Sebastian Cole Poma-Murialdo

• Cole, Sebastian & Ihlen, Øyvind (2026). Coordination and multivocality in the communication of uncertainty across different trust contexts. Crisis and Risk Communication (CRC). ISSN 2998-6915. s. 1–15. doi: 10.1080/29986907.2026.2725648. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  A crisis always comes with uncertainty, which is often increased by changing guidelines or rules, and multiple actors communicating their perspectives. This exploratory qualitative study examines the role of a coordinated and multivocal approach to address uncertainty during a global crisis and generates assumptions for future research. Through semi-structured interviews with communication professionals and community actors involved in health crises, we investigate how uncertainty was managed in three trust contexts—Germany, Italy, and Romania—during COVID-19. The analysis shows how uncertainty was perceived during the pandemic, and we propose ideas for future research and crisis management regarding coordination, multivocality, and acknowledgment of uncertainty, which were revealed as preferred strategies.

• Cole, Sebastian (2025). A song for each moment: Identifying listening modes as reflexive practices in music streaming. Big Data & Society (BD&S). s. 1–13. doi: 10.1177/20539517251338742. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  In addition to personal and contextual reasons for listening to music, users of music streaming services also receive constant recommendations from these platforms’ algorithmic systems. In this article, I explore, from a critical realist perspective, how users reflect on and decide what to listen to in various contexts. First, the article develops a framework for understanding reflexive decision-making in the context of music streaming. Then, based on interviews with Spotify users and an analysis of their donated streaming histories, three listening modes are identified based on what motivates music choices and how the users interact with the platform's content. Findings suggest that in addition to the platform's recommendations, users reflexively choose music to fit their contexts, emotions and goals based on their previous experiences, striking a balance between conscious and habitual music listening.

• Cole, Sebastian & Robinson, Jessica Yarin (2024). Curating Christmas: Comparing Eclecticism on User- and Spotify-Created Playlists. M/C. 27(6). doi: 10.5204/mcj.3125. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Cole, Sebastian (2024). Exploring users’ algorithmic knowledge and reflexivity in a music streaming context: A critical realist approach. Convergence. The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies. ISSN 1354-8565. doi: 10.1177/13548565241277379. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Cole, Sebastian & Piotrowski, Jessica Taylor (2021). Youth and Entertainment-Education. I Frank, Lauren B. & Falzone, Paul (Red.), Entertainment-Education Behind the Scenes: Case Studies for Theory and Practice. Palgrave Macmillan. ISSN 9783030636142. s. 279–290. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-63614-2_17. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv

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• Cole, Sebastian (2023). Do you know why you choose the music you listen to? sciencenorway.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Cole, Sebastian (2024). Made for me? Exploring reflexivity and uses of music streaming recommendations from a critical realist perspective. Universitetet i Oslo. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  This dissertation studies how people think about and engage with algorithmic recommendations in streaming platforms, focusing specifically on the case of music recommendations in Spotify. The theoretical framework of the project builds on critical realism, critical algorithm studies, and media studies to explore how Spotify users reflexively understand, think about, and use the algorithmic music recommendations provided by the platform. I draw on a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collected in 2022 and 2023. First, interviews were conducted to explore how participants used Spotify, discovered new music, and interpreted the algorithmic system in the platform. Then, Spotify data donated by the participants were used to examine their listening patterns. The findings are presented in an introductory chapter (Kappe) and three research papers. In the Kappe, a framework based on critical realist philosophy and theory is proposed to reconceptualise and study research on algorithms and music streaming. The concept of reflexivity is especially brought forward to provide a broader process than in previous research on algorithmic imaginaries, perceptions, and folk theories. The articles apply this framework empirically. The first article proposes that an algorithmic imaginary mechanism is formed by a person’s music interest, algorithmic knowledge, and external influences. This mechanism is responsible for how the algorithmic recommendations are perceived. The second article explores how Archer’s reflexivity modes are developed in music streaming contexts and how they influence people’s use of music streaming platforms. The third article continues the work of the first two articles by examining how users develop music listening practices as a result of their reflexive interpretation of their music needs and the algorithmic recommendations.

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