Research and Publications
Current Research Projects
Leadership Emergence in Online Leaderless Task Groups
An examination of if and how leadership emerges in an online asynchronous leaderless task group. The study also examines factors that contribute to perceived leadership in this environment.
Comparison of Impact of Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication on Learning Outcomes in Online Education
My current research, in partnership with Dr. James Davis, and funded by the National Research Center (NRC). Results of the study will be presented and offered here after the study is complete.
Successful Persuasive Technology for Behavior Reduction: Mapping to Fogg’s Gray Behavior Grid - Persuasive 2010 Proceedings
his study evaluates 24 persuasive technologies that achieved statistically significant behavior reduction across a variety of domains. The purpose of this research was to map the 24 persuasive technology studies across the Gray Behaviors (decrease behavior) in Fogg’s Behavior Grid in order to identify commonalities and patterns in the technologies. Additionally, each persuasive technology is mapped to Fogg’s Behavior Model factors, and Fogg’s persuasive strategies. Mapping across these three dimensions provides a synthesized understanding of how persuasive technology successfully reduces behavior.
The Persuasive Architectures of Facebook - In Press - Chapter in The Psychology of Facebook (B.J. Fogg, editor)
This research examines whether there are any behavioral determinants of new members' continued participation in Facebook. The behaviors observed were use of the Facebook interaction points: posting a profile picture, posting to the wall, status posting, joining a group, using applications, posting additional photos, and receiving communication from others. In addition, the factor of gender was examined, as was the question of whether relationships existed between a new member's continued Facebook participation and the use of specific interaction points. From the results, it is clear there are a number of significant relationships, and it is these relationships that are reported in this paper. Finally, the question of what useful investigations might follow this study is discussed.
User innovation is enabled through the existence of networks. This article examines the architectures of the social network, Facebook, and provides a theoretical discussion of why and how the architectures of Facebook can support a user innovation environment and what factors of the architectures can improve and enhance innovation.
A Descriptive Study of Behavior in Virtual Teams - 2008 AERO Conference Presentation (can only be viewed in IE)
Virtual teams are the basis of significant business and educational experiences. To understand the factors that influence leadership in virtual teams, this study analyzed how interaction in virtual teams affects leadership. The study provides a comparison of groups on the factors of gender, types of posting behaviors, and total quantity of individual contributions. The analysis reveals the differences among these factors on measures of leadership behavior. In general, the factor of gender is an important determinant of how team members post, and how often they post. The quantity of postings is influenced by gender, and is related to when postings occur in a team's interaction cycle. Additionally, how leadership is perceived differs between males and females and differences were also seen between same sex leadership ratings and cross-gender leadership ratings. The findings support the importance of credibility as a determinant of leadership in virtual teams.
The Gender Factor
This article discusses the influence of interaction effects of gender and enduring involvement on the perceived credibility of Web sites. This article discusses results that show that the interaction effect between gender, enduring involvement, and situational involvement significantly influences the perceived credibility of a Web site. Read the full article in the Third International Conference, Persuasive 2008, Oulu Finland June 4-6 2008 Proceedings. View article here
Involvement Level and Credibility
How does the involvement level of a Web site user impact how that user perceives the credibility of the Web site? The study determined the relationship between two variables: enduring involvement and situational involvement and the study measured the effect of these two independent variables and the interaction effects on the perceived credibility of Web sites. A supplemental analysis assessed whether the four groups produced by the factorial design varied with regard to the Web site element categories noticed during credibility evaluation. The research found that the interaction effect between enduring involvement and situational involvement significantly influenced perceived credibility. Additionally, the user's focus shifted to a more central focus when situational involvement was introduced and different Web site elements were noticed. The full article is available at: View Article Here
Susan Ferebee, Ph.D. - Researcher, Professor 
