Date of Award

7-1-1986

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Communication

Abstract

With the exception of the Hart, Carlson and Eadie (1980) research, virtually all RHETSEN studies have been conducted cross-sectionally and with a small subject pool. Even though Carlson generalized that sex, education, and age affect RHETSEN scores, few other studies have explored those variables within a single study. Additionally, most studies have failed to address the effect of "time on the job," or tenure and RHETSEN scores. To date, the predilection toward a "Manager—Communicator" archetype insofar as RHETSEN is concerned has received mixed results. Some have even suggested RR type managers may gravitate toward a specialty store operation (Salyer, 1979). This study will explore the RHETSEN perspective in detail based on both demographic and job related variables and report the conclusions. Finally, RHETSEN is a measure of attitude . . . a communication construct, if you will. Some recent research has explained the "attitude-behavior" relationship with regard to communication (Bradley & Baird, 1977, 1979? Eadie & Paulson, 1982; Steinfatt & Infante, 1876; Eadie, 1982; Bostrom, 1970, 1982). This study will attempt to reveal some conclusions with regard to performance variables in the business world and attitude toward communication. The following research questions will explore the relationship of communicator attitude with the job related variables of specialty store management: 1. What difference, if any, exists between RHETSEN scores of specialty store managers and other normative scores from previous research? 2. What effect, if any, does sex, education and tenure have on RHETSEN scores? 3. What relationship, if any, exists between scores on the RHETSEN Scale with the following perceptions of respondents: promotability, job satisfaction, responsibility, status, communication environment of a manager, and job performance.

Comments

A Thesis Presented to the Department of Communication and the Faculty at the Graduate College University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts University of Nebraska at Omaha

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