Ali Zain

Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications

• Karami, A., Zain, A., & Jamal, A. (2025). Unveiling the information mirage: A systematic literature review of health misinformation on social media. Journal of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-025-02639-2
• Jun, J., Zain, A., Kim, M., & Thrasher, J. (2025). Message valence, industry influence, and stakeholder narratives in global conversations on tobacco harm reduction: Content analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research. https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e77676
• Zain, A., Wen, T., & Ittefaq, M. (2025). Online endorsed misinformation about climate change: Examining the relationship between heuristic cues of perceived expertise, message style, and bandwagon to assess message credibility and sharing intentions. Cogent Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2025.2559860
• Jun, J., Zain, A., Wen, T., Alharbi, K., & Thrasher, J. (2025). The influence of the US FDA authorized modified exposure claim on heuristic processing of tobacco risk information and marketing message among young adults. Health Communication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2025.2543575
• Ittefaq, M., Zain, A., Arif, R., Ahmad, T., Khan, L., & Seo, H. (2025). Factors influencing international students’ adoption of generative artificial intelligence: The mediating role of perceived values and attitudes. Journal of International Students. https://doi.org/10.32674/fnwdpn48
• Jun, J., Kim, M., Zain, A., Alharbi, K., Kim, J., Ford, R., & Thrasher, J. (2025). Exploring US college students’ perceived credibility of the world’s largest tobacco company’s promise for smoke-free future. Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2025.2472207
• Ittefaq, M., Zain, A., Arif, R., Ala-Uddin, M., Ahmad, T., & Azhar, I. (2025). Global news media coverage of artificial intelligence: A comparative analysis of frames, trends, and sentiments across 12 countries. Telematics and Informatics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2024.102223
• Kim, S. H., Kotva, Z., Zain, A., & Chen, Y. (2024). Black Lives Matter and partisan media. Journalism and Media. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010006
• Ittefaq, M., Vu, H., Zain, A., Ramazan, T., & Kreps, G. (2024). Analysis of public opinion polls about COVID-19 vaccines: Theoretical and policy implications for vaccine communication and campaigns to address vaccine hesitancy. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2024.2437921
• Ittefaq, M., Zain, A., & Bokhari, H. (2023). Opioids as comedy: Exploring topics, sentiments, and engagement in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on YouTube. Journal of Health Communication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2023.2176575
• Jun, J., Wickersham, K., Zain, A., Ford, R., Zhang, N., Ciccarelli, C., Kim, S., & Liang, C. (2023). Cancer and COVID-19 vaccines on Twitter: The voice and vaccine attitude of cancer community. Journal of Health Communication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2023.2168800
• Kim, S., Oh, S., Zain, A., Heo, Y., & Jun, J. (2023). Transition from idealized science to culture of skepticism in South Korea: Micro-level evidence for the two-culture model of public understanding of science. International Journal of Public Opinion Research. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpor/edad026
• Chen, Y., Long, J., Jun, J., Kim, S., Zain, A., & Piacentine, C. (2023). Anti-intellectualism amid the COVID-19 pandemic: The dynamics of anti-Fauci discourse on Twitter. Public Understanding of Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/09636625221146269
• Zain, A., & Ciccarelli, C. (2023). Political partisanship and belief in misinformation: Operationalizing theory of planned behavior to predict intentions to quit social media. Southwestern Mass Communication Journal, 39(1). https://doi.org/10.58997/smc.v39i1.111
• Zain, A. (2023). Celebrity capital and social movements: A textual analysis of Bollywood celebrities’ tweets on 2020-21 Indian farmers’ protest. Southern Communication Journal. https://doi.org/10.1080/1041794X.2022.2160006
• Dino Gidreta, A., Binark, M., Ozsu, G., & Zain, A. (2022). Trusts and doubts in Africa over Belt and Road Initiative: A thematic content analysis of opinions in Ethiopian Twittersphere. Etkileşim, 5(9), 12–35. https://doi.org/10.32739/etkilesim.2022.5.9.153
