WP3 Measuring an avalanche in a mediated environment

Workpackage number:

3

Start date or starting event:

3 months

Participant number:

CO1

CR2

CR3

CR4

CR5

Person-months per participant:

2

2

22

2

2

Objectives
O3.1: To design a theoretical framework on information avalanches in social networks combining media and communication theory with computational sociology
O3.2: To analyse avalanches in communication networks and to identify the corresponding actor networks theoretically informed by WP1
O3.3: To contribute methodologically and theoretically to the understanding of panic-like behavior as an emergent phenomena in mediated social systems in the fields of science communication and public understanding of science
O3.4: To identify key interfaces between policy making and the public debates and to develop policy recommendation

Description of work
The WP3 develops a theoretical framework for how media-hype phenomena in science and the public reception of science can be understood as avalanches in the information dissemination in coupled communication networks. Starting from this innovative theoretical approach the WP mainly focuses on mapping scientific avalanches in a mediated environment. Several case studies will be selected on the basis of our earlier, social scientific studies on recent public controversies over science (BSE crisis, foot-an-mouth disease, gm-foods and stem-cell therapies). Such controversies will be followed in more traditional media (such as scientific publications, journals like Nature and Science, newspapers and broadcasting). The data collection on topic diffusion and the involved actors will be complementary to web-based phenomena analyzed in WP4.
The workpackage has a theoretical and an empirical component. Theoretically, the project applies the concepts of complex network theory and social network analysis to the field of science communication. Traditionally studies in science communication tend to be qualitative, small case studies on specific scientific controversies. In contrast, WP3 applies quantitative methods to the analysis of communication networks in science, and provides a novel theoretical and methodological perspective in science studies. This is expected to provide data for the network analysis (WP5) and to inform policy-makers on how public trust in science develops across the various communication networks (WP6).

T3.1:  Develop a theoretical framework in terms of a social science description of
information avalanches in mediated communication networks
T3.2:  Identification of the real world case studies
T3.3:  Data collection
T3.4:   Preliminary analysis of the data for WP 4 and WP5
T3.5:  Policy recommendations (WP6)

Deliverables
D3.1: Real world data for the project
D3.2: Conceptualising media network as complex networks. Designing measurement strategies for coupled avalanches in science and the public perception of science (Report)
D3.3: Describing the case of a media avalanche from point of view of complexity science (Report)

Milestones and expected results
The identification and selection of the real-world case study (T3.1) will be completed during 3-15, data collection (T3.2) will be completed during the months 16-24. The analysis of the data (T3.3) will be completed before the month 27.