The MEME Lab


The Media Effects, Misinformation, and Extremism (MEME) lab


The MEME research lab studies mass media effects with a focuse on misinformation, conspiracy theories and extremism.

We employ a mixed-method approach, combining novel computational methods for text and network analysis with traditional quantitative and qualitative methods for social science research, including experiments, surveys, and time-series analysis.

Our members, interests, and work are diverse, inovative and multidisciplinary by design (we contain multitudes, as Walt Whitman said). We currently focus on:

  • An analysis of online extremism platforms, such as Stormfront and Daily Stormer
  • Online Hashtag activism campaigns on Twitter
  • Ways to improve science communications
  • Political and electoral discourse on news and social media
  • The journalistic use of media frames, in areas such as COVID19 and social protests.

YOTAM OPHIR


Head of lab


Dr. Yotam Ophir (Ph.D., 2018, The Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania) is an Assistant Professor of Communication at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York.


His work focuses on media effects, persuasion, misinformation, and extremism. His work combines a mixture of methods including computational text analysis, expertimental designs, surveys, time series analysis, and network analysis.


ResearchGate Profile

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ANITA LIU


Ph.D. Student


Anita Kuei-Chun Liu is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Communication at University at Buffalo. She received her MA in Communication and Information Studies from Rutgers University.


Her research interests include the intersection of political and health communication. Currently, she is looking into the use of hashtag activism, using computational text analysis and network analysis, with a focus on the #TaiwanCanHelp campaign during COVID-19.


ResearchGate Profile

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RUI WANG


Ph.D. Student


Rui Wang is a Ph.D. student at University at Buffalo, at the Department of Communication. Her current interests are political communication, media effect and computational social science.


Her current research project explores whether automated journalism could suppress the hostile media effect. She has a three year teaching experience in digital communication major at Anhui Normal University.


ResearchGate Profile

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RAPHA VELHO


Ph.D. Student


Raphaela M. Velho is a Ph.D. student at University at Buffalo, at the Department of Communication. Her current interests includ misinformation, media effects, and political communication.


Her current research examines misconceptions and issues of measurement around the construct of vaccine hesitancy, as well as extremism discourse on social media platforms such as 4Chan and 8Chan.


ResearchGate Profile

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SHU-AN TSAI


Ph.D. Student


Shu-An Tsai is a Ph.D. Shu-An Tsai is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Political Science at University at Buffalo. She studies voting behavior, political communication, democratization in East Asia, and politics in the US, Taiwan, and South Korea. She is also interested in programming in R and Python.


She is currently working on a project investigating communication and voting behavior, and a project about the influence of international media on US foreign policy.


ResearchGate Profile

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TAHLEEN LATTIMER


Ph.D. Student


Tahleen Lattimer is a Ph.D. student at University at Buffalo, at the Department of Communication. Her research explores the relationship between health and media as it relates to minority populations.


Specifically, her recent projects include exploring how engagement in popular media can shape attitudes towards those with disabilites and subsequent disability/health-related issues. She also examines how social media can be utilized as a tool for education and activism around health topics


ResearchGate Profile

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EMILY LAPAN


M.A. Student


Emily Lapan is aa M.A. student at University at Buffalo, at the Department of Communication. Her current interests are political communication, media effect and misinformation.


Her current work explores online discourse around Alzheimer's and dementia, as well as extremism discourse around gender on platforms such as Reddit and Stormfront.


ResearchGate Profile

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