Off-campus UNL users: To download campus access dissertations, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your NU ID and password. When you are done browsing please remember to return to this page and log out.
Non-UNL users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this dissertation through interlibrary loan.
COMMUNICATING WITH HUMOR: IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF ORGANIZATIONAL SUBGROUPS AND THEIR PERSPECTIVES ON HUMOR IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT
Abstract
Organizations work to socialize members, while members strive to adapt. There is necessarily a blending that occurs so that an individual, with personal goals and ambitions, can be enfolded in the organization, while simultaneously the organization achieves its goals. Informal communication is an important and all-encompassing way to achieve both socialization and adaptation. A large portion of informal communication is composed of humorous interaction, hence many researchers point to its significance as a research area. This study focused on identifying subgroups who were united by a shared perspective on the use of humor in their organization. Fifteen organizational members from the Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross, Omaha, Nebraska were interviewed about their perspectives on humor at the Red Cross. Interviews were transcribed and through extensive analysis of the interview data, a 60 statement Q-deck was constructed. Thirty-three organizational members sorted the Q-deck. Analysis of the rotated Q-factors revealed three distinct subgroups. These were labeled, the "traditionalists," the "balancers," and the "enthusiasts." The "traditionalists" strictly limit their use of humor. They believe in the conservative, traditional image of the Red Cross and do not want to use humor in any way that diminishes their idealistic image of the organization or their own professional status. The "balancers" support the use of humor in the organization when they deem it appropriate. They are open to various functions for humor, and various topics as well. They balanced their responses to all six categories of statements. They also balanced the usefulness of using humor against its impact in the relationship. They value witty, topical, intellectual humor. The "enthusiasts" are extremely enthusiastic about the use of humor in the organization. They wholeheartedly embrace its use with just about anybody at anytime. They are not connected to organizational relationships as closely as the "balancers" and prefer to use formula jokes rather than spontaneous humor.
Subject Area
Communication
Recommended Citation
KENDALL, JULIE ELLEN, "COMMUNICATING WITH HUMOR: IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF ORGANIZATIONAL SUBGROUPS AND THEIR PERSPECTIVES ON HUMOR IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT" (1984). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8423803.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8423803