Diffusion of Emergency Information during a Crisis within a University

Michael J. Egnoto; Elena Svetieva; Arun Vishwanath; Christopher R. Ortega

doi:10.1515/jhsem-2012-0082

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Diffusion of Emergency Information during a Crisis within a University

Michael J. Egnoto , Elena Svetieva , Arun Vishwanath and Christopher R. Ortega

Published/Copyright: April 13, 2013

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From the journal Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Volume 10 Issue 1

Abstract

Little attention has been given to the differences in information dispersion and interpretation during emergencies in collegiate environments which utilize diffusion. This manuscript seeks to add to social science knowledge via an expansion of diffusion of information literature by combining it with third-person effects and message credibility literature. In 2010, at a large Northeastern University, an alert went from the university warning students of a potential gunman on campus. Results indicate that high levels of third person effect were associated with greater sharing of information, and early knowers were more trusting of messages from both interpersonal and mass media channels than late knowers. Desire to share information was also more associated with early knowers, and theoretical implications are also discussed. Finally, suggestions for streamlining communication with regards to classroom policy are discussed.

Keywords: diffusion of information; emergency communication; message credibility; news diffusion school shooting; source credibility; spree shooting

Corresponding author: Michael J. Egnoto, Department of Communication, University at Buffalo, 359 Baldy Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA, e-mail: mjegnoto@buffalo.edu

Appendix 1

Instrument

On February 16th, at approximately 4:30 pm, reports of a man with a gun at the University began surfacing. The man was thought to be in the Library, located on Campus. Police arrived on campus, then surrounded and searched the building. The following survey seeks to understand how information about the Library incident spread.

Do you own a cell phone?

__ Yes __ No

Do you have texting on your cell phone?

__ Yes __ No

How frequently do you text?

______

1. On what date did you first become aware of the Library incident? (if the day of the incident, write “2/16”)

(date)_________ Not aware of the event _______

2. At approximately what time did you become aware of the incident

__4:30–5:00 __5:01–5:30 __5:31–6:00

__6:01–6:30 __6:31–7:00 __7:01–7:30

__7:31–8:00 __8:01–8:30 __8:31–9:00

__9:01–9:30 __9:31–10:00 __10:01–10:30

__10:31–11:00 __11:01–11:30 __11:31–12:00

__12:01–12:30(midnight) 12:30+

3. Through which media channel did you first hear about the Library Incident? (select 1)

__ text (SMS) __ Facebook

__ Twitter __ television

__ home phone __ from a person

__ email __ radio

__ cell phone (call) __ office phone

__ other __ online website

3a. if you selected Twitter, Facebook, or some other social networking site, please answer 2a if not, proceed to question 3.

If you received a tweet did it come from someone close to you, or a news source?

__ friend __ school paper

__ significant other __ family member

__ CBS __ local News (WGRZ)

__ CNN __ Fox

__ MSNBC __ other

If you received a Facebook alert or message, did it come from someone close to you, or a news source?

__ friend __ news source

__ significant other __ family member

__ other

4. Through which source did you first hear about the Library Incident?

__ from officials __ from a friend

__ from the mass media __ from a family member

__ from instructors __ other

5. On a scale of 1–7 with 1 being not credible at all, and with 7 being very credible, how trustworthy did you find the information from this source?

1----------2----------3----------4----------5----------6----------7

6. Upon hearing about the incident did you seek further information?

__ yes __ no

7. If you did seek more information after you initially heard about the incident, how long did you wait, in minutes, before seeking more information?

__ 0–5 min __6–10 min

__11–15 min __ 16–20 min

__21–25 min __ 26–30 min

__31–35 min __ 36–40 min

__41–45 min __46–50 min

__51–55 min __ 56–60 min

__ Over 60 min __ did not seek more information

8. If yes, through which media channel did you first seek more information?

__ text __ Facebook

__ Twitter __ television

__ phone __ from a person

__ email __ other

9. On a scale of 1–7 with 1 being not credible at all, and with 7 being very credible, how trustworthy did you find the information from this media channel?

1----------2----------3----------4----------5----------6----------7

10. If yes, through which source did you seek more information?

__ from officials __ from a friend

__ from the mass media __ from a family member

__ from instructors __ other

11. After hearing about the incident, did you tell others?

__ yes __ no

If yes, how many others did you contact? __________________________

12. If you did tell others about the information you heard after you initially heard about the incident, how long did you wait, in minutes, to begin telling them?

__ 0–5 min __6–10 min

__11–15 min __ 16–20 min

__21–25 min __ 26–30 min

__31–35 min __ 36–40 min

__41–45 min __46–50 min

__51–55 min __ 56–60 min

__ Over 60 min __ did not tell others

13. 10- If yes, whom did you first contact?

__ friends (classmates) __ significant other

__ family __ other

14. If yes, through which channel did you tell others?

__ text __ Facebook

__ Twitter __ television

__ phone __ from a person

__ email __ other

15. What did you tell the person you contacted?

____________________________________________________

16. What best described your motivation for seeking additional information, or sharing the information you had about the Library Incident?

__ it made me feel informed __ it was good information to know

__ it gave me something to talk about __ it was important information to share

17. What was the most important reason for contacting this person

__ to gather information __ to share information

__ to confirm information __ to discredit information

18. On a scale of 1–7, with 1 being poor and 7 being excellent, how well did you think information from the text conveyed the situation?

1----------2----------3----------4----------5----------6----------7

19. On a scale of 1–7, with 1 being poor and 7 being excellent, how well did you think the information from the email conveyed the situation?

1----------2----------3----------4----------5----------6----------7

20. Where were you located when you first heard about the incident?

__ home __ north

__ work __ south

__ Other__________________________

21. If you were on campus, where were you located?

__ dorms __ class

__ library __ gym

__ Student Union __ eatery

__ other__________________________

22. Which one additional source, other than the previous source you named, that you sought additional information from seemed most credible

__ from officials __ from a friend

__ from the mass media __ from a family

__ from instructors __ other

23. Which media channel other than the previous channel you named, that you sought additional information from seemed most credible

__ text __ Facebook

__ Twitter __ television

__ phone __ from a person

__ email __ other

__________________________

24. Have you been in a similar experience as the evacuation before?

__ yes __ no

25. If yes, could you briefly describe it?

___________________________________________________

Demographic information:

How do you ethnically identify yourself?

__ White __ Latino __ Prefer not to say

__ Asian __ African American __

Other__________________________

What is your sex?

__ female __ male

What is your age (in years)?

____

What is your educational attainment?

__ freshman __ sophomore

__ junior __ senior

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Published Online: 2013-04-13

Published in Print: 2013-01-01

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jhsem-2012-0082

Keywords for this article

diffusion of information; emergency communication; message credibility; news diffusion school shooting; source credibility; spree shooting