Reports on diffusion studies following major and minor papal encyclicals. The results suggest that the relevance and salience of the information is more predictive of diffusion than is news value. (TO)

This paper explores certain findings of a DAIR (Drug Abuse Information Research) project undertaken at the University of Connecticut which is investigating the dissemination and impact of drug abuse information. Specifically, findings regarding audience response to persuasive antidrug abuse messages on television are discussed. On the basis of the…

Criticism of the role of the media in the dissemination of drug abuse information demonstrates a need for investigating the message characteristics of televised public service announcements criticizing the use of drugs. An analysis of anti-drug commercials telecast in Connecticut in December 1971 indicates that drug abuse messages are primarily…

Compares the roles of traditional media and nonmedia sources in disseminating information on drug abuse and treatment among college students. (TO)

Information forecasting provides a means of anticipating future message needs of a society or predicting the necessary types of information that will allow smooth social functioning. Periods of unrest and uncertainty in societies contribute to "societal information overload," whereby an abundance of information channels can create communication…

A large proportion of those who seek drug abuse information from a telephone hotline service have immediate drug information needs, either for themselves or to assist others. Requests for general or pharmacological information are less frequent. Content analysis was applied in a study of telephone calls to a Hartford, Connecticut, "drug abuse…

Drug dealers are often popularly stereotyped as "pushers" who actively engage in enticing young people into the drug habit, but there have been no scientific studies of their behavior or their attitudes on drug abuse or public health. In an attempt to gain information about behavior characteristics and communication patterns of middle…

Much information about drug abuse and other controversial social problems comes from sources other than radio, television, or the press. In addition to private and government agencies that provide "walk-in" services and responses to correspondence, there are special telephone hotline services that give information on topics such as drugs…

Social science researchers and policy makers are not oriented toward supporting one another or sharing information that might be useful in solving social problems. Only recently have public funding agencies supported social science communication research; previously such funding came through private agencies. It seems likely that funds will…