Graduate Research Overview

Graduate students in the Department of Communication participate in research in a variety of ways. In addition to developing their own projects, they collaborate with faculty, with other graduate students, and with undergraduate students as well. Here is a sample of current research projects in the department during 2011-2012:


Current dissertation projects, 2011-2012

Peter Campbell, “Queer Phronesis: A Radical Queer Legal Rhetoric of Constitutional Law.” Advisor: Kent Ono.

Sylvia Enyart, “The Transition to Extended family: Examining the Links Between Turbulence and In-laws’ Goals, Communication, and Relational Outcomes.” Advisor: John Caughlin. With graduate student research assistants Kelly McAninch and Katerina Georgiafentis and undergraduate research assistant Amanda Ramsdell.

Ian Hill, “The Malthusian Paradox: Weapons Rhetoric Before the Bomb.” Advisor: Ned O’Gorman.

Gwen Costa Jacobsohn, "The Influence of Pediatric Communication in the Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Obesity: A Relationship-Centered Approach." Advisor: Kristen Harrison (now at U of Michigan).

Sabrina Marsh, “Religious Women in Modern American Social Reform: Evangeline Booth, Aimee Semple McPherson, Dorothy Day and the Rhetorical Re-construction of Female Moral Authority.” Advisor: Ned O’Gorman.

Summer Carnett Martin, “Couples Coping with Parkinson’s Disease: Implications for the Patient, Partner, and Relationship.” Advisor: John Caughlin.

Ashley Middleton, “A Normative Approach to Communication in the Context of Alcohol and/or Drug Use: The Experiences of Parents and Siblings.” Advisor: John Caughlin. With undergraduate research assistants Ge Gao, Yijie ‘Christy’ Lu, Ximena Reyna, and Sara Salmon.

Jillian Klean Zwilling, “‘Caught in a Web of Indifference': U.S. Legislation, Birth Control, and the Rhetoric of the Lysol Douche.” Advisor: Cara Finnegan.

Complete List of All Dissertations Completed in the Department of Communication, 1951-2011


Some current research projects featuring student-faculty collaboration

“Communication and Information Challenges for Adult Children Coping with a Parent's Lung Cancer.” Ashley Middleton (doctoral student), Anne Stone (Illinois Ph.D., 2011), Sylvia Mikucki-Enyart (doctoral student), John Caughlin, & Laura Brown (Illinois M.A., 2010). Funded by the Campus Research Board.

"A Contingency Theory of Organizational Response to Paradoxical Requirements: A Study of Emergency Response Organizations." Scott Poole, John Lammers, & Elizabeth Carlson (doctoral student), research assistant. Funded by the National Science Foundation.

“The Digitial Divide and NGO collaboration.” Jan Axelsson (Earth University- Costa Rica), Ariann Sahagun (master’s student), Katherine Cooper (doctoral student), & Michelle Shumate.

"GroupScope: Instrumenting Research on Interaction Networks in Complex Social Contexts." Scott Poole, Melissa Dobosh (doctoral student), & Stacy Kim (master's student), research assistants. Funded by the National Science Foundation.

“High-Bandwidth Media and the Distribution of News Content Preferences.” David Tewksbury & Julius Riles (doctoral student).

“High School Students' Conversations with Friends about Substance Use.” Jennfer Kam. Ashley Middleton (doctoral student), Kimberly Pusateri (master’s student), Nathan McCullough (master’s student), & Lance Keene (School of Social Work), research assistants. Undergraduate research assistants Taylor Behrman, Regina Hinders, Taylor Schulz, and Anna Tanaglia. Funded by the Campus Research Board.

“In Close Relationships, It’s Both Online and Face-to-Face Communication, Not Online versus Face-to-Face Communication.” John Caughlin & Liesel Sharabi (doctoral student).

“Interorganizational INGO Network Evolution.” Yannick Atouba (doctoral student) and Michelle Shumate.

“Interpersonal Interaction in Primetime Television.” David Tewksbury, Julius Riles (doctoral student), Kira Varava (doctoral student), & Andrew Pilny (doctoral student).

"Market Maker, an online business-to-business web application." Scott Poole & Kristen Guth (master's student). Funded partly by I-CHASS.

“Measuring Interpersonal Interaction.” John Caughlin & Erin Basinger (doctoral student).

“The Nonprofit Capacity Project.” Michelle Shumate, Katherine Cooper (doctoral student), Macarena Pena y Lillo (master’s student), Andrew Pilny (doctoral student), & Ariann Sahagun (master’s student) with undergraduate students Ivan Haros, Jalisa Huckabee, Ashley Chang, Patricija Kirvaitis, Chelsea Peppa, Jenny Sum, Marva Dar, & Jasmin Patron. Funded by the National Science Foundation.

"Picturing the President: The Obama White House and Flickr.” Cara Finnegan. Marissa Lowe (doctoral student), research assistant.

Reading Photography’s Viewers. Cara Finnegan. Marissa Lowe (doctoral student), research assistant.

“Relational Turbulence Among Couples With Depression.” Leanne Knobloch, Amy Delaney (doctoral student), Liesel Sherabi (doctoral student), & Samantha Surrane (master’s student). Funded by the Campus Research Board.

“Relational Turbulence of Military Families during Reintegration following Deployment.” Leanne Knobloch and undergraduate students Katie Clausing, Ben Ganellen, Bethany Carmien, Anthony Carlsen, & Geena Wakeley. Funded by the University of Illinois Family Resiliency Center.

“Resiliency of Military Youth During the Post-Deployment Transition.” Leanne Knobloch, Kimberly Pusateri (master’s student), and undergraduate students Katie Clausing, Corey Bandur, & Amanda De Matteo. Funded by the University of Illinois Family Resiliency Center.

"Science Education with Native Alaskans." Scott Poole & Kate Cooper (doctoral student). Funded by I-CHASS.

“SusDeViKI and the NGO/Farmer Relationship.” Barry Pittendrigh, Julia Bello Brava, Michelle Shumate, Yannick Atouba (doctoral student), Katherine Cooper (doctoral student), Ariann Sahagun (master’s student), Andrew Pilny (doctoral student), Malik Ba, & Madame Dabire.

"Virtual Worlds Exploratorium." Scott Poole & Andy Pilny (doctoral student). Funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory.