Graduate Studies, UNL

 

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

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First Advisor

Michael Hayes

Second Advisor

Deborah Bathke

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Committee Members

Heather Akin, Mark Svoboda

Department

Natural Resource Sciences

Date of this Version

4-27-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Citation

A dissertation presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy

Major: Natural Resource Sciences

Under the supervision of Professors Timothy Hayes and Deborah Bathke

Lincoln, Nebraska, May 2026

Comments

Copyright 2026, Lindsay Erin Johnson. Used by permission

Abstract

Effective drought management depends not only on the accuracy of scientific data, but also on how that information is communicated and understood by diverse audiences. This dissertation examines drought communication through the lens of science communication, with a focus on improving readability, accessibility, understandability, and usability of drought information. Using a manuscript-style format, three studies investigate how drought information is written, delivered, and applied. Chapter 1 provides a brief overview and outline of this dissertation. Chapter 2 evaluates the readability of the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) national narratives over almost 8 years. Results show that these narratives are consistently written above the average U.S. adult reading level, creating barriers to understanding. The study demonstrates that targeted plain-language revision, such as simplifying vocabulary and reducing sentence complexity, can significantly improve understandability and accessibility without compromising scientific accuracy. Chapter 3 examines how communication format influences how users understand and interpret drought information. Using a randomized experimental design, participants were assigned to one of three formats: an Original USDM narrative, an Edited plain-language narrative, or a multimedia Video. Results indicated that text-based formats (Original and Edited) had statistically significant higher comprehension and spatial understanding than the Video format. The plain-language Edited format improved comprehension and perceived understanding relative to the Original narrative, although differences were not statistically significant. The study also identified practical design considerations for multimedia video communication, including pacing, segmentation, and alignment between narration and visuals. Chapter 4 focuses on the application of drought information through the development of an improved drought climatology for New Mexico. U.S.A. By integrating multiple drought indicators and historical datasets, this study provides decision-relevant insights and demonstrates how complex drought data and information can be translated into usable information. Finally, in Chapter 5, I provide a brief conclusion of the findings and areas for future research. Together, these findings highlight the importance of user-centered communication and demonstrate that improving drought communication requires attention to how information is written, presented, and applied. This research provides practical guidelines and contributes to advancing both drought science and drought communication.

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