
Dr Michael Smyth
BSc (Hons), MRes, PhD
Current positions
Lecturer
School of Psychological Science
Contact
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Research interests
My broad research interests lie within social psychology, cyberpsychology, student’s experience at university and mental health, both quantitative and qualitive approaches. Just to highlight, the social psychology aspects of cyberpsychology are interested in investigating the psychological phenomena which emerge from human interaction with social and digital technologies. For example, the Impact of using AI, virtual reality and social media, to name but a few, on our mental health, social wellbeing and effective productivity. I am currently interested the impact of using AI and the ways in which digital technology, VR and gamification can enhance students’ learning and mental health experiences in higher education. Also, my current pedagogical research includes exploring students’ views on assessment feedback with an aim to optimise students' development and satisfaction through meaningful feedback and feedforward comments.
Continually evolving digital technology, cyber practices and social technology culture have become an integral part of contemporary living and affect many aspects of our personal, educational and professional lives such as our productivity, activities, social connections, relationships, development and wellbeing. With an informed understanding of the psychological phenomena that are shaped by our interactions with emerging digital technology, we can meaningfully guide the trajectory of evolving digital culture in healthy and psychologically beneficial directions.