the anti-vaccination group functions as an affective public, characterized by community-building, supportive interactions, and the use of humor, with these relational elements driving user engagement. In contrast, the Gab Social group operates as a bulletin board where engagement is driven primarily by the dissemination of anti-vaccination conspiracy theories and interactions between group members are frequently combative. Analysis of post contents and the use of digital tools, such as comments and emojis, reveals that hate speech, extremist signaling, and the more extreme non-vaccine-related conspiracy theories are all more prevalent on Gab than on Facebook, further cementing the distinct platform dynamics. However, the major theme across both platforms is a shared us vs. them dynamic, which is a crucial aspect of community formation and building within SIT. This research provides a nuanced understanding of how platform architecture and community norms shape the expression of conspiracy theory discourse. The findings offer crucial insights for academics, social media companies, and law enforcement for monitoring online non-mainstream communities and understanding the mechanisms that can foster either social cohesion or dangerous rhetoric.Item Open Access Expertise under fire: framing, misinformation, and the delegitimization of climate science in right-wing media — a textual analysis of The Epoch Times(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Giroux, Ashlyn R., author; Wolfgang, David, advisor; Anderson, Ashley, committee member; McIvor, David, committee memberWhen engaging with news online, individuals often rely on sources they perceive as trustworthy, which can reinforce preexisting beliefs, even when the information presented is partially or wholly incorrect (Ecker et al., 2022; Kunda, 1990). Framing plays a critical role in shaping how audiences interpret complex issues, such as climate change, by providing contextual lenses that influence understanding and perception. This study examines how a right-wing media outlet, The Epoch Times, employs framing strategies to construct narratives around climate change and scientific consensus. Using thematic textual analysis of The Epoch Times' online climate coverage, this research identifies recurring patterns in the portrayal of climate experts and scientific authority within misinformation-laden stories. The findings reveal that The Epoch Times systematically delegitimizes climate scientists by framing them as ideologically driven actors embedded in broader narratives of elitism, political control, and cultural conflict. The publication amplifies pseudo-experts while selectively presenting climate data to manufacture scientific controversy and uncertainty, effectively eroding public trust in legitimate science. Moreover, climate change itself is framed not as a settled scientific issue but as a politically charged and contested topic, reinforcing ideological polarization and skepticism. This study highlights how framing tactics, such as exploiting scientific uncertainty, promoting false equivalence between expert and non-expert voices, and linking climate science to globalist or elitist agendas, contribute to the legitimization of misinformation within right-wing media ecosystems. These insights deepen our understanding of the complex mechanisms through which misinformation is disseminated and accepted, emphasizing that combating climate misinformation requires more than factual corrections. Effective science communication must address the cultural and ideological contexts shaping audience perceptions and work to rebuild epistemic trust in scientific expertise.Item Open Access Navigating nutritional norms: a deep dive into the social cognitive factors and communication patterns shaping food behaviors among cis-gendered collegiate male runners(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Randall, Benjamin Spencer, author; Abrams, Katie, advisor; Martey, Rosa Mikeal, committee member; Graham, Dan, committee memberThroughout history, food has shaped human relationships, impacting not only physical health but also emotional well-being and social behaviors. This thesis explored the interplay between personal cognition, social factors, and environmental cues influencing food-related behaviors among cis-gendered male collegiate distance runners. Focusing on athletes competing in highly demanding endurance sports, this study examined how interpersonal communication within teams shapes nutritional choices and behaviors. Using a qualitative approach, interviews were conducted with current and former collegiate athletes, and data were analyzed through thematic analysis guided by Social Cognitive Theory and Social Norms Theory. Findings reveal complex social dynamics influencing food behaviors, including the normalization of specific eating patterns, peer modeling, and the role of observational learning within team environments. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on athlete nutrition and communication, offering insight into how team culture and interpersonal influence affect food decision-making among male distance runners.Item Open Access Beyond the advocate label: environmental journalists' role conceptions and social media practices in an era of climate urgency(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Correia de Brito, Laura, author; Abrams, Katie, advisor; Wolfgang, David, committee member; Gallo-Cajiao, Eduardo, committee memberEnvironmental journalists have increasingly incorporated social media into their professional practices, a trend that has prompted scholarly examination of how these digital platforms influence journalistic norms. While research has explored journalists' social media use broadly, limited attention has been paid to factors affecting environmental journalists' online decisions specifically. This study investigated how different professional role conception factor into environmental journalists' social media behaviors by applying Role Theory and Journalistic Role Conceptions frameworks. Focusing on the longstanding tension between objectivity and advocacy in environmental reporting, the research explored how interpretive and advocacy role orientations shaped online practices. Through in-depth interviews with 14 environmental journalists, this study revealed that role conceptions influenced intentions but rarely manifested in distinctly different social media behaviors, with factors including credibility concerns, source relationships, and safety considerations proving more influential than role orientation. The findings contribute to understanding the unique challenges environmental journalists face in digital spaces where reporting on environmental issues is often automatically perceived as advocacy.Item Embargo Black feminist technosocial roleplay: exploring visual media representations of Black women's complex relationship with authoritative power(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Bollinger-Deters, Aaunterria, author; Arthur, Tori, advisor; Wolfgang, David, advisor; Famulari, Umberto, committee member; Attai, Nikoli, committee member; Snodgrass, Jeffrey, committee memberUsing Black Feminist Technosocial Roleplay (BFTR) this study revealed the ways in which Black women are represented in visual narratives characterized by authoritative power as well as examining how Black women's relationship with violence can be transfigured in liberatory ways. The critical technocultural discourse analysis of 15 'viral murder videos', 2 'ebony public disgrace' films, and 2 'ebony evolved fights' as well as the examination of 121 viral murder video online surveys, 2 semi-structured interviews with Black women gamers, and a Black feminist gaming autoethnography revealed a.) rehumanized representations of Black women when they control their image, b.) extended public social scripts into technologically mediated fantasy roleplay, c.) violence as a main component of fortifying Black women in public memory, and d.) the cathartic/empowering ways in which video game roleplay can be utilized to reterritorialize Black women's public social roles, especially their proximity to and employment of authoritative power and violence. The analysis also showed how Black women's self-determined presentation and self-valuation is often imperfect, messy, and in some ways monstrous, yet these are still avenues of representation worthy of conscientious study. Additionally, data implications, future recommendations, and research limitations were also discussed in depth.Item Embargo Prime Time tweets: a thematic analysis of Deion Sanders's tweets and social media's role in shaping the construction and perceptions of sports figure authenticity(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Singer, Mara F., author; Champ, Joseph, advisor; Donavan, D. Todd, committee member; Famulari, Umberto, committee member; Hoffman, K. Doug, committee member; Johnson, Emily, committee memberThis dissertation explores the intersection of social media, personal branding, and fan perceptions of authenticity in the context of modern sports figures, focusing on the case of Deion 'Coach Prime' Sanders. Through two related studies, this research aims to better understand how Sanders leverages social media to build his personal brand and cultivate authentic connections with audiences. The first study employs focus groups and thematic analysis to examine how social media users perceive and construct Sanders's authenticity through his X (formerly Twitter) content. The second study conducts a qualitative thematic analysis of Sanders's X posts during his inaugural season as head football coach at the University of Colorado to identify authenticity management strategies. Ultimately framed by Actor-Network Theory, this research utilizes frameworks of perceived authenticity and authenticity management to provide a comprehensive understanding of the creation and reception of authenticity in sports figures' social media content. The findings offer insights into the factors influencing perceptions of sports figure authenticity on social media and the strategies employed to manage authentic self-presentation. This research contributes to digital sports media, personal branding, and fan engagement by addressing gaps in the literature regarding coaches' social media use and offering practical implications for sports organizations and figures aiming to build authentic connections with online audiences.Item Open Access The C.O.S.M.O.S effect of science influencers: a discourse analysis of Neil Degrasse Tyson's tweets(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Kubiak, Sarah Jane, author; Martey, Rosa, advisor; Anderson, Ashley, committee member; Luna, Jessie, committee memberEffective science influencers engage their audiences by discussing ideas and discoveries from scientific research in accessible and appealing ways, such as by referencing popular cultural trends or explaining new discoveries in simpler ways. However, their success depends on public image that they actively construct about themselves and about science in general. An especially successful science influencer today is astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson (NDT), whose Twitter (X) feed has over 14 million followers and includes posts about a wide range of topics, from recent discoveries about black holes to a humorous analysis of the moon's placement in the 2023 Barbie movie. This study analyzes the texts of NDT's social media posts to explore how he is a successful science influencer online. By analyzing different aspects of his identity that he draws on, this study addresses his conflicting construction of science in US society. Seven distinct personas emerged as key strategies NDT employs to showcase his expertise as a scientist, influencer, and celebrity. These personas, along with different types of expertise, work together to create