Elizabeth L. Petrun Sayers

Behavioral and Social Scientist

Off Site Office

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

One Page Bio

Overview

Elizabeth "Liz" L. Petrun Sayers is a behavioral and social scientist at the RAND Corporation. 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 been published in journals such as BMC Public Health, Journal of Emergency Management, Journal of Risk Research, Journal of Applied Communication Research, Journal of Health Communication, and Management Research Review. Petrun Sayers is an experienced instructor and has taught a variety of communication courses to undergraduate and graduate students. Petrun Sayers received her Ph.D. in communication from the University of Kentucky.

Research Focus

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

Romanosky, S., & Petrun Sayers, E. L., "Enterprise risk management: How do firms integrate cyber risk?" Management Research Review

Chari, R., Sauter, S. L., Petrun Sayers, E.L., Huang, W., Fisher, G. G., & Chang, C. C., "Development of the national institute for occupational safety and health worker well-being questionnaire," Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Petrun Sayers, E. L., Anthony, K. E., Tom, A., Kim, A. Y., & Armstrong, C. , "‘We will rise no matter what’: community perspectives of disaster resilience following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico," Journal of Applied Communication Research

Petrun Sayers, E. L., Craig, C. A., Skonicki, E., Gahlon, G., Gilbertz, S., & Feng, S., "Evaluating STEM-based sustainability understanding: A cognitive mapping approach," Sustainability

Petrun Sayers, E. L., Bouskill, K. E., Concannon, T. W., & Martin, L. T., "Creating culture-centered health and health insurance literacy resources: lessons learned from Haitian Creole, Mandarin, Native American, and Vietnamese communities," Journal of Communication in Healthcare Strategies, Media and Engagement in Global Health

Clark-Ginsburg, A., & Petrun Sayers, E. L. , "Communication missteps during COVID‐19 hurt those already most at risk," Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management

Petrun Sayers, E. L., Parker, A. M., Ramchand, R., Finucane, M. L., Parks, V. A., Seelam, R. , "Reaching vulnerable populations in the disaster prone U.S. Gulf Coast: Communicating across the crisis lifecycle," Journal of Emergency Management, 17(4), 2019

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

Honors & Awards

Applied Communication Research Division Top Paper Award, National Communication Association
Westley Award for Excellence in Mass Communication Theory and Research, University of Kentucky
College of Communication and Information Graduate Teaching Award, University of Kentucky

Commentary

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Coronavirus Outbreak Intensifies: Q&A with RAND Experts
Cases of the coronavirus have now spread to several dozens of countries, infecting thousands and thousands of people across the globe. With concerns about the disease rising, we asked a group of RAND researchers to answer a wide range of questions about the crisis.
Mar 5, 2020
Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy

After the March for Science: What Now?
Politicized rhetoric may imply otherwise, but scientific expertise and civic participation are not at odds with each other. As the scientific community decides how to respond to shifting political attitudes about science, it's time to focus on a long-term strategy for science policy in the United States.
Apr 26, 2017
United Press International

