Glenn G. Sparks

Professor of Communication,
Associate Department Head, Department of Communication

U.S. Mail: Department of Communication
Purdue University
1366 Stephen C. Beering Hall-College of Liberal Arts
West Lafayette, IN 47907-1366

Click here for a MAP of the Purdue campus.

Office Phone: (765) 494-3316

Office FAX: (765) 496-1394

E-Mail: gsparks@purdue.edu

Click HERE for pictures of the May 2006 ETHIOPIA CLASS AT ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY

Educational Background

B.A. – Wheaton College, 1975; Department of Communication

M.A. – Northern Illinois University, 1976; Department of Communication

Ph.D. – University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1983; Department of Communication Arts

The 3rd Edition of my text on media effects (Wadsworth, 2010) is now available and is shown here. Click here for more information.

Check out “Refrigerator Rights: Our Crucial Need for Close Relationships” by clicking on the book. This book was originally released in 2002 but has just been re-released with new material

by Willow Creek Publishing. You can hear an interview that aired on an NPR affiliate station by clicking right here on Sound Medicine—a program provided by the Indiana School of Medicine

on WFYI Public Radio. When you get to the website, click on the “archive” and then type my name in the search box and you can listen to the show. Click HERE for a video interview on one aspect of Refrigerator Rights.

Click HERE for my most recent publication on predictors of long-term friendship (Personal Relationships, June 2007 issue).

Why do people like scary movies? Click HERE for a WebMD piece that includes my comments.



FOX TV NEWS (Indianapolis, 11-15-05) INTERVIEW ON HARRY POTTER

A Personal Greeting

Hi. My name is Glenn Sparks. I am a Professor in the Department of Communication at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. I came to Purdue in 1986 after a 3-year appointment in what is now the School of Communication at Cleveland State University. My area of expertise is the cognitive and emotional effects of the media. A number of my articles report the results of research on the effects of frightening films and TV programs as well as media violence. I was part of a WebMD debate on this topic with David Horowitz. Over the last decade, I have investigated the effects of programs that depict paranormal themes. This research has been cited again in Science & Engineering Indicators 2002 (Chapter 7), as it was in Science & Engineering Indicators 2000 (Chapter 8)--massive reports on the health of U.S. science published by the National Science Foundation. My most recent book project is in collaboration with "America's Pop Culture Analyst", Dr. Will Miller. The book is titled, Refrigerator Rights: Our Crucial Need for Close Relationships. The book was published by Penguin Putnam Inc. In July, 2007, the book was re-released in paperback with an updated preface by White River Press. In September, 2008, it was released again with new material by Willow Creek Publishing. You can also read a report of our recent award-winning research on the relationship between media depictions of the paranormal and paranormal beliefs. Just click here. A list of some of my other recent publications is available below. Highlights from my academic vitae and a page of personal information are also available below. Course descriptions of several of my courses are available in the "courses" section below.

I have had plenty of opportunities to explore the effects of the media outside of my research laboratory. After marrying in 1975, my wife, Cheri, and I had three children. David, our oldest graduated from Indiana University in the summer of 2000. After teaching English as a second language in South Korea and living in Salamanca, Spain, David returned to Indiana and enrolled in a master's degree program at IUPUI in the teaching of Spanish . He also spent two years studying Spanish literature at CUA in Washington, DC. David married Jenna Zent in June, 2009 and he plans to return to South Korea with Jenna to teach English. His many travels notwithstanding, David is still a die-hard Purdue fan. If you want to find out more about Purdue sports, you can visit the official Purdue Sports site.

Our oldest daughter (Erin) graduated in June, 2003 from the University of Chicago while our youngest daughter (Jordan) graduated from West Lafayette High School. Erin worked for over two years at Purdue University as a Transportation Safety Associate at the Center for the Advancement of Transportation Safety. In August, 2006 she began doctoral studies in social psychology at Florida State University. In August, 2009, Erin will marry Cameron Ward. Jordan graduated from Wheaton College after spending her fall semester studying at Oxford in England. She held a job for two years at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC until mid-July, 2009. In September of 2009 she will begin a doctoral program at the University of Minnesota in Clinical Science and Psychopathology Research. As if raising three kids isn't enough to keep one busy, Cheri has also managed to complete a Master's degree in Child Development and Family Studies here at Purdue--followed by a Ph.D. in Social Psychology. Cheri has a practice as a Developmental Specialist. Our beloved dog, Mackey, ended her long life of nearly 17-years on February 1st of 2006. We now have a new dog, Skyler (a black lab—click on link below for a video) who joins our cat, Panda.

Watch a video performance of me playing the theremin--one of my favorite hobbies.

Click HERE to see my dog, Skyler, meeting a new friend.

Recent Publications | Press Coverage | Vitae Highlights | Courses Taught |

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Boiler Football in 2009

09/05/09    Toledo (Won: 52-31; 1-0)
09/12/09  @ Oregon (Lost: 36-38; 1-1)
09/19/09    Northern Illinois (Lost: 21-28; 1-2)
09/26/09    Notre Dame (Lost: 21-24; 1-3)
10/03/09    Northwestern (Lost: 21-28; 1-4)
10/10/09  @ Minnesota (Lost: 20-35; 1-5)
10/17/09    Ohio State (Won: 26-18; 2-5)
10/24/09    Illinois (Won: 24-14; 3-5)
10/31/09  @ Wisconsin (Lost: 37-0; 3-6)
11/07/09  @ Michigan (Won: 38-36; 4-6)
11/14/09    Michigan State (Lost: 40-37; 4-7)
11/21/09  @ Indiana

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This page was last updated on September 29, 2009