Senior Projects - Spring 2002

Fifty-one Communication Studies students completed their Senior Projects this past semester.  Students and topics are listed below.  A student with a star (*) by his or
name is one of the six "finalists" for the 2001-2002 outstanding senior project award.
The winner will be announced at the Communication Club banquet on May 10, 2002.

Chris Anderson: Interacting with your favorite team in cyberspace: A content analysis of NFL team websites.
*Christina Baker: Students' personal development and ratings of R.A. effectiveness
Arne Berg: Credibility in news promos
Jessica Blackbourn: Humorous advertisements: The role of context on perceived humor and recall.
*Maria Burman: An evaluation of ski resort websites and website effectiveness
Anna Dralle: The role of charismatic leadership within organizations
Joe Dominguez: Sports team metaphors and their functions
Jill Friedricksen: Rhetorical criticism of political resignation speeches
Melissa Fradkin: The effect of music lyrics on listeners’ homophobic attitudes
Adam Fuller: Labeling television news stories: The effects of labeling on importance, credibility, and recollection
Amy Greden
: An exploration of rituals and family satisfaction
Dan Grubb: The effect of teacher communication skills on student motivation
Sara Guggisberg: Kenneth Burke and two speeches given by President Bush on Sept. 11
Jennifer Hallett: Use of the leadership practices inventory
Kristi Hiekel: Terms of endearment used in Spain and the U.S.: A comparative study
Kirk Hinzman: Strategies for communicating effectively with people who have autism
Noriko Kato: Dating relationships across cultures
Michelle Keiser: Reality dating shows' influence on adolescents' perceptions of the dating relationship
Erika Keller: Comparative rhetorical analysis of popular culture sales books
Andy Kilps: The effects of self-monitoring on relationship satisfaction
Krista Kurth: Parents' efforts to counter fear in children from TV news
Brian Kwong: Comparative analysis of stereotypes in video games and television
Dodie Limberg: Use of ‘sensemaking’ countertransferrence strategies by school counselors
Anne Lindberg: Homesickness and the use of computer-mediated communication
Katie Mallow: Sexual innuendo in primetime TV ads
Heather Mattson: How self-constructions and self-esteem are affected when communicating in a second language
Aaron Miller: Religious sponsorship: Effect on perception of messages
Bradley Mitchell: Local business views of college students as ‘target market’
Rodrigo Monico-Barros: Masculine and feminine communication patterns in war films
Christopher Neuharth: Internet radio: Uses and gratifications
Melissa Ogrizovich: Perceptions of sex-talks between parent and adolescent children
Amy Oliver: The use of multi-media and art forms in contemporary Christian worshipers: Are worshipers getting the message?
Craig Orta: The UW-L African-American experience
*Kim Pape: Affinity seeking and leadership
Josie Pemble: The messages and experience that motivates Up Till Dawn, a student organization
Christa Peters: Cultivation theory and young adults’ perceptions of romantic relationships
Amanda Peterson: Physician communication styles and patient satisfaction
Tim Ricks: Thematic rhetorical analysis of Viet Nam war protest songs
Kristi Raddemann: Twins and topic avoidance
Stacia Savitt: How should unsigned bands handle their intellectual property to ensure they are legally protected?
Mark Schutten: Verbal communication of ‘negative news’ on cable channels
Lori Schultz: Women's role in horror films through the years
Paco Schulz: Analysis of male body images and attitudes in social interaction
Erin Schroeder: Father/daughter relationships
Sean Smith: Music and the culture of relationships
LeTay Stackhouse: Images of separation in music videos
Joy Szymanski: A content analysis of TV network morning news interviews: Gender, communication style, nonverbal behaviors
Kim Thelen: Music television and college freshman social identity
Andrea Thede: What are those animals talking about?: Anthropomorphism in TV ads
Michael Uss: The 1970s box office and social unrest
Trina Wolosek: The U.S. Navy’s crisis response, September 11
*Marla Zabel
: Giggles and laughs: The effect of humor in advertising