Research
Elina’s research centers on political communication and public opinion, with a particular focus on how different communication strategies influence how information is received, perceived, and interpreted. Her work has examined, among other things, how voters respond to campaign rhetoric, how media framing of political issues contributes to political learning and (mis)perceptions, and how individual background factors may condition the effects of both political rhetoric and media framing.
She is currently involved in two research projects, both exploring communication effects in digital environments, but with different focuses. One investigates how conspiracy theories are communicated and how exposure to conspiracy-related content influences recipients. The other examines the spread and impact of political dog whistles in online settings.
Teaching
Elina teaches political science and social science research methods. She is involved in developing a master’s program focused on psychological defense and disinformation. She also regularily supervises and examines student theses at undergraduate and advanced levels.
Bio
Elina received her PhD in political science from the Department of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg in 2018. Since then, she has worked as an assistant survey manager at the SOM Institute and as a researcher at the Department of Journalism, Media and Communication, both at the University of Gothenburg.
Selected publications
Recent publications
Tsfati, Y., Vliegenthart, R., Strömbäck, J., Lindgren, E. (2025). An asymmetrical reinforcing spiral? Disentangling the longitudinal dynamics of media use and mainstream media trust. Journal of Communication, 75(1), 16–26. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqae039
Lindgren, E. (2024). Beyond cultural narratives: A data-driven analysis of how citizens define successful integration. Political Studies Review, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/14789299241297801
Lindgren, E., Rönnerstrand, B., Rettenegger, G., Breitholtz, E., Cooper, R., Sayeed, A., (2024). Coded appeals and political gains: Exploring the impact of racial dogwhistles on political support. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10776990241280373
Sayeed, A., Breitholtz, E., Cooper, R., Lindgren, E., Rettenegger, G. & Rönnerstrand, B. (2024). The utility of (political) dogwhistles - a lifecycle perspective. Journal of Language and Politics (online early). https://doi.org/10.1075/jlp.23047.say