Communication And Identity: The Paternity Leave Decision

Paternity leave has remained an under-studied phenomenon in the United States. The US stands in contrast to countries such as Sweden and Norway, which have a history of government-regulated paid time off for fathers of new children. Therefore new fathers in the US face a unique situation regarding their decision of whether or not to take whatever form of paternity leave may be available to them. This study explores what aspects of new fathers’ identities are salient regarding the paternity leave decision. The Communication Theory of Identity (CTI) is used as a theoretical framework to explore how these identities correspond with and manifest within different identity frames. The paternity leave decision is also explored as a potential stimulating issue for stigmatization. In other words, new fathers may face being stigmatized for their decision regarding whether or not to take time off to be home with their new children. 18 new, first time fathers were interviewed regarding their identities, paternity leave, and any potential stigmatization they may have faced. Ultimately participants discussed many nuanced aspects of identity as salient surrounding the decision, as well as perceived threat of stigmatization in many cases. Suggestions for how paternity leave can be studied, and how CTI as a theory can evolve going forward are also discussed

Analysis of a high school education and its applicability to the modern objectives in education.

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston Universit

Reconnecting with the Truth: Conspiracies, Perspective Taking, and Misinformation

“I’ve done my research.” Misinformation has become a prevalent topic in communication courses, particularly those focused on argumentation, public speaking, or even interpersonal and family communication. Students thus benefit from adapting public speaking-focused assignments to illuminate how to understand - and thus combat- disinformation in their own lives. This assignment works toward this goal in two stages, allowing students to argue not just against misinformation and conspiracies, but also to argue for them as an act of empathy and understanding. The applied nature of this exercise also empowers instructors with a way to concretely address this issue in the classroom. In doing so, students are armed with real-life tools to address misinformation and false claims of “research.

Spectroscopy and Dynamics of the Predissociated, Quasi-linear S2 State of Chlorocarbene

In this work, we report on the spectroscopy and dynamics of the quasi-linear S2 state of chlorocarbene, CHCl, and its deuterated isotopologue using optical-optical double resonance (OODR) spectroscopy through selected rovibronic levels of the S1 state. This study, which represents the first observation of the S2 state in CHCl, builds upon our recent examination of the corresponding state in CHF, where pronounced mode specificity was observed in the dynamics, with predissociation rates larger for levels containing bending excitation. In the present work, a total of 14 S2 state vibrational levels with angular momentum ℓ = 1 were observed for CHCl, and 34 levels for CDCl. The range of ℓ in this case was restricted by the pronounced Renner-Teller effect in the low-lying S1 levels, which severely reduces the fluorescence lifetime for levels with Ka \u3e 0. Nonetheless, by exploiting different intermediate S1 levels, we observed progressions involving all three fundamental vibrations. For levels with long predissociation lifetimes, rotational constants were determined by measuring spectra through different intermediate J levels of the S1 state. Plots of the predissociation linewidth (lifetime) vs. energy for various S2 levels show an abrupt onset, which lies near the calculated threshold for elimination to form C(3P) + HCl on the triplet surface. Our experimental results are compared with a series of high level ab initio calculations, which included the use of a dynamically weighted full-valence CASSCF procedure, focusing maximum weight on the state of interest (the singlet and triplet states were computed separately). This was used as the reference for subsequent Davidson-corrected MRCI(+Q) calculations. These calculations reveal the presence of multiple conical intersections in the singlet manifold

A Battle for Identity: Public Libraries in England and Wales 1850-1943

The aim of this dissertation is to consider the nineteenth century origins of public libraries in England and Wales, and their development up to the mid-twentieth century, in order to examine how the informational role of the library established a dominant position within the library profession. It suggests that the history of libraries has focused on the informational role of the library and that as a result significant areas of library history have been neglected. It also argues that government and library users rarely viewed the role of libraries in terms of information but as having a broader social role and impact. The main conclusions drawn from this study are that the promoters of public libraries were motivated by the desire to improve the social and economic conditions of the working-class, that governments often viewed libraries as a means of maintaining social control, and, at times of war and social crisis the library played an important role in maintaining social cohesion. Ultimately, the emphasis placed on the informational and educational role of the library played an important role in establishing librarianship as a respected profession, and helped to differentiate public libraries, as well as proving to those who funded them that they were of value and importance

Physiological Measurements Pre/Post Ultra-Marathon Distance Race

Endurance running events like 100 miles distance races are becoming more popular. Humans are eager to explore their limits by challenging themselves to run 100 miles distance races. However, there are many research gaps still exist to fully understand the impact on the body that 100 miles endurance event has. The aim of this study was to measure and analyze the impact of the 100 miles endurance race among recreational runners. Ten male recreational runners (age 36.6 ± 14.1) were screened before and after completing 100 miles distance running event in Missouri. Test screening included VO2 max, RMR, BIA, Ultrasound of the vastus lateralis muscle, and Muscular strength performance (countermovement jumps (CMJ), bell squats). Overall, 100 miles distance running did not proof to have large impact on the body. The only significant changes were found in intracellular & extracellular body fluids, as well as, braking RDF (rate of force development), and force at peak braking force during CMJ testing