Stephen Spates
Assistant Professor | Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI, UNITED STATES
Stephen A. Spates is a researcher specializing in exploring the source credibility of online messages.
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Biography
Stephen A. Spates is a researcher specializing in exploring the source credibility of online messages, effectiveness of workplace diversity programs, and organizational communication within health environments. His research has been published in journals such as Southern Communication Journal, Communication Teacher, Communication Studies, Howard Journal of Communications, Frontiers in Communication, and Communication Research Reports. Recently, Spates completed a grant-funded project with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, providing educational resources to help individuals learn about bias and discrimination. He has a knack for teamwork and collaboration; creating community; celebrating and providing support; listening and brainstorming.
Industry Expertise (2)
Research
Education/Learning
Areas of Expertise (3)
Health Environments
Workplace Diversity Programs
Organizational Communication
Accomplishments (3)
Faculty Excellence in Public Affairs Award (professional)
2022 Missouri State University Board of Governors
Pearson and Nelson Outstanding New Teacher Award (professional)
2022 Central States Communication Association
Top Research Paper (professional)
2021 Instructional Development Division, NCA
Education (3)
The University of Tennessee – Knoxville: Ph.D., Communication and Information 2017
Western Michigan University: M.A., Communication Studies 2012
Oakwood University: B.A., Communication Arts 2009
Links (3)
News (1)
Congratulations, Dr. Spates
InCommon online
2022-07-28
The research of Dr. Stephen Spates has been selected for the 2022 issue of Mind’s Eye, the university’s research publication. His research delves into how people of different cultural and professional backgrounds can effectively work in teams.
Journal Articles (3)
Extending the understanding of online discussions: a replication of online students’ perceptions of identity and helper heuristics
Communication Education2023 Previous research applied an affordance approach to the literature in instruction and pedagogy. Because of the continued trend in online instruction and course management, there exists a need to study the impact of technological affordances and communication in learning management systems.
The Bear Cave: Using gamification to teach organizational communication
Communication Teacher2022 Organizational communication has concepts and processes that can be difficult to absorb. Using gamification as a pedagogical strategy, a semester-long project is developed to help students learn through application. The Bear Cave is a class-wide competition where students create an organization and seek a fictional investment of $1,000,000.
Exploring students’ perceptions of identity and helper heuristics in the online classroom discussion board
Communication Education2021 Although applied to numerous communication contexts, affordance approaches have yet to receive sustained attention in the instructional literature. The ongoing migration to online pedagogy suggests a need to examine the impact of technological affordances and communication in Learning Management Systems.
