1. Ratan, R., Earle, K., Hales, G. E., Lei, Y. S., Gambino, A. (2024). CASA Renovations: Examining Social Responses to an Anthropomorphic Media Representative That is Separate From The Core Technology Being Represented. [Submitted for Peer-Review (Jul-2024) – Human-Machine Communication]

  2. Lim, C., Ratan, R., Liu, H., Hales, G. E., Foxman, M., Lei, Y. S., Lee, O. J., Meshi, D. (2024). Openness to the Metaverse Workplace: Zoom fatigue and metaverse information-seeking mediate gender inequities. [Submitted for Peer-Review (Jul-2024) – Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies].

  3. Hales, G. E., & Hampton, K. N. (2024). Digital Skills and Gendered Achievement Gaps in Math, Reading, and Writing: Unequal Gains from Unstructured Media Use. [Submitted for Peer-Review (Jul-2024) – Information, Communication, & Society].

  4. Lim, C., Ratan, R., Foxman, M., Meshi, D., Liu, H., Hales, G. E., Lei, Y. S. (2024; in press). An Avatar's Worth in the Metaverse Workplace: Assessing predictors of avatar customization valuation. Computers in Human Behavior. DOI:10.1016/j.chb.2024.108309 [PDF]

  5. Beyea, D., Ratan, R., Lei, Y., Liu, H., Hales, G. E., & Lim, C. (2022; in press) A new meta-analysis of the Proteus effect: Studies in VR find stronger effect sizes. PRESENCE: Virtual and Augmented Reality. DOI:10.1162/pres_a_00392 [PDF]

    1. Awarded the 2024 John E. Hunter Meta-Analysis Paper Award from ICA's Information Systems Division.

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

PUBLISHED REPORTS

  1. Hampton, K., Hales, G. E., & Bauer, J. M. (August 23, 2023). Broadband and Student Performance Gaps After the COVID-19 Pandemic. Quello Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. doi: 10.25335/r71b-c922, SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4574526 [PDF]

    1. Featured on Michigan Radio, MSU Today, Bridge Michigan, and others.

  2. Hampton, K., Hales, G. E., & Bauer, J. M. (2022). Quello Center Broadband Survey Preliminary Update 2022: Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District and Local Schools. Quello Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.

  3. Hampton, K., Hales, G. E., & Bauer, J. M. (2022). Quello Center Broadband Survey Preliminary Update 2022: St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency and Local Schools. Quello Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.

EDUCATION

  • 2021 – Ongoing

    Advisor: Keith N Hampton Ph.D.

    Committee: Keith N Hampton Ph.D., Mike Stern Ph.D., Robby Ratan Ph.D., & Esther Thorson Ph.D.

    Dissertation: TBD

  • 2020-2021

    Advisor: Keith N Hampton Ph.D.

    Committee: Keith N Hampton Ph.D., David Ewoldsen Ph.D., & Nancy Rhodes Ph.D.

    Thesis: “Perceptions of Pro-Social Behavior: Culture, Norms, and Reciprocity”

  • 2017 – 2020

    Areas of Focus: Information & Media, Filmmaking

    Minor: Philosophy

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

  • Fall 2022 - Ongoing

    Position: Graduate Researcher and Research Assistant

    Directors: Johannes M. Bauer Ph.D. & Keith Hampton Ph.D.

    See below for more information.

  • Fall 2021 – Spring 2023

    Graduate Researcher and Research Assistant

    Director: Rabindra Ratan Ph.D.

    Involves work and research on Virtual Reality, Avatars, the Proteus Effect, the Metaverse, Blockchain technologies, and more within the discipline of human-technology interaction. Almost daily collaboration and work with graduate and undergraduate research assistants to advance numerous research projects and create test spaces for new ideas.

  • Fall 2021 – Spring 2023

    Graduate Researcher and Research Assistant

    Co-Directors: Adam Sulzdorf-Liszkiewicz, Rabindra Ratan Ph.D., & Brian Winn

    Work and research on immersive reality experiences, such as virtual workspaces, the future of work, and virtual reality. Weekly collaboration with directors and fellow research assistants.

    Working under funding from National Science Foundation Grant, “FW-HTF-R: Collaborative Research: Virtual Meeting Support for Enhanced Well-Being and Equity for Game Developers,” 2021 - 2025, Grant # 2128803, SES Division: $1,599,851 total in support.

