Communication Research Research Articles

Evaluations in science communication. Current state and future directions

Evaluations are becoming more important in science communication. But both science communication practitioners and researchers are not sufficiently utilizing the potential of evaluations yet. In this essay, we first define four requirements for rigorous evaluations of science communication activities and projects. To substantiate our argument, we take stock of the scientific literature, uncover deficiencies in current evaluation practices and identify potential causes. We conclude with laying out how different actors in the field — including science communication practitioners, professional associations, scientific institutions and funding bodies as well as researchers — can contribute to advancing evaluation practices in science communication as well as research on it.

Making them pay: Comparing how environmental facts matter in two accountability contexts

This article makes the case for what we call accountability contexts as a valuable heuristic to think about how facts matter in public life, drawing attention to how different discursive and institutional contexts shape the ways in which facts can count. We examine two environmental case studies: The Territory, a documentary about the struggle of the Uru-eu-wau-wau community in Brazil to protect their land from illegal invaders, and the fact-checking organization Climate Feedback’s partnership with Facebook to flag misinformation on the platform. Popular stories about accountability hinge on using facts to change the public’s mind. In contrast, we find that publicity is only part of a much more complex picture. By analyzing factors such as appeals to relevant publics, institutional rigidity, the uses of knowledge and narrative, and the role of the state, we investigate the real, messy processes that people take part in as they seek change. Accountability contexts provide a valuable heuristic for scholars of political journalism and communication as well as a practical tool for analyzing which pathways have led to success or failure in the pursuit of accountability.

Communicating science addressing contentious environmental issues: utilizing Luhmann's social systems theory

For complex and socially contentious environmental issues, such as climate change and disease prevention, science communication has proven difficult. As many science communication scholars have determined, education is not the only factor impacting the public's willingness to act upon or even accept scientific information. In this study, we propose using Niklas Luhmann's theory of social systems as a framework for research in science and environmental communication. We argue that by focusing on the functions of relevant social systems, the occurrence of communication conflicts may be explained, and new approaches to overcome communication obstacles can be developed. In this study, we provide examples of the theory's utility by looking at pertinent studies regarding relevant systems integral to addressing climate change and sustainability issues, as well as propose new subjects for exploration.

Analyzing pro-vax discourse during the pandemic: Techno-scientism, elitism, anti-populism

ABSTRACT This article investigates pro-vax discourse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Expert and political discussions about the pandemic are abundant, commonly focusing on anti-vax and science-skeptic politics and further connecting them with post-truth and populism. However, research on pro-vax discourse remains largely overlooked. The article focuses on the case of Cyprus which received little scholarly attention in the context of the pandemic, especially by political science and media and communication scholarship. Applying discourse analysis to 120 media units that connect the articulations of scientific experts, politicians and journalists, empirical findings show that the discursive management of the pandemic takes place in the name of science, reason and responsibility, with key mechanisms of persuasion being the moralistic and fear-mongering narratives that place the responsibility for the return to normality on individual citizens. This highlights that communication about COVID-19 is not merely about healthcare and science. Rather, it is politicized and disciplinary in nature. The examination of the case of Cyprus alongside existing theories and debates reveals the internationally salient character of discursive features and patterns including the hegemony of techno-scientific objectivism, epistemological elitism and anti-populism.

Exemplification in Communication Research: Three Studies Examining the Theory

ABSTRACT After explicating and reviewing previous research in the area of exemplification theory, the results of three studies are presented that test and extend parts of prior research concerning risk estimation and responses to a news story. Respondents examined a news story that manipulated images and quotes concerning bedbugs. The manipulated articles either featured base-rate information alone or with an iconic image or an emotional quote. In order to provide a robust theoretical test, a solomon four research design was employed. Results highlight the impact of iconic images and emotional quotes on estimations and intentions to change behavior and are discussed in terms of their applied implications for risk interventions.

All Talk, Not Enough Action: Civic Engagement in U.S. Entertainment TV at a Time of Crisis

ABSTRACT This study examines what young adults (aged 18–34) observe and learn about U.S. government leaders and civic engagement through 141 of the country’s most-watched entertainment television programs for their age group. Based on a content analysis of 658 episodes of entertainment television, it interrogates the demographics and actions of politicians and government leaders portrayed on the show, along with any civic action and conversation undertaken by everyday characters not in civic leadership positions. With important implications for both scholars of civic and political communication and entertainment media, as well as media practitioners who wish to understand the cultural importance of their work, this study reveals how the portrait of civic leadership and life offered to young people by the most-watched television programs provides a potentially harmful and uninspiring portrait of democracy in action.

