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UF Research

stem communication

Family Stories Shape Attitudes Toward Mental Illness

Tuesday June 26, 2018

Family stories about mental illness shared from one generation to another can both reinforce stereotypes and yet still teach children important lessons and expectations about the management of such illnesses, according to a new pilot study.

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public interest communications

Study Uncovers Motivations for Social Media Campaigns Participation

Tuesday June 26, 2018

Social change communicators running social media campaigns should ensure people feel they are able to help resolve the issue and tout the benefits of participating in the campaign to increase engagement, a new study finds.

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automated content

People Trust Human Journalists Over Algorithms

Tuesday June 26, 2018

News organizations are starting to experiment with automated content. Research suggests readers perceive news written by algorithms as less credible than if it’s written by a human. However, this perception can be reduced by exposure to robots in popular culture.

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Voting

Trump Voters Motivated by Economic and Racial Beliefs

Friday April 27, 2018

Many political researchers and commentators have presented different theories that attempt to explain Donald Trump’s appeal to the American voters who elected him president. A new analysis suggests that Trump supporters’ motivations included negative opinions about the economy in general and about the Black Lives Matter movement.

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fake news

Supreme Court Offers Guidance on How to Handle Fake News

Friday April 27, 2018

It’s increasingly challenging to combat fake news and to help people distinguish it from real news. CJC researchers examine fake news through the lens of the U.S. Supreme Court. They suggest that part of the answer to fake news lies in finding ways to make real news more appealing to general audiences and to earn readers’ trust in the stories.

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college drinking

Reactions Differ to Humor and Fear in Anti-alcohol Ads

Friday April 27, 2018

Many health campaigns have sought to change drinking habits and prevent alcohol abuse. These campaigns often rely on fear-based or humor messages to convey the dangers of alcohol abuse. Researchers are now testing whether these emotions change people’s perceived risk or intent to drink, especially among college students.

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gaming

Digital Games Teach People to Avoid Biases

Friday April 27, 2018

People frequently make decisions based on irrelevant information due to unconscious cognitive biases.  How can people avoid relying on cognitive shortcuts that leave them vulnerable to making poor choices? New research suggests they might want to play a game coupled with an informative slideshow.

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First Amendment

What the National School Walkout Says About Schools and Free Speech

Thursday March 29, 2018

When students walked out of school to protest what they see as lax gun laws, some risked punishment from their schools. But it may be worth it to send a First Amendment message.

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health communication

Changing Attitudes of Physicians May Improve Participation in Cancer Clinical Trials

Wednesday March 28, 2018

Attitudes of primary care physicians play a key role in a recently diagnosed cancer patient’s access to and beliefs about clinical trial treatments. Acting as opinion ambassadors, they have the power to influence their patients’ attitudes and behaviors.

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Health Journalism

Health Journalism Exhibits Both Improvement and Decline in Quality

Wednesday March 28, 2018

Faced with dwindling resources, and a news cycle that never sleeps, today’s health journalists must meet a new challenge: provide complete, trustworthy content on health care issues with precision at the same breakneck speed with which the medical field innovates.

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CSR

Does Your Company Have a Proactive Crisis Communications Plan?

Wednesday March 28, 2018

Companies can have a variety of reasons for engaging in what the public considers socially responsible (CSR) practices. How do they maintain their reputation and sense of alturisim in a crisis? Research suggests they should have a proactive strategy.

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organizational communication

It’s About How Employees Feel

Wednesday November 29, 2017

More and more companies today are striving to develop an emotional culture which emphasizes how employees feel. Does emotional culture truly matter for an organization’s success?

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