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.

加州伯克利大学的扩散理论描述了信息或行为如何在社区或社会系统中传播的过程。当传播的对象是一个可以隐藏和污名化的秘密时，这种传播会发生什么变化？虽然在社会科学中得到了广泛的研究，但在扩散理论中仍然存在一些空白。该项目解决了其中两个差距。首先，虽然几乎所有的扩散研究检查广泛扩散的项目，本论文的研究探讨了截断扩散过程。其次，本研究着重于扩散项的性质，以及它们如何促进这种截断。这是很少强调在以前的扩散研究。 这项研究将检验两个假设。首先，研究假设，人们只会向他们认为会支持他们的人透露他们的秘密，他们的知己也会有类似的行为。那些保密者认为会对这个信息做出反应的人将不会被告知这个秘密。 第二，研究假设，一个简短的扩散将发生的方向是扭曲的知己谁已经持有接受的态度对秘密。结果将是两极分化，其中一个群体知道秘密，因此与受污名化的个人有个人接触，而另一个群体不知道秘密，也不会故意与受污名化的个人接触。为了验证这些假设，研究将衡量受访者？了解她们所认识的妇女的堕胎史。堕胎史是这项研究的一个原型秘密，因为它的流行，被隐藏的能力和相关的耻辱。三分之一的美国妇女在其一生中堕胎; 2005年进行了120万次堕胎;四分之一的怀孕以堕胎告终。 这项研究将收集来自美国成年人的全国代表性调查的数据，这些数据将用于比较有关流产和堕胎史的知识和信息传播。更广泛的影响扩散理论是用来解释态度和行为的变化，在各种各样的社会情况下，从高中辍学，少女怀孕，肥胖和处方药的使用。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意见的形成和维持。