Research
Research
Our society currently faces various types of crises.
Emerging media technologies offer potential solutions to various crises, but unfortunately, some individuals exploit these tools to spread harmful content among the public.
My research is dedicated to understanding the motivations behind toxic online communication and exploring strategies to harness the power of new media technologies for improved public communication, particularily in the domains of polarized public issues (including health and environmental concerns). By mitigating the negative impacts of toxic behaviors while maximizing the advantages of emerging media technologies, we can foster a healthier and more beneficial online environment.
Online dark behaviors, such as trolling, uncivil commenting, or opinion polarization, have become a national epidemic and a major concern of the public. My research in this area focuses on why people engage in such behaviors and how to deter such behaviors.
Peer-reviewed Publications
Lee, S. Y. (2025). Do bored people engage in online trolling more actively? Exploring the role of dark personalities and boredom proneness. Personality and Individual Differences, 234, 112956.
Liu, W., Lee, S. Y., & Yao, M. (2024). Acceptance and self-protection in government, commercial, and interpersonal surveillance contexts: An exploratory study. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 18(4).
Lee, S. Y., Yao, M. Z., & Su, L. Y. F. (2021). Expressing unpopular opinion or trolling: Can dark personalities differentiate them?. Telematics and Informatics, 63, 101645.
Lee, S.Y., & Kim, J. (2022). What makes people more polarized? The effects of anonymity, being with like-minded others, and the moderating role of need for approval. Telematics and Informatics, 76, 101922.
Working Papers
Lee, S.Y. & Yao, M. (manuscript final edits. Target Journal: Human Communication Research). Social Identity, Dark Personalities, and Online Trolling.
Our society increasingly faces environmental concerns, including climate change. However, a group of people also doubt the environmental crisis that we encounter. My research in this area examines how to promote behaviors that can be helpful in preserving the environment and how to combat misperceptions about environmental issues prevalent in cyberspaces.
Peer-reviewed Publications
Lee, S. Y., Lee, H., & Park, S. (2024). The Roles of Media Platforms, Political Orientation and Climate Change Belief in Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Cross-Cutting Versus Like-Minded Exposure in the United States and South Korea. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 36(4), edae050.
Lee, S.Y., & Seo, Y.J. (2023). Does Tone of Comments Matter?: Exploring the Role of Uncivil Comments and Political Orientation on Weakening Belief in Fake News and Eliciting Anger. Communication Studies. Advanced online publication.
Ham, C. D., Chung, U. C., Kim, W. J., Lee, S. Y., & Oh, S. H. (2021). Greener than Others? Exploring Generational Differences in Green Purchase Intent. International Journal of Market Research. 64(3), 376-396.
Working Papers
Lee, S. Y., Seo Y., & Moon, C. (3rd R&R, Journal of Consumer Behaviour). Social Identity, Inoculation Message and Green Consumption among Climate Skeptics.
Lee, S.Y. (final edits. Target Journal: Social Media + Society). Multi-Theoretical Approaches to Understand Sharing Climate Change Conspiracy Theories on Social Media.
Emerging media technologies, such as social media, can be beneficial in persuading people to engage in health-preventive behaviors. At the same time, social media can bring detrimental impacts on the health communication process, as it can be used to deliver misinformation on health issues. My research in this area is to examine how to use emerging media effectively to decrease harm and increase the advantages of new media technology on health communication processes.
Peer-reviewed Publications
Lee, S. Y., & Liu, W. (2025). Exploring generative AI in the misinformation Era: Impacts as a misinformation source and fact-checker on belief in the information. Telematics and Informatics, 102308.
Lee, S.Y., Kim, S.J., Lee, H. & Chock, T. M. (2022). Why People Became Hostile during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Roles of Social Media Information Exposure and Blame Attribution. Mass Communication and Society. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2022.2095917
Oh, S. H., Lee, S. Y., & Han, C. (2021). The effects of social media use on preventive behaviors during infectious disease outbreaks: The mediating role of self-relevant emotions and public risk perception. Health Communication, 36(8), 972-981. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2020.1724639 * Top 5 Most-Read Articles in Health Communication from 2010 to 2020.
Working Papers
Oh, SH., Lee, S.Y., Kim, W.J., Chung, U.C., & Ham, C.D. (manuscript submitted to Health Communication, under review after 2nd R&R). Exploring the Effects of Different Media Platforms on Health Prevention for E-cigarettes Among Young Adults: Applying Influence of Presumed Media Influence (IPMI) and Differential-Impact Hypothesis.
Oh, SH., Lee, S.Y. (data analysis finished & draft writing). The Impact of Misinformation on People’s Vaccination Intention during the COVID-19 Crisis.