Neuman on communication's "evolving paradigm" on 10/1

Professor W. Russell Neuman, the John Derby Evans Professor of Media Technology at the University of Michigan, will be giving a talk on October 1 at 11:30am in JR106.  His presentation, "The Evolving Paradigm of Communication Research", considers the theoretical and methodological implications of the digital media environment.  The talk is part of the School's weekly colloquium.

ABSTRACT:

There has been a flurry of attention in recent years to the question of whether the changing digital media environment will require communication researchers to recalibrate their theories and methods.  Cass Sunstein, for example, ominously warns of a new form of online political polarization.  Markus Prior is concerned about political disengagement in a high-choice media environment.  Lance Bennett and Shanto Iyengar ask if we need to reassess the phenomenon of selective attention.

I am going to make the argument that we need more than a minor recalibration.  It may turn out to be better characterized as an evolving paradigm rather than a paradigm shift.  But at this point in the history of the field such questions need to be addressed.  I start with a brief excursion into the origins of the traditional effects research paradigm derived from the study of propaganda following the Second World War.  I contend that the phony debate over big versus minimal effects has been a major theoretical distraction.  I put forward the case that the critically important issues of informational abundance and also the intrinsically polysemic character of media messages have not yet been fully integrated into communication theory and research methods.  I propose that new analytics addressing “big data” and over-time measurement strategies offer special promise to reenergize and modestly redirect the research enterprise in the digital era.

Hoffman Hits the Democratic Convention

COPS alum Lindsay Hoffman, now assistant professor at the University of Delaware, recently shared this photo of her with VP Joe Biden from the Democratic National Convention. Lindsay is attending the convention through her position as Research Coordinator for Politics and Technology at the University of Delaware Center for Political Communication. Looks like fun Lindsay!

News for those interested in Agent-Based Modeling (relevant to matters included but not limited to social network analysis):

Dear All,

Virginia Nivar is offering a new course - Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling Using NetLogo - this Autumn 2012 (https://complexity.osu.edu/news/agent-based-modeling-course-offered-autumn). This course is recommended for undergraduates and graduate students interested in modeling complex systems. You can can register now!

Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling Using NetLogo
Integrated Biomedical Science (IBGP) 5194-0010
Instructor: Virginia A. Nivar
virginia.nivar@osumc.edu
Syllabus:  Autumn, 2012
Tuesdays and Thursday, 7:05-8:25PM
285 Baker Systems Engineering

Best,

Mark

Dr. Mark Moritz

Assistant Professor

Department of Anthropology
The Ohio State University

House Republicans Pass Bill to Defund Political Science Research at the National Science Foundation

House Republicans passed a bill to specifically (and only) defund the political science grant program at the National Science Foundation. Political communication scholars in all fields should be concerned about this development, as this act severely hampers funding for key research resources such as the American National Election Studies, the General Social Survey, and many other sources of political communication data.

See the post at the Monkey Cage for more information

Congratulations to former (and "original") COPS member and current University of Delaware assistant professor Dr. Lindsay Hoffman for receiving an advising award for her work in the Department of Communication. Way to go Lindsay -- we're all very proud of you! http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2012/may/excellence050912.html

ICA student travel grants deadline 2/20

ICA's political communication division offers travel grants to help students offset the cost of the conference. The deadline to apply is Monday, February 20. For more information, see the division's blog: http://politicalcommunicationdivisions.blogspot.com/2012/01/ica-student-travel-grant.html.

Merolla and Zechmeister to speak on terrorism and public opinion

Jennifer Merolla and Elizabeth Zechmeister will speak about "Terrorist Threat and Democratic Public Opinion" at 3:30 p.m. Friday (2/3) at the Mershon Center for International Security Studies, 1501 Neil Ave. Merolla is associate professor of politics and policy at Claremont Graduate University. Zechmeister is associate professor of political science and associate director of the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP) at Vanderbilt University. They are co-authors of Democracy at Risk: How Terrorist Threats Affect the Public (Chicago, 2009). The book examines how worry about terrorism alters individual attitudes toward others in society, their evaluations of political leaders, and their foreign policy preferences. To register, contact powers.108 [ at ] osu.edu by Thursday (2/2).

