Theses and Dissertations

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/100465

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 173

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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 member
Using 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.
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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 member
This 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.
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 member
Effective 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.
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 member
This 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.
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 member
It 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.
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 member
When 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.
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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 member
In 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.
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 member
This 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.
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 member
This 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.
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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 member
In 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.
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 member
This 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.
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 member
The 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.
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 member
Since 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.
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 member
Science 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.
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 member
In 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.
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 member
Great 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.
Open Access
Affordance alteration in the contexts of video game communities
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Laman, Landon Paul, author; Wolfgang, Justin David, advisor; Castillo, Dani, committee member; Marx, Nick, committee member
This study analyzes a group of players within the online video game Grand Theft Auto 5 in the context of their relationships to affordances within the game and how they alter these affordances to curate the game to their desires. The group within this study has a rigid social hierarchy and limits their available affordances through the game for a more intimate knowledge of its functions and increased senses of accomplishment through group play. This study utilizes Gibson's affordances to explain the relationship between player and world, social identity theory to examine the group dynamic and its impact on conceptualization of self and group, media system dependency theory to unravel the motivations of the players, and CTDA to analyze the group's utilization of the platform as a place for community gathering and meaning making. This study was conducted through 1:1 interviews with members of the group to understand their interactions, feelings, and motivations behind their restrictive brand of play and the difference between the spirit and the word of the rule set.
Open Access
The failure effect: why you think she can't win
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Brandon, Melissa R., author; Martey, Rosa Mikeal, advisor; Kodrich, Kris, committee member; Wolfgang, David, committee member; Vasby Anderson, Karrin, committee member; Khrebtan-Horhager, Julia, committee member
This dissertation analyzes how modern media coverage and framing of women political candidates reinforces and sustains what I term the Failure Effect. The Failure Effect is a complex combination of gender-based expectancies and cognitive processes including cultural cognition, motivated reasoning, and pragmatic bias, which are amplified and reinforced by media framing techniques that ultimately disadvantage women candidates. I argue the Failure Effect causes voters to doubt a woman candidate's electability even when she is an otherwise qualified candidate, resulting in voters choosing a man candidate at the ballot box because they believe She Can't Win. Despite progress toward gender parity in politics, women continue to hold a significantly smaller portion of political offices than men, particularly at the executive level. Investigating this issue, I examine the history of women candidates in the U.S., gender-based social role expectations, journalistic norms, the attention cycle model, and symbolic annihilation in connection with women political candidates. The study conducted considers the impact of commonly used media framing techniques, specifically strategic game frames, on political outcomes and the notions voters may hold about the electability of a woman candidate. This dissertation argues that despite progress, gender parity in politics remains a distant goal. The research question posed in this study yielded results that both supported the argument of the dissertation as well as surprising results that are ripe for future investigation and potentially the future success of women political candidates. This study asks: How do media frame ideas about executive-level women candidates' electability? To investigate this question, I examined the framing of news stories in four major national newspapers in the United States and the coverage generated about the six women presidential candidates who ran during the 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary. This qualitative thematic analysis found eight primary strategic game frames and several additional sub-frames that were applied to the women candidates. The results of this analysis provide support for the primary argument of this dissertation – the Failure Effect, and how media framing of these candidates causes voters to believe that She Can't Win.
Open Access
There's something in the air: studying the behavioral intention of outdoor workers to protect their health during air quality events
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Giesenhagen, Erica Therese, author; Anderson, Ashley, advisor; Abrams, Katie, committee member; Magzamen, Sheryl, committee member
Poor air quality has been an issue in the United States for decades and has been made more prevalent due to the world's changing environment. Exposure to poor air quality can lead to both short- and long-term health effects that can range in severity. There are a number of health-protective measures an individual can take in order to reduce the effects of poor air quality. The purpose of this study is to research what motivates outdoor workers to take health-protective measures during periods of poor air quality. This study utilizes the Health Belief Model (HBM) and a qualitative approach. Through focus groups with outdoor workers from the City of Fort Collins (n = 18), this study aimed to find out what motivates outdoor workers to take health-protective measures during air quality events. Main findings were that outdoor workers at the City of Fort Collins have experienced air quality events and have the knowledge of what health-protective measures they can take to limit their exposure. It was evident that there is limited action in taking health-protective action during periods of poor air quality. The study concludes with suggestions for ways that current functions of the City of Fort Collins can be improved to further support the outdoor workers for taking health-protective action from poor air quality.
Open Access
The paradox of cellphones: a media dependency study on college-aged teens and their cellphone use
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Cooper, Carson Kane, author; Martey, Rosa, advisor; Wolfgang, David, committee member; Scolere, Leah, committee member
The cellphone has become a common tool for entertainment, communication, and information in everyday American life. However, with increased dependency on the cellphone, users are also seeing negative repercussions of their relationships with them. Research has found that cellphones are associated with feeling social and job pressures, anxiety, and depression. The media available through cellphones are intentionally crafted to hold users' extended attention and keep them engaged and active for long periods of time. Those who find themselves fighting against their own habits of cellphone use may be struggling against the software designers who make it difficult for users to disconnect themselves from their smartphones. This thesis studies the relationships between college-aged teens and their cellphones to understand the potential tensions between depending on this technology and feeling it is too demanding and distracting. It uses a series of in-depth interviews to address the research question: How do young adults view and feel about their relationship with their cellphones, and to what extent do they believe they are in control over their cellphone use? The theoretical framework of media dependency theory guides this project's approach by integrating considerations of how society plays a role in relationships with media technology. It also introduces key aspects of why users feel they want to escape their cellphones while examining the factors that make it so difficult for individuals to be without their cellphones. As a social level theory, media dependency theory aids in examining the role of the cellphone in society as a whole, and how individuals' relationships with their phones influence their broader social world.

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