Elizabeth Riggs Ph.D

Assistant Professor

Education

Ph.D. in Communication (Specialization in Cognitive and Brain Sciences), Ohio State University, 2024

M.A. in Communication, Ohio State University, 2020

B.A. in Film Studies and Communication, Ohio State University, 2018

Research

Dr. Riggs’ research takes an information processing approach to communication phenomena by focusing on the critical role of attention in today’s complex media environment. She examines how the content and delivery of messages impact people’s processing capacity, allocation of attention, and use of message information in their decision-making across strategic communication contexts including health, science, and political communication. Additionally, her approach emphasizes quantitative measurement, applying methods such as experiments, survey measures, eye-tracking, and reaction times to better understand individuals’ subjective and objective experiences with messages.

Courses Taught

COMM 216: Introduction to Strategic Communication

COMM 301: Introduction to Communication Messages

Selected Publications

Riggs, E.E., Coronel, J., & Shulman, H.C., (in press). Eye-tracking as a powerful tool for investigating language processing in messages. In T. Reimer, L. Van Swol, & A. Florak (Eds), The Routledge Handbook of Communication and Social Cognition. Routledge/Taylor and Francis.

Fort, K., Lopez, R., Shulman, H.C., Riggs, E.E., Cruz-Ibarra, J. (in press). The impacts of code-mixing in a cross-cultural narrative: How processing fluency impacts narrative engagement and racial attitudes. Communication Research.

Riggs, E.E., Shulman, H.C., & Lopez, R. (2022). Using infographics to reduce the negative effects of jargon on intentions to vaccinate against COVID-19. Public Understanding of Science, 31(6), 751-675. https://doi.org/10.1177/09636625221077385 

Shulman, H.C., Bullock, O.M., & Riggs, E.E. (2021). The interplay of jargon, motivation, and fatigue while processing COVID-19 crisis communication over time. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 40, 546-573. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0261927X211043100 

Riggs, E.E., & Knobloch-Westerwick, S. (2023). Losing awareness of our surroundings? The role of attention during transportation into audio narratives. Journal of Media Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-1105/a000400 

Riggs, E.E. & Knobloch-Westerwick, S. (2024). Beyond the text: Testing narrative persuasion mechanisms with audio messages. Mass Communication and Society, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2022.2065304 

Honors and Awards

· Walter B. Emery Award for Excellence in Research, Ohio State University (2022)

· Top Paper for the Communication and Social Cognition division of NCA (2024)

· Top Paper for the Communication Science and Biology division of the International Communication Association Conference (2023)

· Top Paper for the Communication Science and Biology division of the International Communication Association Conference (2022)

· Top Paper for the Communication and Social Cognition division of the National Communication Association Conference (2021)

· Top Student Paper for the Information Systems division of the International Communication Association Conference (2021)