Using an inoculation message approach to promote public confidence in protective agencies

Bobi Ivanov, William J. Burns, Timothy L. Sellnow, Elizabeth L. Petrun Sayers, Shari R. Veil, Marcus W. Mayorga

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

This investigation tested the effectiveness of inoculation as a pre-crisis strategy in combating the effects of politically motivated violent acts. A four-phase experiment was conducted involving 355 national consumer panel participants. The findings indicate that inoculation can be an effective pre-crisis message strategy as it was successful in enhancing public beliefs in the ability of government agencies to prevent, and minimize the effects of, violent acts. This strategy also created a ‘blanket of protection’ that extended beyond the focal politically motivated attack event as it enhanced the confidence in government agencies to manage national crises in general. Inoculation was also effective in lowering the intensity of experienced fear evoked by the threat of violent attacks and it enhanced the ability of individuals to cope with the aftermath of a crisis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)381-398
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Applied Communication Research
Volume44
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 National Communication Association.

Keywords

  • Inoculation
  • message strategy
  • public confidence
  • risk and crisis
  • terrorism

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Communication
  • Language and Linguistics

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