PhD student Kilhoe (Miranda) Na recently published new research in the Journal of Health Communication about rumor acceptance during public health crises. In an experiment designed to test if a similarity between an individual’s emotional state and the emotions evoked by a rumor make the individual more likely to believe it, participants played an online game simulating a health crisis. Results found that participants who felt angry were more likely to accept anger-inducing rumors than those who were not angry.

Na’s research at Ohio State focuses on news media and online postings in crisis and health communication, as well as the evaluation and spreading of misinformation.