Dr. Rebecca Curnalia

Professor
Dr. Rebecca Curnalia - profile photo

Dr. Rebecca Curnalia

Professor

Communication

Bliss Hall 2017

phone: (330) 475-9295

rmcurnalia@ysu.edu

Bio

A theorist and mixed methods researcher specializing in motivation, learning, and attitude theories.

Research Interests

Literacy and skills in digital media and communication technology
Teaching and learning; assessment
Attitudes, beliefs, values, and traits related to communication uses and effects

Teaching Interests

Survey design
Theory applied to social media / digital media
Professional writing
Qualitative and quantitative data analysis and reporting
Teaching and learning / Training and development

  • Education

    • 2007

      Ph D, Communication

      Kent State University

      Dissertation/Thesis Title — "Motivation and Ability at Three Stages of News Use: Attention, Elaboration, and Integration"

    • 2003

      MA, Communication

      Northern Illinois University

      Dissertation/Thesis Title — "Cognitive Cue Interaction in the Process of Message Evaluation"

    • 2001

      BA, Communication

      Olivet College

  • Awards and Honors

    • 2020

      YSU

      Distinguished Professorship in Teaching

    • 2019

      National Communication Association

      Top four competitive paper in Training and Development

    • 2019

      YSU

      Research Professorship

      Confronting Americans’ Illiteracy, 2019-2020.

    • 2018

      Youngstown State University Chapter 143

      Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Inductee

    • 2016

      Mahoning Valley Young Professionals

      Top 3 of the Mahoning Valley Young Professionals “25 Under 35”

    • 2016

      YSU

      Distinguished Professor in Scholarship

    • 2015

      YSU DE Office

      Distance Education Course of the Year Award

      Presented by the YSU Office of
      Distance Education for my online Communication Theory course

    • 2014

      Dean, Creative Arts & Communication

      Dean’s Award for Curricular Innovation

    • 2013

      Eastern Communication Association

      Top three competitive paper Media Communication Division

    • 2012

      YSU

      Distinguished Professor in University Service

    • 2009

      Ohio Communication Association

      Student Organization of the Year Award

      Presented to the Iota Pi Chapter of Lambda Pi Eta while it was under my advisement.

      Presented by the Ohio Communication Association, Columbus, OH, 2009.

  • Intellectual Contributions

    • "Linking Outcomes to Students’ Experiences with Emotions, Course Modalities, and Instructional Practices During Fall 2020 Blended Learning"

      R. Curnalia

      College Teaching

    • "Linking Media Instruction, Media Literacy, and Digital Skills to Fake News Beliefs and Censorship Support"

      R. Curnalia

      Journalism & Mass Communication Educator

    • "Concepts, Sources, Investigation: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Your Research Report in APA Style"

      R. Curnalia, A. Ferris

      Kendall Hunt

    • 2020

      "Applying uses and gratifications to promote cognitive and affective learning via online instructional content."

      R. Curnalia, A. Ferris

      IGI

    • 2018

      "Tenure, academic freedom, and shared governance: Faculty voice in a context and culture of constant change."

      R. Curnalia, D. Mermer

      Review of Communication

    • 2018

      "Renewing our commitment to tenure, academic freedom, and shared governance to navigate challenges in higher education."

      R. Curnalia, D. Mermer

      Review of Communication, volume 18

    • "Observation and Note Taking, Conducting Qualitative Interviews, and Undertaking Focus Groups."

      R. Curnalia, A. Ferris, D. Mermer, J. Tyus, C. Wecht

      Top Hat

    • 2017

      "Research Methods for Communication Professionals"

      R. Curnalia

      TopHat

    • 2016

      "Setting an agenda for stakeholder research to field test the NCA learning outcomes in communication"

      R. Curnalia

      Communication Education, volume 65

    • 2016

      "Insight into Innovation: Applying Communication Theory in Our Web 2.0 Lives"

      R. Curnalia

      Kendall Hunt, p. 432

    • 2015

      "Fear tactics in political campaigns"

      R. Curnalia

      ABC-CLIO

    • 2014

      "The ‘Ice Queen’ melted and it won her the primary: Evidence of gender stereotypes and the double bind in news frames of Hillary Clinton’s ‘emotional moment’.The ‘Ice Queen’ melted and it won her the primary: Evidence of gender stereotypes and the double bind in news frames of Hillary Clinton’s ‘emotional moment’."

      R. Curnalia, D. Mermer

      Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, volume 15, issue 1, p. 26-32

    • 2014

      "The ‘Ice Queen’ melted and it won her the primary: Evidence of gender stereotypes and the double bind in news frames of Hillary Clinton’s ‘emotional moment.’"

      R. Curnalia

      Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, volume 15

    • 2014

      "Frugal reality TV during the Great Recession: A qualitative content analysis of TLC’s Extreme Couponing"

      R. Curnalia

      Lexington Press, p. Chater 6

    • 2014

      "CSI: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Your Literature Review in Communication Studies"

      R. Curnalia, A. Ferris

      Kendall hunt, p. 250

    • 2014

      "Becoming a Critic: An Introduction to Analyzing Media Content."

      R. Curnalia, A. Ferris, C. Wecht

      Kendall Hunt

    • 2013

      "The frightening state of political discourse: A case study of the use of fear in the 2012 GOP primary"

      R. Curnalia

      Praeger, volume 1, p. Chater 9

    • 2013

      "Integrating uses and gratifications with the theory of planned behavior to explain political disaffection and engagement."

      R. Curnalia, D. Mermer

      American Communication Journal, volume 15, issue 3, p. 59-82

    • 2013

      "Integrating uses and gratifications with the theory of planned behavior to explain political disaffection and engagement."

      R. Curnalia

      American Communication Journal, volume 15

    • 2011

      "Recognizing the Struggles of Local Political Campaigns: A Call for a Revolution in Media Coverage of Local Politics"

      R. Curnalia, D. Mermer, J. Tyus

      Ohio Communication Journal, volume ume 49, p. 83-99

    • 2010

      "Predictors of the development of applied knowledge structures for presidential candidates."

      R. Curnalia

      Communication Research Reports, volume 27

    • 2010

      "Grassroots strategies of local campaigns"

      R. Curnalia

      Ohio Communication Journal, volume 49

    • 2009

      "Fear appeals in political ads: Threats to health, safety, and financial security in the 2004 presidential election."

      R. Curnalia

      Ohio Communication Journal, volume 47

    • 2005

      "A retrospective on early studies of propaganda and suggestions for reviving the paradigm"

      R. Curnalia

      The Review of Communication, volume 5

  • Professional Service

    • 2024 - 2024

      Reviewer, Journal Article
      Social Influence

    • 2024 - 2024

      Reviewer, Conference Paper
      National Communication Association

    • 2020 - 2020

      Other
      Northeast Ohio Education Association

    • 2019 - 2022

      Committee Member
      OEA Higher Education Advisory Committee

    • 2019 - present

      Reviewer, Journal Article
      Ohio Communication Journal

    • 2016 - 2019

      Committee Member
      Social Science Research Council (SSRC) Measuring College Learning (MCL) Committee

    • 2014 - 2016

      Committee Member
      National Communication Association’s Learning Outcomes Committee

  • Public Service

    • Unknown

      Volunteer
      WCBA Dare to Care

    • Unknown

      Judge
      History Day

Dr. Rebecca Curnalia - Professor of Communications

Associate Professor in the Department of Communication

Education

  • PhD, Kent State University
  • MA, Northern Illinois University
  • BA, Olivet College

Recent Publications

  • Curnalia, R. M. L., & Ferris, A.L. (in press for 2014). Concepts, Sources, Integration: A Step-by-Step Guiding to Writing Your Literature Review in Communication. Dubuque, IA: Kendall-Hunt.
  • Curnalia, R. M. L. (in press for 2014). Fear Tactics in Political Campaigns. In M. Shally-Jensen (Ed.) American Political Culture: An Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.
  • Curnalia, R. M. L. (2014). Frugal reality TV during the Great Recession: A qualitative content analysis of TLC’s Extreme Couponing. In A. F. Slade, D. Givens-Carooll, & A. J. Narro (Eds) Reality Television: Oddities of Culture. Lexington Press.
  • Curnalia, R. M. L., & Mermer, D. L. (2014). The ‘Ice Queen’ melted and it won her the primary: Evidence of gender stereotypes and the double bind in news frames of Hillary Clinton’s ‘emotional moment’. Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, 15.
  • Curnalia, R. M. L., & Wecht, C. L., & Ferris, A. L. (2014). Becoming a Critic: An Introduction to Analyzing Media Content. Dubuque, IA: Kendall-Hunt.
  • Curnalia, R. M. L., & Mermer, D. L. (2013). Integrating uses and gratifications with the theory of planned behavior to explain political disaffection and engagement. American Communication Journal, 15.
  • Curnalia, R. M. L. (2013). The frightening state of political discourse: A case study of the use of fear in the 2012 GOP primary. In C. E. Rountree (Ed.) Venomous Rhetoric on the Political Right and Left. Praeger.

Research Interests

  • Persuasion theory as it applies to political campaigns, news, and ideology in entertainment media
  • Scholarship of teaching and learning

Recent Awards

  • Dean’s Award for Curricular Innovation, 2014
  • Top three competitive paper, Eastern Communication Association Annual Conference, 2013
  • Distinguished Professor in University Service, 2012
  • Advisor to the OCA Student Organization of the Year, Iota Pi Chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, 2009