POLITICAL INFORMATION AND DISCOURSE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
The core focus of my research examines how individuals engage with news and political discourse via social media. I utilize big data and machine learning techniques to examine typologies of individuals online and examine how personal characteristics influence their engagement with political information and how they experience information.
SOCIAL MEDIA USE BY POLITICAL ELITES
In addition to examining how the general public utilizes social media for political information and engagement, a second line of inquiry examines the strategic choices and benefits that political actors utilize via their use of social media platforms. This research combines scholarship on institutions, behavior of politicians, and communication to better understand the strategic choices that elite political actors make.
“Going Social: Explaining Presidential Use of Social Media” (Working Paper with Sam Fontaine)
“Social Style: House (and Senate) Members Online” (Working Paper).
SPACE, EXPERTISE, AND POLITICAL ATTITUDES
I study the relationship between various types of expertise and political attitudes toward public policy. For example, I examine levels of geographic knowledge and its influence on framing effects regarding foreign policy. I plan to expand this area of research to further examine perceptions of distance and support for various forms of environmental policies.
Gomez, D. (2019). Where to Send the Bombs: The Relationship Between Geographic Knowledge and Support for U.S. Intervention. (Under Review).
FAKE NEWS AND DISINFORMATION
I’ve also recently begun to explore the health of the democratic public sphere online in relation to disinformation and fake news. This work questions what types of citizens are most likely to verify what they suspect to be fictitious claims. I was also fortunate enough to be a part of an interdisciplinary research group that published “A Citizen’s Guide to Fake News.” This work was an attempt to synthesize both academic and journalistic knowledge surrounding the phenomenon of disinformation, and to provide citizens with resources to better equip themselves to deal with misinformation online.
Koc-Michalska, K., Bimber, B., Jenkins, M., Gomez, D., and Boulianne, S. “Fake News in the US, UK, and France: Which Citizens Attempt to Verify News that May be False?” (Under Review).
“A Citizen's Guide to Fake News.” August 29, 2018 http://www.cits.ucsb.edu/fake-news
YOUTH POLITICAL ACTIVISM AND ENGAGEMENT
Questions surrounding the current cultural zeitgeist, media use patterns, and political participation of youth in the United States make up an additional area of research. This line of work questions how factors of the contemporary media environment and relationships to institutions are reshaping political attitudes and behaviors among youth.
“The Kids Are Alright: Climate Change as a Catalyst for Youth Political Engagement.” (Working Paper with Michele Zamora)
The core focus of my research examines how individuals engage with news and political discourse via social media. I utilize big data and machine learning techniques to examine typologies of individuals online and examine how personal characteristics influence their engagement with political information and how they experience information.
SOCIAL MEDIA USE BY POLITICAL ELITES
In addition to examining how the general public utilizes social media for political information and engagement, a second line of inquiry examines the strategic choices and benefits that political actors utilize via their use of social media platforms. This research combines scholarship on institutions, behavior of politicians, and communication to better understand the strategic choices that elite political actors make.
“Going Social: Explaining Presidential Use of Social Media” (Working Paper with Sam Fontaine)
“Social Style: House (and Senate) Members Online” (Working Paper).
SPACE, EXPERTISE, AND POLITICAL ATTITUDES
I study the relationship between various types of expertise and political attitudes toward public policy. For example, I examine levels of geographic knowledge and its influence on framing effects regarding foreign policy. I plan to expand this area of research to further examine perceptions of distance and support for various forms of environmental policies.
Gomez, D. (2019). Where to Send the Bombs: The Relationship Between Geographic Knowledge and Support for U.S. Intervention. (Under Review).
FAKE NEWS AND DISINFORMATION
I’ve also recently begun to explore the health of the democratic public sphere online in relation to disinformation and fake news. This work questions what types of citizens are most likely to verify what they suspect to be fictitious claims. I was also fortunate enough to be a part of an interdisciplinary research group that published “A Citizen’s Guide to Fake News.” This work was an attempt to synthesize both academic and journalistic knowledge surrounding the phenomenon of disinformation, and to provide citizens with resources to better equip themselves to deal with misinformation online.
Koc-Michalska, K., Bimber, B., Jenkins, M., Gomez, D., and Boulianne, S. “Fake News in the US, UK, and France: Which Citizens Attempt to Verify News that May be False?” (Under Review).
“A Citizen's Guide to Fake News.” August 29, 2018 http://www.cits.ucsb.edu/fake-news
YOUTH POLITICAL ACTIVISM AND ENGAGEMENT
Questions surrounding the current cultural zeitgeist, media use patterns, and political participation of youth in the United States make up an additional area of research. This line of work questions how factors of the contemporary media environment and relationships to institutions are reshaping political attitudes and behaviors among youth.
“The Kids Are Alright: Climate Change as a Catalyst for Youth Political Engagement.” (Working Paper with Michele Zamora)