Research
Seated in front of the television at home, you turn it on and navigate to your favorite streaming service. What does your homepage tell you about your streaming preferences? Does your page more often make recommendations for domestic or international content, a romantic comedy or a psychological thriller? As viewers, we are often motivated to have certain vicarious experiences based on our psychological traits and situational factors in order to satisfy well-being needs. However, as technology evolves, our entertainment options and modes of engagement have changed along with our viewing behaviors. My research interests aim to understand these phenomena at the intersection of media psychology, global entertainment, and the use of new media technologies as a producer and provider of content.
Publications
Etzrodt, K., Kim, J., van der Goot, M. J., Prahl, A., Choi, M., Craig, M. J. A., Dehnert, M., Engesser, S., Frehmann, K., Grande, L., Leo-Liu, J., Liu, D., Mooshammer, S., Rambukkana, N., Rogge, A., Sikström, P., Son, R., Wilkenfeld, N., Xu, K., Zhang, R., Zhu, Y., & Edwards, C. (2024). What HMC teaches us about authenticity. Human-Machine Communication, 8, 227-251. https://doi.org/10.30658/hmc.8.11
Son, R., Johnson, B.K., & Moss, C. (2024). Exposure to and effects of international entertainment on streaming platforms: A review and agenda for future media psychology research. In A. Ferchaud, & J. Proffitt (Eds.) Television’s streaming wars. ISBN 9781032369709
Chen, X., Son, R., Treise, D., Alpert, J. (2023). How fear appeals are used as a persuasive technique: A thematic analysis of COVID-19 public service announcements. American Journal of Health Promotion.
Conference Papers & Presentations
Son, R. (2023). Effects of climate change messaging on the U.S. audience: Overcoming resistance through scripted entertainment narratives. Mass Communication Division, National Communication Association Convention—Nov. 2023.
Son, R., Wirz, D.S., Johnson, B.K., & Eden, A. (2023) The remote control is a passport: Psychological richness and boundary expansion when watching international entertainment. 2023 Media Psych Conference—Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg—Sept. 2023.
Son, R.,Yang, Q., Vollmer, B.T., Johnson, B.K. (2023) Engaging with Bot Narratives: The Audience Experience and Perceptions of Machine Script Writers. Human Machine Communication Division. International Communication Association Pre-Conference —Toronto, Canada—May 2023 (Accepted).
Mrozek, N., Schneider, F., Johnson, B., Son, R. (2022) The Influence of State Self Esteem on Narrative Engagement. Mass Communication Division, International Communication Association Conference—Paris, France —May 2022.
Chan-Olmstead, S., Xu, K., Son, R., Chang, H., Kyles, T., & Ruffin, L. (2022) Do You Trust Your Smart Speaker? The Effects of Individual Differences, Motives, and Value Creation. Human Machine Communication Division, International Communication Association Conference—Paris, France—May 2022.
Son, R., & Lee, M.-J. (2021) What predicts a person will engage in social media activism? Understanding the impacts of social media uses, news consumption, and fear of isolation on individuals’ tendency to engage in social media activism. Mass Communication Division, National Communication Association Convention —Seattle, WA—Nov. 2021.
Son, R. (2021) K-dramas and the American youth: Conceptualizing the aspiration of a youthful utopia. Entertainment Studies Division, AEJMC Annual Conference. Virtual Conference—Aug. 2021
Son, R. (2021) K-dramas and the American youth: Conceptualizing the aspiration of a youthful utopia. Entertainment Studies Division, AEJMC Midwinter Conference—Norman, OK—Mar. 2021
Chon, M., & Son, R. (2019) Making a difference on how to see North Korea: A comparative analysis of the U.S. and South Korea partisan media in the era of Trump. Korean American Communication Association Division, AEJMC Annual Conference—Toronto, Canada—Aug. 2019
Chon, M., & Son, R. (2019) Making a difference on how to see North Korea: A comparative analysis of The New York Times and Wall Street Journal in the era of Trump. International Communication Division, AEJMC Midwinter Conference—Norman, OK—Mar. 2019
Conference Panels
Kim, D.K., Choung, H., Ibrahim, A., Jangbar, S., Son, R., & Mbah, P. (2023). ChatGPT, Is it an AI intrusion into the process of human learning or a revolutionary instructional tool? Panel Discussion Session Proposal. Instructional Development Division, National Communication Association Convention—Nov. 2023.
Lee, J. (chair), Son, R., Lee, H., Choi, J.R., Yang, H., Han, S.-H., Kim, H., Lee, S., Jeong, J., Park, S., Young, S.L., Lee, S. (2023) Spotlighting the Future of KACA-NCA. Korean American Communication Association Division, National Communication Association Convention—Nov. 2023.