scholarly journals Achieving Accuracy through Ambiguity: the Interactivity of Risk Communication in Severe Weather Events

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 587-623
Author(s):  
Melissa Bica ◽  
Joy Weinberg ◽  
Leysia Palen
Keyword(s):  
Risk Communication ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
The Public ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
The Us ◽  
Information Products ◽  
Fundamental Tension ◽  
Risk Representation

Abstract Risks associated with natural hazards such as hurricanes are increasingly communicated on social media. For hurricane risk communication, visual information products—graphics—generated by meteorologists and scientists at weather agencies portray forecasts and atmospheric conditions and are offered to parsimoniously convey predictions of severe storms. This research considers risk interactivity by examining a particular hurricane graphic which has shown in previous research to have a distinctive diffusion signature: the ‘spaghetti plot’, which contains multiple discrete lines depicting a storm’s possible path. We first analyzed a large dataset of microblog interactions around spaghetti plots between members of the public and authoritative weather sources within the US during the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season. We then conducted interviews with a sample of the weather authorities after preliminary findings sketched the role that experts have in such communications. Findings describe how people make sense of risk dialogically over graphics, and show the presence of a fundamental tension in risk communication between accuracy and ambiguity. The interactive effort combats the unintended declarative quality of the graphical risk representation through communicative acts that maintain a hazard’s inherent ambiguity until risk can be foreclosed. We consider theoretical and practice-based implications of the limits and potentials of graphical risk representations and of widely diffused scientific communication, and offer reasons we need CSCW attention paid to the larger enterprise of risk communication.

scholarly journals Perception and Comprehension of the Extended Forecast Graphic: A Survey of Broadcast Meteorologists and the Public

2020 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. E221-E236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob R. Reed ◽  
Jason C. Senkbeil
Keyword(s):  
Risk Communication ◽  
Low Temperatures ◽  
General Public ◽  
Weather Forecast ◽  
The Public ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Public Data ◽  
Adverse Weather ◽  
High And Low Temperatures ◽  
Probability Of Precipitation

Abstract There have been multiple efforts in recent years to simplify visual weather forecast products, with the goal of more efficient risk communication for the general public. Many meteorological forecast products, such as the cone of uncertainty, storm surge graphics, warning polygons, and Storm Prediction Center (SPC) convective outlooks, have created varying levels of public confusion resulting in revisions, modifications, and improvements. However, the perception and comprehension of private weather graphics produced by television stations has been largely overlooked in peer-reviewed research. The goal of this study is to explore how the extended forecast graphic, more commonly known as the 7, 10 day, etc., is utilized by broadcasters and understood by the public. Data were gathered from surveys with the general public and also from broadcast meteorologists. Results suggest this graphic is a source of confusion and highlights a disconnect between the meteorologists producing the graphic and the content prioritized by their audiences. Specifically, timing and intensity of any precipitation or adverse weather events are the two most important variables to consider from the viewpoint of the public. These variables are generally absent from the extended forecast graphic, thus forcing the public to draw their own conclusions, which may differ from what the meteorologist intends to convey. Other results suggest the placement of forecast high and low temperatures, use of probability of precipitation, icon inconsistency, and length of time the graphic is shown also contribute to public confusion and misunderstanding.

The Effect of the Arab Spring Revolution on the Yemeni Economy

2019 ◽  
pp. 134-144
Author(s):  
Maroa Nasser Al Katheri
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Exchange Rate ◽  
Foreign Exchange ◽  
Foreign Exchange Rate ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Us ◽  
Us Dollar ◽  
The Arab Spring ◽  
Poverty Levels

The economic and humanitarian conditions of the Yemeni population have been deteriorating. The variable that affects the Yemeni economy is the foreign exchange rate of the Yemeni currency. In 2014, one US Dollar equaled to 240 Yemeni Ryal. In 2018, one US Dollar equals 700 Yemeni Ryal. The massive leap of the value of the Yemeni Ryal against the US Dollar, paired with the stabilization of the public sector occupation salaries, deeply affected the quality of life of the Yemeni citizen. Furthermore, the leap of the Yemeni Ryal value leads to the increase of the merchandise prices as well as the price of public services. The decrease of the value of the Yemeni Ryal against the US Dollar is one variable that is assisting the levels of poverty in Yemen. However, this chapter believes that economic mismanagement and the foreign exchange rate are essential variables that explain the increase of poverty levels in Yemen.

scholarly journals An evaluation of tick and Lyme disease information on health unit websites in Ontario

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlyn Irving ◽  
Lindsay Galway
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Visual Content ◽  
The Public ◽  
Disease Information ◽  
Incorrect Information

Climate change has allowed for the expansion and intensification of blacklegged ticks; the vector of Lyme disease. Projections estimate that by the year 2049 all health units in Ontario will have suitable environmental conditions for the establishment of this vector. A review of website content from health units in Ontario was performed to assess the quality of tick and Lyme disease information provided to the public and health care providers. Websites were evaluated based on criteria such as the provision of Lyme disease information (i.e., transmission, symptoms, treatment, etc.), the inclusion of misleading or incorrect information, and visuals provided. The quality of textual and visual information varied substantially across the 35 health units analyzed. Eleven health units were found to provide misleading or incorrect information. Disparities were found between areas with current Lyme disease risk and those without. The majority of health units did not include satisfactory visual content pertaining to ticks. Given the expected expansion and intensification of blacklegged tick populations across the province, all health units must ensure the information communicated to the public about ticks and Lyme disease is of high-quality and consistent. We conclude with specific recommendations to improve the textual and visual content of websites.