What makes a good review

There's a great post on orgtheory.net that is relevant to our topic today. Titled "the editors speak: what makes a good review", the post includes observations, recommendations, and wish lists from 11 past and current editors of major journals, including the American Sociological Review, Administrative Science Quarterly, and others. Although neither communication nor political science journals are represented, most of the advice offered transcend disciplinary boundaries. I highly recommend reading it.

http://orgtheory.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/the-editors-speak-what-makes-a-good-review/

Symposium to examine Arab Spring revolution in Egypt

The Mershon Center is starting off the new year with a two high-level visitors from Egypt who will be giving us the inside scoop on the Arab Spring revolution during a two-part event on Monday, January 9. See the announcement below:

Please register now for a two-part symposium on "Egypt and the Arab Spring Revolution" to take place on Monday, January 9, 2012. First, Gouda Abdel-Khalek, Egyptian minister of supply and domestic trade and professor of economics at Cairo University, will speak at noon about "The Political Economy of Egypt and the Arab Spring: International Support Packages" at the Mershon Center for International Security Studies, 1501 Neil Ave. To register, contact powers.108@osu.edu. Then, Karima Korayem,professor of economics at Al-Azhar University, will speak at 5 p.m. about "The Challenges of the Arab Spring Revolution in Egypt" at the Barrister Club, 25 W. 11th Ave., with discussion by Gouda Abdel-Khalek and Hassan Aly, professor of economics at Ohio State. Register at http://karimakorayem.eventbrite.com.

Still Time to Submit to CY

Deadline Approaching: Communication Yearbook 37A Publication of the International Communication Association

Editor: Elisia L. Cohen

CY 37 is a forum for the exchange of interdisciplinary and internationally diverse scholarship relating to communication in its many forms. Specifically, we are seeking state-of-the-discipline literature reviews, meta-analyses, and essays that advance knowledge and understanding of communication systems, processes, and impacts. Submitted manuscripts should provide a rigorous assessment of the status, critical issues and needed directions of a theory or body of research; offer new communication theory or additional insights into communication systems, processes, policies and impacts; and/or expand the boundaries of the discipline. In all cases, submissions should be comprehensive and thoughtful in their synthesis and analysis, and situate a body of scholarship within a larger intellectual context. For CY 37, the editorial board also welcomes commentary and essays that advance knowledge and understanding of communication research methodologies and applications.

Details

• Submit manuscripts electronically via a Word attachment to Elisia L. Cohen, Editor, at CommYear@uky.edu
• Submissions for CY 37 will be considered from October 15, 2011 through February 15, 2012
• Use APA style, 6th edition
• Include a cover letter indicating how the manuscript addresses the CY 37 call for papers
• Prepare manuscripts for blind review, removing all identifiers
• Include a title page as a separate document that includes contact information for all authors
• Following Communication Yearbook's tradition of considering lengthier manuscripts, initial manuscript submissions may range from 6,500 to 13,000 words (including tables, endnotes, references).
• Incomplete submissions not adhering to journal guidelines will be returned to authors for revision.
• For more information about CY 37 or this call for submissions, please contact Dr. Cohen at commyear@uky.edu.

Recent publications by COPS members

Several COPS members have recently had manusripts accepted for publication.  Below are the citations and abstracts:

Eveland, W.P. & Kleinman, S. (in press). Comparing General and Political Discussion Networks Within Voluntary Organizations Using Social Network Analysis. Political Behavior

Abstract:
Political discussion networks are influenced by the opportunities for political interactions within our larger social environments and more general discussion networks. In this study we compare general and political discussion networks using full sociometric social network data from a probability sample of voluntary organizations –specifically, intact student activity groups from a large Midwest research university. We find that even within these “weak tie” voluntary associations, general discussion networks clearly constrain the characteristics of the political discussion networks. However, political discussion networks appear to be less dense and more likely to be broken up into disconnected components than the general discussion networks. But, general and political networks do not appear to differ in their structuring by perceptions of discussant knowledge.And, most interestingly, we find that on average neither general nor political discussionnetworks are characterized by political homogeneity.


Garrett, R. K., Carnahan, D., & Lynch, E. (In press). A turn toward avoidance?  Selective exposure to online political information, 2004-2008. Political Behavior

Abstract:Scholars warn that avoidance of attitude-discrepant political information is becoming increasingly common due in part to an ideologically fragmented online news environment that allows individuals to systematically eschew contact with ideas that differ from their own.  Data collected over a series of national RDD surveys conducted between 2004 and 2008 challenge this assertion, demonstrating that Americans’ use of attitude-consistent political sources is positively correlated with use of more attitudinally challenging sources.  This pattern holds over time and across different types of online outlets, and applies even among those most strongly committed to their political ideology, although the relationship is weaker for this group.  Implications for these findings are discussed.