a science aesthetic that NDT uses as a marketing tool for his content. The commodification of this science aesthetic enables NDT to achieve success both online and offline, in ways that may surpass traditional science communication. This research is significant because online science personalities may have an influence on how audiences engage with and conceptualize scientific content. Therefore, understanding how science and its communicators are constructed, performed, and marketed is useful for developing effective science communication strategies in the future.Item Open Access Media framing and public perception: a content analysis of the Nation and ThisDay newspapers' coverage of the 2023 presidential elections in Nigeria(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Ogundare, Olukayode Kay, author; Kodrich, Kris, advisor; Wolfgang, David, committee member; McIvor, David, committee memberThis thesis explores the role of prominent Nigerian newspapers, The Nation and ThisDay, in helping to shape public perception of the 2023 presidential elections in Nigeria. With framing theory as a framework, the study conducts a detailed content analysis to examine how these newspapers portrayed political candidates, issues, and events during the election campaign. Analyzing each newspaper's thematic and episodic frames, the research uncovers noticeable patterns in media framing strategies and discusses how they may impact public perception and understanding of the electoral process. This study contributes to the broader understanding of media influence on political communication in Nigeria and highlights how newspapers may shape public opinion during critical democratic events.Item Open Access Near, far, wherever you are: the relationship between historic-based conspiracy theories, emotions, and information engagement will go on and on(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Klane, Megan Sandra, author; Anderson, Ashley, advisor; Abrams, Katherine, committee member; Claycomb, Ryan, committee memberIt is often said that there are three words in the English language that are known throughout the world: God, Coca-Cola, and Titanic. The RMS Titanic has captivated individuals since her conception in 1911, but her legacy was penned in the history books when the "unsinkable ship" hit an iceberg and sank on April 15th, 1912. While history books, historians, and maritime experts acknowledge the facts surrounding the Titanic and her sinking, conspiracy theories put the official narratives into question. While research has been conducted on the Titanic and on conspiracy theories about her, communication research has minimally studied this phenomenon. Instead, communication literature primarily focuses on political conspiracy theories, the characteristics of conspiracy theories, and how algorithms promote conspiracy theories on social media. However, the influence of conspiracy theories further lies in their relationship with human emotion and how they retain the ability to elicit both positive and negative emotions. Similarly, emotion possesses a relationship with how individuals engage with information via information seeking and scanning – when individuals either actively seek information about a topic or passively encounter information about a topic. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between historic-based conspiracy theories, emotions, and information engagement. To do so, an experiment was conducted whereby participants were randomly exposed to either a video containing a conspiracy theory about the sinking of the RMS Titanic or a video containing purely factual information about the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Participants then answered a survey regarding both the emotions they experienced after watching their respective videos, and how they perceive themselves engaging with information about the Titanic on various social media platforms. In the end, this research determined that a relationship does, indeed, exist between historic-based conspiracy theories, emotions, and information engagement. The findings revealed that participants who were exposed to the conspiracy theory video not only experienced greater levels of positive emotion, but the results also illustrated how positive emotion mediates information seeking and information scanning. As a result, these findings aid in closing the gap in communication literature while also serving as the foundation for future research to be conducted on this phenomenon.Item Open Access Narrative listening to the narrative listeners(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2025) Mitchell, Katherine Jane, author; Wolfgang, David, advisor; Jacobsen, Jaime, committee member; Knobloch, Katie, committee memberWhen we engage in narrative listening, the purposeful act of attending to another's story, we are ideally a part of an agreement that a co-construction of a person's understanding of their own narrative identity is underway (Bamberg & Georgakopoulou, 2008; McAdams, 2013). However, the act of narrative listening, as it is practiced in the world, is not simply to understand someone's story. From the doctor's office to a car share with a stranger, the possible aims might be to better serve, heal, align, and even debate, the teller. My research pursues how vocational listeners have infused this skill into their lives, why, and by what effect. In developing an understanding of narrative listening, I was part of a team that created a podcast series wherein the interviewer conducts a session with a person whose vocation depends on their narrative listening skills (healers, leaders, servers, etc.). For this thesis, I collected data from the seasons we recorded and conducted a reflexive textual analysis of the interview transcripts. This analysis focused on uncovering the patterns and nuances in how narrative listeners engage with stories across two vocations: healers and leaders. Key aspects of the analysis