Nicole Miller ’16, Tara Wirth ’16, Xernay Aniwar ’17, Leena Dahal ’17 and MaryClaire Schulz ’17 shared their research projects at the largest undergraduate interdisciplinary conference in the country.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, this year’s conference brought together young researchers from around the world April 7-9 to the University of North Carolina at Asheville, providing students with an opportunity to share their research findings through poster and oral presentations.
The participating School of Communications students included Nicole Miller ’16, Tara Wirth ’16, Xernay Aniwar ’17, Leena Dahal ’17 and MaryClaire Schulz ’17.
Below is a list of the students’ presentation titles and faculty mentors as well as excerpts from their research abstracts.
Presentation title: “Parents’ Perceptions of Children’s Socialization During a Recreational Sports Season”
Abstract excerpt: “[T]he purpose of this study is to determine whether parents perceive growth in their children’s social skills over the course of a recreational sports season. This study focuses on three social benefits: communication skills, teamwork and cohesion, and personal social development.”
Faculty mentor: Craig Schmitt, Assistant Professor of Sport & Event Management
Presentation title: “Turkey’s Framing of Its Economy, Foreign Policy and Human Rights in Comparison to the Country’s Public Reputation”
Abstract excerpt: “The purpose of the study … is to understand if the messages presented by the Turkish government to the international community about human rights, the economy, and foreign policy are perceived in similar or different ways than intended by publics located beyond Turkey.”
Faculty mentor: Vanessa Bravo, Assistant Professor of Communications
Poster title: “Strategies for Building Credibility Within the Content of Informational Podcasts”
Abstract excerpt: “The purpose of this study was to analyze the methods in which successful, independent podcasters build a following and establish credibility with their audience.”
Faculty mentor: Amanda Sturgill, Associate Professor of Communications
Leena Dahal
Presentation title: “Connecting the Next Billions: Global Internet Leaders’ Policy Plans for Reaching Everyone Everywhere”
Abstract excerpt: “The first billion was reached in 2005, the second in 2010, the third in 2014, yet 4 billion people across the globe still have no access to the Internet. How can they connect?”
Research note: Dahal’s research was based on a documentary project at the United Nations-facilitated Global Internet Governance Forum in João Pessoa, Brazil, where she worked as part of a team of researchers for the Imagining the Internet Center. The center’s research is available here.
Faculty mentor: Janna Anderson, Professor of Communications and Director of the Imagining the Internet Center
Presentation title: “Brand Partnership Gone Bad: An Analysis of LEGO’s Response to the Attack on its Partnership with Royal Dutch Shell”
Abstract excerpt: “Through the qualitative analysis of Greenpeace’s campaign against LEGO and LEGO’s shifting responses over a three-month period … this case study examines how Greenpeace influenced LEGO’s communications toward its consumers and subsequent decision to terminate its partnership with Shell.”
Faculty mentor: Lucinda Austin, Assistant Professor of Communications
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Janna Anderson
Professor of Journalism
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Amanda Sturgill
Associate Professor of Journalism
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Craig Schmitt
Assistant Professor of Sport and Event Management
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Lucinda Austin
Assistant Professor of Communications
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Vanessa Bravo
Professor of Strategic Communications and Chair of the Department of Strategic Communications