EPSRC DTP studentship: Pro-Social and Anti-Social Behaviour in Digital Worlds: a model based approach

This project will explore the contribution that a model based approach can make to understanding the emergence of both pro-social and anti-social behaviour in digital worlds. It will draw on research in the psychology of group processes and social influence to develop and test models that explore the dynamics of the escalation or de-escalation of aggression. In particular it will focus on phenomena like trolling, cyber-bullying and ‘digitalantism’. It will examine the role that ‘third parties’ play in the perpetuation of negative behaviours, but also the promotion of positive behaviours in digital encounters.

In this project you will learn about analysing temporal sequences in digital data. We will ask if it is important to know not only how people might act, but also when they act, if we want to understand the trajectory of aggression online. We will explore whether particular temporal patterns of third party responses to aggression predict pro-social or anti-social outcomes. The project will build on existing work in the research group that has modelled aggressive interactions in public spaces captured on CCTV cameras.

The project would suit either a candidate with a psychology/animal behaviour background interested in the application of a model based approach to understanding social behaviour – or a candidate with a computer science/mathematics background interested in social psychological phenomena.

Academic Supervisors:

Professor Mark Levine, Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences

Prof Richard Everson, Computer Science, College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences

Dr Miriam Koschate-Reis, Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences

Location: University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Exeter

About the award:

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Doctoral Training Partnership to commence in September 2016.  The studentships will provide funding for a stipend (currently £14,057 per annum for 2015/16), research costs of £3,000 and UK/EU tuition fees at Research Council rates for 3.5 years.

Entry requirements:

Applicants for this studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an appropriate area.

If English is not your first language you will need to have achieved at least 6.5 in IELTS (and no less than 6.0 in any section) by the start of the project (alternative tests may be acceptable, see http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/english/)

This studentship will be funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and is only available to UK and EU nationals. You must have resided in the UK for three years prior to starting the studentship to receive funding for tuition fees and a stipend. If you are an EU national and have not resided in the UK for three years prior to the start of the studentship you would not be eligible for a stipend, so you would need to have an alternative source of funding for your living costs. Candidates from outside the EU are not eligible for this studentship. For full details on the residence requirements please see https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/help/eligibility/