Research

Welcome Summer REU Students

New Project: Mass Convergence of Attention During Crisis Events

Mass Convergence of Attention During Crisis Events Emma S. Spiro (PI). (07/2015-06/2018) Army Research Office Young Investigator Program: $150,000.00. Abstract: When crises occur, including natural disasters, mass casualty events, political and social protests, etc., we observe potentially drastic changes in social behavior. Local citizens, emergency responders and aid organizations flock to the physical location of the event. Global onlookers turn to communication and information exchange platforms to seek and disseminate event-related content.

New Research: Online Information Behaviors During Disaster Events

Working paper now published as part of the Center for Statistics and the Social Science Working Paper Series: Online Information Behaviors During Disaster Events: Roles, Routines, and Reactions Harrison, McCormick and Spiro Abstract: Social media and Internet-based messaging systems are increasingly important platforms for risk communication. A global audience turns to these tools to seek, disseminate, and curate time-sensitive, emergency information during periods of crisis. Moreover, emergency management organizations report adopting these tools to augment their typical public information functions.

New Research: Online Message Amplification in the Boston Bombing Response

To Appear in the Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (ISCRAM): Title: Online Message Amplification in the Boston Bombing Response Sutton, Spiro, Johnson, Gibson, Fitzhugh and Butts Abstract: On the morning of April 15, 2013, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was detonated near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, resulting in a large number of casualties. This generated a week-long response under the US National Incident Management System.

Spiro Studies How Brazilian Protestors Use Twitter

Emma Spiro, interning at Microsoft Research (MSR) this summer, is studying the relationship between social media and the recent Brazilian uprising. The research, done in collaboration with MSR researcher Andrés Monroy-Hernández, looks at how the protestors use social media, particularly Twitter, to share their experiences and invite others to join the protests. Findings currently include information about the peak of the protests’ tweets, the international nature of the protests, and the interaction network among the most active users.

Final Report on Twitter Response to Boston

Today we released the final report in a series of three research highlights on the bombing and other events in Boston, MA earlier this month. In this third report we discuss the content of Twitter messages and the warnings/advisories that were released across many different channels. Please see the online research highlight here. Sutton, J., Johnson, B., Spiro, E., and Butts, C. (2013). “Tweeting What Matters: Information, Advisories, and Alerts Following the Boston Marathon Events.

Second Report on Twitter Activity During Boston Bombing

The HEROIC team has released a second online research highlight that focuses on Twitter activity during the recent events in Boston, MA. This second report explores relational and conversational aspects of messages posted by official government accounts during the event. Please see the online research highlight here. Sutton, J., Spiro, E., Johnson, B., Fitzhugh, S., and Butts, C. (2013). “Tweeting Boston: The Influence of Microstructure in Broadcasting Messages through Twitter.” Online Research Highlight.

New Research Highlight on the Boston Bombing

HEROIC Online Research Highlight

In recent work, the HEROIC team performed an exploratory analysis of online conversation surrounding the Waldo Canyon fire which started on June 23, 2012, three miles west of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team looked at Twitter posts by the general public as well as official government emergency management organizations. A few of the lessons learned from this research include: When an event occurs local organization gain large numbers of followers.