Sally Hastings | University of Central Florida (original) (raw)

Papers by Sally Hastings

Journal of Social Issues, 2015

Black and White interracial couples encounter societal and familial assessments that create addit... more Black and White interracial couples encounter societal and familial assessments that create additional tensions and conflict for their romantic relationship. This study examines parental approval and disapproval messages and their impact on interracial couples. Interdependence Theory and Facework provide the theoretical frameworks guiding this qualitative, interpretive examination. Thirty‐eight individuals who represent 19 Black and White romantic pairs were each separately interviewed about their experiences as an interracial couple. Of particular interest is the communication of parental support or disapproval. Data were analyzed using Owen's (1984) thematic analysis procedures. Results reveal that interracial dyads both experience public disapproval and illustrate that not all couples experience parental disapproval. However, couples with dual parental approval were less bothered by negative outside experiences than were one‐sided approval couples. Data also reveal the import...

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 2020

The proposed activity involves showing a relevant video immediately prior to the begi... more The proposed activity involves showing a relevant video immediately prior to the beginning of class. This activity may prove beneficial to both the instructor (reducing the generational divide and reducing interactional awkwardness) and for students (building community and student engagement). This activity is particularly appealing for younger generational cohorts in courses throughout higher education.

Business and Professional Communication Quarterly

Effective organizational socialization demands soft skill competence. This article advances two g... more Effective organizational socialization demands soft skill competence. This article advances two goals: (a) explore the inclusion of undergraduate researchers in the scholarship of teaching and learning research and (b) present research findings on employer perceptions of new college graduates’ communication skills. The research team used a rules approach to explore employer perceptions of nonverbal communication skills for new college graduates, such as commonly violated rules. Four key findings relating to rule violations in unspoken communication include displaying a lack of interest, inappropriate attire, body art, and writing deficiencies. Suggestions are offered for including undergraduates in this kind of research.

Journal of International and Intercultural Communication

ABSTRACT Olfaction has been described as one of the least studied of the senses. This has certain... more ABSTRACT Olfaction has been described as one of the least studied of the senses. This has certainly proven true in Communication. This project applies Ethnography of Communication and Cultural Discourse Analysis to examine the role that olfaction plays in the cultural meaning systems of two speech communities: residents surrounding the Gowanus Canal and bereaved parents. The cultural hub used to explore the cultural significance of olfaction in both speech communities is feeling. The analyses illustrate how emotions are tied to associated sensations and further become activated through radiants of dwelling, relating and acting. The analysis also shows how olfaction may serve to unify and separate members of a community. The significance of this research encourages stretching the boundaries of communication studies by examining the less studied physical senses and the boundaries of Cultural Discourse Analysis by providing distinctions that others can incorporate when examining feelings.

Academic Exchange Quarterly, Dec 22, 2003

Abstract Engaging students in reflecting upon and responding to current social issues, while an e... more Abstract Engaging students in reflecting upon and responding to current social issues, while an excellent goal, can be difficult to achieve. This paper argues that engaging students in a perspective taking exercise that is applicable to an applied and/or vocational context provides a motivation for student development of social awareness. Described in this paper is an assignment in which students prepare and present a training module focusing on a social problem experienced by a disadvantaged group. This assignment requires critical thinking and promotes skill development relevant to future employment. It is argued here that the speaking requirement and the vocational skill development entailed in such an assignment motivates students to see how self-interests are served by developing social awareness. ********** In American universities written communication and oral communication skills were historically taught in the same classes. A shift began in the 1930s, and later became increasingly common on university campuses, to separate "Speech" or "Communication" departments from the study of English and composition (Russell, 1991). Writing continued to be viewed as the domain of English departments. Most universities in the United States required courses in both writing and oral communication as a part of general education requirements. As with many academic divisions, the distinction between English and Communication departments did not negate the inherent connection between the two areas of study. The same reasons for placing them within the same department remain: oral and written communication skills go hand in hand. Meticulous written preparation is critical to effective speaking. Likewise, if a composition course focuses solely on the production of written texts to be graded by a teacher, students learn an overly simplistic view of the needs of a writer. When the student simply writes for the instructor, the point of exercises can become pleasing the one anticipated reader. While this can be useful in the more elementary tasks of learning grammar and organizational mechanics, the practice of writing for one person is a fairly easy task not reflective of the kind of writing skills that a student will need throughout life. Writing for one does not equip the student with the kind of complex challenge that best fosters critical thinking skills. Colby et. al. (2003) argue that to equip students to be moral citizens, there needs to be an civic element to their capacities, such that a student comes "to understand how a community operates, the problems it faces, and the richness of its diversity ..." (p. 18). When a student sees the objective of assignments to guess what the teacher wants and values, the student is failing to respond to a more holistic, diverse set of exigencies. Perspective taking has been researched and examined for its potential contribution to creating moral citizens who are equipped to respond sensitively to critical social issues. Some research on perspective taking, however, has yielded discouraging results. For example, Maner et. al. (2002) recently conducted a study to measure the effect of perspective taking and empathic concern upon altruistic behavior. The authors note that this study like similar types of research before, found no correlation between perspective taking and altruism. It would appear that encouraging perspective taking as a way of promoting selflessness has a track record of failure in psychological research. In another study examining the limits of perspective taking, McPherson-Frantz and Janoff-Bulman (2000) found that in interpersonal conflicts, the extent of liking for the other person involved in the conflict strongly affected an individual's ability to fairly take the perspectives of the other. An existing feeling of caring for the other person seemed to be the determinant of empathy. Research findings such as these could lead to the premature conclusion that perspective taking has minimal value. …

