Date of Award
5-7-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Information Science
First Advisor
John Talburt
Abstract
In a time when social media significantly influences public dialogue, grasping the elements that contribute to the success of information campaigns has become vital for understanding modern social movements and political engagement. This dissertation explores the essential factors that affect the efficacy of information campaigns across digital platforms, addressing a notable gap in existing research that frequently neglects the systematic connection between information spread and outcomes of collective action. Instead of viewing these as distinct phenomena, this study constructs an integrated framework that highlights three crucial dimensions of successful information campaigns: the human factor, which emphasizes the role of influential moral agents within social networks who amplify messages and enhance the credibility of narratives, the socio-organizational factor, which investigates how the formation of collective identity provides the social foundation necessary for transforming information into action, and the cultural messaging factor, which looks at how symbolic visual components in multimodal communication resonate with audiences to foster engagement, evoke emotional responses, and cultivate institutional trust. By thoroughly analyzing four varied case studies encompassing global political environments, this research utilizes innovative computational techniques to quantify these dimensions and their interrelations. The methodology merges network analysis, computational modeling, and multimodal data annotation to track information pathways from dissemination to mobilization. This framework connects established sociological theories with quantitative analytical techniques, providing theoretical advancements for academic inquiry and practical strategies for platforms, organizations, and civic institutions aiming to cultivate constructive information ecosystems in an increasingly intricate digital environment.
Recommended Citation
Bhattacharya, Sayantan, "A Socio-Computational Framework for Understanding Information Campaigns Through a Collective Action Perspective" (2026). Theses and Dissertations. 1319.
https://research.ualr.edu/etd/1319
