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How do we resolve conflicting ideas about how to protect our health during a pandemic? Prior knowledge influences our decisions, potentially creating implicit cognitive conflict with new, correct information. COVID-19 provides a natural condition for investigating how an individual's health-specific knowledge (e.g., understanding mask efficacy) and their personal context (e.g., outbreak proximity) influence their protective health behavior endorsement, as information about the virus, its spread, and lethality has changed over time. Using a dual-process-model framework, we investigated the role cognitive conflict has on health decision-making. We used a computer mousetracking paradigm alongside geographical information systems (GIS) as a proxy for context. The results support a contextualized-deficit-model framework in which relevant knowledge and context-based factors help individuals override cognitive conflict to make more preventative health decisions. Findings from this study may provide evidence for a more effective way for experts to combat non-adherence due to conflicting health information.

In theory, universities and college towns have a mutualistic relationship. However, the reality is far more complex and imbalanced. Our research examines the extent to which redevelopment projects are place-making, place marketing, or community-building projects. Can investment in infrastructure create community? To answer this question, we look at the relationship between the city of Kent, Ohio and Kent State University. As the college grew in the manufacturing town, tensions between the city and campus rose and were solidified with the 1970 shooting of students by the Ohio National Guard. After a $110M downtown redevelopment project, a 2013 New York Times article declared a healing of this town/gown divide, crediting the university and city partnership in redeveloping downtown. Interviews with key stakeholders consider the extent to which success of this project is measured by the construction of a college town community.

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