Communication and Media Faculty

Adam Rainear, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication and Media at West Chester University.  He teaches courses in media campaigns, media literacy, media and culture, and digital production. 

Dr. Rainear’s research examines communication during times of weather crises, with a particular interest in mediated risk communication using social media or new technology.  He is interested in investigating how different groups, such as the general public or emergency managers, use social media during extreme weather events.  His most recent publications have appeared in journals such as Journal of Emergency Management, Communication Research Reports, and Weather, Climate, & Society.

Selected Publications

Rainear, A.M., Jin, X., Edwards, A., Edwards, C., & Spence, P.R. (2022). A Robot, Meteorologist, and Amateur Forecaster Walk into a Bar: A Qualitative Exploration of a Weather Forecast Delivered via Social Robot. Communication Studies. Accepted.

Lachlan, K.L., Gilbert, C., Hutter, E., Rainear, A.M., & Spence P.R. (2022). Sex Differences in Informational Needs and Media Dependencies During the 2018 California Wildfires. Journal of Emergency Management. Accepted. 

Rainear, A.M., Lachlan, K.A., & Xu, Z. (2022). Storms of a Feather Tweet Together: An Exploratory Study Examining Houston-Area Emergency Management Communication on Twitter in Hurricane Harvey. Journal of Emergency Management. In press.

Rainear, A.M. & Christensen, J.L. (2021). Examining Pre-Existing Environmental Beliefs: Using a PSA to Investigate the Role of Self-Efficacy and Response Efficacy on Behavioral Intentions. Communication Studies. Accepted.

Spence, P.R., Edwards, C., Edwards, A., Rainear, A.M., & Jin, X. (2021). “They’re Always Wrong Anyway”: Exploring Differences of Credibility, Attraction, and Behavioral Intentions in Professional, Amateur, and Robotic-delivered Weather Forecasts. Communication Quarterly. 69:1, 67-86.

Rainear, A.M., & Lin, C.A. (2021). Communication Factors Influencing Flood-Risk Mitigation, Motivation, and Intention Among College Students. Weather, Climate, and Society. 13(1), 125-135. DOI: 10.1175/WCAS-D-20-0016.1

Xu, Z., Lachlan, K.A., Ellis, L., & Rainear, A.M. (2019). Understanding Public Opinion in Different Disaster Stages: A Case Study of Hurricane Irma. Internet Research. Vol. 30 No. 2, pp. 695-709. DOI: 10.1108/INTR-12-2018-0517

Rainear, A.M., Lachlan, K.A., Oeldorf-Hirsch, A., & DeVoss, C.L. (2018). Tweeting in the Face of Uncertainty: Examining Content of State Emergency Management During Hurricane Joaquin. Communication Research Reports. 35:4, 325-334, DOI:10.1080/08824096.2018.1503945

Rainear, A.M., Lachlan, K.A., & Lin, C.A. (2017). What's in a #Name? An Experimental Study Examining Perceived Credibility and Impact of Winter Storm Names. Weather, Climate, & Society, 9(4), 815-822. DOI: 10.1175/WCAS-D-16-0037.1

Rainear, A.M., & Christensen, J.L. (2017). Protection Motivation Theory as an Explanatory Framework for Pro-Environmental Behavioral Intentions. Communication Research Reports, 34:3, 239-248. DOI: 10.1080/08824096.2017.1286472

Spence, P.R., Lachlan, K.A., & Rainear, A.M. (2016). Social media and crisis research: Data collection and directions. Computers in Human Behavior, 54, 667–672. DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2015.08.045

Courses Taught

Public Speaking, SPK 208
Introduction to Video Production, MDC 217
Media Writing for Broadcast and Public Relations, MDC 252
Media Literacy, MDC 253
Media and Culture, MDC 254
Media Campaigns, MDC 423
Strategic Media Content, COM 561
First-Year Experience (Exploratory Studies), FYE 100

Recent Media Coverage

Featured in “Heat waves are becoming more common, should we change their definition?” (Page A1) The Press of Atlantic City. August 29, 2021

Featured in “Plan to protect NJ from rising seas calls for massive flood gates and home raising.” (Page A1) The Press of Atlantic City. August 20, 2021.

Featured in “24 weather advisories to be discontinued by the National Weather Service.” The Press of Atlantic City. March 15, 2021.

Research featured in “Heat wave ‘Hugo?’ New coalition seeks to name hot weather like hurricanes.” The Washington Post. Capital Weather Gang. August 6, 2020.

Featured in “A storm with a name makes people more aware of danger - Is this correct” de Volkskrant (Dutch-language). February 28, 2020.

Featured on “Hurricane Messaging” Something in the Air Podcast. October 15, 2019.

Quoted in “Farmers' Almanac calls for 'Polar coaster' winter. Will it happen?” (Page A1) The Press of Atlantic City. August 30, 2019.

Professional Memberships

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Central States Communication Association (CSCA)
National Communication Association (NCA)
International Communication Association (ICA)
American Meteorological Society (AMS)