Hayes, A. F., Matthes, J.,  & Eveland, W. P. (in press). Stimulating the quasi-statistical  organ: Fear of social isolation motivates the quest for knowledge of the  opinion climate. Communication Research

Abstract:
We tested an uninvestigated propositionfrom spiral of silence theory that fear of social isolation (FSI) prompts people to seek out information about the climate of public opinion. Taking atrait-based individual difference perspective, we develop and validate a measureof FSI that is less likely to produce the interpretational problems that plagueexisting measures.  Then, using data from 8 countries spread across four continents, we examine whether those who fear social isolation to a greater extent are more likely to attend to a particular source of information in the social environment about public opinion—mass media reports of public opinion polls.   Our results support spiral of silence theory’s prediction—FSI does appear to motivatepeople to ascertain what the public thinks. However, there may be some cultural boundaries to this process.  


Nisbet, E.C., Stoycheff, E., & Pearce, K. E., (in press). Demanding democracy online: a multi-level model of Internet use and citizen attitudes about democracy.  Journal of Communication.

Abstract:
A successful democracy requires citizens to prefer democratic governance over other political alternatives.  In this context, we examine role of the internet in promoting political change through socialization into pro-democracy attitudes.  Combining individual public opinion data from Africa and Asia with country-level indices, we test a multi-level model examining the relationship between internet penetration, individual internet use, and citizen demand for democracy across 28 countries.  We find internet use, but not national internet penetration, is associated with greater citizen commitment to democratic governance.  Furthermore, greater democratization and internet penetration moderates the relationship between internet use and demand for democracy.  Implications for understanding how ICT diffusion and internet use may be associated with citizen attitudes about democracy are discussed.

Shapiro to speak on ideological segregation in news consumption

Jesse Shapiro, professor of economics at University of Chicago, will speak on "Ideological Segregation Online and Offline" at 3:30 p.m. in 437 Arps Hall, 1945 N High St. In his research, Shapiro finds that ideological segregation of online news consumption is higher than offline news consumption but significantly lower than segregation in face-to-face interactions. To attend, contact powers.108@osu.edu by Tuesday (10/25). Read more

Workshop Series: Planning Ahead for an Academic Job Search

I'd like to encourage doctoral students to consider attending this workshop series. Whether you're just starting, or are collecting data for your dissertation, it's a good time to think about what it means to be on the job market.

http://t.co/kYEEWHIp

This series of events addresses many aspects of the academic job search process. You are welcome to attend all sessions or just the ones that fit your needs and schedule. All workshops are held at 150 Younkin Success Center.

The Academic Job Search
Thursday, October 6, 3:30–5 p.m.
Facilitated by Stephanie Rohdieck, UCAT

This workshop will provide useful information about the job search process in academia. Information will be provided about helpful tips when starting your job search, where and how to look for openings, as well as what materials need to be prepared.

Vitae and Cover Letters
Thursday, October 13, 3:30–5 p.m.
Facilitated by Career Connection

This workshop will address how to write vitae and cover letters when searching for jobs in academia. Importance will be placed on both their format and content while highlighting career tips useful when applying for positions with a teaching and/or research emphasis.

Teaching and Research Statements
Thursday, October 20, 3:30–5 p.m.
Facilitated by Stephanie Rohdieck, UCAT

This workshop will provide an overview of each type of statement, describe how they are used in the academic job search process, and provide guidance on how to write them. There will be opportunities in the session to start the process of writing these statements.

The Interview
Thursday, October 27, 3:30–5 p.m.
Facilitated by Career Connection

This workshop will highlight what to do before, during, and after an interview for positions in academia. Emphasis will be on career strategies and interviewing techniques as well as familiarity with the academic interview expectations. Samples of questions and practice opportunities will be provided, as well as useful suggestions to enhance confidence skills.

Highly cited works by COPS affiliates

Several COPS faculty and alumni are listed in Routledge Taylor & Francis's list of "Highly cited communication studies articles". The articles listed are among the top cited of all T&F journals, and the publisher is recognizing this accomplishment by providing free access to the works. Featured authors include Eveland, Hayes, Hoffman, and Hutchens. Congratulations!

Esralew, Weeks win conference paper awards

Please join me in congratulating COPS members Sarah Esralew and Brian Weeks for their award-winning conference papers. Sarah received the 2011 Timothy Cook Best Graduate Student Paper Award from the Political Communication Section of the American Political Science Association (APSA) for her paper, "The influence of parodies on political schemas: Exploring the Tina Fey-Sarah Palin phenomenon". Brian's recieved a top-four paper from the Political Communication section of the International Communication Association for his paper, "Assessing belief in online political rumors and its impact on vote choice." Well done!

Esralew, S.E., & Young, D.G. (2010). The influence of parodies on political schemas: Exploring the Tina Fey-Sarah Palin phenomenon. Annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Washington, D.C.: 2010.

Weeks, B.E., & Garrett, R.K. (2011, November). Assessing belief in online political rumors and its impact on vote choice. Paper to be presented at the National Communication Association Annual Conference, Political Communication Division. New Orleans, LA.