Browsing by Author "Izurieta, Clemente"
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Item Characters matter: How narratives shape affective responses to risk communication(Public Library of Science, 2019-12) Shanahan, Elizabeth A.; Reinhold, Ann Marie; Raile, Eric D.; Poole, Geoffrey C.; Ready, Richard C.; Izurieta, Clemente; McEvoy, Jamie; Bergmann, Nicolas T.; King, HenryIntroduction. Whereas scientists depend on the language of probability to relay information about hazards, risk communication may be more effective when embedding scientific information in narratives. The persuasive power of narratives is theorized to reside, in part, in narrative transportation. Purpose. This study seeks to advance the science of stories in risk communication by measuring real-time affective responses as a proxy indicator for narrative transportation during science messages that present scientific information in the context of narrative. Methods. This study employed a within-subjects design in which participants (n = 90) were exposed to eight science messages regarding flood risk. Conventional science messages using probability and certainty language represented two conditions. The remaining six conditions were narrative science messages that embedded the two conventional science messages within three story forms that manipulated the narrative mechanism of character selection. Informed by the Narrative Policy Framework, the characters portrayed in the narrative science messages were hero, victim, and victim-to-hero. Natural language processing techniques were applied to identify and rank hero and victim vocabularies from 45 resident interviews conducted in the study area; the resulting classified vocabulary was used to build each of the three story types. Affective response data were collected over 12 group sessions across three flood-prone communities in Montana. Dial response technology was used to capture continuous, second-by-second recording of participants’ affective responses while listening to each of the eight science messages. Message order was randomized across sessions. ANOVA and three linear mixed-effects models were estimated to test our predictions. Results. First, both probabilistic and certainty science language evoked negative affective responses with no statistical differences between them. Second, narrative science messages were associated with greater variance in affective responses than conventional science messages. Third, when characters are in action, variation in the narrative mechanism of character selection leads to significantly different affective responses. Hero and victim-to-hero characters elicit positive affective responses, while victim characters produce a slightly negative response. Conclusions// In risk communication, characters matter in audience experience of narrative transportation as measured by affective responses.Item EAS: Efficient and Accurate Statistics(2013-03) Yusuf, Hauwa; Izurieta, ClementeStatistics is a field of study that deals with collection, organization, analysis and interpretation of data. Often, collected data is either too large to perform calculations by hand, and/or researchers do not have the statistical skills to properly analyze a set of data. Instead of acquiring the mathematical skills required or outsourcing statistical analysis to statisticians, researchers often carry out statistical analysis by themselves, using powerful statistical analysis software such as R. However, because R is open source, the mathematics and mechanics of available packages in R are manipulated by their creators to suit a specific need. Therefore, there are many packages in R which perform very similar tests but due to differences in mathematics and mechanics of the package, yield different results on the same of data set. The majority of users are unaware of the mathematical differences of the packages, and choose arbitrary packages to perform a test. Their choice is partly driven by simply finding a package that contains the name of the test they seek. This can lead to the researcher unknowingly providing erroneous results. This project implements a web application that seeks to minimize statistical errors due to improper use of statistical analysis tests, while improving the user experience with the R statistical analysis software.Item Micro-Compressor(2013-03) Ibey, Jeff; Izurieta, ClementeI set out to compress pictures on hand-hend devices in real time, increasing the storage space in SD-type devices. I built a micro-controller that compresses and uncompresses a pictures in real time, with a 75-90 % data save rate.Item Smart Power Strip(2013-03) Sorensen, Sam; Izurieta, Clemente; LaMeres, Brock; Nakigawa, WataruVampire power, energy consumed by devices in low-power or standby modes, accounts for 22% of an average home’s power consumption, according to a 2008 California Energy Commission study. By providing a convenient and largely autonomous system for monitoring and controlling power consumption, the Smart Power Strip aims to minimize or eliminate the average household’s annual $100 spent on powering devices in standby, low-power, or “instant-on” modes while using minimal power itself. Features such as per-device scheduling, power usage data, and remote access through a WebUI provide the user with straightforward tools for convenient power monitoring and regulation.