• Jun, J., Zain, A., Chen, Y., & Kim, S. H. (2022). Adverse mentions, negative sentiment, and emotions in COVID-19 vaccine tweets and their association with vaccination uptake: Global comparison of 192 countries. Vaccines, 10(5), 735. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10050735
• Jun, J., Zhang, N., Zain, A., & Mohammadi, E. (2022). Social media discussions on the FDA’s modified risk tobacco product authorization of IQOS. Substance Use & Misuse, 57(3), 472-480. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2021.2019777
• Jun, J., Fitzpatrick, M. A., Zain, A., & Zhang, N. (2022). Have e-cigarette risk perception and cessation intent of young adult users changed during the pandemic? American Journal of Health Behavior, 46(3), 304-314. https://doi.org/10.5993/AJHB.46.3.9
• Zain, A. (2021). (Re)Production of Hindutva-driven populism in India: An analysis of Bharatiya Janata Party’s political messaging in Twittersphere. The Journal of Asian Studies, 5(2), 179-194. https://doi.org/10.34189/asyam.5.2.005
• Zain, A., Ozsu, G., Binark, M., & Dino Gidreta, A. (2020). China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and technicians of opinion in Pakistani Twittersphere: A thematic content analysis. The Journal of Asian Studies, 4(1), 9-28. https://doi.org/10.34189/asyam.4.1.002
• Zain, A. (2019). Rise of Modi’s tech-populism in India. Moment Journal, 6(1), 199-208. https://doi.org/10.17572/mj2019.1.199208

Peer-Reviewed Conference Presentations

• Zain, A., Kim, M., & Jun, J. (2025, June). The role of policy support, automation experience, and trust in the adoption of automated vehicles: An extension of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology. Paper presented at the 75th Annual International Communication Association Conference, Denver, CO.
• Kim, S., Zain, A., & Jun, J. (2025, June). The elephant in the room: Respondent attentiveness and data quality in Amazon MTurk survey. Paper presented at the 75th Annual International Communication Association Conference, Denver, CO.
• Jun, J., Zain, A., & Kim, J. (2025, August). Generative AI in higher education: An analysis of U.S. college communications on policies, ethics, and resources. Paper presented at the 108th Annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference, San Francisco, CA.
• Wen, T., Zain, A., & Xiao, J. (2025, August). Comparing automated facial expression analysis, electromyography, and self-reports for emotion in communication research. Paper presented at the 108th Annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference, San Francisco, CA.
• Jun, J., Kim, J., & Zain, A. (2025, August). Unpacking the impact of media racism exposure on multidimensional resistance among Asian Americans. Paper presented at the 108th Annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference, San Francisco, CA.
• Jun, J., Zain, A., & Kim, M. (2024, June). Global conversations on tobacco harm reduction on social media: The tobacco industry’s agenda setting and networking to interfere with tobacco control. Paper presented at the 74th Annual International Communication Association Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
• Jun, J., Kim, J., Woo, B., Zain, A., Xu, Y., Aagaoglu, E., & Xiao, Y. (2024, June). Multidimensional investigation of Asian activism: The role of racial esteem, ethnic identity and bicultural efficacy. Paper presented at the 74th Annual International Communication Association Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
• Ittefaq, M., Zain, A., Khan, L., Ahmad, T., Iqbal, A., & Ala-Uddin, M. (2024, June). News coverage of artificial intelligence in 12 countries (2013–2023). Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the International Association for Media and Communication Research, Christchurch, New Zealand.
• Ittefaq, M., Ejaz, W., & Zain, A. (2024, June). Diversifying the voices: Topic modeling and sourcing analysis of climate change news in Bangladesh, China, India, and Pakistan. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the International Association for Media and Communication Research, Christchurch, New Zealand.
• Ahmad, T., & Zain, A. (2024, July). Exploring the role of social media public in political crisis communication networks. Paper presented at the International Conference on Social Media and Society, London, United Kingdom.
• Kim, M., Jun, J., Zain, A., Kim, J., Alharbi, K., & Thrasher, J. (2023, October). Young adults’ responses to Philip Morris International’s message promoting “smokefree” product. Paper presented at the NIH Tobacco Regulatory Science Meeting, Washington, DC.
