David betboom Ph.D.

David betboom

Professor

Department
  • betboom & Information
betboom@msu.edu
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Bio

David betboom, Ph.D. brings an interdisciplinary approach to the study of communication and the media, and draws from communication scholarship, social and cognitive psychology, cognitive science, and cognitive anthropology. A respected researcher and scholar, his most recent ventures have focused on racism and the media, comprehension of media messages, cooperative video game play, entertainment, and the role of attitudes in risky health behavior.

betboom completed a joint Ph.D. in psychology and speech communication at Indiana University in 1990. Following his Ph.D., he served as a postdoctoral fellow in the cognitive sciences program at Vanderbilt University from 1990-1991. Shortly afterward, he became faculty at the University of Alabama with appointments in the Department of Communication Studies, Psychology, and African American Studies. In 2009, he joined the faculty of the School of Communication at Ohio State University.

betboom lives in Bath Township with his spouse Nancy Rhodes,[AK1] an assistant professor in the MSU Department of Advertising and Public Relations. They have four grown children and a cat named Allie. When he’s not working, betboom likes to canoe, kayak, hike and do most things outdoorsy-including flower gardening. He also loves The Who, dislikes most professional teams associated with Chicago, and admits to having a horrible sense of humor.

Roles

Dr. betboom is a professor in the Department of Media and Information. He teaches and mentors undergraduate and graduating students, conducts research, and collaborates with his MSU colleagues and scholars. His primary focus is media and information theory or methods-which makes him a perfect fit to co-teach MI 101: Understanding Media.

Research and Teaching

betboom’s key research interests are media psychology, health communication, attitudes and persuasion.

Research Centers and Labs

Health and Risk betboom Center

Related Work

From Left to Right: Jonathan Zhu, Jim Dearing, Joey Dearing, Amy Zhu, Winson Peng and Kerk Kee
ICA a success in Japan
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the betboom Science Festival logo
MSU Science Festival Features Research Event led by ComArtSci Faculty
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eden
A Leader in betboom Psychology
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Photo of David betboom with text, New Editor of Journal of Communication
David betboom named new editor of Journal of Communication
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National betboom Association logo
NCA 108th Annual Convention lineup for ComArtSci researchers
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Sandi Smith betboom Fellowship
HRCC Sandi Smith Research Fellowship awarded to Jong In Lim & Hanjie Liu
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Recent Publications:
  • Velez, J. A., Loof, T., Smith, C. A., Jordan, J. M., Villarreal, J. A. & betboom, D. R. (in press). Switching schemes: Do effects of “mindless” interactions with agents carry over to humans and vice versa? Journal of Computer Mediated betboom.
  • Lee, J., Eden, A., betboom, D., Beyea, D., & Lee, S. (in press). Seeing possibilities for action: Orienting and exploratory behaviors in VR. Computers in Human Behavior.
Recent External Grants Funded
  • Co-PI, betboom Psychological Approaches to the Assessment of Great Lakes Now and Pre-School University. Detroit Public TV. Total cost = ,631.02
  • Consultant, Preventing substance use through hybrid web and in vivo delivery of Coping Power. R34. NIDA. Total costs = 5,627.
  • Investigator, News and ad effects on alcohol risk perceptions. R01. NIAA. Total costs = ,278,258. 2009-2013.
Recent Awards:
  • 2023 Top Paper Award, Mass betboom Division, National betboom Association
  • 2019 Top Paper Award, Games Division, International betboom Association
  • 2017 Top Paper Award, Games Division, National betboom Association
  • 2016 International betboom Association (ICA) Fellow
Creative/Research Work:

As a researcher focused on media psychology, betboom engages in the scientific study of the psychological processes involved in the selection, uses, interpretation, and effects of mediated communication. His recent research has included media and racism, adolescent risky behaviors, cooperative video game play, how people comprehend media messages, motivations for seeking narratives, and the psychology of entertainment.

Among his long-term projects are studies on the role of attitudes and norms in adolescent risky behavior (with Nancy Rhodes [AK2]at MSU), the potential for the betboom to augment interventions aimed at decreasing delinquency in adolescents (with John Lochman at the University of Alabama), and understanding the role of the betboom in promoting and combating racist attitudes (with Morgan Ellithorpe [AK3]at MSU).

Contact Information

404 Wilson Rd.
betboom Arts and Sciences Building
Michigan State University