The Communication & Media research programme investigates the production, content, and reception of mediated communication. Our main objective is to study the psychological mechanisms underlying media uses, processes and effects while considering the social-cultural mechanisms of the media landscape. Secondly, the programme aims to apply these fundamental insights to developing and testing media interventions to improve well-being.
Communication and Media
Research group
Research
Within ‘positive communication research’, we investigate the potential of mediated communication for improving well-being. A key role is played by techniques and tools from the area of Artificial Intelligence: innovative methods such as machine learning and knowledge representation are used to develop intelligent media interventions that make people happy, healthy and well-informed.
Five communication themes
Driven by these objectives, the research group focuses on five themes:
- Artificial intelligence and communication;
- News, youth and media literacy;
- Social media and wellbeing;
- Media culture and representation;
- Persuasive communication and resistance.
News
Mission and focus
Our group's mission is to conduct high-quality research that combines theory-driven fundamental research with scientifically grounded applied research. Our researchers are interested in keeping in touch with "the real world". Research questions are inspired by developments in the media landscape, studying social media, mobile media applications, virtual environments, and gamification. In addition, our research is inspired by the public debate, focusing, for example, on the consequences of young people's commercial media environment, how to promote mental and physical well-being, and how to keep the citizen informed. The main theoretical objective of the group is to integrate the behavioural and social perspective, studying individual responses to media while taking into account the social and cultural context.
Research profile
Our research group is characterized by its multidisciplinary focus (combining media-psychological with media-sociological perspectives), multimethod approach (using a variety of advanced quantitative and qualitative research methods), and a keen interest in developments in the media landscape (including television, Internet, social robots and avatars, mobile, and print media). The research methods include manual (e.g., content analysis and surveys) and automated techniques (e.g., machine learning and agent-based simulation).
Academic and social responsibility
The Communication & Media research programme highly values academic and social responsibility, bridging the academy-society divide. This is reflected in the research topics and questions investigated and the initiatives to transfer academic insights to society. We do so via science communication and collaborations with industry and policymakers.
Contact information
Postal address
Postbus 91046500HE NIJMEGEN