[Air-L] 2018 Carl Couch Internet Research Award

[Sarina Chen]

CALL FOR AWARD APPLICATIONS



Carl J. Couch Internet Research Award 2018



Sponsored by the Carl Couch Center for Social and Internet Research

http://www.cccsir.com/



The Carl Couch Center issues an international call for student-authored

papers to be considered for Carl J. Couch Internet Research Award. The

Couch Center welcomes both theoretical and empirical papers that apply

symbolic interactionist approaches to internet studies.



According to basic symbolic interactionist premises, what we understand as

self, identity, relationship, and cultural formations are constructed

dialogically and interactively.  While the works of George H. Mead, Georg

Simmel, Erving Goffman and other leading symbolic interactionists have been

integral to the study of social interaction, Carl Couch was among the first

from this tradition to suggest the importance of engaging in the study of

mediated interaction. It is critical that symbolic interactionists move

boldly forward, beyond Couch's initial suggestion, to study what has become

for many a dominant form of communication in their everyday life.



Whether we research identities, emotion, memory, family, work, career,

presentations of self, deception, love, loss or other areas, the impact of

mediated communication is felt by those interacting within it.  As

internet-related media continue to influence our everyday interactions--not

only with other people but also with technologies, devices, algorithms,

platform parameters, and so forth--it becomes crucial for symbolic

interactionists to attend to the role of these mediating factors in the

interaction process.



We encourage any paper that uses a symbolic interactionist approach in

internet studies. We also encourage papers that explore the interface

between deliberate social interaction and structured (or automated)

interactions sponsored or enacted by various technological features,

exploring not only how identities, relations, and social formations are

negotiated through social interactions, but also how these interactions are

mediated further through the use or capacities of various technologies.



Papers will be evaluated based on the quality of (1) mastery of symbolic

interactionist approaches and concepts, (2) originality, (3) organization,

(4) presentation, and (5) advancement of knowledge. Those contemplating

entering should note that an interactionist approach demands thoughtful

analysis, and not mere description, of social interactions. Evaluation will

be administered by a Review Committee of:



Dr. Camille Johnson-Yale, Lake Forest College, Illinois

Dr. Lois Scheidt, Indiana University, Bloomington

Dr. Shing-Ling Sarina Chen, University of Northern Iowa



Competition is open to graduate or undergraduate students of all

disciplines. Works that are published or accepted for publication are not

eligible for award consideration. Entries should be in English and not

exceed 30 pages (approximately 7500 words) in length, including references

and appendices. Limit of one entry per student per year.



Candidates should send a copy of their paper electronically, along with

information concerning the location and level of their studies, to
Shing-Ling Sarina Chen, sarina.chen at uni.edu.  Application deadline is April
1, 2018.  Notification of award will be sent by September 1.



Those with questions or comments about Couch Award application, please

contact:



Shing-Ling Sarina Chen

Lang Hall 326

Dept. of Communication Studies

Univ. of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA 50614

USA

sarina.chen at uni.edu