A Causal Inference Institute in Communication Studies
Organizers: Shuning Lu, Ewa Maslowska, Harsh Taneja
This pre-conference builds on the momentum of the successful 2025 Blue Sky Workshop on causal inference. This event will move beyond introductory concepts to address practical applications and facilitate advanced discussions, with a focus on showcasing emerging scholarship.
Schedule Details
Welcome and Introduction
The Diffusion of Design-Based Causal Inference Methods Across Social Science Disciplines
King-wa Fu & Fankai Dai
About the Speaker: King-wa FU is a Professor at the School of Future Media, The University of Hong Kong. His research interests include China's information governance, media and political participation, computational social sciences, and health and the media.
Promise and Perils of Quasi-Experimental Design
The Example of Regression Discontinuity Design
This workshop discusses quasi-experimental designs as important tools for elevating communication theory through rigorous causal inference, followed by a practical deep dive into Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD).
Workshop Leader: Tian Yang, Assistant Professor at the School of Journalism and Communication, the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Application of Causality to Understanding Attention Dynamics
Using Influencers to Divert Attention
Jiacheng Huang
Structuring Attention Across Media Landscapes
Weihua Ma
Testimonial Visuality and Credibility
Eloisa Klein
Crisis, Communication, and Online Prosociality
Mingxuan Liu
Causal Validity & Innovation in Communication Research
Causal Inference in Hard-to-Reach Populations
Jessica Zier
Mitigating Confounder Bias in Visual Media
Xinyi Liu
Linking Digital Trace with Survey Data
Jack Lipei Tang
Sequences as Causes? Digital Trace Data
Yangliu Fan
Closing Remarks
Open floor discussions and closing remarks.