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While it has been established that participation in interdisciplinary teams is likely to have a positive impact on researchers' careers, it has been questioned whether these researchers were already destined for success. If high-achieving faculty members are simply taking advantage of the availability of internal funds to boost their already high rates of productivity, internal programs designed to support the formation of novel teams and to enhance the impact of an institution's research portfolio may not be advancing their objectives. In this study, we examine whether applicants to an interdisciplinary funding program are already more productive than other faculty members, including those who apply for traditional (non-interdisciplinary) internal funding support. Data were drawn from several sources: Academic Analytics, which provides productivity data that allows for comparisons of faculty members within fields; the Office of the Vice Provost for Research's data on internal funding program applications; the Office of Research Administration's data on external grant proposal submissions; data from an internal survey on perceptions of the university's research climate; and Scopus, which provides individual faculty members' h-indices and lists of publications and citations. Results indicate that faculty members who join interdisciplinary research teams and are awarded internal funding are not more or less likely to be "superstars." This not only provides support for assertions that interdisciplinary programs can lead to team innovation and professional growth of individual faculty members, but also provides a blueprint for the establishment of baseline measures that can be used to help evaluate the impact of internal funding programs.

Introduction: The Health Belief Model (HBM) has been widely studied, but it is unclear how social media post creators use HBM constructs to influence the public's awareness of health topics, particularly for COVID-19 preventative health behaviors. Moreover, there is limited knowledge about how content creators enhance user engagement with COVID-19 vaccine tweets. Methods: A content analysis of COVID-19 vaccine tweets (n = 362) examined how HBM constructs were used in social media posts and their relationship to content creator characteristics (e.g., race, education level) and user engagement behaviors (e.g., number of favorites). Findings: Content creators' tweets about COVID-19-related topics generally centered on two HBM constructs—benefits and barriers—while fewer tweets emphasized perceived susceptibility or self-efficacy; tweets containing these constructs were retweeted less often. Findings revealed that tweets from politicians, health experts, and white and Asian sources emphasized the perceived benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine. Individual tweets, especially from Black individuals and celebrities, generated more user engagement. Conclusions: Understanding the factors that contribute to social media user engagement with health-related content is important for designing more focused and impactful health communication campaigns and promoting healthier habits and perspectives. Thus, by demonstrating the possible relevance of the HBM to digital communication strategies or health campaigns, our study provides useful guidance for health promoters and policymakers who use social media to raise public health awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript focuses on the communication factors that affect the willingness of African Americans and Black Caribbean patients to participate in clinical trials and research studies. Low rates of research participation by members of communities of color have long been linked to health disparities. While there are many factors that contribute to low rates of accrual of African American and Black patients to clinical trials, a lack of attention to communication factors that enhance or inhibit the recruitment process is central to the problem. In this study, we describe results from the analysis of six focus groups (N = 31) consisting of African American (k = 3) and Black Caribbean (k = 3) participants. Our analyses focus on verbal and nonverbal communication behaviors and how they affect participants' willingness to participate in clinical trials. Specifically, when clinical research coordinators (CRCs) had a professional appearance, made the effort to explain a study in detail, made eye contact, took the time to listen and answer questions patiently, and gave the sense that the CRC was being truthful and transparent, patients felt respected and valued. Additionally, participants emphasized the importance of the process of developing and maintaining a trusting relationship between study participants and CRCs. The results of this study will be used to develop a clinical trial communication training program designed to enhance the communication skills of clinical research coordinators who discuss research participation with African American and Caribbean Black patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additional strategies to evaluate the impact of community nutrition education programs on low-income individuals are needed. The objective of this qualitative study was to examine the use of the Memorable Messages Framework as an intermediary nutrition education program evaluation tool to determine what fruit and vegetable messages were reported as memorable and the characteristics of those memorable messages. A convenience sample of low-income, primarily African American adults (N = 58) who previously completed a series of community nutrition education lessons within an urban area of Indiana participated in a focus group (N = 8 focus groups). A lead moderator using a semistructured script conducted the focus groups to determine what information about fruits and vegetables was most memorable from the participants' nutrition lessons and why this information was memorable. All focus group audiotapes were transcribed verbatim and ATLAS.ti software was used to code and identify themes within the data. Participants cited quantity, variety, and the positive nutritional impact of eating fruits and vegetables as most memorable. Information given in the form of recipes was also cited as most memorable. For example, participants referred to the recipe demonstrations as not only fun but also key components of the program that helped with message retention and memorability. Key characteristics of memorable messages included personal relevance and message vividness. These findings indicated that the Memorable Messages Framework may serve as an intermediary program evaluation tool to identify what information and messages are most influential to participants in community nutrition education programs.

