Doctoral Dissertation Research: Modeling the Diffusion of Non-normative Ideas and Behavior

博士论文研究：非规范思想和行为的扩散建模

• 批准号: 1103078
• 负责人: Michael Hout
• 金额: $ 1万
• 依托单位: University of California-Berkeley
• 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: 2011-08-01 至 2012-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1103078&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Research; Modeling; Diffusion

SES-1103078Michael HoutSarah CowanUniversity of California Berkeley Diffusion theory describes the process of how information or behavior spreads within a community or a social system. How does that diffusion change when the object of the diffusion is a secret that is concealable and stigmatized? While studied widely across the social sciences, there remain several gaps in diffusion theory. This project addresses two of those gaps. First, while nearly all diffusion studies examine items that diffuse widely, this dissertation research examines a truncated diffusion process. Second, this research focuses on the diffusing items' qualities and how they facilitate this truncation. This is rarely emphasized in previous diffusion studies. The research will test two hypotheses. First, the research hypothesizes that individuals will disclose their secrets only to people they think will be supportive and their confidants will behave similarly. Those the secret-keeper believes will react hostilely to the information will not be told the secret. Second, the study assumes that an abbreviated diffusion will occur that is distorted in the direction of confidants who already hold accepting attitudes toward the secret. The result would be polarization whereby one group knows secrets and therefore has personal exposure with stigmatized individuals whereas one group does not know the secrets and does not knowingly have contact with stigmatized individuals. To test these hypotheses, the research will measure respondents? knowledge of the abortion history of women whom they know personally. Abortion history is an archetypal secret for this study, due to its prevalence, ability to be concealed and associated stigma. One in three American women has an abortion during her lifetime; 1.2 million abortions were performed in 2005; a quarter of pregnancies end in abortion. This study will collect data from a nationally representative survey of American adults that will be used to compare knowledge and diffusion of information regarding miscarriage and abortion histories. Broader ImpactsDiffusion theory is employed to explain attitude and behavior change in a wide variety of social situations, from dropping out of high school, teenage pregnancy, obesity and the adoption of prescription drugs use. An improvement in the theory would be useful in helping to better understand these and other social problems as well as opinion formation and maintenance.

SES-1103078米克尔·霍塔拉·沃纳大学（Michael Houtsarah Cowaniverity）伯克利扩散理论描述了信息或行为如何在社区或社会体系中传播的过程。当扩散的对象是可隐藏和污名化的秘密时，这种扩散会如何变化？在整个社会科学的研究中进行了广泛的研究，扩散理论仍然存在几个差距。该项目解决了其中两个差距。首先，虽然几乎所有扩散研究研究了广泛扩散的项目，但本论文研究研究了截断的扩散过程。其次，这项研究着重于扩散物品的品质以及它们如何促进这种截断。这在以前的扩散研究中很少强调。 该研究将检验两个假设。首先，该研究假设个人只会向他们认为会支持的人透露自己的秘密，而他们的知己将同样的行为。秘密管理者认为将不会对信息做出反应，不会被告知秘密。 其次，研究假设将发生缩写的扩散，这会沿已经接受秘密态度的知己的方向扭曲。结果将是两极分化，因此一个小组知道秘密，因此与受污名的个体有个人曝光，而一个组不知道秘密，并且没有故意与受污名的人接触。为了检验这些假设，研究将衡量受访者？了解他们个人认识的妇女的堕胎历史。堕胎历史是这项研究的原型秘密，因为它的盛行，隐藏的能力和相关的污名。三分之一的美国妇女在她的一生中流产。 2005年进行了120万次堕胎；四分之一的怀孕以堕胎结束。 这项研究将从美国成年人的全国代表性调查中收集数据，这些数据将用于比较有关流产和流产历史的知识和扩散。采用更广泛的影响力理论来解释各种社交情况的态度和行为改变，从高中，少年怀孕，肥胖和采用处方药的使用。该理论的改进将有助于更好地理解这些和其他社会问题以及舆论形成和维护。