Navigating chronic uncertainty: a theory synthesis for nursing communication in life-limiting illness

BackgroundDespite the proven benefits of early palliative care, patient communication regarding these services remains elusive. Therefore, this paper aims to (a) provide a focused literature review on nurse palliative care communication addressing chronic uncertainty in life-limiting illness (LLI), (b) define the Reconceptualization of Uncertainty in illness Theory and Problematic Integration Theory within a nursing Unitary Caring Science philosophical worldview and, (c) synthesize these theories and literature review into a unique theoretical framework for early palliative care communication in acute care nursing.MethodTurner’s theory synthesis methodology was combined with a PRISMA-style literature review. The literature search was conducted in July 2023 and updated in May 2024 using EBSCOhost, Pubmed, and PsychINFO databases. A second literature search was undertaken to identify applicable uncertainty theories in chronic or LLIs.ResultsThis theory synthesis highlights the interconnectedness of all facets of uncertainty for those living with severe LLI (personal factors, types of uncertainty, and the nursing communicatory process) and conceptualizes uncertainty communication as a series of events happening simultaneously, not simply a cause-and-effect process.DiscussionThe framework resulting from this synthesis encourages nurses’ holistic understanding of the complex nature of uncertainty in LLI, highlights the integral communicatory role nurses have in their patients’ health and wellness, and promotes further nursing-specific communication research. Future research on enabling nurse-initiated early palliative care communication and narrative communication techniques will support patients’ values and dignity throughout more than a single hospital stay but their entire disease trajectory.

Developing and validating perceived intercultural communication anxiety/apprehension scale

AbstractIntercultural communication research has highlighted the significance of intercultural communication apprehension/anxiety measurement and instrument development in diverse sociocultural contexts. This study embarked on developing and validating a scale, the Perceived Intercultural Communication Anxiety/Apprehension Scale (PICAS) in the English as a foreign language (EFL) context. By drawing upon the review of the literature and expert judgment, a Likert scale with 52 items was developed for assessing the construct of intercultural communication anxiety/apprehension, which was subjected to exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with 760 Iranian EFL learners. The ultimate results of exploratory factor analysis evidenced 17 items with a stable five‐factor solution, comprising L2 proficiency, prejudice and stereotypes, significant others' attitudes, status, and context familiarity factors. The subsequent CFA confirmed the five‐factor model. The five‐factor PICAS was found to be psychometrically reliable and valid. Potential applications, future directions, and limitations are finally addressed.

Online media communication research in Vietnam 2003–2023: a review

Abstract This review essay provides a systematic overview of online media communication research conducted in Vietnam over recent decades. The authors employed comprehensive review methods to analyze published research papers, dissertations, and references within Vietnam, all of which discuss online media and communication studies and their influence on various aspects of the country’s development. The review highlights that Vietnam’s determination in pursuing a digital transformation strategy has significantly altered the landscape of media and communication within the country. As a result, research on online media and communication has grown in both quantity and diversity. Key topics of investigation include technological development, the roles of online media, journalistic ethics, audience behavior, social and business impacts, legal aspects, and digital security. Despite exploring various dimensions of media and communication digitalization, these studies share common characteristics. Notably, they focus heavily on the practical side of digitalization, aiming more at proposing solutions rather than contributing to the theoretical development of media and communication.

Gender, Politics, and the Glass Ceiling: Comparative Analysis of Male and Female Politicians’ Agenda-Building Efforts in the U.S. Primaries

ABSTRACT This study focuses on investigating whether male and female politicians have an equal opportunity to influence the media agenda through their strategic communication efforts during the 2020 U.S. primary elections. Exploratory in nature, this study is grounded in agenda-building theory. This research employs mixed-method content analysis to compare the campaign press releases and subsequent news coverage of three male and three female candidates from the U.S. primaries. The findings revealed that, while both female and male politicians’ messages significantly correlated with the news agenda across three levels of agenda-building, there was no significant difference by gender. However, issues framed as “masculine” were more strongly linked with the media agenda compared to “feminine” issues. This study contributes to communication research by exploring the current state of gender stereotypes in political media coverage, offering insights into the persistence of a ‘glass ceiling’ in strategic news coverage. Additionally, it contributes to agenda-building research by incorporating gender and the context of primary elections in the U.S. which are underrepresented in the literature, into the complex relationship between political campaign messages and news agendas.

