Media Effects
I seek to examine the effects of media and patterns of message content on audience perceptions. I also investigate how we, as communication researchers, develop and conceptualize the effects of communication content to better understand current research trends and to identify future research directions.
Selected relevant publications:
- Walter, N., Saucier, C. J., Brooks, J., Suresh, S., Fiers, F., & Holbert, L. (2024). The Chaffee Principle: The most likely effect of communication… is further communication. Annals of the International Communication Association, 1(1), 1-18.
- Saucier, C. J., & Walter, N. (2021). Dissecting a frog: A meta-analytic evaluation of humor intensity in persuasion research. Annals of the International Communication Association, 45(4), 258-283.
- Tukachinsky, R., Walter, N., & Saucier, C. J. (2020). Antecedents and effects of parasocial relationships: A meta-analysis. Journal of Communication, 70(6), 868-894.
Information Integrity
Unfortunately, once accepted, false information is highly difficult to dispel—particularly in contexts where this information is value-laden and identity-based in nature. I seek to understand the factors that influence engagement with inaccurate content compared to accurate content and to develop means to reduce the negative effects that result.
Selected relevant publications:
- Saucier, C. J. & Walter, N. (2022). Fact-Checking. In A. Ceron (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Technology and Politics. (pp. 151-155.). Elgar.
- Walter, N., Brooks, J., Saucier, C. J., &; Suresh, S. (2021). Evaluating the impact of attempts to correct health misinformation on social media: A meta-analysis. Health Communication, 36(13), 1776-1784.
- Walter, N., Edgerly, S., & Saucier, C. J. (2021). Trust, then verify: When and why people fact-check partisan information. International Journal of Communication, 1(1), 1-15.
Message Processing
While it is important to ensure that key audiences have access to information, there is no guarantee that this content will be selected, attended to, or remembered. I examine the cognitive and motivational factors that help shape message processing. My approach aims to identify theoretical methods to leverage audiences’ existing beliefs and feelings to influence change.
Selected relevant publications:
- Saucier, C. J., Walter, N., & Demetriades, S. Z. (In Press). Thirty years since Kunda: Addressing critiques to reimagine a model of motivated reasoning. Annals of the International Communication Association.
- Walter, N., Saucier, C. J., & Murphy, S. T. (2019). Increasing receptivity to messages about e-cigarette risk using vicarious affirmation. Journal of Health Communication, 24(3), 226-235.
- Saucier, C. J. & Walter, N. (Under Review). You give affirmation a bad name: Can self-affirmation explain the adoption of conspiracy theories? Media Psychology.
Strategic Health Message Design
As a socially engaged communication scholar, I seek to contextualize my research around health challenges. Here, I strive to reduce the effects of health disparities and promote community
wellbeing using theory-driven approaches.
wellbeing using theory-driven approaches.
Selected relevant publications:
- Saucier, C. J., Ma, Z., Montoya, J. A., Plant, A., Suresh, S., Robbins, C. L., & Fraser, R. (2024). Overcoming health information inequities: Valley Fever information repertoires among vulnerable communities in California. Health Communication., 1(1), 1-18.
- Saucier, C. J., Suresh, S., Brooks, J. J., Walter, N., Plant, A., & Montoya, J. A. (2022). The effect of an entertainment-education intervention on reproductive health of young women of color. Health Communication, 37(9), 1093-1103. *Practitioner-engaged research **Published in a special issue of Health Comm that focused on race/ethnicity
- Walter, N., Cohen, J., Nabi, R. L., & Saucier, C. J. (2022). Making it real: The role of parasocial relationships in enhancing perceived susceptibility and COVID-19 protective behavior. Media Psychology, 1(1), 1-18