Dr Aphra Kerr

    Sociology, Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI), ALL Institute, Technology and Society

    Associate Professor

    Auxilia House
    3.5
    (01) 708 6140

    Biography

    My research and teaching focuses on the role of the media and digital technology in society.

    I am on sabbatical from the 1st of Feb. 2019 for one year. In Spring I will spend a semester on a Digital Research Fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh to work on a project on 'Data Intermediaries, Data Work & Data Inequalities'. This follows on from collaborations with the Ethics and Privacy Working Group of the ADAPT research centre, and the Technology and Society research network at Maynooth University.

    I am currently a funded investigator on the Refiguring Innovation in Digital Games project funded by the Canadian SSHRC (http://www.refig.ca/). This project is exploring diversity and inclusion in the digital games industry and the Irish project has a focus on community engagement, informal education and diversity.

    At Maynooth University I teach courses on media & society, technology studies & culture, the business and cultures of the internet, games and play, and research methods, especially digital research methods. I designed and chaired the MA Internet and Society, 2015-2019. 

    I was elected chair of the Communication Policy and Technology section of the International Association for Media and Communications Research in 2016 and am just coming to the end of my term. IAMCR - is a worldwide professional organisation in the field of media and communication research and has a focus on global inclusiveness and critical scholarship.

    I was also a founding member of the Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA). In 2016 DiGRA made me one of their inaugural distinguished scholars.  

    I was an invited visiting lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication in the USA from January-May 2011. We continued our collaboration by jointly hosting an international summer school on 'National & Transnational Cultural Flows & Place' in MU in 2013. 

    Prior to coming to Maynooth in 2005, I worked as a research fellow at the Centre for Media Research at the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland, and at the Society, Technology and Media research centre at Dublin City University in the Republic of Ireland working on a range of projects including public service broadcasting policy, media literacy and digital inclusion.

    From 2001-2003 I was a Government of Ireland post-doctoral fellow working on the project Contemporary Digital Media: The Emergence of Digital Games. That began my research into digital games (the PS1 era!).

    My PhD examined Ireland in the Global Information Economy: Innovation and Multimedia Content Industries with a focus on the barriers to global cultural flows. It was awarded in 2000 by Dublin City University. During my PhD I spent six months as a research assistant at UNU/INTECH in Maastricht, the Netherlands, working on a report on science and technology policy in Ireland.

    See info on publications at Google Scholar and ResearchGate. You will also find me on twitter @aphrak

    Research Interests

    Data politics and data markets, the ethics and social implications of 'smart' technologies and AI, data governance, governance and regulation of tech & media.

    Also - Cultural and creative industries, the digital games industry, media work and production and gender. 

    Currently on the editorial boards of the following journals: Popular Communication: Int. Journal of Media and Culture;  Social Media + Society; Media Industries; and Eludamos. Journal for Computer Game Culture. 

    Research Projects

      Project Role Funding Body / Program Description Start Date End Date Award (€)
    Gambling Awareness Review PI Gambling Awareness Trust, / 2360174 John O Brennan Co-PI on this research funded by Gambling Awareness Trust 01-SEP-19 31-AUG-20 65119
    Refig/Network in Play (ongoing) PI Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada / 2264955 01-APR-19 31-MAR-20 2246.66
    Re-Figuring Innovation in Games PI Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada / 2264955 13383.45
    Re-Figuring Innovation in Games (continuing project) PI Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada / 2264955 01-JUL-17 30-JUN-18 13383.45
    Data Intermediaries, Data Work & Data Inequalities: Towards Socially Responsible Data Driven Innovation PI / Digital Scholarship Fellowship at IASH-SSPS, University of Edinburgh, UK 01-FEB-19 31-MAY-19 5000
    Travel Support ICT Proposers' Day 2019 PI EU Horizon 2020 National Support Network / 2265103 16-AUG-19 15-FEB-20 795

