A Game-based Approach to Democratic Discourse in Digital Media
Eligibility: UK/International (including EU) graduates with the required entry requirements
Duration: Full-Time – between three and three and a half years fixed term
Application deadline: 15 Jan 2025
Interview date: Will be confirmed to shortlisted candidates
Start date: May 2025
For further details contact: Dr Petros Lameras
Introduction
This is an exciting opportunity to study a PhD as part of a joint PhD arrangement between Coventry University, UK and KU Leuven, Belgium. The PhD candidate will conduct research both at Coventry University and KU Leuven. The programme is for a duration of 3.5 years (funding only for 3.5 years, maximum allowed time 4 years) and scheduled to commence in May 2025.
This project will start at Coventry University, UK.
Project details
The project aims to investigate citizens’ experiences of political and democratic expression as enacted in digital platforms through gameful interventions. Managing the impact of digital spaces on democracy presents an increasingly substantial challenge. The integration of digital platforms into the political landscape is fundamentally reshaping the ways in which young creatives such as artists and content creators communicate, express themselves, engage in political discourse, access information, and participate in democratic processes (e.g. Rasmussen et al., 2016). While these platforms can foster democratic values by providing spaces for dialogue and civic engagement, they also pose substantial risks that can undermine democratic integrity (e.g. Sundberg, 2019). One of the primary concerns is the spread of disinformation and propaganda through these platforms, which can manipulate public opinion, fuel polarisation, and undermine trust in political institutions (Allcott & Gentzkow, 2017).
Digital spaces such as social platforms, virtual worlds and metaverses represent an evolving frontier in the field of democratic participation. Research revolves around the potential of social media to foster increased civic engagement and regulate digital disinformation (e.g. Marsden et al., 2020; Simon et al., 2017). Expansive virtual spaces such as virtual worlds and metaverses provide an opportunity for participatory practices in an interconnected digital world. However, their potential as platforms for democratic dialogue is only just being recognised. Current state-of-the-art reveals challenges such as digital divide, privacy concerns and issues of representation and inclusivity.
Several aspects related to democratic discourse, including politics (e.g. Torres-Toukoumidis, 2023) human rights (e.g. Butcher et al., 2023), combatting inequality and promoting social justice (e.g. Schmolz et al., 2017), through games have been explored for creating representations of society and reinforcing political impacts. However, there is no research evidence that demarcates what are citizens’ experiences of democratic discourse in digital platforms through games. This PhD project aims to address this gap by employing a games-based approach to investigating citizens’ perceptions of political and democratic expression in digital platforms.
Research questions:
- What are citizens’ perceptions of and approaches to democratic discourse in digital environments via game-based approaches?
- How can the experiential aspects of game-based approaches be empathically designed into interventions for facilitating democratic discourse and political expression in digital spaces?
- What are the implications and impact on developing democratic participation and expression in digital environments through game-based approaches?
The project will employ a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data measures, and analysis procedures (e.g. ethnography, structural equation modelling, Cronbach Alpha) to comprehensively investigate how citizens experience democratic discourse in digital platforms through a games-based approach. The combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis will discern the impact of the gamified intervention on democratic and political expression, and the findings will drive the development of a configurable and participatory model of citizen involvement in digital democratic spaces.
We seek a highly-talented, motivated, and open-minded candidate, with background in games science, democracy and digital media or related subject areas. Experience in mixed-methods approaches (quantitative and qualitative) and their application for discerning effects and perceptions of the phenomenon in question is essential. Ability to manage time and work to strict deadlines is required.
Funding
Tuition fees and bursary
Benefits
The successful candidate will receive comprehensive research training including technical, personal and professional skills. All researchers at Coventry University (from PhD to Professor) are part of the Doctoral and Research College, which provides support with high-quality training and career development activities.
Entry requirements
- A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average.
PLUS
- The potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within 3.5 years.
- A minimum of English language proficiency (IELTS academic overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component).
Additional requirements
- Experience in employing qualitative and quantitative methodologies for conducting multidisciplinary research
- Experience of games-based empathic approaches to designing engaging research interventions
- Experience of democratic endeavours in digital spaces (social media, metaverses, etc.) (desired)
- A record of presenting papers at conferences and/or of publishing peer reviewed research papers (desired)
- Ability to think creatively and critically analyse data and results;
- Good written and oral communication skills
- Ability to manage time and work to strict deadlines
How to apply
To find out more about the project, please contact Dr Petros Lameras.
All applications require full supporting documentation, a covering letter, plus a 2000-word supporting statement showing how the applicant’s expertise and interests are relevant to the project.
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