This study investigates the role of source credibility on minority participant recruitment, particularly African American and Black Caribbean patients. A total of nine focus groups (N = 48 participants) were conducted with both patient groups and clinical research coordinators (CRCs). Using the elaboration likelihood model as a guiding framework for analysis, this study found that the credibility of research coordinators (or other professionals who recruit for research studies and clinical trials) was instrumental in shaping attitudes of prospective participants. The perspectives of patients and CRCs aligned closely, with few exceptions. For both groups, professionalism and professional displays (clothing, institutional artifacts) enhanced perceived expertise, a core component of credibility. Trustworthiness, another important component of credibility, was fostered through homophily between recruiter and patient, expressions of goodwill and assuaging anxiety about CRCs' financial motivations for recruitment. Additionally, CRCs believed that credibility was supported when CRCs could emphasize transparency and truthfulness in communication. The importance of these findings for the development of empirically-based training programs to improve communication practices in recruitment contexts is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universities commonly rely upon International Teaching Assistants (ITAs) to teach basic courses. This use of ITAs is a considerable benefit to universities; however, there is substantial evidence to suggest that undergraduate students quite often object to being taught and graded by ITAs. If universities and their academic departments wish to foster a more productive learning environment for undergraduates who are taught by ITAs, it is vitally important that the ITAs be better prepared for this important teaching task. In this paper, we describe a narrative analysis of the stories of 25 undergraduate students. The study reveals that students have coherent, shared narratives of their experiences of ITAs. Based on an analysis of the narratives, we offer a number of positive suggestions for the development of more effective training for ITAs to teach courses at the undergraduate level.

Identifies message design features that show the greatest promise for developing message high in sensation value for anti-drug campaigns and other interventions aimed at sensation-seeking risky behaviors. Investigates certain features of drug prevention Public Service Announcements (PSAs) associated with viewers' subjective responses to them. Finds that perceived message sensation value is at least in part a product of the formal and content features of a PSA. (SG)

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2010.01523.x Byline: Susan E. Morgan (1), Andy J. King (1), Jessica Rae Smith (1), Rebecca Ivic (1) Abstract: In this study, 580 participants viewed one of the 30 full-length entertainment television episodes. Fifteen of these episodes centered on an organ donation storyline (ODS) where facts about the process were portrayed inaccurately; the remaining 15 were matched by program, but did not feature organ donation, and served as controls. Results indicated nondonors were significantly impacted by negative organ-donation-related content. ODSs produced more negative attitudes, less accurate knowledge, and perceptions of social and descriptive norms less supportive of organ donation among nondonors. However, participants who had already declared a willingness to donate organs after death were not significantly impacted by entertainment television's depiction of myths about donation. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Communication, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA Article note: Susan E. Morgan; e-mail: semorgan@purdue.edu

This study describes a worksite project designed to promote organ donation while testing the effectiveness of low-intensity (media-only) campaigns compared to high intensity campaigns (media+interpersonal communication), which incorporated on-site visits. All campaigns lasted 10 weeks. A total of 45 companies participated in the project, 15 in each quasi-experimental condition. Companies were counterbalanced by size of organization and industry type. Compared to the control condition, high-intensity worksite campaigns led to a six-percentage point increase in signed donor registrations while low-intensity campaigns led to a three-percentage-point increase. Both forms of worksite campaigns led to increases in attitudes, knowledge and perceived subjective norms from pretest to posttest when compared to control sites. At the same time, worksite campaigns served to significantly reduce individual-level barriers shown to be related to donation, such as medical mistrust and desire to maintain bodily integrity. Keywords: Health Communication Campaigns; Worksite Campaigns; Organ Donation; The Workplace Partnership for Life DOI: 10.1080/03637751.2010.495948