    Post Doctoral Fellows/Research Team

      Researcher Name Project Role Funding Body
    Joshua Savage ReFig Research Assistant

    Books

      Year Publication
    2017 Global games: Production, circulation and policy in the networked era.
    Kerr Aphra (2017) Global games: Production, circulation and policy in the networked era. New York: Routledge. [DOI] [Details]
    2006 The business and culture of digital games: Gamework/gameplay.
    Kerr Aphra (2006) The business and culture of digital games: Gamework/gameplay. London: Sage. [DOI] [Details]

    Edited Books

      Year Publication
    2015 International Encyclopedia of Digital Communication and Society
    Mansell, R., Ang, PH., (General Editors), Ballon, P., Braman, S., Grimshaw, D. J., Ivory, J. D., Kerr, A., Kleine, D., Steinfield, C., van der Graaf, S. (Associate Editors) (Ed.). (2015) International Encyclopedia of Digital Communication and Society United States: Wiley-Blackwell. [DOI] [Details]

    Peer Reviewed Journals

      Year Publication
    2019 'Communication and internet policy: a critical rights-based history and future'
    Kerr, Aphra; Musiani, Francesca; Pohle, Julia (2019) 'Communication and internet policy: a critical rights-based history and future'. Internet Policy Review, 8 (1) [DOI] [Details]
    2017 'Privacy Shields for Whom? Key Actors and Privacy Discourses on Twitter and in Newspapers'
    O'Rourke, Cristin; Kerr, Aphra (2017) 'Privacy Shields for Whom? Key Actors and Privacy Discourses on Twitter and in Newspapers'. Westminster Papers In Communication &Amp; Culture, 12 :21-36 [DOI] [Details]
    2015 'The Recruitment of Passion and Community in the Service of Capital: Community Managers in the Digital Games Industry'
    Kerr, Aphra, Kelleher, J D (2015) 'The Recruitment of Passion and Community in the Service of Capital: Community Managers in the Digital Games Industry'. Critical Studies in Media Communication, 32 :177-192 [IR Link] [Details]
    2015 'Reclaiming Public Space: Sound and Mobile Media Use by Teenagers'
    O'Keeffe, Linda; Kerr, Aphra (2015) 'Reclaiming Public Space: Sound and Mobile Media Use by Teenagers'. International Journal of Communication, 9 (1):3562-3582 [IR Link] [Details]
    2014 'Placing International Media Production'
    Kerr, Aphra (2014) 'Placing International Media Production'. MEDIA INDUSTRIES JOURNAL, 1 [IR Link] [Details]
    2014 'Surveillant assemblages of governance in massively multiplayer online games: A comparative analysis'
    Kerr Aphra, De Paoli Stefano, Keatinge Max. (2014) 'Surveillant assemblages of governance in massively multiplayer online games: A comparative analysis'. Surveillance & Society, 12 (3):320-336 [IR Link] [Details]
    2013 'Social and Spatial Structures of Innovation in the Irish Animation Industry'
    van Egeraat, C, O Riain, S., Kerr, A. (2013) 'Social and Spatial Structures of Innovation in the Irish Animation Industry'. European Planning Studies, 21 :1437-1455 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2012 'L’agencement de la triche. Aborder la triche dans les MMORPG comme un imbroglio'
    De Paoli, S. Kerr, Aphra (2012) 'L’agencement de la triche. Aborder la triche dans les MMORPG comme un imbroglio'. LA REVUE RÉSEAUX – COMMUNICATION – TECHNOLOGIE – SOCIÉTÉ, 30 :235-269 [IR Link] [Details]
