2008 PROCEEDINGS - Public Relations Society of America
2008 PROCEEDINGS - Public Relations Society of America
2008 PROCEEDINGS - Public Relations Society of America
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EcoMoms’ Engagement in Environmental Activity<br />
Much Ado About Something:<br />
Web 2.0 Acceptance and Use by <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Relations</strong> Practitioners<br />
Renata Faye Schloss<br />
University <strong>of</strong> Maryland, College Park<br />
rschloss@umd.edu<br />
Abstract<br />
Twelve in-depth, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted to study how<br />
environmentally conscious mothers make meaning <strong>of</strong> their environmental engagement and<br />
communication and perceive their levels <strong>of</strong> problem recognition, involvement, and constraint<br />
recognition regarding environmental issues. This research also explores how features unique to<br />
communication over the Internet affect levels <strong>of</strong> involvement and information processing and<br />
seeking. Prior relevant research falls into several categories: publics, situational theory <strong>of</strong><br />
publics, environmental communication and Internet-mediated communication. Results suggest<br />
that there is a cultural dictate that influences environmentally conscious mothers to see the<br />
environment as more <strong>of</strong> a situation or problem than baseline publics, and constraints vary for<br />
individual members <strong>of</strong> a public. Also, the Internet has added a new dimension in the way publics<br />
can develop. These findings suggest that more research is needed on the situational theory <strong>of</strong><br />
publics to explore if the variables <strong>of</strong> the theory are useful qualitatively.<br />
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