Communication Disconnect: Generational Stereotypes Between
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Liberty University Digital Commons Communication Disconnect: Generational Stereotypes between Generation X/Y and Baby Boomers in American and Chinese Organizational Communication _____________________________ Presented to the Faculty of Liberty University School of Communication _____________________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Master of Arts In Communication Studies by Yuxiang Du April 2011 Running head: COMMUNICATION DISCONNET ii Thesis Committee _________________________________________________ Faith E. Mullen, Ph.D., Chair Date _________________________________________________ William L. Mullen, Ph.D., Date _________________________________________________ Cecil V. Kramer, Jr., D. Min. Date Running head: COMMUNICATION DISCONNET iii This thesis is dedicated to My mother, Fanghua Zhang, who taught me everything about love My sister and her husband, Yuyan and David Moore, who showed me how to live a life Huanghuang, my love of seven years and counting Running head: COMMUNICATION DISCONNET iv Abstract This research explores organizational communication between Generation X/Y and the Baby Boomers within the American and Chinese groups using social identity theory. Twenty participants were interviewed about their opinions on this issue. Thematic analysis was used to examine themes in the responses. The themes were organized into six categories: outlining Generation X/Y, outlining Baby Boomers, generational communication, generational stereotypes, cultural influences, and favorable solutions. Two referent elements were used through the whole discussion, social identity and cultural characteristics. The study revealed a strong social identity with all the four generational groups, difficulties in communication and stereotypes because of the identities. Collectivistic elements such as respect, care, harmony, conflict avoidance were spotted from the responses of the Chinese participants.
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