How social media platforms can enhance your work as a researcher, and some of the potential issues around using these tools. Adapted from 'The Researcher Online: Building an Online Identity" by Dr Helen Webster, University of Cambridge
Digital Identity & Social Networking Tips for Researchers
1. Digital Identity & Social
Networking for Researchers
Flea Palmer, Learning Technologist
Plymouth University
Adapted from presentation by Dr Helen Webster,
Research Associate, University of Cambridge
2. Aims
• How social media platforms can enhance your
work as a researcher
• Potential issues around using social and digital
media tools
6. How should I use social media?
• technoFEAR! or technoJOY!
• private or public?
• original content or mash-up and curate?
• single identity or many identities?
• low activity or high activity?
• one platform or many platforms?
• content created specifically or ‘collateral
damage’?
• academia or beyond?
7. Principles of successful online engagement
• Don’t just broadcast- interact
• Offer something of value
• Address a defined audience (but be aware that
anyone may be seeing you if on the open web)
• Update ‘regularly’ but don’t overload
• Offer something of yourself e.g. a photo,
identifiable name, an appropriate personal tone
• Link it to yourself in Real Life
• Avoid the echo chamber
• Be professional, not perfectionist - be timely
8. Writing a Profile
• What aspect(s) of your work or self do you
want to promote?
• Who is/are your audience(s)?
• What purpose do you want to achieve, using
this profile? What value is there for your
audience?
• What kind of information do you want to
exchange?
10. Next steps…
• Join the ResearcherID community
• Become a member of Academia.edu
• See LSE’s guide to using Twitter in university
research, teaching and impact activities