School shootings are unpredictable and have the ability to shake a nation. Previous communication research takes a largely reactive approach to school shootings by examining what can be done after the shooting takes place, or to investigate risk factors that might facilitate prevention before the shooting occurs. The present study takes a proactive approach and aims to examine how students can be persuaded to take precautionary measures before a school shooting takes place. Applying dual processing, prospect theory, and the extended parallel process model, a 2 (statistical vs. narrative) x 4 (gain vs. loss: low vs. moderate vs. high fear) design will be used to construct various different messages, all of which encourage participants to voluntarily learn about how to best respond to an active shooter situation and to encourage their peers to do the same. Keywords: Active shooter, school shootings, evidence theory, prospect theory, fear appeals