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2008.01408.x Byline: Susan E. Morgan (1), Lauren Movius (2), Michael J. Cody (2) Abstract: Drawing on theories of social learning, social representations and the organ donation model, online surveys were used to examine the impact of organ donation storylines of 4 U.S. television dramas (CSI: NY, Numb3rs, House, and Grey's Anatomy) on viewers' attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors. Results revealed that viewers acquired knowledge from the content of each drama, despite the fact that some content was inaccurate. Viewers who were not organ donors prior to exposure to the dramas were more likely to decide to donate organs if the drama explicitly encouraged donation, portrayed characters revealing how they had become donors and discussed the merits of donating. Viewers were also more likely to become an organ donor if they were emotionally involved in the narrative. Implications for using dramas to educate and motivate the public were discussed. Abstract (Spanish): Resumen El Poder de las Narrativas: El Efecto de las Historias de Donacion de Organos en la Television de Entretenimiento sobre las Actitudes, el Conocimiento, y los Comportamientos de Donadores y No-Donadores Tomando de las teorias de comportamiento social, de representaciones sociales y el modelo de donacion de organos, encuestas online fueron usadas para examinar el impacto de la donacion de organos en las historias de 4 dramas de television de los EE.UU. (CSI: NY, Numb3rs, House, y Grey's Anatomy) sobre las actitudes, el conocimiento, y los comportamientos de los televidentes. Los resultados revelaron que los televidentes adquirieron conocimientos del contenido de cada drama, a pesar del hecho de que algun contenido era incorrecto. Los televidentes que no eran donadores de organos antes de su exposicion a los dramas, estaban mas inclinados hacia la decision de donar sus organos si el drama estimulaba explicitamente la donacion, representado por los actores revelando como ellos se convirtieron en donares de organos y discutiendo los meritos de donar. Los televidentes estaban mas inclinados a convertirse en donadores de organos si estaban emocionalmente involucrados con la narrativa. Las implicancias para el uso de dramas para educar y motivar al publico son discutidas tambien. Author Affiliation: (1)Department of Communication, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 (2)Annenberg School for Communication,University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089 Article note: Susan E. Morgan; e-mail: semorgan@purdue.edu

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2008.01331.x Byline: Susan E. Morgan (1) Abstract: Social representations theory (SRT) has been underused in the communication field. This theory helps explain the interrelationships between interpersonal communication, cognition, and the mass media, particularly in situations where a new phenomenon emerges that requires some kind of social response. Because organ donation is still poorly understood by the public, in large part because of entertainment television, SRT is well suited to helping researchers and practitioners understand the complex interplay of factors within a population(s) that contribute to reluctance to donate organs after death. In this paper, it is argued that public communication campaigns should include strategies to provoke interpersonal communication about the topic as a means of creating social representations that promote behaviors that support public health. Abstract (French) Resume Au croisement des conversations, de la cognition et des campagnes de communication : La representation sociale du don d'organes La theorie des representations sociales (TRS) demeure sous-utilisee dans les sciences de la communication. Cette theorie aide a expliquer les relations entre la communication interpersonnelle, la cognition et les medias de masse, surtout dans les situations ou l'emergence d'un nouveau phenomene requiert une certaine reaction sociale. Puisque le don d'organes demeure mal compris du public, en grande partie a cause de la television recreative, la TRS est utile pour aider les chercheurs et les intervenants a comprendre l'interaction complexe, dans une population, de facteurs contribuant a une reticence a donner ses organes apres son deces. Dans cet article, il est soumis que les campagnes de communication publique devraient inclure des strategies visant a provoquer la communication interpersonnelle sur le sujet, de maniere a creer des representations sociales qui promeuvent les comportements en appui a la sante publique. Abstract (German): Abstract Die Schnittstelle zwischen personlichem Gesprach, Kognitionen und Kampagnen: Die soziale Reprasentation von Organspende Bislang fand die Theorie der sozialen Reprasentation in der Kommunikationswissenschaft nur ungenugend Anwendung. Die Theorie erklart die Beziehungen zwischen interpersonaler Kommunikation, Kognition und den Massenmedien, insbesondere in Situationen, in denen ein neues Phanomen zu Tage tritt, das eine bestimmte Art sozialer Reaktion erfordert. Da die Organspende vor allem aufgrund des Unterhaltungsfernsehens in der Offentlichkeit immer noch eher schlecht verstanden ist, tragt die Theorie der sozialen Reprasentation dazu bei, dass Forscher und Praktiker das komplexe Zusammenspiel der Faktoren besser verstehen, welches die Zuruckhaltung gegenuber der Spende von Organen nach dem Tod in verschiedenen Populationen beeinflusst. In diesem Artikel wird deshalb argumentiert, dass offentliche Kommunikationskampagnen auch Strategien beinhalten sollten, die interpersonale Kommunikation zum Thema anregen, was wiederum als Mittel dient, soziale Reprasentationen herzustellen und Verhaltensweisen zu fordern, die der offentlichen Gesundheit zutraglich sind. Abstract (Spanish): Resumen La Interseccion entre la Conversacion, las Cogniciones, y las Campanas: La Representacion Social de la Donacion de Organos La teoria de las representaciones sociales (SRT) ha sido poco usada en el campo de la comunicacion. Esta teoria ayuda a explicar las interrelaciones entre la comunicacion interpersonal, la cognicion y los medios de comunicacion, particularmente en situaciones donde un nuevo fenomeno, que requiere algun tipo de respuesta social, emerge. Dado que la donacion de organos es poco comprendida por el publico, en gran parte debido a la television de entretenimiento, la teoria de representacion social (SRT) es apropiada para ayudar a los investigadores y los profesionales a entender la complejidad de la interaccion de los factores que dentro de una poblacion (o poblaciones) contribuyen a la renuencia a donar organos despues de la muerte. Este articulo sostiene que la comunicacion publica de las campanas deberia incluir estrategias que provoquen la comunicacion interpersonal acerca del tema como un medio para crear representaciones sociales que promuevan los comportamientos de apoyo a la salud publica. Author Affiliation: (1)Department of Communication, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2098 Article note: Susan E. Morgan; e-mail: semorgan@purdue.edu

