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Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2181-7077

Date Available

5-1-2026

Year of Publication

2026

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

College

Communication and Information

Department/School/Program

Communication

Faculty

America L. Edwards

Faculty

Renee Kaufmann

Abstract

As school shootings continue to rise across the United States, understanding how students respond to and share information during crises has become a critical concern for higher education institutions. While prior research has examined the role of students as first information responders (FIRs) during emergencies, few studies have investigated how these processes unfold among Black and non-Black students at predominantly white institutions (PWIs). This mixed methods study is a replication and extension of Omilion-Hodges and Edwards (2021), examining how undergraduate Black and non-Black students at PWIs evaluate, construct, and disseminate crisis-related messages, particularly during active-shooter events. Grounded in channel specification theory (CST) and McCroskey and Teven’s (1999) source credibility framework, this research explores how students perceive message credibility, engage in information verification, and balance institutional trust with communal responsibility. Quantitative methods assess how credibility dimensions and participation in the experiment shape anxiety levels before and after the experiment, while qualitative methods explain the nuanced ways in which students frame and share crisis information across digital platforms. By centering the experiences of Black and non-Black students, this project addresses longstanding gaps in crisis communication literature and offers practical insights for developing culturally responsive, emotionally intelligent, and effective crisis messaging strategies in higher education.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2026.255

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Archival

Funding Information

UNITE Research Priority Area. Students as First Responders of Information During Active Shootings. 2025. $500 (Pilot Project Small-Scale Funding, PI).

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