included identifying the different intentions behind listening—such as empathy, curiosity, and goal-oriented listening. By examining the methods and effects of narrative listening, this research enhances our understanding of how stories are received and co-constructed. Ultimately, the findings from this study support the grounded development of narrative listening theory, a framework that can be applied to improve communication practices across a wide range of fields.Item Embargo Affective Atmospheres: cultural models for interactive narratives(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Callendar, Chaz L., author; Arthur, Tori, advisor; Champ, Joe, committee member; Humphrey, Mike, committee member; Romagni, Domenica, committee member; Aronis, Carolin, committee memberIn this dissertation, I introduce a new model which I call Affective Atmospheres. This theoretical model aids in the understanding of interactive models found in video games by considering video games as systems of affordances. These systems reflect cultural ideology and work together to create emotional structures that players use to co-create narratives in games. These models focus on the emotional and narrative tensions created through gameplay and how players embodying the role structured by the game understand the story through feelings rather than the sequence of events in a story, allowing for the analysis of interactive narratives, like video games, as a text. To showcase Affective Atmosphere, I use Critical Technocultural Discourse analysis to reveal how the expected co-constructions of two video game characters, Sister Friede from Dark Souls 3 and Edelgard from Fire Emblem: Three Houses, transgress patriarchal norms in fantasy video games. This case study showcases how Affective Atmosphere allows a researcher to "read" the interactive affordances of video games as a text and how cultural ideologies are embedded deep within the co-construction of video game experiences.Item Open Access Accessibility, self-efficacy, flow, and their relationship to the gameplay experience of fighting games(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Sanchez, Jesse Shadoe Aquilino, author; Tham, Samuel M., advisor; Arthur, Tori Omega, committee member; Romagni, Domenica, committee memberThis study investigates the impact of video game accessibility in the context of fighting games. It further explores how accessibility influences perceived self-efficacy within the framework of Social Cognitive Theory. While previous research broadly explored accessibility and self-efficacy in gaming, this study fills a gap by focusing on the fighting game genre. By applying self-efficacy theory, the research enhances our understanding of new player and legacy player perceptions of the Fighting Game Community based on the accessibility features of Street Fighter 6, offering key insights for both researchers and industry stakeholders. Through a textual analysis of Street Fighter 6 reviews on Steam, it examines how accessibility influences gamers' self-efficacy, flow, and gameplay experience. The findings offer insights into gamer's perceptions of fighting game accessibility and provide valuable information for marketing and development strategies aimed at attracting new players to established fan bases.Item Open Access The role of ethics of care messaging in AI crisis communication: examining the interplay role of ethics of care and crisis response strategies on organization-public relationship, organizational reputation and behavioral intention(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Choi, Sera, author; Kim, Jangyul, advisor; Sivakumar, Gayathri, committee member; Park, Young Eun, committee member; Hastings, Pat, committee member; Yan, Ruoh-Nan, committee memberThis dissertation explores the effectiveness of crisis response strategies—specifically denial, excuse, and apology—in the context of artificial intelligence (AI) crises, emphasizing the mediating role of Organization-Public Relationships (OPR) and the moderating impact of ethics of care on organizational outcomes. Utilizing a 3 (crisis response strategies: deny, excuse, apology) x 3 (ethics of care: high vs. low vs. no) between-subjects design, the study examined the influences of different crisis response strategies and levels of ethics of care on OPR outcomes, organizational reputation, and supportive behavioral intentions across a sample of 532 participants. Participants were assigned to one of nine experimental conditions depicting a crisis involving a fictitious company, "Hexxa," portrayed in varying contexts of ethics of care. Data collection was conducted through an online survey platform – Prolific, employing paired samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and moderated mediation analysis using PROCESS Model 84. The results revealed that apology strategies significantly improved OPR outcomes and organizational reputation more effectively than denial and excuse strategies. High levels of ethics of care enhanced these outcomes across all response strategies, surpassing effects in low and no ethics of care conditions. Although direct effects of crisis response strategies on organizational outcomes were often non-significant, the incorporation of ethics of care significantly magnified these effects through OPR, underscoring its pivotal role in crisis communication. The findings deepen situational crisis communication theory (SCCT) by illustrating how ethical considerations and organization-public relationships interact to influence organizational outcomes in AI-related crises, advocating a shift towards more ethically nuanced crisis communication approaches. Practically, the results advocate for the prioritization of ethics of care in crisis communication, providing empirical support for its effectiveness in not only mitigating crisis impacts but also in fostering long-term public relationships. The study's findings also reveal the significant, yet