There has not been a significant improvement in the rate of clinical trial accrual in more than 20 years. Worse, the challenge of inadequate representation among racial and ethnic minorities also persists, deepening disparities in health. Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) is a participatory communication method that centers on effective dialogue between researchers and community stakeholders with the goal of creating an equitable partnership for health and social change. The objective of the current study was to provide an update since a systematic review in 2012, on the current status of the empirical research, with a particular focus on the elements of CBPR methods used to improve the rate of accrual of members of racial and ethnic minority communities for clinical trials. Our systematic review found a large increase in the number of CBPR related studies and studies related to racial and ethnic representation in research. More than 85% of studies employing CBPR methods saw statistically positive outcomes. Specifically, the elements of CBPR that are associated with these positive outcomes include community partner participation in (1) a study advisory committee, (2) data collection, (3) the development of interventions, and (4) participant recruitment. However, the results of our study indicate that researchers need to be more transparent about the extent of community participation as well as more thoroughly and accurately describe the nature of the partnership with members of minority communities in order to build upon the scientific literature on community-engaged methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on organ donation suggests a strong association between family discussions about the issue and final organ donor status. However, very few studies have examined the factors that influence individuals' willingness to talk directly to their family about this topic or the impact of these discussions. This investigation provides a partial test of a newly developed theory of information management to better understand the processes of family discussions about organ donation. Results from two studies generally support the utility of the theory in this context, suggest ways in which organ donation campaigns may improve their effectiveness, and recommend future directions for researchers in this area. Moreover, the data show differences across ethnic groups that support and extend past work in this area. Keywords: Uncertainty; Organ Donation; Information Seeking; Family Communication

While the rate of cigarette smoking has steadily declined over the last three decades, the rate of cigar consumption has increased by 66% (Baker, et al. 2000, p. 737; Satcher, [...]

While little is known about African Americans' attitudes and knowledge about organ donation, even less is known about how African Americans' attitudes, values, and beliefs affect their behavior and behavioral intentions regarding organ donation; or how African Americans' views are similar to or different from those of European Americans. Adults working 2 sites of a national corporation were randomly selected to complete a survey about organ donation willingness, intention to sign an organ donor card, knowledge and attitudes toward organ donation, and level of altruism. Results indicate that African Americans differ significantly from Whites on several individual attitude and knowledge items. However, the basic relationship between knowledge, attitudes, values, and behaviors regarding organ donation between the 2 groups appears the same. Furthermore, these results indicate that future organ donation promotion campaigns must focus on increasing basic knowledge and countering myths about organ donation for both populations.

The desperate need for organ donors in the United States could be filled if every person eligible became an organ donor. Unfortunately few organ donation campaigns exist, and fewer still have been evaluated empirically. This study has two objectives: to describe a worksite organ donation campaign and test campaign effects, and to test the Model of Behavioral Willingness to Donate Organs. Results of the campaign evaluation demonstrate that the worksite campaign was successful in increasing knowledge, favorable attitudes toward organ donation, behavioral intent to sign an organ donor card, actual rates of signed organ donor cards, and the willingness to talk to family members about the decision to donate organs. Results of path analyses produced mixed results with regard to model testing. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Much of the limited literature on organ donation has focused on the demographic and psychographic profiles of people who are willing to become organ donors. More information about the relationship of attitudes, values, knowledge, and actual behavior among adults is needed if targeted communication campaigns promoting organ donation are to succeed. The results of a mail survey of 798 adults sampled (via stratified random sampling procedures)from two local sites of a national corporation suggest that attitudes toward donation, knowledge about organ donation, altruism, and perceived social norms are significantly associated with both actual behavior (having signed an organ donor card) and behavioral intent (among non-donors) to sign a card in the future. These findings support the major models of organ donation willingness, especially those advanced by Horton and Horton (1991) and Kopfman (1994). This study also advances current knowledge of organ donation willingness by 1) using a large, relatively diverse population of adults rather than relying on a student sample; and 2)focusing on specific knowledge barriers that distinguish donors from non-donors. KEY WORDS: Organ donation, organ donor willingness model, worksite health promotion.