Monash University PRM Seminar

13 Apr 2023HughStephens

Social media in researchPRM Communication Seminar, 5 Aug 2014Available: http://bit.ly/monashPRM14

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• Introduction to social media• Where are researchers?• What are the opportunities?• What are the risks?• How people use it

Agenda

13 Apr 20231. Introduction to social media

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3

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Social media is any tool that uses the internet to facilitate conversation.

It is the shift from a broadcast model of communication to a many-to-many model of communication.

(adapted from Solis, 2010)

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The Social Media Exchange

adapted from Larson & Watson,

2011

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14-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 65+0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Proportion who Access the Internet

Age Bracket

% o

f U

sers

minor trend: as age

Source: Yellow Social Media 2013

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Do not use social media

Frequency of SNS use

More than five times a day Everyday Most days A few times a week Once a Week Less than weekly Never

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0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100% SNS platforms usedSource: Yellow Social Media Jun-13

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Audience and activity

Think not just of where they are, but where they engage

Audience

Activity

??

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13 Apr 20232. Where is research online?

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Researchers online

• General– #phdchat on Twitter

• UK: 1930-2030 GMT Wed Nights• AU: 1st Wednesday monthly, 1900-2000 AEST • #PhDtoPresent: what happens ‘post-PhD’ (seminar)

– http://bit.ly/1mfaNig

– Blogs++++++– Inger Mewburn (@thesiswhisperer) ANU academic

• Sector specific– …anywhere and everywhere– Look @ your key stakeholders/influencers

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13 Apr 20232. What are the opportunities?

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• “Learn stuff” & access experts• Motivation (e.g. getting the damn thesis

written)• Disseminate research findings• Build collaborations locally/globally• Become well-known in a sector (?future

career)• Social opportunities / meet people with

similar interests

Opportunities activity

Opportunities abound, but you need to choose your poison

13 Apr 20234. What are the risks?

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Be careful when talking about results & data

• Publications – is it already in the “public domain”?–Little evidence to date about

publications vetoing papers as they have had bits Tweeted

• Data privacy/confidentiality breach (!)• Citations / re-use by others• Time sink / stuck in the rabbit hole

Not everything is sunshine & roses

13 Apr 20235. How is it used?

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