United States Environmental Protection Agency National Radon Proficiency Programmes

1994 ◽  
Vol 56 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 275-280
Author(s):  
P.P. Jalbert ◽  
G.L. Salmon ◽  
S. De Scisciolo (INVITED)
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Environmental Protection ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Radon Measurement ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Us

Abstract The US Environmental Protection Agency's voluntary National Radon Proficiency Programmes: Radon Measurement, and Reduction Proficiency are described, including their history and development, current status and future directions. The Radon Measurement Proficiency (RMP) and Radon Contractor Proficiency (RCP) programmes are fundamental to the Agency's programme to reduce the health risk associated with exposure to elevated radon levels in indoor air. Originally developed to provide technical assistance to States, the proficiency programmes now offer US consumers assurance of the quality of their radon measurements and reduction jobs. In other words, the proficiency programmes provide a means to consumers for deciding from which organisations or individuals to purchase radon services. This is especially important in the United States where most radon services are acquired through private enterprises rather than through the public sector. The Agency encourages the public to purchase radon measurement and reduction services only from organisations or individuals that have met the requirements of EPA's proficiency programmes. An increasing number of States require an EPA proficiency listing for their radon registration, licensing, and certification programmes. EPA estimates that about 85% of US companies offering radon services are participating in its proficiency programmes. Consequently, the Agency believes that the development and growth of quality radon services has kept pace with consumer demand. The United States markeplace for residential radon measurement and mitigation services has been dynamic since its inception in the mid-1980s. The fluidity of the market is likely to continue, with some significant changes appearing imminent. The US Congress is now considering legislation that would require participation in the Agency's radon proficiency programmes. In addition, this legislation contains provisions that would encourage consumer testing. Increased testing, coupled with a mandatory national proficiency programme, is likely to result in an increase in the quality of radon services available to the US public.

scholarly journals Identifying community values related to heat: recommendations for forecast and health risk communication

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Lambrecht ◽  
Benjamin J. Hatchett ◽  
Kristin VanderMolen ◽  
Bianca Feldkircher
Keyword(s):  
Risk Communication ◽  
Protective Action ◽  
Community Values ◽  
The Public ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
High Impact Weather ◽  
Heat Risk ◽  
The U.S

Abstract. Effective communication of heat risk to public audiences is critical to promoting behavioral changes that reduce susceptibility to heat-related illness. The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) provides heat-related information to the public using social media platforms such as Facebook. We applied a novel rhetorical framework to evaluate five years (2015–2019) of public responses to NWS heat-related Facebook posts for the Phoenix (Arizona) County Warning Area, one of the hottest regions in North America and the tenth largest metropolitan area in the U.S., to identify “commonplaces” or community norms, beliefs, and values that may present challenges to the effectiveness of heat risk communication. We found two key commonplaces: 1) the normalization of heat, and 2) heat as a marker of community identify. These commonplaces imply that local audiences may be resistant to behavioral change, but they can also be harnessed in an effort to promote protective action. We also found that public responses to NWS posts declined over the heat season, further suggesting the normalization of heat and highlighting the need to maintain engagement. This work provides a readily generalizable framework for other messengers of high-impact weather events to improve the effectiveness of their communication with receiver audiences.

scholarly journals Quality Assurance in Long-Term Care and Development of Quality Indicators in Japan

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 233372142097532
Author(s):  
Ayumi Igarashi ◽  
Sameh Eltaybani ◽  
Manami Takaoka ◽  
Maiko Noguchi-Watanabe ◽  
Noriko Yamamoto-Mitani
Keyword(s):  
Quality Indicators ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Quality Measurement ◽  
Care Quality ◽  
Term Care ◽  
The Public ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
The Us

Dealing with an aging society is a global challenge, and more countries than ever before are now mobilizing their healthcare systems to provide high-quality long-term care (LTC) to older adults. This paper reviews the current situation pertaining to aging and the issues for measuring the LTC quality in Japan. It also introduces current efforts to develop quality indicators for measuring LTC quality. Assuring the quality of LTC and developing indicators to measure its quality is a challenge worldwide. Detailed systems for LTC quality measurement have been developed and managed, primarily in the US. In Japan, on the other hand, such systems do not exist; the public LTC system mostly depends on the evaluation of structural aspects, such as facility structure and staffing. Our research group has been developing quality indicators to measure LTC quality. In the future, we aim to evaluate care quality in various LTC settings using the proposed quality indicators, aiming to improve care quality across LTC settings in the community-based integrated care system.

Assessments of User Comments With “Alternative Views” as a Function of Media Trust

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Marlene Kunst
Keyword(s):  
Online Discussions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Argument Quality ◽  
The Public ◽  
Mainstream Media ◽  
User Comments ◽  
Media Trust ◽  
Heuristic Information Processing

Abstract. Comments sections under news articles have become popular spaces for audience members to oppose the mainstream media’s perspective on political issues by expressing alternative views. This kind of challenge to mainstream discourses is a necessary element of proper deliberation. However, due to heuristic information processing and the public concern about disinformation online, readers of comments sections may be inherently skeptical about user comments that counter the views of mainstream media. Consequently, commenters with alternative views may participate in discussions from a position of disadvantage because their contributions are scrutinized particularly critically. Nevertheless, this effect has hitherto not been empirically established. To address this gap, a multifactorial, between-subjects experimental study ( N = 166) was conducted that investigated how participants assess the credibility and argument quality of media-dissonant user comments relative to media-congruent user comments. The findings revealed that media-dissonant user comments are, indeed, disadvantaged in online discussions, as they are assessed as less credible and more poorly argued than media-congruent user comments. Moreover, the findings showed that the higher the participants’ level of media trust, the worse the assessment of media-dissonant user comments relative to media-congruent user comments. Normative implications and avenues for future research are discussed.

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