This developing Beacon, led by Dr David Ellis, aims to build a world-leading research institute that focuses on the cultural, economic and psychological value of new and emerging forms of data, with the collective aim to deliver positive social, economic or industrial impacts.

The three core themes of this beacon are:

• methods
• applications
• research integrity and ethics

With these tenets in mind, the Beacon’s goal is to develop a position of leadership not just in social data science and computational social science, but also in the ethical management of disruptive digital futures.

• Dr David Ellis, Developing Beacon Lead, School of Management
• Professor Julie Barnett, Department of Psychology
• Dr Olivia Brown, School of Management
• Dr Katherine Button, Department of Psychology
• Dr Brit Davidson, School of Management
• Dr Sarah Glozer, School of Management
• Dr Joanna Hinds, School of Management
• Dr Julian Padget, Department of Computer Science
• Dr Lukasz Piwek, School of Management
• Dr Iulia Cioroianu, Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
• Dr Gail Forey, Department of Education
• Dr Joanna Clifton-Sprigg, Department of Economics
• Dr Reka Jablonkai, Department of Education

News

• Academics join global call on Meta for more rigorous study of social media impact on children
• How picking up your smartphone could reveal your identity

Publications

• Brown, O., Smith, L. G. E., Davidson, B., & Ellis, D. (2022). The problem with the internet: an affordance-based approach for psychological research on networked technologies. Acta Psychologica, 228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103650
• Shaw, H., Taylor, P., Ellis, D., & Conchie, S. (2022). Behavioral consistency in the digital age. Psychological Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/09567976211040491.
• Piazza, J., Gregson, R., Kordoni, A., Pfeiler, T., Ruby, M., Ellis, D., Sahin, E., & Reith, M. (2022). Monitoring a Meat-Free Pledge with Smartphones: An Experimental Study. Appetite, 168, 105726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2021.105726.
• Davidson, B., Shaw, H., & Ellis, D. (2022). Fuzzy constructs in technology usage scales. Computers in Human Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107206.
• Hinds, J., Brown, O., Smith, L. G. E., Piwek, L., Ellis, D. A., & Joinson, A. N. (2021). Integrating Insights About Human Movement Patterns From Digital Data Into Psychological Science. Current Directions in Psychological Science.

Projects

• Footprints to emissions: Exploring near-future digitalvulnerabilities with creative methodologies, PI: David Ellis. 1/11/21-28/02/22.
• USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO TACKLE LONELINESS AMONG OLDER PEOPLE IN WALES DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, PI: Julie Barnett. 20/05/21-30/04/22.