CURRENT RESEARCH WORK:

Quello Center at Michigan State University

PNG logo for the Quello center at Michigan State University
PNG logo for Michigan State University's College of Communication

Position: Graduate Researcher and Research Assistant

Working closely with Dr. Hampton, this position focuses on data cleaning, management, analysis, and research writing for numerous completed and in progress projects; including the creation of reports and articles stemming from the 2019 and 2022 Rural Broadband Gap Surveys, and work and analysis based on pre- and post-pandemic waves of rural college students' personal networks and related characteristics.

Quello Project Details (as of Summer 2024):

Research work has included in-depth use of SPSS and Mplus to code, clean, analyze, and write-up two major projects. The first encompassed organization and comparative research of the broadband gap surveys; starting with extensive cleaning of the 2022 survey (wave two; N = 3000+) to ensure comparability to the 2019 survey wave (wave one). After matching the datasets, I performed multilevel regression analyses and a form of lagged group analysis to understand the differences, similarities, and patterns of change from before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. We worked to create a comprehensive report stemming from the rich findings of this analysis, which was published in August 2023 with the Quello Center. The second project included developing research (still in progress with, Dr. Hampton) from surveys of ego-level networks among first-generation rural college students and their parents. Most recently, we’ve gone back to the broadband gap datasets to explore longitudinal pandemic-related patterns in adolescents’ well-being and digital media use.

CONFERENCE PAPERS & PRESENTATIONS

  1. Lim, C., Ratan, R., Kahn, A., Lei, Y., Hales, G. E., Liu, H. (October, 2024). Behavioral Influence Through Controllable Avatars(cars): Applying the Technology Acceptance Model and Social Cognitive Theory in Electric Vehicle Games. [Meaningful Play 2024 - Proceedings; Pittsburgh, PA.]

  2. Hales, G. E., & Hampton, K. N. (June, 2024). Social Media Use and Gender Inequalities in Reading, Writing and Math: When Leisure is Learning. [ICA 2024; Gold Coast, Australia]. [PDF]

  3. Ratan, R., Earle, K., Lei, Y., Hales, G. E., Jang, D., Kim, T., Lim, C. (June, 2024). Technologies are Utilitarian, Social, and/or Avatar-like: From CASA to TUSA, tested in e-scooter perceptions. [ICA 2024; Gold Coast, Australia].

  4. Lim, C., Ratan, R. Foxman, M., Meshi, D., Liu, H., Hales, G. E., Lei, Y. (June, 2024). An Avatar's Worth: Valuation of avatar customization for the metaverse workplace is predicted by virtual meeting fatigue, gaming habits, and being a woman or person of color. [ICA 2024; Gold Coast, Australia]. [PDF]

  5. Hales, G. E. (2024, April 4). Social Media, Video Games, and Adolescent Well-Being and Achievement. [Breakout Session Presentation; Michigan State University Fatherhood Forum]. [PDF]

    1. [Presented a synthesis of research co-authored with Keith Hampton]

  6. Hampton, K., Hales, G. E., & Bauer, J. M. (Nov. 1, 2023). Broadband and Student Performance Gaps After the COVID-19 Pandemic [Full Report Presentation]. Michigan Broadband Summit 2023, East Lansing, MI.

  7. Hales, G. E., & Hampton, K. N. (2023, August 16-21). Misattributing the Social in Media: The Mediating Role of Digital Skills Between Media and Achievement [Full Paper – Roundtable Presentation]. 118th American Sociological Association Annual Meeting: The Educative Power of Sociology. [PDF]

    1. Table Presider for Communication, Information Technologies, and Media Sociology Roundtables

  8. Lim, C., Lei, Y., Hales, G. E., Liu, H., Ratan, R. (2023, May 25-29). From Agent to Avacar: Behavioral influence through the controllable-agent paradigm [Paper Presentation]. 73rd Annual International Communication Association Conference.

  9. Ratan, R., Liu, H., Hales, G. E., Lim, C., Foxman, M., Lei, Y. S., Lee, O. J., Meshi, D. (2022, November 17-20). The Metaverse Spend: Game purchasers perceive more virtual value [Extended Abstract]. NCA 108th Annual Convention.

  10. Rhodes, N., Delle, F., Pacic, G., Hales, G. E., McClaran, N., Yao, S. X. (2022, November 17-20). What do viewers look at in social norms appeals? [Extended Abstract]. NCA 108th Annual Convention.

