Sean Rife
My work focuses on technology and society and has two foci. First, I examine the intersection of technology and relationships, and the role social media use plays in influencing psychosocial outcomes in dyadic and extra-dyadic processes. Specifically, I am interested in social support processes as they occur in different venues (online, through social network services, and in more traditional contexts), and how individual-level and situational factors influence support seeking behavior.
Second, I examine moral expression over social media, and motivations for online activism. I am particularly interested in the application of personality theory to the study of moral messaging as expressed in an online context.
Additionally, I am a strong advocate of the open science movement and methodological reform in the psychological sciences. I am actively involved in multiple replication efforts and pre-register all my research (as well as encourage my students to do likewise).