    2012 'The spatialisation of the digital games industry: lessons from Ireland'
    Kerr, A;Cawley, A (2012) 'The spatialisation of the digital games industry: lessons from Ireland'. International Journal of Cultural Policy, 18 :398-418 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2012 'On crimes and punishments in virtual worlds: bots, the failure of punishment and players as moral entrepreneurs'
    De Paoli, S;Kerr, A (2012) 'On crimes and punishments in virtual worlds: bots, the failure of punishment and players as moral entrepreneurs'. Ethics and Information Technology, 14 :73-87 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2011 'Toward trust as result. A transdisciplinary research agenda for the 'Future internet''
    de Paoli S.;Gangadharan G.;Kerr A.;d'Andrea V. (2011) 'Toward trust as result. A transdisciplinary research agenda for the 'Future internet''. TripleC, 9 (2):702-714 [IR Link] [Details]
    2010 'We Will Always be One Step Ahead of Them. A Case Study on the Economy of Cheating in MMORPGs'
    De Paoli, Stefano Kerr, Aphra (2010) 'We Will Always be One Step Ahead of Them. A Case Study on the Economy of Cheating in MMORPGs'. JOURNAL OF VIRTUAL WORLDS RESEARCH, 2 [IR Link] [Details]
    2010 'The Assemblage of Cheating: How to Study Cheating as Imbroglio in MMORPGs'
    De Paoli, Stefano Kerr, Aphra (2010) 'The Assemblage of Cheating: How to Study Cheating as Imbroglio in MMORPGs'. THE FIBRECULTURE JOURNAL, [IR Link] [Details]
    2009 'Innovation and Knowledge in the Digital Media Sector. An information economy approach'
    Preston, Paschal, Kerr, Aphra, Cawley, Anthony (2009) 'Innovation and Knowledge in the Digital Media Sector. An information economy approach'. Information Communication and Society, 12 :994-1014 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2006 'New media - New pleasures?'
    Kerr Aphra, Kuchlich Julian, Brereton Pat (2006) 'New media - New pleasures?'. International Journal of Cultural Studies, 9 (1):63-82 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2004 'Game for it?'
    Delaney, D., Kerr, A. and Gallagher, D. (2004) 'Game for it?'. THE ENGINEER'S JOURNAL, 58 :244-249 [IR Link] [Details]
    2003 'Revisiting Globalisation through the Movie and Digital Games Industries'
    Kerr, Aphra & Flynn, Roderick (2003) 'Revisiting Globalisation through the Movie and Digital Games Industries'. Convergence, 9 [IR Link] [Details]
    2003 'Live Life to the power of PS2. Locating the Games Industry in the New Media Environment'
    Kerr, A. (2003) 'Live Life to the power of PS2. Locating the Games Industry in the New Media Environment'. Irish Communications Review, 9 [IR Link] [Details]
    2001 'Digital Media, the Nation State and Local Cultures: The development of multimedia content in Ireland'
    Preston, P. & Kerr, A. (2001) 'Digital Media, the Nation State and Local Cultures: The development of multimedia content in Ireland'. MEDIA, CULTURE AND SOCIETY, 23 :109-131 [IR Link] [Details]
    2000 'Media Diversity and Cultural Identities. The Development of Multimedia ‘Content’ products in Ireland'
    Kerr, Aphra (2000) 'Media Diversity and Cultural Identities. The Development of Multimedia ‘Content’ products in Ireland'. New Media and Society, 3 [IR Link] [Details]