Journal of Women & Aging, 2016

A randomly assigned sample of 376 college students responded to a survey involving a between-subj... more A randomly assigned sample of 376 college students responded to a survey involving a between-subjects 2 × 3 experiment designed to assess the impact of age (older versus younger) and tattoo status (i.e., no tattoo, feminine tattoo, or masculine tattoo) on three dependent measures: credibility, attractiveness, and promiscuity. Older and younger women are perceived differently depending on tattoo status. Not wearing a tattoo may lead to a more favorable perception of older women than wearing one, but wearing a feminine tattoo may engender a more favorable impression of older women than having a masculine tattoo. But not having a tattoo may not be as helpful for the perception of younger women as it is for older women. Also, while younger women may be rewarded for gender role transgression with respect to tattoo status, this is not so for older women.

North American Journal of Psychology, Jun 1, 2010

The terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 (9/11) enhanced scholarly interest in prejudice and... more The terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 (9/11) enhanced scholarly interest in prejudice and discrimination. Historically, the focus of research in America about prejudice has focused on AfricanAmericans (Bates & Fasenfest, 2005; Gold, 2004; Hansen, 2006; Sundstrom, 1994). Since 9/11, some of the research focus has shifted toward people of Middle-Eastern descent (Coryn, Beale, & Myers, 2004; Solana, 2003). It is difficult, however, to get a clear picture of prejudicial attitudes. Active expressions of prejudice in American culture are less acceptable than ever before (Blanchard, Lilly, & Vaughn, 1991; Condor, Figgou, Abell, Gibson, & Steveson, 2006). Because of this social pressure against prejudice, "most social psychologists argue that changing norms in the last 50 years against openly expressing racist sentiments has led to the development of more subtle, covert, and symbolic expressions of prejudice towards out-groups" (Augoustinos, 2009, p. 43). Manifestations of prejudice through discriminatory behaviors may be passive instead of active, and therefore not easy to observe. To better explore the more complex nature of discriminatory action, Cuddy, Fiske, and Glick (2007) proposed that discrimination can be assessed, in part, by examining "active" versus "passive" discriminatory behaviors. Active instances of discrimination involve more direct expressions of disapproval toward members of a particular group, such as through the use of racial slurs or openly stating that one does not want people of that group in the neighborhood. Passive instances of discrimination would include behaviors that are more subtle, and thus may not necessarily be attributed to discrimination, such as avoidance of places where people of an ethnic or racial group are known to be present or avoiding eye contact with a member of a particular group. Cuddy, Fiske, and Glick revealed the significance of these behaviors, stating that, "passive behaviors may reflect a less deliberate or obvious intention on the part of the actor to bring about a specific outcome but can constitute consequential forms of discrimination," and they cited withholding service as one example of passive behaviors (p. 633). Despite cultural norms discouraging discriminatory behavior, there are many instances of acts of active discrimination against Arab-Americans in the United States (Zogby, 2001). This research investigated how the rise in instances of passive discriminatory behavior, especially in times of emotional upheaval, may also be paralleled by a rise in the covert discriminatory behavior of withholding helping behavior. Augoustinos (2009) argues that social psychologists need to find ways to examine the "multiple and flexible ways" that members of minority groups are marginalized in order to be responsive to the more passive acts of discrimination (p. 44). The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States marked an increase in ethnically-motivated violence between September 11, 2001 and October 10, 2001, according to the testimony of Dr. James J. Zogby (2001) to The United States Commission on Civil Rights. In his report, Zogby included a selection of instances reported to the American Arab Institute and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, including: five deaths of Arab-Americans who were ultimately found to be not involved in terrorist activity, another 90 instances of physical assault, more than 85 instances of vandalism to property, six cases of people being fired specifically for being Arabic, and 11 instances of discrimination at airports that resulted in passengers missing their flights. These are only a select few of the multitude of complaints filed with the American Arab Institute and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee for the month after September 11. The U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has also been tracking what it calls Process Type Z charges--charges alleging discrimination related to the events of September 11, 2001, against individuals who are or are perceived to be Muslim, Arab, Afghani, Middle Eastern or South Asian, or individuals alleging retaliation related to the events of September 11, 2001. …

Women Language, Oct 7, 2009

This essay explores the ways women utilize a website devoted to bereaved parents as a means to cr... more This essay explores the ways women utilize a website devoted to bereaved parents as a means to create a space in culture that allows expression of thoughts and feelings normally constrained by societal expectations. Not only do these women escape such silencing, they build community through interpersonal eloquence, defined here as expression of meaningful messages from the heart.

Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 2000

This article studies the cultural influences guiding Asian Indians in deciding whether to express... more This article studies the cultural influences guiding Asian Indians in deciding whether to express or suppress self-disclosures and self-expressive actions. Philipsen’s definition of ritual is used as a heuristic for examining situations in which overt self-expressions are prohibited or discouraged. The analysis provides a catalyst for reviewing Philipsen’s definition of ritual to include intrapersonal communicative resources that meaningfully reflect and constitute the social realities and the social interactions of participants. Ethnographic interviews with Asian Indian sojourners to the United States are used to examine how, on certain occasions, Asian Indians invoke a culturally meaningful set of thought processes about appropriate role conduct and use a widely intelligible cultural rationale to prompt self-suppression. The findings suggest that this form of communicative conduct adapts to the cultural context by allowing a greater range of disclosures and self-expressive actions...

Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 2005

Language, Discourse and Power in African American Culture delivers what the title promises: an in... more Language, Discourse and Power in African American Culture delivers what the title promises: an in-depth examination of the correlation between the linguistic resources and the power of a speech community. Marcyliena Morgan tackles intellectually challenging and socially meaningful topics that highlight some pivotal points of language-based concern in racial relations in the United States. This review will offer a general overview of the book’s content, and delve into some key strengths and weaknesses. Morgan uses an (auto)ethnographic approach to studying African American English (AAE). The introduction clearly and succinctly reveals the focus around which the content coheres: “While one aim of this book is to describe and analyze contemporary language and communication among African Americans in the US, its main focus is on language as an aspect of culture and the ways in which it mediates identity across cultural and social contexts” (p. 9).Developing an understanding of the social construction of African American identity provides a useful framework with which to examine various discursive data. The book is divided into six chapters. The first chapter, studying the African American speech community, reveals some points of academic interest for scholars. First, the discussion of “speech community” implies that she is drawing from the tradition of ethnography of communication. The chapter also provides an effective historical context from which to see and hear the data that are presented in subsequent chapters. This historical overview is accomplished using some vivid data from African American poetry (involving a particularly eloquent analysis of the controversy surrounding Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s work), historic events, and narrative analysis. The chapter draws strongly upon Erving Goffman’s work, and is useful to anyone interested in studying face and/or marginalization. The second chapter focuses on “forms of speech.” This chapter explores different forms of African American speech such as indirectness,pointed indirectness, baited indirectness, direct and directed speech, reading, signifying, and playing the dozens. Morgan effectively describes how the form is performed as well as what is “getting done” through the use of the form. The third chapter, examining “language norms and practices,” opens with a case study of one situation in which AAE language practices caused significant concern in a workplace setting. The rest of the chapter explores very controversial subjects, such as the debates over AAE versus General English use in

International Journal of Business Communication, 2013

ABSTRACT

Storytelling, Self, Society, 2005

... mundane updates on points of interest shared with the deceased, some simply give a mini ... w... more ... mundane updates on points of interest shared with the deceased, some simply give a mini ... website and magazine, they visually show a lit candle along with the words "that their ... 1984) perspective on the postings, the writers are narrating their experience of grief and bereavement ...

carltonfields.com

Page 1. Communication Law Review 58 The Effects of a Crowded Deliberation Environment on Mock Jur... more Page 1. Communication Law Review 58 The Effects of a Crowded Deliberation Environment on Mock Jurors' Attitudes and Decision-Making Charles P. Short, Burt Pryor,Jeff Butler, & Sally O. Hastings, University Of Central Florida Abstract ...

Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 2015

As social media becomes a more potent force in society, particularly for younger generations, the... more As social media becomes a more potent force in society, particularly for younger generations, the role in activism has been contested. This qualitative study examines 35 interviews with students regarding their perceptions of the use of social media in social change, their perceptions of activists, and their level of self-identification as an activist. Data suggest that students use media to engage in offline participation in activist causes, because offline presents a “safe” place to begin their involvement. Findings also point to the unified pejorative connotations of the term “activist”, yet also demonstrate ways that students transform the negative stereotype of activists in a way that creates a more positive image of activists. Most participants in the study were able to see sufficient positive characteristics in behaviors they associated with activism to prompt the students to identify themselves as “activists” or “aspiring activists”. We offer 3 practical recommendations for ...

Journal of Creative Communications, 2009

This study addresses a void in the computer-mediated communication literature by examining how em... more This study addresses a void in the computer-mediated communication literature by examining how embarrassment is commonly triggered in organizational e-mails. Facework theory is used to examine embarrassment and its implications for professional and organizational image. Twenty-one in-depth interviews were conducted and data referencing embarrassing e-mails were extracted and analyzed for themes. Two types of e-mail faux pas themes were identified:

Research on Language & Social Interaction, 2001

... The mother knows Hennina balu kanneeru (a woman&amp;#x27;s life is filled with tears ... more ... The mother knows Hennina balu kanneeru (a woman&amp;#x27;s life is filled with tears ... Kamla criticized those who try to become totally American, and Anita criticized those who try to become like complete Americans. These phrases indicate that some Indians are violating a normative ...

Communication Theory, 1992