On August 16th, HI released an independent study that analyzes the social media landscape surrounding the release of the documentary film, Bully. The study draws on data gathered over a five month period from link-shortening service, bitly, as well as from social media monitoring service and HI partner, Crimson Hexagon. HI research analyst, Alex Campolo, was the principle investigator. The report includes an examination of the effect of the film’s ratings controversy, audience responses over time, and the impact of “elite users” on social media.

The full report is available for download. For more information on this report and others, please see our case studies.

HI’s 2011 Junior Science Fellow Beth Karlin, along with Executive Director John S. Johnson, co-authored an article published in the December issue of M/C Journal. “Measuring impact: The importance of evaluation for documentary film campaigns” (full text) argues for a social science approach to understanding the influence of documentary film campaigns. As emerging technologies change film form and practice, social science evaluations are connecting audiences, funders, and filmmakers.

M/C Journal is a peer-reviewed publication exploring the meeting of media and culture. December’s “Impact” issue investigates how research can influence academic, political, and cultural agendas.

This month, one of the world’s foremost spiritual leaders was delivered The Psychology of Climate Change Communication, a guide co-authored in 2009 by Deputy Director Debika Shome, together with HI’s Columbia University research partner, the Center for Research on Environmental Decisions (CRED).

CRED Director Elke Weber met with Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso during the Mind and Life Conference, held October 17-21 in Dharamsala, India. Weber presented the guide as part of a larger dialogue between environmental scholars, scientists, and activists.

The 14th Dalai Lama has been outspoken in his commitment to the environment, and the conference examined issues of “ecology, ethics, and interdependence.” New York Times Dot Earth blogger Andrew Revkin reported on the conference, providing additional context and a short video of the event.

Harmony Institute’s communications guide, FTW! Net Neutrality For The Win: How Entertainment and the Science of Influence Can Save Your Internet, was released to the public June 2010 and has since been downloaded by over 3,000 supporters seeking to further understand and act on the looming threat posed to the open Internet. FTW! provides essential information communicators can use to create powerful messages and promote actions that secure net neutrality, supporting fair, balanced telecommunications policy reform.

The downloadable PDF and interactive online version of the guide are available at savemyinternet.com.

HI has partnered with the Center for Research on Environmental Decisions (CRED) at Columbia University to release one of the first guides that discusses how psychology and behavior research can address the limitations of the current conversation on climate change. The guide offers real world examples of psychological theory in action, as well as strategic and empirically based solutions.

Click here to download a PDF version of the guide.