Call for Abstracts

Affecting myself?! – Exploring self- and feedback effects in digital communication

Preconference at the International Communication Association’s 76th Annual Conference

Submissions Deadline: January 30, 2026

Location: Cape Town International Convention Center (onsite)

Date: Thursday, 4 June 2026, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Organizing committee: Teresa K. Naab (University of Mannheim/GER), Dominique Heinbach (University of Mannheim/GER), Anna Schnauber-Stockmann (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz/GER), Klara Langmann (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz/GER), German Neubaum (University of Duisburg-Essen/GER), Jana Dreston (University of Duisburg-Essen/GER)

Conference theme and scope

Self- and feedback effects are gaining increasing attention across various areas of communication research. While media effects have traditionally been understood as audience effects, the growing body of work on self-effects shifts the focus toward the influence that communicative acts – such as composing, sharing, and responding to messages – can have on the senders themselves. In digital media environments, particularly social media, users are no longer passive recipients but active participants who engage in producing and distributing content. In addition, lay users as well as professional media producers in both legacy and platform-native contexts (e.g., journalists, newsroom social teams, spokespersons, influencers and other content creators) receive immediate, often public feedback. This opens new avenues for examining how communicators are shaped by their own messages and by the feedback they receive.

This preconference aims to bring together scholars from diverse subfields to explore, connect, and systematize research on self- and feedback effects. By critically discussing theoretical foundations, clarifying key concepts, and comparing methodological approaches, we seek to lay the groundwork for a more integrated research agenda. The preconference also aims to identify overlooked mechanisms, stimulate collaboration, and build a lasting network for scholars working in this area.

We invite submissions related to, but not limited to, the following topics:

Theoretical foundations and underlying mechanisms of self- and feedback effects, e.g., elaboration, message composing, public commitment, self-persuasion
Self- and feedback effects in various fields of (digital) communication, e.g., political communication, health communication, science communication, entertainment research, mass communication, human-machine communication, self-presentation research
Self- and feedback effects across various key dependent variables, e.g., effects on self-concept, knowledge, attitudes, emotions, intentions, and behaviors.
Methodological approaches and advancements in measuring self- and feedback effects
The role of generative AI in the context of self- and feedback effects, e.g., AI-generated feedback, AI-assistance in message composition and publication, self- and feedback effects in human-AI-interaction
Effects on various communicators in digital media, e.g., lay media users, professional actors, public figures (e.g., politicians, influencers, spokespersons)

Submissions

The preconference supports four types of individual submissions in the form of extended abstracts (1,000 words excluding tables and references):

Theoretical Contributions: Submissions that aim to develop, refine, or critically reflect on theoretical approaches, concepts, or models related to self- and feedback effects
Original Research: Completed studies or ongoing research programs that include empirical findings
Works in Progress: Research that is currently underway. Submissions may focus on research designs or conceptual frameworks. Preliminary findings can be included but are not required. This format is well suited for both individual projects and broader research programs
Ambitious Ideas: Open and exploratory contributions that propose thought-provoking questions, conceptual challenges, or elaborated research desiderata. These ideas are intended to stimulate discussion and will be integrated into the workshop sessions for collaborative exploration

Extended abstracts can be submitted to self-effects@uni-mannheim.de. The submission deadline is January 30, 2026 (noon ICA Headquarter’s time, i.e. 12:00 pm EDT). Please anonymize the main document for review and attach a separate file containing a title page with author information.

Submissions will be reviewed by a committee of scholars. Proposals will be selected based on originality, clarity, theoretical, empirical and practical contribution to the research field and fit with the pre-conference theme.

Notifications of acceptance will be sent by mid-February 2026.

Agenda and schedule

Following a thematic introduction, all accepted extended abstracts — except for Ambitious Ideas — will be presented in a High-Density Poster Session. This interactive format combines brief lightning pitches with a structured and open exchange at the posters. Together, the introductory inputs and the poster session will lay the conceptual foundation for the subsequent workshop sessions, offering a shared starting point for deeper discussions. The second part of the preconference consists of two consecutive workshop sessions, designed to foster collaborative reflection on key theoretical, empirical, and methodological issues. Short presentations of Ambitious Ideas will be integrated into these sessions. Participants will engage in a thematic table discussion focused on a subject of their choice: theoretical foundations and underlying mechanisms, studied phenomena, dependent variables, and methodological approaches. Each group will present a summary of their key insights. Participants will then rotate between tables, engaging with the documented results and contributing further ideas and questions. This collective reflection phase is intended to deepen the dialogue across perspectives and to identify common ground as well as open challenges. The preconference concludes with a closing session focused on joint integration and synthesis. Participants will discuss emerging research questions, implications for future work, and opportunities for continued collaboration.

Registration and participation fee

Registration via the ICA system is open from 14 January to 4 May 2026. All accepted presenters must register for the preconference. Registration for the main conference or ICA membership are not required to attend the preconference.

The participation fee is USD 50, including lunch and coffee breaks. The organizers offer up to five waivers, prioritizing applicants from ICA Tier B and C countries and early-career researchers. Waivers cover the preconference registration fee only; travel and accommodation are not included. If you are interested in applying for a waiver, please contact the organizers.

Contact

For any questions, please contact Dominique Heinbach and Teresa K. Naab (self-effects@uni-mannheim.de).