Fooling Them, Not Me? How Fake News Affects Evaluators’ Reputation Judgments and Behavioral Intentions

The volume of fake news in the digital media landscape is increasing, creating a new threat to organizations’ reputations. At the same time, individuals are more aware of the existence of fake news. It thus remains unclear how fake news affects evaluators’ reputation judgments. In this article, we draw on the distinction between first-order judgments (i.e., an individual evaluator’s reputation judgment) and second-order judgments (i.e., an individual evaluator’s belief about the reputation judgments of other evaluators). We integrate this distinction with insights from communication research and social psychology to theorize how fake news affects reputation judgments and behavioral intentions. Through three experimental studies, we show that the negative effect of fake news is larger for second-order reputation judgments and that this effect is greater for organizations with a positive reputation. Furthermore, our results indicate that although fake news has a smaller effect on first-order judgments, the latter adapt to second-order judgments and thereby affect behavioral intentions. This article contributes, first, to the micro-cognitive perspective on reputation formation by taking the first step in developing a comprehensive understanding of the intricate impact of fake news on reputation and behavioral intentions. Second, this article contributes to our understanding of the role of a good prior reputation as a buffer or a burden.

Contributions and Impact of Health Communication Research to Vaccination Efforts and Acceptance

ABSTRACT Vaccines (a medical product) and vaccination recommendations (expert advice on who should receive, when, and how often) have grown in importance and prominence in the past 15 years, including because of a recent COVID-19 pandemic. This essay highlights contributions from vaccine and vaccination-related health communication research since 2010. This research has had significant impacts – that is, visible and discernible positive effects – on the ways health communication is undertaken broadly (e.g. at the campaign level) and at the health care provider-patient level (e.g. conversations with parents and patients regarding vaccine benefits, risks, and safety). As this essay illustrates, health communication research has resulted in greater use of formative research to guide vaccination campaign and education efforts, better identification and understanding of the factors behind vaccination delay and declination, and greater recognition that communication efforts can fail to achieve desired outcomes or generate unintended consequences. Health communication research has also documented the powerful influence of healthcare provider communication on parent and patient understanding and compliance with immunization recommendations. Importantly, this research has also shown the characteristics of provider-patient communication matter much. Healthcare providers must have or establish a high degree of trust, be well-versed in vaccine efficacy and safety, and be adept at using their personal experiences, information tailoring/personalization, and evidence-based communication strategies to increase the likelihood of success.

How CSR communication and value co-creation shape consumer well-being and brand love in the post-COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from the UK

PurposeDrawing upon the service-dominant logic (S-D logic) and elaboration likelihood model (ELM), this paper provides an integrative model to investigate how argument quality and source credibility of CSR communication affects customer value co-creation behavior, resulting in increased brand trust. Additionally, it unveils how brand trust and the perception of COVID-19 risk influence both brand love and subjective well-being.Design/methodology/approachThe data of this study were collected through survey questionnaire from 304 coffee shop customers using convenience sampling and tested using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique to validate its model.FindingsThe research findings confirm the positive association between source credibility and customer value co-creation (i.e. customer participation and citizenship behavior). By contrast, argument quality is revealed to have a significantly positive effect on customer citizenship behavior (CCB) but a non-significant effect on customer participation behavior (CPB). Additionally, the study identifies that customer value co-creation behavior significantly promotes brand trust. Finally, findings indicate that brand trust and the perception of COVID-19 risk significantly influence brand love and subjective well-being.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on CSR communication and S-D logic and provides new insights for marketers and advertisers to manage brands in the post-pandemic scenario through CSR communications. Furthermore, this study theoretically extends the ELM model to the CSR communication research. Finally, this study expands the relevant literature by clarifying the relationships between the perception of COVID-19 risk, brand love and subjective well-being.

The Networked Data Lab: using linked data to understand intermediate care services in the United Kingdom

Intermediate care (IC) is short-term care aimed at maximising patients’ independence. Across the UK, scaling up IC is included in post-pandemic recovery plans. This could reduce pressures on acute services through timely discharge or preventing admissions. The issues IC seeks to address are common across high-income countries. The Networked Data Lab is a network of analytical teams embedded in the UK health and care system. Each year, we support five local partners with acquisition, linkage and analysis of health and social care datasets. Our 2023-24 project is focused on IC. Patients and the public (PP) played an integral role in throughout our project. We established a panel of individuals with lived experience of IC to assist with the research questions, interpretation, and communication of results. Our partners all consult PP in their areas to inform their analyses. Our partners’ analyses of linked patient-level data on IC will provide information about who is receiving IC, changes over time and outcomes for patients. We are also analysing national linked data for England on intermediate care following hospital discharge. Preliminary results include: The age and health needs of people receiving bed-based intermediate care has increased over time (Grampian, Scotland) Intermediate care following a hospital admission is more common for emergency admissions than elective admissions (Leeds, England) Large variation in intermediate care delivery between neighbouring boroughs (North West London, England) Full results are expected in April 2024. Our work highlights the importance of linking data to answer important health and care questions.

