The Media Psychology Research Center (MPRC) is a nonprofit dedicated to media psychology research, assessment, and education.

We examine how people consume, produce and distribute information across all media technologies and seek to understand the impact on both individuals and society.
Our mission is to examine the interaction of media with human experience in every aspect of life for the purpose of promoting public understanding and positive media development and use.

The Media Psychology Research Center Goals

  • Encourage needed outcome research in the field of media psychology, including the psychological impact of media & interactive technologies in the domain of learning, healthcare and general well-being
  • Incubate new ideas, products, solution services for learning, personal growth, well-being and positive social change
  • Support partners by providing cycled research and real-time feedback
  • Increase the opportunity for the publication of research articles in this field
  • Bridge the gap between research and practice – specializing in “live applications” that allow rapid updates based on real-time research and actual practice

Research To Practice

Ubiquitous technology means we need a better understanding of:

·Attitudes and perceptions about technology and technology use

·Digital and Transmedia Storytelling and constructing and sharing additive narratives across media channels

·Participatory and collaborative media

·On-demand information access

·The use of technology to promote positive experiences through cognitive and emotional engagement: positive mood inducement, sense of self-efficacy, social connectedness

·Immersive Environments and new arenas for expression and social modeling of new attitudes, skills, social roles, and personal identity

·Human relationships mediated by technology

·Tools and environments for learning across the lifespan

·Psychological, perceptual and cognitive aspects of using technology and understanding usability

Recent Projects


Game Assessment
Development and product testing phase. Digital game assessment and content recommendations for reading instruction interactive software.

The Impact of Social Media on Self-Presentation and Self-Image
Examination of social media influence on the impact of relative information sources and self-competence on body image and perceptions of attractiveness.

The Use of Humor in Creating Hope and Resiliency
Development of testing protocol: The use of humor exercises and improvisational theater training to build positive emotions and emotional strength

The Influence of Media on the Predisposition to Conflict

Research project analyzing the impact of information sources on people's beliefs about themselves, the world, and other nations. Focusing on information flows before and after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, this study examines the impact of information sources on opinions that predispose individuals and groups toward conflict with others.

MEDIA PSYCHOLOGY BLOG


Ideas to Market

MPRC aims to have tangible impact, not simply provide more white papers and academic discussion. The goal is to touch the marketplace - to bring positive change to media and technology products in ways that affect people everyday. To that end, the methodology is collaborative, iterative and innovative.

The MPRC is is an active participant in educational media, story-telling and technology with the goal of better understanding the positive nature of these powerful tools. MPRC researches, field-tests and create media, products, curricula and programs that are designed to benefit learners across of all ages. We are working to make our Research Center a hands-on, long-term partner with other world-class organizations.

Questions? Feel free to contact us. We are happy to share our knowledge and collaborate and potential media research projects.

Email info@mprcenter.org