UROP Project
***Online Information Ecosystems: Teens, Social Media, Algorithms
social media, youth, algorithms, information studies
Research Mentor: Vanessa Dennen, she/her
Department, College, Affiliation: Florida State University, Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Contact Email: vdennen@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Department, College, Affiliation: Florida State University, Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Contact Email: vdennen@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:
Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 3
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors; may be of particular interest to communications, psychology, sociology, and education
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Number of Research Assistants: 3
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors; may be of particular interest to communications, psychology, sociology, and education
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote Remote or In-person: Fully Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
- Day: Tuesday, September 2
Start Time: 5:00
End Time: 5:30
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/my/vdennen
Project Description
This study combines interviews and media diary portfolios to explore how high school students make sense of information they encounter in their everyday online lives via information and communication technologies (ICTs), especially social media. Additionally, we're interested in how they perceive the algorithms that serve up information to them and the connections and meaning that they make with this information.This is the second iteration of data collection for this project. The link below shows a conference poster from the first iteration (co-authors are from UROP, we are currently working on publications).
This year, we will be engaged in data collection during the fall term and moving into data processing, coding, and analysis during the spring.
Research Tasks: Data collection and processing, including interviews. Data coding and analysis (qualitative data).
Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Strong organizational skills and attention to detail are needed.
We will train you on all research-specific skills.
Students need to complete CITI training (“FSU Faculty, Staff, and Students” Social/Behavioral) before beginning any work.
Mentoring Philosophy
UROP offers a great opportunity for students to have early research experiences. I apply the cognitive apprenticeship model in my research teams, in which my UROP mentees are full members of the research team. As cognitive apprentices, you get to see all parts of the research process, contribute your own insights along the way, and gradually gain responsibilities as you learn how to perform different research tasks. I have high expectations for our research outcomes, and will train and support you to meet them. I will also seek ways to help you work toward your long-term educational and professional goals.Above all else, I believe in kindness, respect, and lifelong learning, and aim to foster a research environment that supports these ideals.
I have worked with many UROP students over the years. Several have become collaborators on presentations at national conferences and some have published with me. The opportunity is there for you if you seek it. :)
Additional Information
Work on this project is, by default, remote, but there is the opportunity to have in-person meetings for people who prefer that type of interaction.Typically we schedule meetings every 1-2 weeks, and between meetings everyone has tasks that they work on. During meetings we share the outcomes of our prior tasks, learn new skills, and determine next tasks. Between meetings we typically communicate via email, GroupMe, and MS Teams.