Communicating Science in Times of Crisis: COVID-19 Pandemic

by H. Dan O'Hair (Editor), Mary John O'Hair (Editor)

Overview

Learn more about how people communicate during crises with this insightful collection of resources 

In Communicating Science in Times of Crisis: COVID-19 Pandemic, distinguished academics and editors H. Dan O’Hair and Mary John O’Hair have delivered an insightful collection of resources designed to shed light on the implications of attempting to communicate science to the public in times of crisis. Using the recent and ongoing coronavirus outbreak as a case study, the authors explain how to balance scientific findings with social and cultural issues, the ability of media to facilitate science and mitigate the impact of adverse events, and the ethical repercussions of communication during unpredictable, ongoing events. 

The first volume in a set of two, Communicating Science in Times of Crisis: COVID-19 Pandemic isolates a particular issue or concern in each chapter and exposes the difficult choices and processes facing communicators in times of crisis or upheaval. The book connects scientific issues with public policy and creates a coherent fabric across several communication studies and disciplines. The subjects addressed include: 

• A detailed background discussion of historical medical crises and how they were handled by the scientific and political communities of the time 
• Cognitive and emotional responses to communications during a crisis 
• Social media communication during a crisis, and the use of social media by authority figures during crises 
• Communications about health care-related subjects 
• Data strategies undertaken by people in authority during the coronavirus crisis 

Perfect for communication scholars and researchers who focus on media and communication, Communicating Science in Times of Crisis: COVID-19 Pandemic also has a place on the bookshelves of those who specialize in particular aspects of the contexts raised in each of the chapters: social media communication, public policy, and health care.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781119751779
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	05/11/2021
Series:	Communicating Science in Times of Crisis
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 10.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

H. Dan O’Hair is Professor of Communication in the Department of Communication at the University of Kentucky. He formerly served as President of the National Communication Association and has published over 100 research articles in risk, organizational, and health communication. He received his PhD in Communication from the University of Oklahoma.

Mary John O’Hair is Professor of Educational Leadership Studies at the University of Kentucky. She was formerly Dean of the UK College of Education between 2009 and 2018. She is the founding editor of Teacher Education Yearbook.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors vii

Part 1 Conceptualizing Communication Science and COVID-19 1

1 Managing Science Communication in a Pandemic H. Dan O'Hair Mary John O'Hair 3

2 Comprehending Covidiocy Communication: Dismisinformation, Conspiracy Theory, and Fake News Brian H. Spitzberg 15

3 How Existential Anxiety Shapes Communication in Coping with the Coronavirus Pandemic: A Terror Management Theory Perspective Claude H. Miller Haijing Ma 54

Part 2 Promoting Health and Well-being 81

4 Communication and COVID-19: Challenges in Evidence-based Healthcare Design Kevin Real Kirk Hamilton Terri Zborowsky Debbie Gregory 83

5 Identity and Information Overload: Examining the Impact of Health Messaging in Times of Crisis Jessica Wendorf Muhamad Patrick Merle 110

6 Social Media, Risk Perceptions Related to COVID-19, and Health Outcomes Kevin B. Wright 128

7 Overcoming Obstacles to Collective Action by Communicating Compassion in Science Erin B. Hester Bobi Ivanov Kimberly A. Parker 150

8 Communicating the Science of COVID-19 to Children: Meet the Helpers Jennifer Cook Timothy L. Sellnow Deanna D. Sellnow Adam J. Parrish Rodrigo Soares 172

9 The Use of Telehealth in Behavioral Health and Educational Contexts during COVID-19 and Beyond Alyssa Clements-Hickman Jade Hollan Christine Drew Vanessa Hinton Robert J. Reese 189

Part 3 Advancing Models of Information and Media 215

10 Toward a New Model of Public Relations Crisis and Risk Communication Following Pandemics Zifei Fay Chen Zongchao Cathy Li Yi Grace Ji Don W. Stacks Bora Yook 217

11 Perspective Change in a Time of Crisis: The Emotion and Critical Reflection Model Helen Lillie Manusheela Pokharel Mark J. Bergstrom Jakob D. Jensen 242

12 Social Media Surveillance and (Dis)Misinformation in the COVID-19 Pandemic Brian H. Spitzberg Ming-Hsiang Tsou Mark Gawron 262

13 Science Communication and Inoculation: Mitigating the Effects of the Coronavirus Outbreak Bobi Ivanov Kimberly A. Parker 302

Part 4 Examining Policy and Leadership 321

14 Communicating with Policymakers in a Pandemic Michael T. Childress Michael W. Clark 323

15 Equally Unpleasant Choices: Observations on School Leadership in a Time of Crisis Justin M. Bathon Lu S. Young 338

16 Controlling the Narrative: Mixed Messages and Presidential Credibility Robert S. Littlefield 358

17 Communicating Death and Dying in the COVID-19 Pandemic William Nowling Matthew M. Seeger 375

Index 391