Publications

Journal Article
Enterprise Risk Management: How Do Firms Integrate Cyber Risk?
Cyber risk has attracted boardroom-level attention. However, many cyber incidents cost companies less than 1% of annual revenues. Therefore, we examine how companies integrate cyber risk into their enterprise risk management practices.
May 26, 2023
Tool
Command Narrative Smart Guide
This quick reference provides the big-picture basics for successful command narrative development and deployment.
Nov 15, 2021
Report
Developing, Disseminating, and Assessing Command Narrative: Anchoring Command Efforts on a Coherent Story
Drawing on the scientific literature and lessons learned from the joint force, the authors of this report describe best practices for the effective use of command narrative.
Nov 15, 2021
Tool
Citizen Science for Disasters: A Guide for Community Groups
This toolkit provides guidance to community groups on engaging with disaster citizen science to support public health preparedness.
Sep 29, 2021
Tool
Citizen Science for Disasters: A Guide for Local Health Departments
This toolkit provides guidance to local health departments on engaging with disaster citizen science to support public health preparedness.
Sep 29, 2021
Journal Article
Creating Culture-Centered Health and Health Insurance Literacy Resources: Lessons Learned from Haitian Creole, Mandarin, Native American, and Vietnamese Communities
A culture-centered approach to health literacy programs enhances meaningful and effective health communication.
May 26, 2021
Journal Article
How Disasters Drive Media Channel Preferences: Tracing News Consumption Before, During, and After Hurricane Harvey
Understanding public media channel preferences can inform preparedness plans, response strategies, and long-term recovery.
2021
Journal Article
Communication Missteps During COVID-19 Hurt Those Already Most at Risk
Emergency risk communication is a crucial part responding to crises, but it's also a critical part of preventing negative outcomes from communication missteps.
Dec 17, 2020
Report
Community Planning and Capacity Building in Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria: Predisaster Conditions, Hurricane Damage, and Courses of Action
The authors detail the status of Puerto Rico's communities leading up to Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the storms' impact on them, and 15 courses of action to improve their capacity for emergency preparedness, communication, and recovery planning.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Building Community Resilience to Large Oil Spills: Findings and Recommendations from a Synthesis of Research on the Mental Health, Economic, and Community Distress Associated with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
In this report, the authors explore how communities, government officials, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, and scientists can build community resilience to large oil spills.
Jul 6, 2020
Report
Cross-Agency Evaluation of DoD, VA, and HHS Mental Health Public Awareness Campaigns: Analysis of Campaign Scope, Content, and Reach
This report evaluates efforts by four public awareness campaigns to overcome negative perceptions and promote awareness of mental health disorders and their treatment, with a focus on military and veteran populations.
Jan 29, 2020
Research Brief
Evaluating Public Awareness Campaigns to Promote Military and Veteran Mental Health
This brief describes the results of an interim evaluation that examined the scope, content, and dissemination of mental health public awareness campaigns. RAND researchers conducted a comprehensive evaluation of four such efforts.
Jan 29, 2020
Research Brief
Make the Connection: Findings and Recommendations
This brief is one in a series examining mental health public awareness campaigns' messages, consistency of messaging in their materials, and tools used to deliver content to audiences. This brief discusses materials from the Make the Connection.
Jan 29, 2020
Research Brief
Real Warriors Campaign: Findings and Recommendations
This brief is one in a series examining mental health public awareness campaigns' messages, consistency of messaging in their materials, and tools used to deliver content to audiences. This brief discusses materials from the Real Warrior Campaign.
Jan 29, 2020
Research Brief
Recovery Month: Findings and Recommendations
This brief is one in a series examining mental health public awareness campaigns' messages, consistency of messaging in their materials, and tools used to deliver content to audiences. This brief discusses materials from Recovery Month.
Jan 29, 2020
Research Brief
Veterans Crisis Line: Findings and Recommendations
This brief is one in a series examining mental health public awareness campaigns' messages, consistency of messaging in their materials, and tools used to deliver content to audiences. This brief discusses materials from the Veterans Crisis Line.
Jan 29, 2020
Journal Article
Sustainable Development in International Markets: A Metrics-Based Case Study
This research-based case takes a sustainable development approach by exploring social, environmental, and economic characteristics of a top global economy and an emerging economy.
Jan 28, 2020
Report
An Implementation and Impact Evaluation of From Coverage to Care
The authors present their analysis of From Coverage to Care's effectiveness in meeting its goals of helping consumers understand their health insurance and connect to care and supporting organizations as they aid consumers in this process.
Nov 5, 2019
Journal Article
Enhancing Community Preparedness: An Inventory and Analysis of Disaster Citizen Science Activities
Disaster citizen science, or the use of scientific principles and methods by "non-professional" scientists or volunteers, may be a promising way to enhance public health emergency preparedness and build community resilience.
Oct 30, 2019
Journal Article
Reaching Vulnerable Populations in the Disaster-Prone US Gulf Coast: Communicating Across the Crisis Lifecycle
This article discusses results from a 2016 survey of Gulf Coast residents to explore potential vulnerabilities and resilience-building capacities in the region.
Aug 21, 2019
Journal Article
Advancing STEM-Based Business Sustainability: Mending the Curricular Gap
Businesses are increasingly facing economic, social, and environmental sustainability challenges. This article discusses STEM-based business sustainability curricula to help educators prepare students.
Jul 3, 2019
Journal Article
Building Clean Energy Support with Young Millennials in the United States
This study analyzes awareness of local clean energy initiatives, risk perceptions, environmental messaging, and environmental orientation influence young millennial support for federal clean energy policy and taxes.
Jul 3, 2019
Journal Article
A Case Study of Climate Change, Extreme Weather Events, and Risk Communication in a Coastal Community
A longitudinal case study with a single location design was used to explore the relationships between climate change, extreme events, and economic outcomes for a coastal business located in the southeastern U.S.
Jul 3, 2019
Journal Article
The Impact of Climate and Weather on a Small Tourism Business: A wSWOT Case Study
This teaching case explores the impact of climatic trends and weather on one location of an outdoor tourism industry business in the coastal community of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Jul 3, 2019
Journal Article
Expanding The Paradigm of Occupational Safety And Health: A New Framework For Worker Well-Being
Defining, promoting, and evaluating worker well-being is a complex undertaking requiring partnerships and commitments across employers, individuals, and communities.
May 22, 2018
Report
The Science of Gun Policy: A Critical Synthesis of Research Evidence on the Effects of Gun Policies in the United States
This report synthesizes the available scientific evidence on the effects of various firearm policies on firearm deaths, violent crime, the gun industry, participation in hunting and sport shooting, and other outcomes.
Mar 2, 2018
Journal Article
The Role of Communication in Healthcare Systems and Community Resilience
Communication failures often contribute to emergency medicine breakdowns during crises. This article provides a systemic review to introduce emergency medicine providers to research-based best practices in risk and crisis communication.
2017
Journal Article
Assessing Against and Moving Past the "Funnel" Model of Counterterrorism Communication
Through numerous forms of media, terrorists are embracing new opportunities to spread the psychological impact of terrorism throughout the world. This article discusses the promise and challenges of counterterrorism communication efforts.
2016
Journal Article
Diffusing Portable Radiation Detectors Among First Responders
This article discusses police technology adoption and the ability to diffuse portable radiation detectors. Other impacts related to community resilience are discussed.
2016
Journal Article
Using an Inoculation Message Approach to Promote Public Confidence in Protective Agencies
This investigation tested the effectiveness of inoculation as a pre-crisis strategy in combating the effects of politically motivated violent acts.
2016

Multimedia

46:42

The Global Spread of COVID-19
Mar 4, 2020