Elizabeth Petrun Sayers

Elizabeth "Liz" L. Petrun Sayers is a behavioral and social scientist at the RAND Corporation and co-director of the RAND Center for Qualtitative and Mixed Methods. She has experience researching risk-related topics and studies how traditional and new media shape risk perceptions, decisionmaking, and behaviors. Her current research focuses on understanding how individuals respond to health, security, and environmental risks. Petrun Sayers' research has been supported by grants and contracts from multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Defense (DOD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Science Foundation (NSF), among others. Her work has most recently been published in Review of Communication, Journal of Risk Research, and Journal of Applied Communication Research. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Petrun Sayers received her Ph.D. in communication from the University of Kentucky.

Research Focus

• Community Resilience;Decisionmaking;Disaster Recovery Operations;Emergency Preparedness;Health Risk Behaviors;Media Influences on Health;Natural Hazards
• Concurrent Non-RAND Positions
• Research Affiliate, National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START); Lecturer, University of Pennsylvania

Recent Projects

CDC Emergency Risk Communication Process and Outcome Measures Pilot Testing Project * STEM-Based Applied Organizational Sustainability Curriculum Development: Integrating Business, Climate Science, and the Natural Environment * Assessment of Mental Health Campaigns: Evaluating the Impact of Efforts to Reduce Negative Perceptions About Mental Health Conditions and Treatment and Increase Awareness of Resources * Consortium for Resilient Gulf Communities * Evaluation of the From Coverage to Care Initiative

Selected Publications

Paul, C., & Petrun Sayers, E. L., "Assessing against and moving past the “funnel” model of counterterrorism communication," The Journal of Defence Strategic Communication, 2016

Liu, B. F., Roberts, H., Petrun Sayers, E. L., Ackerman, G., Smith, D., & Iles, I., "Preparing for the worst: Public perceptions of risk management innovations," Journal of Risk Research, 2016

Ivanov, B., Burns, W. J., Sellnow, T. L., Petrun Sayers, E. L., Veil, S. R., & Mayorga, M. W., "Using an inoculation message approach to promote public confidence in protective agencies," Journal of Applied Communication Research, 44(4), 2016

Petrun, E. L., Iles, I., Roberts, H., Liu, B. F., & Ackerman, G., "Diffusing controversial technology: Barriers, incentives, and lessons learned," Review of Communication, 15(2), 2015

Fowler, B., Iles, I., Fisher Liu, B., Roberts, H., Petrun, E. L., & Ackerman, G. "Diffusing portable radiation detectors among first responders: Device acceptance and implications for community resilience," in U. Kumar, Resilience: A Psychosocial Perspective, Routledge, 2016

Petrun, E. L. "The tension of controlling the narrative: Construing and mis-construing risk message," in R. Littlefield & T. L. Sellnow, Risk and crisis communication: Navigating the tensions between organizations and the public, Lexington Books, 2015

Honors & Awards

• UK Opportunity Fellowship, University of Kentucky
• Westley Award for Excellence in Mass Communication Theory and Research, University of Kentucky
• College of Communication and Information Graduate Teaching Award, University of Kentucky

Education

B.A. in integrated strategic communication; advertising and sociology; classical, University of Kentucky; Graduate Certificate in health communication, University of Kentucky; M.A. in communication; mass media, risk, crisis, University of Kentucky; Ph.D. in communication; science, strategic, organizational, University of Kentucky