differentiated, impacts of low versus no ethics of care approaches, suggesting a threshold effect for ethical considerations in crisis response. These insights yield important implications for practitioners, highlighting that even minimal ethical engagement can significantly influence public perception and behavior. In conclusion, the dissertation posits a call to action for organizations to strategically incorporate ethical considerations within crisis communication frameworks, especially in AI-driven contexts, where socio-technical risks pose unique challenges.Item Embargo Invisible citizens: how marginalized Ghanaian LGBT+ citizens shape their stories on Instagram(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Addison, Sheilla, author; Arthur, Tori, advisor; Humphrey, Mike, committee member; Attai, Nikoli, committee memberIn Ghana, like most African countries, LGBT+ members are relegated to the background and generally live in fear of persecution. The media has played an instrumental role in framing the discourses surrounding queerness, leading to exclusion, marginalization, and moral panic in the country. Currently, the emergence and active use of social media have afforded many Ghanaians a platform to engage and express harmful opinions that are implicit and explicit queerphobia. In a similar vein, queer activists and some LGBT+ individuals have appropriated social media platforms, including Instagram, as a powerful alternative platform to redefine negative stereotypes, challenge the narratives around marginalized LGBT+ citizens and provide an alternative way of viewing their worlds. Using defensive digital alchemy as its theoretical framework, this thesis employs Critical Technocultural Discourse Analysis to assess @lgbtrightsghana's defensive digital alchemy in Instagram to fight against the marginalization of sexual identities in the face of Ghana's anti-LGBT+ Bill. The findings suggest that @lgbtrightsghana's defensive digital alchemy challenges master narratives, redefines negative stereotypes, and provides alternate views of queer Ghanaians.Item Open Access Media portrayal of AI-generated art as possessing or lacking cultural capital(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Samsonov, Anatoly, author; Wolfgang, David, advisor; Martey, Rosa Mikeal, committee member; Dunn, Thomas R., committee memberThis study explores the media portrayal of AI-generated art through the conceptual frameworks of Pierre Bourdieu's cultural capital and framing theory within communication studies. By conducting a qualitative textual analysis of media articles, the thesis seeks to understand the discourse surrounding AI-generated art and its perceived cultural value. Focusing on significant media reactions to pivotal AI-generated artworks sold at high-profile auctions and awarded in competitions, the research investigates how these artworks are framed in terms of possessing or lacking cultural capital. The study shows that in the media texts, art created by generative AI is presented as possessing aspects of each of Bourdieu's forms of cultural capital – institutionalized, objectified, and embodied – as well as economic capital. However, the possession of each form of capital is contested, which provides an equal representation of the opinions of supporters and opponents of AI-generated art, alongside the absence of the dominant perspective in the texts studied. The study aims to contribute to broader discussions on the integration of technology into societal frameworks, addressing the implications on legal, ethical, and cultural perceptions and the development of AI technologies in the art world.Item Open Access Sweet persuasion: decoding CGM apps' strategies on Instagram in the age of health and wellness(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Gopalakrishna Anuradha, Vybhavi Krishna, author; Sivakumar, Gayathri, advisor; Tham, Samuel, committee member; Most, David, committee memberThe study investigates how Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) companies are now expanding beyond diabetes management. They are expanding their horizons to include non-diabetes individuals who are struggling with weight management, and this new development is reflected in their Instagram messaging strategies. Psychological phenomena derived from social cognitive theory, such as observational learning, forethought, self-efficacy, and other content strategies suggested from Hubspot reports, like the format of the post, caption length, and the time of the post, are used to engage the audience on the platform. Nutrisensio, Levels, and January AI's Instagram posts and their engagement rates are used to conduct a quantitative content analysis. The findings prove the presence of these strategies and suggest techniques that can be used in health tech Instagram accounts to make better connections with the audience.Item Open Access Political peersuasion: an investigation of the impact of social influence on Facebook(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Hansen, Scott, author; Kim, Jangyul, advisor; Sivakumar, Gaya, committee member; MacDonald, Bradley, committee memberSince Facebook began in the mid-2000s, people have used the platform to present their own opinions, whether or not those opinions were popular. Thus, Facebook became a veritable marketplace of ideas, where opinions ranging on a variety of topics were shared, discussed, and potentially persuaded by their online friends. As politics have divided the nation across political spectrums to an extreme degree, Facebook has been a platform where opinions of a political nature have also been shared, discussed, and argued. This study examined the persuasive power Facebook users have over their online friends in a political context, specifically on the topic of vaccines. Results showed that source credibility can exist in a horizontal fashion rather than just a vertical one, where people trust their peers' political opinions, especially when they seem to be politically active, aware and knowledgeable. Additionally, the frequency with which peers on Facebook interact and the level of influence they have was shown to be a statistically significant result. The more people interact with each other over the mediated Facebook platform, the more trust, credibility, and level of persuasiveness is also increased. Due to the ability of Facebook to serve as a personal soap box of opinions, and people's willingness to state their opinions, the possibility of persuasion can exist on Facebook in some cases more than if they were talking face to face.Item Open Access Make 'em laugh: humor's role in seeking science-based messages(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Patterson, Ashley L., author; Anderson, Ashley, advisor; Johnson, Emily, committee member; Marx, Nick, committee memberScience information as a whole has become known as a controversial topic because it often invokes political beliefs and social values when it is presented in the media. This has resulted in audiences being cautious about engaging with scientific messages. Humor is increasingly being used as a strategy to communicate science-related information, yet research on its effectiveness is still growing. The goal of this project was to contribute empirical evidence to the limited pool of literature and outreach tactics that exist regarding the application of humor science-based content on social media. Through a two-condition, between subjects, online experiment this project measured if positive emotion, conceptualized as feeling joy, which can be described as experiencing elation or mirth, was invoked when exposed to a humorous science-based message; whether exposure to humorous science-based messages have a direct effect on information engagement; and if experiencing a positive emotion impacted greater levels of information engagement. Participants were undergraduate or graduate students enrolled at the Colorado State University, Fort Collins campus who were registered in a course within the Journalism and Media Communication department during Spring 2024. A total of 117 participants gave responses while the survey was live in the SONA system, between February 2-23, 2024. Results indicate participants who were exposed to a humorous science message were more likely to experience a positive emotion and had a higher likelihood of seeking out or sharing similar messages in the future. Additionally, the experience of a positive emotion was a significant factor in a participant's likelihood of seeking out or sharing similar messages. Results suggest that individuals exposed to a humorous message are more inclined to experience positive emotions and those who did are more inclined to participate in information engagement in the future. This study indicates that humor plays a significant role in driving information engagement.Item Open Access The role of master and counter-narratives in conceiving a carbon-neutral society a discourse analysis of a French podcast(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Carle Dorville, Coralie, author; Humphrey, Michael, advisor; Anderson, Ashley, committee member; Luna, Jessie, committee memberIn the context of the climate crisis, narratives that stimulate our imagination to create a desirable view of the future are tremendous for understanding and defining our society's goals. This study analyzed four scenarios designed by the French governmental ecological agency ADEME which present different alternatives for a carbon-neutral society in France in 2050. The podcast series "Tomorrow is Not Far Away," which was created in 2022 to introduce the four scenarios, was examined to capture the master and counter-narratives. The method centered around critical discourse analysis provided crucial insights into the dynamics of power and social relations that contribute to the futuristic master and counter-narratives. Futuristic master narratives are grounded in the narrative of human domination over nature. With narratives on eco-technological solutionism, unlimited economic growth, and personal freedom, the future is not bright for everyone, and the consequences of climate change are heavier on those who are the most vulnerable. The debate held by the experts unraveled each futuristic counter-narrative and demonstrated the complexity of creating a carbon-neutral society that does not leave anyone behind. The panelists brought back nature at the center of the conversation and discussed the delicate balance between sufficiency and technology. They also reminded us that climate justice needs to be organized and ensured by public policies.Item Open Access Effect of fear and representations of great white sharks on great white shark conservation behavior(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Montgomery, Emily, author; Tham, Samuel M., advisor; Champ, Joseph, committee member; Aubry, Lise M., committee memberGreat white sharks are listed as a vulnerable species under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list. This study uses the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to test how different factors such as attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control along with representations and fear of great white sharks affect great white shark conservation behavior intentions. This study (n= 218) used a 2 (fear) x2 (representations) between-subjects experimental design. The main findings from this study found that participants had higher positive attitudes toward great white sharks when exposed to the stimuli featuring the presence of fear image compared to the absence of fear image; however, there was no significant difference in great white shark conservation behavior intention based on the four conditions participants were assigned to. All other results in this study analyzing factors of TPB and great white shark fear and representation were expected and supported by TPB and previous research.