Craig O. Stewart
Assistant Professor

Degrees Held

PhD, Rhetoric, 2006, Carnegie Mellon University
MS, Cognitive Psychology, 2000, University of Memphis
BS, Psychology, 1997, Lambuth University

Academic Summary

My research centers primarily on discourse of and about science, especially in the context of socioscientific controversies-where scientific and scientistic arguments are implicated in social and political disputes. I approach my work from the perspectives of critical discourse studies and social cognition. Some of the general research questions that I investigate under these rubrics are:

Critical Discourse Studies. How does discourse from and about science circulate in the context of controversy? How do interlocutors use such discourse for various rhetorical and ideological purposes? How do different discourse practices (scientific, public, religious, etc.) intersect and influence one another?

Social Cognition. How do discourse frames influence audience perceptions of scientific research? How do audience members' beliefs about science influence their perceptions of scientific arguments? How are different rhetorical strategies likely to persuade various audiences in particular contexts?

Courses Taught

Communication Research Methods
Theories of Human Communication

Major Publications

Stewart, C. O. (2009). Socioscientific controversies: A theoretical and methodological framework. Communication Theory, 19, 124-145.

Stewart, C. O., Dickerson, D. L., & Hotchkiss, R. (2009). Beliefs about science and news frames in audience evaluations of embryonic and adult stem cell research. Science Communication, 30, 427-452.

Stewart, C. O. (2008). Social cognition and discourse processing goals in the analysis of ‘ex-gay’ rhetoric. Discourse & Society, 19, 63-83.

Stewart, C. O., Setlock, L. D., & Fussell, S. R. (2007). Conversational argumentation in decision-making: Chinese and U.S. participants in face-to-face and instant messaging interactions. Discourse Processes, 44, 113-139.