Author: Beatrice Hayes

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It’s been a busy few months in the Soc Dev Lab.

In our September Soc Dev Lab meeting, our Undergraduate Research Assistant, Sania Fatima, presented their findings regarding students’ perceptions of emojis, memes and gifs in higher education. Supervised by Beatrice, Sania conducted one-to-one semi-structured interviews with UK university students before undertaking a Thematic Analysis in NVivo software. The paper is now under review; watch this space! If you would like to find out more information about this project, please contact Beatrice: beatrice.hayes@rhul.ac.uk

In our October Soc Dev Lab meeting, Dawn and Aysha presented preliminary findings from their wellbeing in nature research project in collaboration with Kew Wakehurst. With the help of Research Assistant, Dr Adam Levent, Dawn focused on the findings from data collected with children. With the help of Research Assistant, Ryan Jefferies, Aysha focused on the findings from data collected with adults. If you would like to find out more information about this project, please contact Dawn: dawn.watling@rhul.ac.uk

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Hosted at the Royal Victoria Crowne Plaza hotel in Sheffield, the British Psychological Society’s Developmental Psychology Section Annual Conference took place this September. Professor Dawn Watling, Dr. Beatrice Hayes and, PhD student, Gemma Rides were excited to be in attendance! As well as enjoying talks by developmental researchers across the globe, we also presented findings from our research.

Dawn presented a study which explored adolescents’ online self-presentation behaviours and impression management tactics and to what extent these are associated with social anxiety. Further, Dawn acted as a discussant for a symposium entitled “Adolescent’s social networking site use” which was chaired by Dr. Michaela Gummerum. In fact, Dr. Beatrice Hayes gave a talk within this symposium where she presented findings from two studies: 1) a study from her PhD research concerning adolescents’ perceptions of the risks and benefits of social networking site use, and 2) a qualitative study exploring emerging adults’ motivations behind online impression management tactics.

Gemma Rides presented a 5-minute flash talk on the findings of her qualitative study concerning adolescents’ perceptions of and motivations behind ‘reactions’ (e.g., likes, comments, shares) on social networking sites.

As well as presenting timely research from our lab. The Soc Dev Lab extended further success at the conference whereby Dr. Beatrice Hayes was elected as a new committee member of the Developmental Section! A fantastic time was had by all. Until next year!

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PhD student, Gemma Rides, took on August’s Soc Dev Lab meeting!

Gemma provided the theoretical background to her PhD which focuses upon the social and physiological effects of adolescents’ interactions with ‘reactions’ on social networking sites. Gemma’s first study comprised focus groups with 11-15 year-olds where she found that ‘reactions’ (such as ‘likes’, ‘comments’ and ‘shares’) as well as the lack of these reactions are viewed as social currency and are impactful upon peer relationships and social status. As a lab, we provided feedback on her results and worked together to synthesise clear themes adopting a Thematic Analysis approach.

We were also the lucky audience of receiving the inside scoop on her upcoming studies! All shall be revealed in due course…

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Published paper alert!

© Common Sense Education

Dr Beatrice Hayes and Professor Dawn Watling have recently published an empirical paper entitled ‘Adolescents’ perceptions of the risks and benefits of social networking site use’ in the International Journal of Cyber Behaviour, Psychology and Learning. Read it here: https://www.igi-global.com/article/adolescent-perceptions-of-the-risks-and-benefits-of-social-networking-site-use/306646 

We explored 13-18 year-olds’ online risk concern and the perceived risks and benefits around social networking site use. Our findings highlight that adolescents perceive bonding social capital with friends (strengthening their pre-existing friendships) and presenting the self online as benefits of social networking site use. In terms of the risks, we found that bonding social capital with family was perceived as risky. In fact, females with higher concern around online risks were the most likely to perceive bonding social capital with family as risky. These findings highlight the importance of socialising online for adolescents and maintaining social autonomy.

Would like to know more? Pop us an email! beatrice.hayes@rhul.ac.uk or dawn.watling@rhul.ac.uk

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Whilst some were celebrating Independence Day on July 4th, Soc Dev Lab members were enjoying refreshments and exciting updates on projects! We discussed current research projects taking place within the lab, with input from our research assistants, as well as upcoming projects. If you would like to find out more about our current research projects, please see our ‘Research’ and ‘Recruitment/Consultancy’ tabs, or feel free to pop us an email.

Next month, PhD student Gemma Rides will be updating us on her PhD research so far. Plus, she will give us a VIP preview of her next study… stay tuned!

Thank you to our research assistants for attending: Aiman Suleiman, Sania Fatima, Abigail Keizler, Tiffany Dashtizadeh, Leila Warmann and Nusayba Saeed.

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Professor Dawn Watling and Dr Beatrice Hayes proudly represented the Social Development Laboratory at the 26th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development hosted at Rodos Palace in Rhodes, Greece.

Dawn and Beatrice presented as part of a symposium entitled ‘Is social media use all about the risks for youth today: redirecting our focus to benefits, individual differences, and potential for intervention’, also chaired by Professor Dawn Watling. Beatrice’s talk focused upon the fourth study of her PhD where she explored primary school children’s use of social media across a six month period and to what extent this impacted mental health and wellbeing. Dawn’s talk focused upon a study regarding adolescents’ use of Instagram with a specific interest in their online self-presentation techniques. For more information about these studies, please do get in touch.

Further, Dawn acted as discussant for a symposium entitled ‘Effective online co-creation’ which comprised international talks from Scotland and Canada.

As well as engaging with the stimulating research program, the conference also provided an opportunity to reunite with other members of the developmental psychology community. In particular, ex-SDL members, Dr Rachel Nesbit, who is now based within the School of Medicine at University of Exeter, and Dr Yvonne Skipper, who is now based within the School of Education at University of Glasgow.

Sun, science and socialising was greatly enjoyed!

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We are pleased to announce Beatrice’s success in receiving an Undergraduate Research Assistantship from the British Psychological Society. This scheme provides a second-year student with a bursary to conduct a research project across the summer before their final year. The successful student in collaboration with Beatrice is Philip Moynihan, a second-year Psychology undergraduate at RHUL.

Beatrice and Philip’s project is entitled ‘Students’ perceptions of mental health and wellbeing apps’. The aim of this project is to explore how students’ perceive these apps, particularly with regards to how effectively they may support mental health and wellbeing within a typical population. To achieve this, a mixed methods online survey will be administered to 18-24 year-olds across the UK.

Watch this space to find out about project updates!