Research Interests

My research centers on science and risk communication with a specific focus on persuasion, information processing and motivated reasoning. Recent work of mine explores how diverse audiences process and react to messages on polarizing and controversial science and risk topics, including genetically modified foods, self-driving cars, climate change, nuclear power and vaccination.

Recent Research Publications

• Dixon, G., Lerner, B., & Bashian, S. (2024). Challenges to correcting pluralistic ignorance: False consensus effects, competing information environments, and anticipated social conflict. Human Communication Research, https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqae001
• Dixon, G., Clarke, C., Jacquet, J., Evenson, D. & Hart, S. (2024). The complexity of pluralistic ignorance in Republican climate change policy support. Communications Earth & Environment, 5(1), 76, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247024-01240-x
• Hubner, A. & Dixon, G. (2023). Does the label matter? Examining the effects of “vaccine passport” versus “vaccine verification” on subsequent audience frames and policy attitudes. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpor/edad039
• Hubner, A.  & Dixon, G. (2023). Is news media sharing an active framing process? Examining whether individual tweets retain news media frames about climate change. Human Communication Research, 1, 75 – 84. https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqac025

Recent Conference Presentations

• Dixon, G., Bashian, S., & Snelling, K. (2024). Silencing the majority: How the overrepresentation of minority views impedes pro-vaccine discussion among  Republican voters. Paper presented at International Communication Association, Gold Coast, Australia. 
• Dixon, G. (2024). Data and Methodological Opportunities and Challenges. Science and Environmental Communication Conference, University of Michigan.
• Dixon, G. (2023). Keynote speaker. Communicating Science in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities. American Physical Society, Eastern Great Lakes Meeting. 
• Dixon, G., Harvill, B., & Bashian, S. (2023). Challenges to correcting pluralistic ignorance: False consensus effects, competing information environments, and anticipated social conflict. Paper presented at Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Washington DC.