It gives us great pleasure to announce that the recipient of the 2024 Annual Dissertation Award is Dr. Robert Dorschel from the University of Cambridge, UK. Our congratulations to Dr. Dorschel!
Dr. Dorschel’s dissertation, titled “The Social Codes of Tech Workers: On the Quest to be Middle-Class Wealthy and Morally Worthy”, addresses a wide range of pressing issues related to digital labour, class dynamics, ethical considerations in technology, diversity and inclusion, and the broader impacts of digital capitalism on society. These issues are highly relevant in current debates on the future of work, technology, and socio-economic inequalities. The dissertation’s exploration of tech workers’ subjectivities and social codes intersects with digital humanities, particularly in understanding how digital tools and platforms are designed, developed, and used. By focusing on the creators of digital content and technologies, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of internet research’s cultural and social dimensions. A key differentiator of this dissertation is that it was well structured with a clear methodology that was theoretically grounded and could easily be replicated.
The committee also recognises Dr. Yeweon Kim from the University of California, USA, with an Honourable Mention. Dr. Kim’s dissertation, titled, “The Bystander Public for Online Incivility: A Development of the Bystander Counter-Intervention Model” explores the socio-psychological mechanisms behind bystander counter-intervention (BCI) in online incivility. It identifies the fluidity of online bystander roles and the decision-making processes that lead to different behavioural responses, such as supporting, overlooking, or confronting incivility. Key findings indicate that frequent exposure to online incivility and a sense of responsibility to support the perpetrator are significant predictors of BCI behaviour. The dissertation extends traditional bystander intervention models by introducing the BCI model, which theorizes that bystanders justify incivility and perceive benefits in supporting it, influenced by their self-efficacy. This research contributes to the understanding of how bystanders can either exacerbate or mitigate online incivility, highlighting the complex dynamics of online interactions and the potential for targeted interventions to reduce harmful online behaviour.
AoIR is grateful for the hard work by this year’s AoIR Dissertation Award committee: Alan Shaw (Chair), Amelia Johns, Walter LaMendola, and Stephen McConnell. Thank you for your hard work and professionalism during the review process.
