Professor, Communication
Dr. Spottwood’s research interests focus on 1) how digital media impacts people personally and professionally, and 2) how usability issues impact educational and organizational success. As humans become increasingly dependent on communication technology and digital tools, it is important that research uncovers how people try to use these tools to accomplish their goals and come to know the world around them.
Topics she has studied include how social media use affects user well-being and their personal relationships, how people can be nudged to protect their privacy and communicate prosocially on social media, and usability issues people experience with information technology. Dr. Spottswood collaborates with academics and industry professionals to uncover how these technologies and tools can be used and designed to help people connect, learn, and work.