  11. Beyea, D., Ratan, R., Lei, Y., Liu, H., Hales, G. E., & Lim, C. (2022, May 26-30). Toward a Clear Definition and Understanding of the Proteus Effect: Examining Modality and Avatar Uncanniness as Moderators [Paper Presentation]. 72nd Annual International Communication Association Conference.

  12. Klein, M., Ratan, R., Liu, H., Lei, Y., Hales, G. E., Fennell, C., & Winn, B. (2022, May 26-30). Do you buy it? Examining the Impact of a Serious Game on Financial Attitudes [Paper Presentation]. 72nd Annual International Communication Association Conference.

EDITORIALS

  1. Hales, Gabriel E. & Hampton, Keith N. (April 5, 2024). Rural students’ access to Wi-Fi is in jeopardy as pandemic-era resources recede. The Conversation.
    https://theconversation.com/rural-students-access-to-wi-fi-is-in-jeopardy-as-pandemic-era-resources-recede-225945

RELATED & INTERVIEWS:

April 25, 2024 - The Yonder Report: News from rural America [phone interview conducted w/ host]

April 24, 2024- The74: Rural students’ access to Wi-Fi is in jeopardy as pandemic-era resources recede

April 23, 2024- The Daily Yonder: Rural students’ access to Wi-Fi is in jeopardy as pandemic-era resources recede

April 6, 2024- Lake County News, Clear Lake California: Rural students’ access to Wi-Fi is in jeopardy as pandemic-era resources recede

April 5, 2024- Route Fifty: Rural students’ access to Wi-Fi is in jeopardy as pandemic-era resources recede

WORKING PAPERS

  1. Hales, G. E., Hampton, K., … (Authorship TBD; 2023). Do changes in ideology of first-generation rural students spread to those who are “left behind”? Shared social media spaces and homophily in students’ and parents’ social networks. [Paper in Progress].

  2. Ratan, R., Lim, C., Pandita, S., Foxman, M., Hales, G. E., Liu, H., Lei, Y. S., Beyea, D., Lee, O. J. (2022). Openness to the Metaverse Workplace: Zoom fatigue and metaverse information seeking mediate gender inequities. [Paper in Progress].

  3. Ratan, R., Hales, G. E., Lei, Y. S., Liu, H., Foxman, M., Beyea, D., Pandita, S., Lim, C., Lee, O. J., Sulzdorf-Liszkiewicz, A. (2023). Zooming into the Metaverse. [Extended Abstract Accepted in JCMC––In Progress].

  4. Hales, G. E. (2023). Social Imaginaries within Internet Network Governance: Building Structure for the Deliberation of Governance Goals. [In Progress].

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

  • Summer 2022

    Created and co-taught course focusing on rising and science fiction media technologies with a fellow Ph.D. student, Skylar Lei. The course encouraged students to analyze and combine media theories and psychological or sociological perspectives with representations of sci-fi technology portrayed in the show, Black Mirror. Included creating weekly assignments and videos, grading, and providing in-depth feedback to each student for the duration of the summer course.

  • Spring 2022

    Professor David Ewoldsen Ph.D.

    Managed grading of all written work and exams, helped in curriculum and assignment development, customized and managed the D2L course page, and oversaw student inquiry and meetings.

  • Fall 2021

    Associate Professor Rabindra Ratan Ph.D.

    Working with fellow graduate teaching assistant Skylar Lei, we helped build the main lecture curriculum, quizzes, and exams. We developed and taught our own course work and lectures for recitation each week, responded to student inquiries, and graded all written assignments, essays, exams, and final papers through D2L.

  • Spring 2021

    Assistant Professor Ruth Shillair Ph.D.

    Collaborated on curriculum and exam development, responded to student inquiry, helped in the creation of and recorded lecture material for Dr. Shillair, graded most written assignments, essays, exams, and final papers through D2L.

  • Fall 2020

    Assistant Professor Ruth Shillair Ph.D.

    Collaborated on curriculum and exam development, responded to student inquiry, helped in the creation of and recorded lecture material for Dr. Shillair, and graded most written assignments, essays, exams, and final papers through D2L.

ASSISTED WORK, MENTORSHIPS

  1. Schultz, Z., Dinh, M., Bird, C., Hales, G., Lei, S., Latunski, B., & Ratan, R. (2022, April 8). Building a Virtual Environment as Stimuli for a Psychological Study [Poster Presentation]. 2022 University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF).

  2. Schultz, Z., Hales, G., & Ratan, R. (2022, April 8). Metaverse Technologies: Are We Doomed to Cancer and Blindness? [Poster Presentation]. 2022 University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF).