[Air-L] 2024 AoIR Dissertation Award Winner

[Michelle, Association of Internet Researchers]

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.