Opportunities and Pitfalls of Computational Communication Science for International Risk and Crisis Communication Research

Abstract

Crises are becoming more global, prompting a need for an international dimension of risk and crisis communication research. Computational communications science (CCS) provides new possibilities to analyze international risk and crisis communication at scale. However, computational methods are often associated with limitations, including missing analytical depth, a lack of theoretical foundation, validity issues, and insufficient attention to ethical considerations. Specific challenges in international risk and crisis communication research include the complexity of multilingual analysis or the adaptation of procedures to less widely spoken languages. While CCS tools are inexpensive and accessible, they can reinforce inequalities unless there is a push for free access to tools, data, and researcher training. Thus, the impact of CCS on international risk and crisis communication research depends on our approach, implementation, and prioritization.