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（FB）等社交媒体上的互动如何影响受2011年4月27日袭击塔斯卡卢萨的龙卷风影响的人们的行为。 它将研究FB上的相互作用如何影响灾难前的准备工作（例如，通过影响人们采取掩护），动员恢复努力（例如，通过传播关于恢复努力的信息）和受害者的心理功能（例如，通过与朋友和家人沟通并提供社会支持）。 将对FB帖子进行定性分析，以确定（a）信息传播（传染性）;（B）规范性期望;以及（c）每个时间点提供的情感功能和支持。 随后的调查将研究FB使用（过去和现在）如何影响心理功能在风暴后三个月和六个月。智力价值：该项目将提供有关社会影响过程如何影响灾后感知社会支持和心理健康的新科学知识。 具体而言，该项目将通过以下方式扩展有关社交网络的现有文献：（a）研究社会影响过程的影响以及图像传播对FB等在线社交网络应对的影响;（B）除了灾后，还关注即将发生的灾害的预警阶段;（c）审查灾害受害者及其社交网络的成员，以及社会和资金支助呼吁的传播情况;以及（d）在多个时间点评估个人应对方式。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，以及更好的心理应对。 成果将通过会议介绍、期刊出版物、数据共享以及通过一个专门的网站传播项目方法和成果，向灾害规划人员、研究人员和从业人员广泛传播。 此外，该项目还将帮助培训危机沟通领域的新调查人员，为学生撰写论文提供动力，并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.