Department of Political Science

Double Screening During Presidential Debates: Nonverbal Communications and Online Expressions

Dr. Miao Guo, Associate Professor, Digital Media & Design

Nonverbal communication in politics is akin to dark matter in the universe: omnipresent and influential, shaping how citizens respond to political events, assess politicians, and engage in political life. This talk focuses on analyzing the second (Donnald Trump vs. Kamala Harris) and third (J.D. Vance vs. Tim Walz) 2024 presidential/vice presidential debates to assess how candidates’ nonverbal communications influence viewers’ “second screen” reactions – their use of computers, tablets, and mobile devices to share responses on YouTube during the viewing experience. It explores the connection between candidates’ on-screen facial expressions and gestures and the resulting social media activity. This study utilizes iMotion’s AFFDEX algorithms for facial expression analysis (EFA) to decode the facial emotions of each candidate for nonverbal communication. Furthermore, BERTopic modeling is used for YouTube comment analysis, which is a topic modeling technique that leverages BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers), a powerful language model developed by Google. 

What We Learned About America

John Murphy, Assistant Professor-in-Residence, Digital Media & Design

Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking exploration of the 2024 presidential election through the lens of digital analysis. This talk will unpack key takeaways from the election, including the economic frustrations that shaped voter behavior, the waning influence of identity politics, and the dominance of new media and disinformation in shaping public opinion. Professor Murphy will address why critical issues like AI, reproductive rights, and climate change were sidelined and how political parties must adapt to resonate with a disillusioned middle class. Discover how a class-based approach could unite Americans across divides and combat the influence of big money and corporate power in politics. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain fresh insights into the future of democracy in the digital age.

Speaker Bios:

Dr. Miao Guo is an Associate Professor in the Digital Media & Design Department. Her research interests include audience behavior analysis, data analytics, communication technologies, as well as media economics and management. She has published articles in the Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, International Journal on Media Management, Journal of Media Business Studies, Journalism Practice, and Media and Communication, among others. Dr. Guo’s research work has been funded by industry sponsors including Time Warner Company. She also received the 2023 Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Research Grant Award, the 2016 BEA New Faculty Research Award, and the 2013 Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Emerging Scholar Award. Dr. Guo is a Faculty Fellow of the National Association of Television Program Executives, International Radio and Television Society, and AEJMC’s Institute for Diverse Leadership. She has held leadership positions in professional associations including the BEA and AEJMC.

John Murphy is a passionate advocate for ethical technology and digital well-being. As an educator, entrepreneur, and ethicist, he is committed to empowering individuals and organizations to harness the power of technology responsibly. His research and teaching focus on the intersection of technology, society, and human values. By exploring topics such as digital ethics, AI, and social media, he aims to foster a future where technology is used to enhance human potential and create a more equitable world. John received his B.A. in Political Science from Providence College and his M.S. in Medical Informatics from Northwestern University. He is an Assistant Professor In-Residence in the Digital Media & Design department at the University of Connecticut where he has pioneered courses in Social Media Analytics and Digital Ethics.