Poster #11 - Analyzing Emotional Tone and Prevention Strategy Support in Social Media Reactions to K–12 School Violence

• In Event: ASC Poster Session I

Abstract

This study investigates social media conversations in the days following K–12 school shootings to examine which prevention strategies are discussed, how blame is attributed, and whether emotional tone is associated with specific strategies or attributions of blame. Particular attention is given to identifying which prevention strategies receive the most support on social media, what emotional tones dominate the discourse, how these emotions align with particular strategies or blame narratives, and whether these patterns vary by incident or over time. A quantitative content analysis was conducted on Facebook posts related to the five K–12 school shootings in the past five years that generated the highest number of Google searches, as identified by Google Trends: Oxford High School (MI), Covenant School (TN), Apalachee High School (GA), Abundant Life Christian School (WI), and Robb Elementary School (TX).

Authors

• Jennifer L. Lemanski, University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley

• Gordon A. Crews, University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley