Using a Second Level Agenda Setting theory, Interpersonal Communication, Attitude Accessibility and Need for Orientation framework, this exploratory study examined, using the qualitative research method of focus groups, the relationship between Interpersonal Communication and media messages about Stockton, CA. Based on the themes that emerged from the discussions, results show contextual evidence that Interpersonal Communication acts as a facilitating instrument, allowing participants to 6 develop an understanding beyond the attribute description of Stockton, CA, generated by the media. This study also discovered new technology, especially social media, amplified the influence of lnterpersonal Communication of how media messages were ultimately understood. Lastly, the study concluded the University of the Pacific's reputation compensated for the school's undesirable location. Limitations and suggestions for future research are provided.
","abstract_html":"<p>Using a Second Level Agenda Setting theory, Interpersonal Communication, Attitude Accessibility and Need for Orientation framework, this exploratory study examined, using the qualitative research method of focus groups, the relationship between Interpersonal Communication and media messages about Stockton, CA. Based on the themes that emerged from the discussions, results show contextual evidence that Interpersonal Communication acts as a facilitating instrument, allowing participants to 6 develop an understanding beyond the attribute description of Stockton, CA, generated by the media. This study also discovered new technology, especially social media, amplified the influence of lnterpersonal Communication of how media messages were ultimately understood. Lastly, the study concluded the University of the Pacific's reputation compensated for the school's undesirable location. Limitations and suggestions for future research are provided.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Ambrocio, Priscilla Y."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts (M.A.)","degree_level":"Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted","degree_discipline":"Graduate School","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Qingwen Dong"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2012,"date_issued":"2012-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2012-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:36:46Z","subjects":["Mass media Influence","Mass media and public opinion","Interpersonal communication","Communication","Social and Behavioral Sciences"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/829","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Qingwen Dong"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Ambrocio, Priscilla Y."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2018-06-29T08:51:34Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Graduate School"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts (M.A.)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Mass media Influence","Mass media and public opinion","Interpersonal communication","Communication","Social and Behavioral Sciences"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/829"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Using a Second Level Agenda Setting theory, Interpersonal Communication, Attitude Accessibility and Need for Orientation framework, this exploratory study examined, using the qualitative research method of focus groups, the relationship between Interpersonal Communication and media messages about Stockton, CA. Based on the themes that emerged from the discussions, results show contextual evidence that Interpersonal Communication acts as a facilitating instrument, allowing participants to 6 develop an understanding beyond the attribute description of Stockton, CA, generated by the media. This study also discovered new technology, especially social media, amplified the influence of lnterpersonal Communication of how media messages were ultimately understood. Lastly, the study concluded the University of the Pacific's reputation compensated for the school's undesirable location. Limitations and suggestions for future research are provided.
"]},{"key":"dc:source","label":"Dc Source","values":["112"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The impact of interpersonal communication on the media agenda setting process : a case study of new student perceptions of Stockton, CA"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Qingwen Dong"],"dc:creator":["Ambrocio, Priscilla Y."],"dc:date.available":["2018-06-29T08:51:34Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Using a Second Level Agenda Setting theory, Interpersonal Communication, Attitude Accessibility and Need for Orientation framework, this exploratory study examined, using the qualitative research method of focus groups, the relationship between Interpersonal Communication and media messages about Stockton, CA. Based on the themes that emerged from the discussions, results show contextual evidence that Interpersonal Communication acts as a facilitating instrument, allowing participants to 6 develop an understanding beyond the attribute description of Stockton, CA, generated by the media. This study also discovered new technology, especially social media, amplified the influence of lnterpersonal Communication of how media messages were ultimately understood. Lastly, the study concluded the University of the Pacific's reputation compensated for the school's undesirable location. Limitations and suggestions for future research are provided.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/829"],"dc:rights":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:source":["112"],"dc:subject":["Mass media Influence","Mass media and public opinion","Interpersonal communication","Communication","Social and Behavioral Sciences"],"dc:title":["The impact of interpersonal communication on the media agenda setting process : a case study of new student perceptions of Stockton, CA"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Graduate School"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts (M.A.)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:36:46Z"}