Dr. Jayson Dibble's teaching centers on interpersonal communication and relational communication, as well as quantitative research methods. He researches many things, such as why people don't like to share bad news, the role of technology in how people seek and maintain prospective romantic partners ("back burners"), persuasion, and the relationships people form with media characters.

He joined the Department of Communication in 2012.

Areas of Expertise

• Quantitative research methods
• Interpersonal communication
• Communication process of breaking bad news
• Persuasion and deception
• Relationship communication and human message processing
• Parasocial interactions and parasocial relationships

Education

• Ph.D., communication, Michigan State University, 2008
• M.A., organizational communication, Western Michigan University, 2003
• B.S., biomedical science, Western Michigan University, 1997

Honors and Awards

• 2018 Most Shared Article, Communication Research Reports, Eastern Communication Association: “Maintaining relationship alternatives electronically: Positive relationship maintenance in back burner relationships”
• 2015 Outstanding Article Award, Communication Studies, Central States Communication Association
• 2014 Rookie Advisor of the Year Award, Lambda Pi Eta national honor society
• 2014 Top Paper Award, Mass Communication Division, National Communication Association

Publications

• “Maintaining Relationship Alternatives Electronically: Positive Relationship Maintenance in Back Burner Relationships,” Communication Research Reports, 2018
• “It’s More Than Self-Presentation: MUM Effects Can Reflect Private Discomfort and Concern for the Recipient,” Communication Research Reports, 2018
• “Before Breaking Bad News: Relationships among Topic, Reasons for Sharing, Messenger Concerns, and the Reluctance to Share the News,” Communication Quarterly, 2017
• "Parasocial Interaction and Parasocial Relationship: Conceptual Clarification and a Critical Assessment of Measures," Human Communication Research, 2016
• "Simmering on the Back Burner: Communication with and Disclosure of Relationship Alternatives," Communication Quarterly, 2015
• "Hesitation to Share Bad News: Byproduct of Verbal Message Planning or Functional Communication Behavior?" Communication Research, 2015
• "Breaking Good and Bad News: Face-implicating Concerns as Mediating the Relationship Between News Valence and Hesitation to Share the News," Communication Studies, 2014

View all of Jayson's publications on his Digital Commons page.

Outside the college

When Jayson is not working, he loves to play guitar, sing karaoke, enjoy craft brewpubs, travel, camp and spend time with his family. He also officiates high school and small college football. In 2014 he had the honor of being selected to officiate a Michigan State championship game at Ford Field in Detroit. He’s also an Imperial stormtrooper in the 501^st Legion, a Star Wars costuming organization that raises funds for charity.