About
Ariel Hasell is an Associate Professor of Communication and Media at the University of Michigan. Broadly, her research examines how the contemporary media environment influences exposure to information about science and politics, the effects of that exposure on knowledge and beliefs, as well as public engagement with science and politics in society. She uses quantitative methodologies to examine how an individual’s choice of media content influences various attitudes and behaviors, including information evaluation, motivations to process and share information, and trust in institutions.
Her current research is focused on two areas of inquiry. The first is related to how social media influencers are changing the nature of expertise and who is perceived to be an expert on topics related to science (e.g. sustainability and wellness) and politics (e.g. journalism and institutions). The second is related to how patterns of social media use can lead to negative views of journalism and politics, including feelings of news distrust, news fatigue, and political disengagement.
