COM Research Seminar: Why Should We and How Can We Use Computational Models to Study Media Selection? by Prof. Richard Huskey

18 Mar 2024 (Mon)

On March 18, 2024, Professor Richard Huskey, an esteemed member of both the Department of Communication and the Cognitive Science Program at the University of California Davis, conducted an online seminar entitled "Why Should We and How Can We Use Computational Models to Study Media Selection?" Opening the session, Prof. Huskey made a persuasive meta-theoretic argument emphasizing the crucial role of computational modeling in modern media studies. He detailed the transformation of traditional verbal theories into computational models, which promises to deepen theoretical understanding.
The seminar primarily focused on the drift diffusion model (DDM), a computational tool for formalizing theories of entertainment media selection, which Prof. Huskey explained with clarity. He then presented three pre-registered experiments that utilized the DDM, revealing results that not only refuted established theoretical assumptions but also highlighted limitations and pinpointed previously unidentified mechanisms of media selection.
The session garnered an attendance of more than 30 individuals, encompassing faculty members, PhD students, and researchers across various disciplines, indicating a robust interest in the intersection of computational models and media studies.