Building cognitive security and resilience to enhance crisis preparedness: A social ecological approach to minimizing information-based harms

Janzen, Shawn; Orr, Caroline; Terp, Sara-Jayne

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/115174 Copy

Description

Title

Building cognitive security and resilience to enhance crisis preparedness: A social ecological approach to minimizing information-based harms

Author(s)

• Janzen, Shawn
• Orr, Caroline
• Terp, Sara-Jayne

Contributor(s)

Sanfilippo, Madelyn

Issue Date

2022-10-29

Keyword(s)

• Cognitive security
• Social ecological model
• Information harm
• Crisis information behavior
• Case study

Abstract

Information crises co-occur alongside most natural and human crises. Widespread use of social media complicates these intertwined crises with new opportunities and challenges. Greater individual and societal resiliency helps offset information-based vulnerabilities and harms; however, most research in this area lacks systemic theory-driven research on the dynamic relationship between the individual and their environment. This paper uses a novel adaptation of Brofenbrenner’s social ecological model (SEM) to the study of cognitive security and resilience in the context of crisis-related information behaviors and information-based harms through two case studies: the international 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak and U.S. mass shootings. Our findings highlight the fluid nature of information-related dynamics during major crisis events, underscoring how the resilience of individuals in crisis situations both influences and is influenced by higher-level systems and processes. The model can help identify, prioritize, and evaluate future information-related initiatives and interventions, and extends SEM conceptual foundations for information research.

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/115174

Owning Collections