Tag: Gerlach J

Jasmine Aguilar & Jesse Gerlach

Collegiate Persuasion Strategies for COVID-19 Prevention Measures

The following study explored the persuasive appeals of COVID-19 prevention by Sarah Lawrence College and Presbyterian College. This research synthesized the course content of COMM 450: Persuasion to make observations on both institute’s COVID response strategies and how they differed from one another. Those observations were based on the comparison between the two college’s social media posts concerning COVID-19, and newsletters produced by the colleges. The researchers then offer a few conclusions off of those observations, and offer potential methods of improving those implemented strategies. 

Keywords: persuasion, COVID-19, persuasive appeals, communication

COMM 450, Persuasion

Doyle Srader

L203

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2 – 3 PM

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Jesse Gerlach

Communicating Complex Ideas: More Than One Way to Tell Stories

The following capstone project focused on the methodology of storytelling. This topic was chosen due to the lack of research exploring how stories could be told, contrasting the copious amount of research on the importance of stories. Additionally, it was chosen because the research concluded that storytelling is an effective form of communicating complex ideas. Thus, by having more variations of storytelling, we are better equipped to communicate those ideas.  To then explore those variations, an event was created to present unconventional methods of storytelling that all told the same story. After each artist presented their version of the story, the audience was asked to take a picture of the head presenter on the stage and post it to either Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag, #FreeFromTheChains. Then, the number of posts was compared to the total number of audience members. After the event had concluded and the numbers were tallied, 9 out of approximately 30 participants posted the photo, and approximately 222 people liked the posts. While the responses to the posts were not a part of the original design of the project, it was noteworthy. From this experience, the project leader learned many valuables lessons, including the power of unconventional methods of storytelling, the neurological components and effects of stories, and how to facilitate an online and in-person event.

Keywords: Communications, stories, unconventional methods of storytelling

COMM 499, Capstone

Doyle Srader

L203

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11:30 AM – Noon

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Jesse Gerlach

Bushnell Apparel Analysis

The following examination is based on the visual analytical tool designed and described by Paul Martin Lester in his book Visual Communications: Images With Messages. This tool thoroughly deconstructs each component of a visual text so that its content and context are effectively comprehended and synthesized. This analysis was done on the 2020 Bushnell University attire. The first portion of the research was to analyze the apparel with the aforementioned analytical tool. It was concluded by the researcher that the products of Bushnell University are primarily informative in nature, in that they are designed to communicate a simple message of a group membership. Additionally, the minimalist style of the products, including the logo of the beacon and name, adds to the emphasis on the community rather than to extraneous details that a more complex design might include. In this way, given the intended function of the merchandise, it was concluded that the message communicated by the apparel’s design was effective. The second portion was, based upon the results of the instrument, to offer additional apparel designs that address the critiques of the original designs as well as provide a more diverse range of options for the university. Two possible applications to increase product diversity are the use of nontraditional text placements and nontraditional textile styles. For the nontraditional text placements, the university’s mission statement could be both plain-texted on the back and inverse-texted on the back. For nontraditional textile styles, a long sleeve, extra long, curved hem, shirt is an excellent example of more modern styles that could be adopted for product diversity.

Keywords: Bushnell University, Apparel, Designs,

COMM 407, Special Topics: Visual Communication

Doyle Srader

10 AM – Noon

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Jesse Gerlach & Madison Hoke

A Study on the Relation Between Nonverbal Knowledge and Touch Avoidance

The following study looked to compare the relationship between an individual’s knowledge of nonverbal cues and their level of touch avoidance.  The study was conducted online with a total of 33 participants.  Participants were asked to complete the Test of Nonverbal Cue Knowledge (TONCK) and Touch Avoidant Measure (TAM).  For the Touch Avoidant Measure, both section one and two were included, testing an individual’s level of touch avoidance in same-sex and opposite-sex social interactions. Prior to conducting the study, the experimenters examined the past research done in each of these areas.  The studies found that Touch Avoidance is more common with individuals who suffer from Social Anxiety (SA). In particular, SA was discovered to be most prominent with women who were being approached by men they did not originally know. Therefore, the researchers wanted to focus on touch avoidance within the same-sex and opposite-sex spectrum. This was designed so that a thorough understanding of which instances people may feel Touch Avoidant, and whether or not their knowledge of nonverbals is attributed to that avoidance may be reached. The results of the research found that there was little to no correlation between an individual’s knowledge of nonverbal cues, and their level of touch avoidance with both people of the same and opposite sex. Limitations of the study are centered around both the small participant number and the absence of male and female categories for the results. Future research can, therefore, look into both other variables relating to Touch Avoidance and the implications of gender as they relate to Touch Avoidance.

COMM 413, Advanced Interpersonal Communication

Doyle Srader

10 AM – Noon

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