[Students-l] [Fwd: [ciresearchers] PhD Research Studentship - University of Teesside]

[M.J. Menou]

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Sujet: [ciresearchers] PhD Research Studentship - University of Teesside
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2008 16:49:52 +0100
De: Thompson, Steve <S.D.Thompson at tees.ac.uk>
Répondre à :: ciresearchers at vancouvercommunity.net,	"Thompson, Steve" 
<S.D.Thompson at tees.ac.uk>
Pour :: <ciresearchers at vancouvercommunity.net>, 
<communityinformatics at vancouvercommunity.net>


School of Social Sciences and Law, University of Teesside

The School of Social Sciences and Law invites applications for a full 
time PhD studentship to work on the following project:

'Developing a sociological approach to understanding the impact of 
gender and age upon people's experiences of online social networking and 
virtual communities'

The studentship is available as part of the WISER group research 
network, an interdisciplinary group led by two professors (one in 
Computer Science and, one in Sociology). The group was set up to enhance 
collaborative, interdisciplinary research across School / subject 
boundaries at Teesside and to enhance external partnerships in the broad 
area of Digital Innovation. WISER sits within the Centre for Social and 
Policy Research (CSPR)

http://www.tees.ac.uk/depts/socialfutures/CSPRprofile.cfm and is 
directed by Professor Eileen Green. CSPR has won external funding of 
£1.5m over the last 10 years and staff work on projects that span the 
fields of the sociology of technology, leisure studies, gender, health 
and ethnicity, employment and training, and youth research.


A key area for research identified by the WISER group is the role of 
ICTs and Web 2.0 technologies in supporting older people in active 
ageing and independent living. It is well known that social engagement 
and participation are important dimensions for both defining and 
enhancing quality of life in later years and family relationships are 
significant for many older people as a source of support and identity. 
Increasingly, social relationships are being created, sustained and 
supported through online activity as well as by face to face, telephone 
and mobile phone activity. Virtual communities are expanding in 
importance for both young and older people, due to technological and 
socio-economic changes related to the dispersal of kinship relations, 
increased travel and mobility and employment shifts. Contemporary 
reconfigurations of family structure and relationships have also shaped 
the significance of ICTs for maintaining connectivity and sense of 
belonging. There are increas!
  ing numbers of older people using ICTs for a variety of purposes but 
there is a need to develop an understanding of the social and emotional 
importance of ICT activity and the ways in which older people's ICT use 
and online social networking is shaped by gender, age, spatial location 
and family organisation.

The research studentship aims to address this gap in the field by 
developing a sociological approach to understanding the impact of gender 
and age upon people's experiences of online social networking and 
virtual communities. In particular it will explore the potential of ICTs 
and Web 2.0 to facilitate active ageing, connectedness and belonging and 
to enhance networks of care and sociability amongst older people. The 
collaboration with computer science colleagues will enable the 
development of an interdisciplinary framework and linked methodological 
approach that will enhance understanding of the complex relationships 
between gender, ageing and ICT use, making important theoretical 
contributions to studies of gender and technology and the sociology of 
ageing.

Research Doctoral Scholarships applicants should have at least an upper 
second class honours degree or equivalent qualification and ideally a 
postgraduate qualification. The minimum English language entry level is 
IELTS 6.5 with no grade below 6.0 or equivalent.

The awards will be for a period of three years and include fees (home/EU 
or international rate) and an annual stipend of £12,600. Successful 
applicants should be in a position to take up the scholarships in July 
2008 or shortly thereafter.

For more information on the project please contact Professor Eileen 
Green on +44(0)1642 342346 or by email at E.E.Green at tees.ac.uk.

To apply for a scholarship you must contact the Graduate Research School 
for an application form:

University of Teesside Research Doctoral Scholarships
Graduate Research School
University of Teesside
Middlesbrough
Tees Valley
TS1 3BA
UK
E-mail: graduateresearchschool at tees.ac.uk or tel: +44(0)1642 738033

The closing date for receipt of applications is 25 April 2008