RAPID: Social Influence and Social Networking in the Wake of the Tornadoes of April 27, 2011: An Examination of the Social Psychological Processes

该项目调查了Facebook等社交媒体上的互动如何影响受2011年4月27日袭击亚利桑那州塔斯卡卢萨的龙卷风影响的人们的行为。它将审查FB上的互动如何影响灾难发生前的准备工作(例如，通过影响人们躲避)、动员恢复努力(例如，通过传播关于恢复工作的信息)以及受害者的心理功能(例如，通过与朋友和家人沟通以及提供社会支持)。将对FB职位进行定性分析，以确定(A)信息传播(传染性)；(B)规范预期；(C)每个时间点提供的情绪功能和支助。随后的一项调查将考察FB的使用(过去和现在)在风暴发生三个月和六个月后对心理功能的影响。智力价值：该项目将提供关于社会影响过程如何影响灾难后感知的社会支持和心理健康的新的科学知识。具体而言，该项目将扩展以前关于社会网络的文献，方法是：(A)审查社会影响过程以及图像在FB等在线社交网络中传播对应对的影响；(B)除灾后处理外，重点关注即将发生的灾难的预警阶段；(C)审查灾害受害者及其社交网络成员以及呼吁社会和金钱支持的传播情况；(D)评估个人在多个时间点的应对方式。研究结果将为如何优化灾后沟通提供新的见解，从而更好地做好准备，更好地动员恢复工作，并更好地应对心理。将通过会议报告、期刊出版物、数据共享以及通过一个专门的网站传播项目的方法和成果，向灾害规划者、研究人员和从业人员广泛传播成果。此外，该项目将帮助培训危机沟通领域的新调查人员，为学生的论文和学位论文提供燃料，并将为来自代表性不足群体的本科生提供指导机会。

This project investigates how interactions on social media such as Facebook (FB) impacted the behavior of people affected by the tornado that hit Tuscaloosa, AL on April, 27, 2011. It will examine how interactions on FB influenced preparations prior to the disaster (e.g., by influencing people to take cover), the mobilization of recovery efforts (e.g., by spreading information on recovery efforts) and the psychological functioning of victims (e.g., by communicating with friends and family and providing social support). FB posts will be qualitatively analyzed to determine (a) the spread of information (contagiousness); (b) normative expectations; and (c) emotional functioning and support provided at each time point. A subsequent survey will examine how FB usage (past and present) impacts on psychological functioning three and six months after the storm.Intellectual merit: The project will provide new scientific knowledge about how social influence processes affect perceived social support and psychological well being after disasters. Specifically, the project will extend the prior literature on social networks by (a) examining the impact of social influence processes as well as the spread of images on coping in online social networks such as FB; (b) focusing on the warning phase of an impending disaster in addition to the aftermath; (c) examine both the victims of the disaster as well as members of their social networks and how appeals for social and monetary support spread; and (d) assessing individual coping at multiple time points.Broader impacts. The results will provide new insights into how to optimize communication after disaster, leading to better preparation, better mobilization of recovery efforts, and better psychological coping. Results will be disseminated widely to disaster planners, researchers and practitioners through conference presentations, journal publications, data sharing, and via a dedicated website disseminating the methodology and results of the project. In addition, the project will help train new investigators in the area of crisis communication, will fuel student theses and dissertations, and will provide mentorship opportunities for undergraduate students from underrepresented groups.