• Zain, A., Li, Z., Liang, C., & Li, X. (2023, August). Diffusion of polarized information on Twitter and vaccination behaviors: Understanding intertwined role of moralization and emotions. Paper presented at the 106th Annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference, Washington, DC.
• Jun, J., Wen, J., Zain, A., & Alharbi, K. (2023, August). The influence of US FDA authorized modified exposure claim on heuristic processing of warnings, positive evaluation, and greater acceptance of novel tobacco promotional message among young adults. Paper presented at the 106th Annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference, Washington, DC.
• Bhala, N., Zain, A., & O’Boyle, J. (2023, May). Twitter conversations about causes, solutions and effects of Delhi air pollution: Agenda-building content analysis. Paper presented at the 73rd Annual International Communication Association Conference, Toronto, Canada.
• Zain, A. (2022, August). Moralization in polarized debate on COVID-19 vaccination: Human–AI collaborative analysis of tweets. Paper presented at the 105th Annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference, Detroit, MI.
• Zain, A., & Long, J. (2022, August). Countering online misinformation: Testing impact of state sponsorship labels on message credibility, verification intention and behavior. Paper presented at the 105th Annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference, Detroit, MI.
• Zain, A. (2022, August). Spiral of silence 50 years later: Conceptual and empirical new directions. Paper presented at the 105th Annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference, Detroit, MI.
• Ittefaq, M., Zain, A., & Bokhari, H. (2022, May). Opioids as comedy: Exploring topics, sentiments, and engagement in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on YouTube. Paper presented at the 72nd Annual International Communication Association Conference, Paris, France.
• Chen, Y., Long, J., Jun, J., Kim, S., Zain, A., & Piacentine, C. (2022, May). Anti-intellectualism amid the COVID-19 pandemic: The dynamics of anti-Fauci discourse on Twitter. Paper presented at the 72nd Annual International Communication Association Conference, Paris, France.
• Zain, A. (2022, March). Online endorsed misinformation and climate change: Using heuristic cues to assess perceived credibility of messages and sharing intentions. Paper presented at the 47th Annual AEJMC Southeast Colloquium, Memphis, TN.
• Jun, J., & Zain, A. (2022, February). Global comparison of COVID-19 vaccination sentiments and emotions on Twitter: Findings from 192 countries. Paper presented at the 3rd National Big Data Health Sciences Conference, Columbia, SC.
• Zain, A. (2021, August). Using theory of planned behavior, and operationalization of political partisanship and belief in misinformation to predict individuals’ intentions to quit social media. Paper presented at the 104th Annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Jun, J., Fitzpatrick, M. A., Zhang, N., & Zain, A. (2021, August). Has COVID-19 impacted the risk perceptions and cessation intent of youth vapers? Paper presented at the 104th Annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Zain, A. (2021, August). Celebrity capital and social movements: A textual analysis of Bollywood celebrities’ tweets on 2020–21 Indian farmers’ protest. Paper presented at the 104th Annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Kim, S., Zain, A., & Heo, Y. (2021, August). Idealized science vs. scientific skepticism in South Korea: Micro-level evidence for the two-cultures thesis. Paper presented at the 104th Annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Zain, A. (2021, February). Doctrine of hindutva and political discourse of India’s Bharatiya Janata Party: An analysis of 2019 election campaign. Paper presented at the 1st International Social Sciences Conference, Ankara, Turkey.
• Ozsu, G., Zain, A., Binark, M., & Dino Gidreta, A. (2020, November). Technicians of opinion in Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Turkey and their tweets about Chinese vision of alternative globalization: A comparative content analysis. Paper presented at the 17th International Symposium: Communication in the Millennium, Istanbul, Turkey.
• Zain, A. (2019, November). Aging-friendly smartphones: Analysis of smartphones user-interface to assess their usability among elderly citizens. Paper presented at Senex: 3rd Congress of Aging Studies for Graduate Students, Antalya, Turkey.
• Zain, A., & Soomro, A. (2016, November). Cultural continuity and mass media: An analysis of leading online newspapers of Pakistan. Paper presented at the 1st National Conference on Emerging Trends and Challenges in Social Sciences, Multan, Pakistan.