UK : University of Teesside Research Doctoral Scholarships

Digital Innovation

The University of Teesside is offering 4 full-time Research Doctoral Scholarships across a broad range of subject areas including: computing, psychology, science and engineering. The scholarships are aligned to key areas of research strength within the Digital Futures Institute, the Social Futures Institute and the Technology Futures Institute. The awards will be for a period of three years and include fees (home/EU or international rate) and an annual stipend of £12,600. Successful applicants should be in a position to take up the scholarships in November 2008 or shortly thereafter.

Research Theme: Digital Innovation

4. Developing a psychological model of users' experience of human-computer interaction in web-based systems. Interaction experience of Web 2.0 sites.

Based on existing work and empirical studies, this project builds and tests a psychological model of users' experience in an exciting application domain. Previous experience in doing psychological experiments is important for doing and completing the project successfully. Therefore, in particular - but not only - applications from graduates of BPS-accredited psychology programmes are welcome.

The newspaper industry has had a ‘web presence' in recent years. Nevertheless, the research team is aware - from existing research literature and through contacts with industry - that there is a lack of knowledge on how users respond to online news media and how these media can be designed to promote a positive interaction experience in users. In addition, in January 2008 the BBC, in competition with existing local newspapers, announced its plans to provide local news online. It is therefore anticipated that this studentship will focus on online new media and whoever publishes online news media will benefit from the guidelines produced by this research scholarship. The team has well established contacts with the media sector (through Price and the IDI) that will enhance the credibility of the research. Recent work has been critical of Web 2.0 sites in terms of their support for a positive interaction experience (Nielsen, 2007) and has suggested that public-sector sites may underperform in terms of their interaction experience, compared to commercial sites (Nielsen, 2005).

Informal enquiries to Professor Paul van Schaik, email: p.van-schaik@tees.ac.uk

Research Doctoral Scholarships applicants should have at least an upper second class honours degree or equivalent qualification and ideally a postgraduate qualification. The minimum English language entry level is IELTS 6.5 with no grade below 6.0 or equivalent.

To apply for a scholarship you must contact the Graduate Research School for an application form:

University of Teesside Research Doctoral Scholarships
Graduate Research School
University of Teesside
Middlesbrough
Tees Valley
TS1 3BA
UK
E-mail: graduateresearchschool@tees.ac.uk or tel: +44(0)1642 738033

Closing date: 15 September 2008