Educational & Research Statements

Research Reports

Selected Publication: I like what you like: Social norms and Media Enjoyment (Kryston & Eden, 2022)

Summary: This project investigated the reasons why people watch and like the same media entertainment content as their friends, family, and other close social others. In an online experiment, participants were exposed to messages that suggested whether most people liked or disliked a movie trailer. Results showed that viewers’ enjoyment of the trailer and intention to watch the full fill aligned with social sentiment, and highlight that social factors impact media content’s appeal to individual viewers.

Selected Publication: Seeking spoilage: The impact of content challenge, self-control, and traits on spoiler selection (Kryston et al., 2022)

Summary: Why do people actively expose themselves to information that ‘spoils’ the ending of movies, TV shows, books, and so on? And how does this spoilage of narrative content affect whether they watch the full narrative or their enjoyment of the content? This project attempted to answer these questions across two online experiments. Results found that viewers chose to spoil the ending of films with complex, multifaceted plotlines, but not emotionally-intense and/or simple narratives. When a viewer chose a spoiler, they were less likely to watch the full film and believed they would like the film less than if they left the ending unspoiled.

Selected publication: Social norms and social identity explain the selection and anticipated enjoyment of in-group versus out-group films (Park, Kryston, & Eden, 2020)

Summary: In recent history, films starring casts primarily constituted of non-White groups (e.g., Black Panther, Crazy Rich Asians) have enjoyed incredible commercial success driven by overwhelming popularity among the racial/ethnic group that features in the content. We wondered if these films’ success was driven by social influences, namely a group’s collective viewing behaviors and/or approval of viewing the content (norms) or a desire to support an in-group’s image (identity). Indeed, our online experiment found that Asian and White viewers expressed intention to watch films starring in-group cast members. For Asians, this preference was driven by perceptions that other Asians watched the film. For Whites, this preference was driven by a lack of belonging to non-White groups. Black participants did not express a preference for films featuring Black actors/actresses.

Selected publication: Incorporating virtual reality training in an introductory public speaking course (Kryston et al., 2021)

Summary: This project tested the efficacy of a scalable public speech training program that saw undergraduate enrollees in a public speaking course practice their speech in virtual reality (VR). Data (N = 575) collected over the course of two semesters demonstrated that lab practice (in and out of VR) improved in-class speech performance (i.e., grades) compared to those who do not practice. However, participants were considerably more excited to practice in VR than other non-VR practice conditions, and VR practice seemed to be a more demanding practice experience than non-VR practice. Thus, VR may be a scalable way to increases the likelihood of speech practice and simulate the demands of a public speech experience.