Doctoral Dissertation Research in DRMS: Investigating the Role of Identities and Opinion Leadership on Risk Information Seeking and Sharing about Polarizing Issues

DRMS 博士论文研究：调查身份和意见领导力在两极分化问题的风险信息寻求和共享中的作用

• 批准号: 1060481
• 负责人: Katherine McComas
• 金额: $ 0.59万
• 依托单位: Cornell University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-03-01 至 2013-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1060481&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Research; DRMS; Investigating

Identities, specifically opinion leadership, may play an important role in motivating risk information seeking and sharing about polarizing issues. This case study involves in-depth interviews with opinion leaders representing various perspectives on proposed natural gas drilling in New York State's Marcellus Shale. The work takes place in three upstate New York counties where gas drilling may occur. The focus is on how people negotiate a potentially complex information situation -- one that consists of myriad messages about risks to self, others, and the environment -- and on why people share information. The findings have implications for professional communicators who work with topics that have potentially polarizing social or public policy implications, and for scientists whose work may become the center of a polarizing public debate. This research identifies appeals that encourage people to gather, act on, and share information about contentious issues such as natural gas drilling, with an eye toward engaging with a variety of messages in making an informed decision and with implications for public engagement and participation.

身份，特别是舆论领导力，可能在推动两极分化问题的风险信息寻求和共享方面发挥重要作用。本案例研究涉及对意见领袖的深入采访，他们代表了对纽约州马塞勒斯页岩拟议天然气钻探的不同观点。这项工作在纽约州北部的三个县进行，那里可能进行天然气钻探。重点是人们如何应对潜在的复杂信息情况——其中包含无数关于自我、他人和环境风险的信息——以及人们为什么分享信息。 这些发现对于那些从事可能具有两极分化社会或公共政策影响的话题的专业传播者，以及那些工作可能成为两极分化公共辩论中心的科学家都有影响。这项研究确定了鼓励人们收集、采取行动和分享有关天然气钻探等有争议问题的信息的吸引力，着眼于利用各种信息做出明智的决定，并对公众参与和参与产生影响。