Tag: Deborah Morrison

Quantifying the Self

Presenter: Rachelle DiGregorio

Mentor: Deborah Morrison

PM Session Oral Presentation

Panel Name: A4 Identity and Progress

Location: Rogue Room

Time: 1:15pm – 2:15pm

“Self knowledge through numbers.” This is the driving philosophy behind the Quantified Self (QS) community, a group of people who collect and reflect on their personal information. This practice is called self-tracking and is increasingly facilitated by digital tools like pedometers, mobile applications, and websites. My research explores the question: What leads to the widespread acceptance of digital self-tracking tools? I approach this question by measuring people’s awareness and perceptions of the technology as well as by deconstructing the success of popular tracking tools. I focus on tools that track fitness data because they are the most widely accepted. My investigations are supported by a thorough review of literature about technology acceptance, personal informatics systems, and behavior change. There is often a disassociation between popular tracking tools and the concept of self-tracking. Whether it is referred to as self-tracking or not, the practice is growing steadily. This is due to the ubiquity of personal data collection in our current digital environment. It is integrated into so many digital services and devices; it is more or less unavoidable. Leaders of the QS movement frame what they do as a new context for knowledge-making. It is more than just a few people’s hobby, it is a lens through which we see and create the world around us. An understanding of self-tracking is vital to our assessment of society’s digital evolution, especially as the practice continues to grow in popularity and influence.

Innovating Agronomy: A Strategic Communications Campaign to Improve Ghanaian Environmental and Public Health Outcomes Through Compost Utilization

Presenter(s): Ammas Tanveer − Advertising

Co Presenter(s): Ben Kitoko, Hannah Lewman

Faculty Mentor(s): Deborah Morrison, Tom McDonnell

Poster 110

Research Area: Advertising/Social Science

Working closely with students and faculty at the University of Ghana, our team of advertising students and School of Journalism & Communication faculty have researched how to communicate best practices for composting in Ghana. This research will result in strategic advertising messages aimed at reducing Ghanian agrarian reliance on imported fertilizers. We have analyzed research conducted by our partner team of students and faculty at the University of Ghana to identify important new connections between fertilizer usage and decreasing soil fertility, which presents significant environmental concern alongside socioeconomic fragility. After analyzing scientific reports, we found that according to the International Food Policy Research Institute, farming is the primary source of employment in Ghana but more than 36% of farmers do not have the funds to purchase fertilizer. Through our research and analysis, we have determined that educating farmers on composting practices presents solutions to a variety of issues not only addressing soil fertility, but also addressing unsustainable waste management practices and lack of economic opportunity, as well as the correlation between food security and general public health. Our primary hypothesis is that by using a variety of persuasive messaging techniques, we can shift social awareness and opinion among Ghanaian stakeholders (farmers, merchants, and consumers) to embrace compost initiatives as a means of addressing short-term food insecurity, ensuring the longevity of farmable land, increasing quality of health, and maximizing potential economic output. Our research has established a strategic framework for our production team going to Ghana to start producing a campaign.

Best Practices for Attributing Extreme Weather Events to Climate Change in Media

Presenter(s): Haley Koch

Faculty Mentor(s): Deborah Morrison & Hollie Smith

Poster 138

Session: Social Sciences & Humanities

Occurrences of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, forest fires, and floods are increasing in frequency and severity on a global scale, and climate scientists have proven that these events are exacerbated by the effects of anthropogenic climate change. These events are then represented variably through mass media channels, some which effectively attribute these events to climate change, and some which do not. Studies have shown that improperly attributing the cause of extreme weather events could be incredibly harmful to our environmental future, and must be done correctly in order to avoid significant further damages to our society. In order to participate in the resolution of the disconnect between extreme weather events and climate change, my thesis research has led to the development of a “Code of Best Practices for Attributing Extreme Weather Events to Climate Change,” for media producers and outlets to use to ensure that their content is effectively covering events of extreme weather, and how they relate to anthropogenic climate change. Through a content analysis of sources that have attributed events of extreme weather to climate change in a variety of ways (both effective and ineffective), I have determined criteria that guarantee the effectiveness of communicating climate change attribution. These criteria can be applied to different forms of media and communications in order for a media outlet to ensure that they are accurately and effectively attributing extreme weather events to climate change.

The Great White Outdoors: Racialized Outdoor Leisure Identity in American Advertising

Presenter(s): Hannah Kloft

Faculty Mentor(s): Troy Elias & Deborah Morrison

Poster 91

Session: Social Sciences & Humanities

Appearing on postcards, maps, and murals, the Great Outdoors has served as an archetype for both the geography and culture of the United States for decades. With more than 58 national parks and 109 million acres of wilderness area, the utilization of these spaces by a wide range of Americans seems likely. In reality, although 2017 was the second highest year for national park visitation in American history, 80 percent of visitors were white. In this study, a content analysis of more than 1,000 magazine advertisements aimed to advance a study performed two decades ago to gauge if representation of recreational use of outdoor spaces among minorities has increased. In addition, the concept of “racialized outdoor leisure identity” was analyzed to determine the kinds of activities minorities were depicted participating in within the Great Outdoors.