The pivotal role of higher education institutions in cultivating a sustainable development goals-centric culture

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the contribution of higher education institutions (HEIs) to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and propose strategies to cultivate a culture centred on the SDGs in HEIs.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology used encompassed an integrative literature review, combining bibliographic analysis on how HEIs incorporate the SDGs into their practices, adopting a qualitative approach for the analysis and categorization of the results.FindingsThe multifaceted contributions of HEIs in promoting the SDGs stand out, through their roles in teaching, research, management and integration and communication between university and society.Research limitations/implicationsWhile influencing policies at various levels, HEIs encounter challenges in the effective integration of SDGs into their strategies. This underscores the need for contextualized governance, understanding students’ perspectives on sustainability and active external collaboration in policy formulation.Practical implicationsThere is an urgent need to integrate SDGs into academic programmes, emphasizing the importance of redesigning curricula, actively involving teachers, researchers and students, establishing partnerships and promoting research applied to SDGs.Social implicationsThe social relevance of the study lies in the emphasis on an SDG-centred culture, involving teaching, research, outreach, community engagement and governance practices.Originality/valueThe study’s uniqueness lies in identifying persistent challenges during the transition to an SDG-centred culture, necessitating multisectoral collaboration and educational programmes that integrate sustainability principles into the strategy of HEIs.

A review of RIS-assisted wireless communication research

This paper presents a review of the research progress in Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) assisted wireless communications. It begins by providing an overview of recent developments and trends in the field of wireless communications. The following sections introduce the fundamental principles of both RIS technology and wireless communication technology, providing a foundation for the subsequent comprehensive examination of the current research status of RIS-assisted wireless communication. This study then turns to an in-depth analysis of the advancements in RIS-assisted wireless communication research, encompassing hardware regulation, baseband algorithms, multi-access enhancement, and network design. Subsequently, this paper offers a concise examination of the opportunities and challenges associated with RIS in wireless communication. This paper closes with a summary of the field of RIS-assisted wireless communication, followed by an outlook on future directions.

CSR Communication and the Polarization of Public Discourses: Introduction to the Special Issue

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication faces significant challenges due to an increasing polarization of public discourses. This polarization oversimplifies societal differences into “us versus them” dynamics, complicating consensus building and eroding trust in democratic processes. Traditionally, CSR communication research has focused on how organizations negotiate meanings between various stakeholders. However, the rise in polarization necessitates a broader research scope to understand its impact on CSR practices and organizational relationships. This Special Issue of Management Communication Quarterly explores these evolving challenges, analyzing how polarization reshapes CSR communication and outlining strategies for businesses to navigate this fragmented landscape. The issue also reflects on the broader role of corporations amidst tendencies of polarization and suggests directions for future research.

Seeking professional help in health crises: The impact of cognitive factors, discrete emotions, and eHealth information seeking on mental health communication.

A common challenge facing public health practitioners and communication scholars is how to best change perceptions and increase favorable attitudes and awareness of health recommendations, such as help-seeking about depression. Given the need to identify persuasive ways to communicate depression, this study examined how discrete emotions, cognition, and engaging eHealth information-seeking behavior affected US adults' intentions regarding help-seeking about depression. The results from an online survey of 1422 US adults revealed (1) elated emotion and loving emotion; (2) depression consciousness; (3) attitude toward seeking help from mental health services; and (4) eHealth information-seeking significantly predicted intention to seek help from professionals. In addition, depression consciousness, attitude toward seeking help from mental health services, and eHealth information-seeking acted as sequential mediators for the relationship between elated emotion, loving emotion, and behavioral intention. Implications for health communication and depression communication research and practice are discussed.

Have a cake and eat it too: the importance of metaphors in research communication.

Have a cake and eat it too: the importance of metaphors in research communication.

Twists through turbidity: propagation of light carrying orbital angular momentum through a complex scattering medium

We explore the propagation of structured vortex laser beams-shaped light carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM)-through complex multiple scattering medium. These structured vortex beams consist of a spin component, determined by the polarization of electromagnetic fields, and an orbital component, arising from their spatial structure. Although both spin and orbital angular momenta are conserved when shaped light propagates through a homogeneous, low-scattering medium, we investigate the conservation of these angular momenta during the propagation of Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) beams with varying topological charges through a turbid multiple scattering environment. Our findings demonstrate that the OAM of the LG beam is preserved, exhibiting a distinct phase shift indicative of the ‘twist of light’ through the turbid medium. This preservation of OAM within such environments is confirmed by in-house developed Monte Carlo simulations, showing strong agreement with experimental studies. Our results suggest exciting prospects for leveraging OAM in sensing applications, opening avenues for groundbreaking fundamental research and practical applications in optical communications and remote sensing.