About
The Communication, Health Information, Research and Practice (CHIRP) lab focuses on the connections between health communication and information, risk assessment, and health-related attitudes and behavioral outcomes. Led by Dr. Elisabeth Bigsby at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Dr. Shelly Hovick at The Ohio State University, CHIRP is the result of several years of collaboration.
Current Research
Our current research projects use a range of methods, including experimental research, survey research, systematic review, and meta-analysis. We conduct research at both universities and work with individuals both in person and online to learn more about information behaviors. This fall, we'll present some of our most recent work at the National Communication Association's annual convention (NCA 2025).
We also have several papers under review. One of those papers, led by one of our graduate student researchers, was recently accepted (full citation below).
Ryu, J. Y., Hovick, S. R., & Bigsby, E. (2026). Understanding drivers and effects of real-time information seeking
on meningitis knowledge and attitudes. Health Communication, 41(7), 1219-1230.
doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2025.2558075
Current Members
We work with graduate and undergraduate students from both The Ohio State University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Below is a list of current members in alphabetical order.
Past Members
Past members of CHIRP have gone on to amazing positions. Our two most recent members, who both successfully defended their doctoral dissertations at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, are now Assistant Professors.
Prior Research
Dr. Bigsby and Dr. Hovick’s prior research uses a variety of research methods and examines different health topics and behaviors. Below is a list of publications that inform their collaborative research efforts in the CHIRP lab.
Hovick, S. R., Rhodes, N., Bigsby, E., Thomas, S., & Freiberger, N. (2022). Exploring direct and indirect predictors of heart disease information seeking. Advance online publication. Journal of Communication in Healthcare. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538068.2022.2076549
Bigsby, E., Hovick, S. R., Tan, N. Q. P., Thomas, S. N., & Wilson, S. R. (2021). Information seeking and risk reduction intentions in response to environmental threat messages: The role of message processing. Risk Analysis. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.13857
Hovick, S. R., Bigsby, E., Wilson, S. R., & Thomas, S. N. (2021). Information seeking behaviors and intentions in response to environmental health risk messages: A test of a reduced risk information seeking model. Health Communication, 36(14), 1889-1897. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2020.1804139
Bigsby, E., & Hovick, S. R. (2018). Understanding associations between information seeking and scanning and health risk behaviors: An early test of the structural influence model. Health Communication, 33(3), 315-325. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2016.1266575
Hovick, S. R., & Bigsby, E. (2016). Heart disease and colon cancer prevention beliefs and their association with information seeking and scanning. Journal of Health Communication, 21(1), 76-84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2015.1049307
The Communication, Health Information, Research and Practice (CHIRP) lab focuses on the connections between health communication and information, risk assessment, and health-related attitudes and behavioral outcomes. Led by Dr. Elisabeth Bigsby at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Dr. Shelly Hovick at The Ohio State University, CHIRP is the result of several years of collaboration.
Current Research
Our current research projects use a range of methods, including experimental research, survey research, systematic review, and meta-analysis. We conduct research at both universities and work with individuals both in person and online to learn more about information behaviors. This fall, we'll present some of our most recent work at the National Communication Association's annual convention (NCA 2025).
We also have several papers under review. One of those papers, led by one of our graduate student researchers, was recently accepted (full citation below).
Ryu, J. Y., Hovick, S. R., & Bigsby, E. (2026). Understanding drivers and effects of real-time information seeking
on meningitis knowledge and attitudes. Health Communication, 41(7), 1219-1230.
doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2025.2558075
Current Members
We work with graduate and undergraduate students from both The Ohio State University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Below is a list of current members in alphabetical order.
Past Members
Past members of CHIRP have gone on to amazing positions. Our two most recent members, who both successfully defended their doctoral dissertations at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, are now Assistant Professors.
- Minhey Chung, Assistant Professor, Department of Integrated Strategic Communication, University of Kentucky
- Ji Youn "Jessica" Ryu, Assistant Professor, School of Communication, Oregon State University
Prior Research
Dr. Bigsby and Dr. Hovick’s prior research uses a variety of research methods and examines different health topics and behaviors. Below is a list of publications that inform their collaborative research efforts in the CHIRP lab.
Hovick, S. R., Rhodes, N., Bigsby, E., Thomas, S., & Freiberger, N. (2022). Exploring direct and indirect predictors of heart disease information seeking. Advance online publication. Journal of Communication in Healthcare. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538068.2022.2076549
Bigsby, E., Hovick, S. R., Tan, N. Q. P., Thomas, S. N., & Wilson, S. R. (2021). Information seeking and risk reduction intentions in response to environmental threat messages: The role of message processing. Risk Analysis. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.13857
Hovick, S. R., Bigsby, E., Wilson, S. R., & Thomas, S. N. (2021). Information seeking behaviors and intentions in response to environmental health risk messages: A test of a reduced risk information seeking model. Health Communication, 36(14), 1889-1897. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2020.1804139
Bigsby, E., & Hovick, S. R. (2018). Understanding associations between information seeking and scanning and health risk behaviors: An early test of the structural influence model. Health Communication, 33(3), 315-325. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2016.1266575
Hovick, S. R., & Bigsby, E. (2016). Heart disease and colon cancer prevention beliefs and their association with information seeking and scanning. Journal of Health Communication, 21(1), 76-84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2015.1049307