Browsing by Subject "Blog"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Psychological sense of community within mediated communities: the case of the news blog
    (2010-06) Hopkins-Best, Natalie C.
    Researchers agree that communities are a valuable source of positive outcomes for individuals and society, however much debate revolves around the question: what is a community? Community psychology research offers the suggestion that a psychological sense of community (PSOC) among individual members of a group is at the heart of any community. The current study builds upon the McMillan and Chavis (1986) PSOC model, applying their theory and Peterson and colleagues’ (2008) measure to the highly anonymous, mediated environment of news blogs. In addition, this research examines several individual-level variables that are hypothesized to be related to PSOC online in an attempt to better understand community functioning and formation. An analysis of ninety-three members of three major news blogs revealed that PSOC does form online, although at moderate levels. A regression analysis revealed that individuals’ level of identification with the blog, their history reading the blog, and trust in members of the blog were all significantly and positively related to PSOC. In addition, the motivations for using the blog of personal fulfillment, information seeking/media checking, and expression/affiliation were significantly and positively related to PSOC. This research suggests that understanding the variability in PSOC, as explained by these individuallevel characteristics, has significant implications for the journalism industry and society as a whole.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The Red Thread Web: a case study of the uses and gratifications parents adopting a child from China discovered in the Rumor Queen blog
    (2014-01) Cunningham, Greta Elizabeth
    Since 1992 thousands of U.S. families have adopted children from China. Parents wishing to adopt a Chinese child must work with the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA), which writes and enforces the regulations for domestic and international adoptions. In December 2006 the CCAA suddenly announced it would soon implement dramatic new restrictions on parents seeking to adopt a child from China. This prompted parents enrolled in China's international adoption program to actively seek sources of information about the CCAA's rule changes. Many people turned to the www.chinaadopttalk.com website--more commonly known as the Rumor Queen. This dissertation utilizes case study research strategy and employs several qualitative research methods to investigate the broad topics and themes explored in the Rumor Queen website and to specifically examine the "uses and gratifications" associated with this site. To answer the main research questions posed in this dissertation I analyzed the 3,270 postings users created on the Rumor Queen blog in December 2006. Second, I interviewed informants who used the Rumor Queen blog during their personal adoption journeys. Third, I conducted interviews with adoption agency officials. Fourth, I conducted a search and analyzed the December 2006 mainstream media coverage of the CCAA rule changes. The findings in this dissertation suggest the participants in the "Rumor Queen" site reflect the uses and gratifications theoretical framework in mass communication research. This theory assumes that people use media with purpose, selectively, and actively to satisfy their needs and wants. This case study suggests implications for journalism and mass communication. 1) People will create other sources for communication and information. 2) Individuals actively seek information sources when their information needs are not being met with "traditional" media platforms. 3) The "Rumor Queen" blog helps to fill what many adoptive parents perceive as a communication void due to a lack of reporting in traditional mass media, and the reluctance of adoption officials to share information.