    Book Chapters

      Year Publication
    2019 'Game Production Logics at Work: Convergence and Divergence'
    Kerr, Aphra (2019) 'Game Production Logics at Work: Convergence and Divergence' In: Deuze, Mark, Prenger, Mirjam (eds). Making Media. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. [Details]
    2016 'Transnational media networks and the 'migration nation''
    Kerr A.;King-O'Riain R.;Titley G. (2016) 'Transnational media networks and the 'migration nation'' In: Migrations: Ireland in a global world. [Details]
    2016 'Recruitment, Work, and Identity in Community Management: Passion, Precarity, and Play'
    Kerr, Aphra (2016) 'Recruitment, Work, and Identity in Community Management: Passion, Precarity, and Play' In: Webster, Juliet and Randle, Kieth (eds). Virtual Workers and the Global Labour Market. UK: Palgrave MacMillan. [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2014 'Social and Spatial Structures of Innovation in the Irish Animation Industry'
    van Egeraat, C, O Riain, S., Kerr, A. (2014) 'Social and Spatial Structures of Innovation in the Irish Animation Industry' In: hris Van Egeraat, Dieter Kogler, Philip Cooke (eds). Global and Regional Dynamics in Knowledge Flows and Innovation. London: Routledge. [Details]
    2013 'Transnational media networks and the 'migration nation''
    Kerr, A;King-O'Riain, R;Titley, G (2013) 'Transnational media networks and the 'migration nation'' In: MIGRATIONS: IRELAND IN A GLOBAL WORLD. MANCHESTER: MANCHESTER UNIV PRESS. [Details]
    2015 'Online Games'
    Kerr, Aphra and Ivory, J. (2015) 'Online Games' In: The International Encyclopedia of Digital Communication and Society . New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell. [IR Link] [Details]
    2013 'Space Wars: The Politics of Games Production in Europe'
    Kerr, A (2013) 'Space Wars: The Politics of Games Production in Europe' In: Gaming Globally: Production, Play and Place. BASINGSTOKE: PALGRAVE. [IR Link] [Details]
    2013 'Transnational Media Networks and the 'migration nation''
    Kerr, A., King O’Riain, R., and Titley, G., (2013) 'Transnational Media Networks and the 'migration nation'' In: Migrations: Ireland in a Global World. Manchester: Manchester University Press. [IR Link] [Details]
    2012 'The Irish and UK Videogame Industries'
    Kerr, Aphra (2012) 'The Irish and UK Videogame Industries' In: The Video Game Industry: Formation, Present State and Future. New York: Routledge. [IR Link] [Details]
    2011 'Here, there and everywhere: Polish media transnationalism '
    Titley, Gavan, Dr Aphra Kerr (2011) 'Here, there and everywhere: Polish media transnationalism ' In: Immigration and the Irish Experience of European and Global Transformation. Farnham: Ashgate. [Details]
    2011 'Polish Migrants and Media Transnationalism'
    Titley, G;Kerr, A (2011) 'Polish Migrants and Media Transnationalism' In: GLOBALIZATION, MIGRATION AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION: IRELAND IN EUROPE AND THE WORLD. ALDERSHOT: ASHGATE PUBLISHING LTD. [Details]
    2011 'The Culture of Gamework'
    Kerr, Aphra (2011) 'The Culture of Gamework' In: Managing Media Work. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. [IR Link] [Details]
    2011 'Player production and innovation in online games - Time for new rules?'
    Kerr, Aphra (2011) 'Player production and innovation in online games - Time for new rules?' In: Online Gaming in Context — The social and cultural significance of online games. Oxon: Routledge. [Details]
    2011 'Constructing the Role of Users in ICT Design '
    Kerr, A., De Paoli, S., Storni, C., (2011) 'Constructing the Role of Users in ICT Design ' In: New Media Technologies and User Empowerment. Berlin: Peter Lang. [Details]
    2010 'Beyond billiard balls: transnational flows, cultural diversity and digital games'
    Kerr, A (2010) 'Beyond billiard balls: transnational flows, cultural diversity and digital games' In: GOVERNANCE OF DIGITAL GAME ENVIRONMENTS AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY: TRANSDISCIPLINARY ENQUIRIES. CHELTENHAM: EDWARD ELGAR PUBLISHING LTD. [Details]
    2010 'Integrating Players, Reputation and Ranking to Manage Cheating in MMOGs'
    Botvich, D., McGibney, J., Ostapenko, G., De Paoli, S., Kerr, A. and Keatinge, M. (2010) 'Integrating Players, Reputation and Ranking to Manage Cheating in MMOGs' In: FDG 2010: The 5th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games. California: ACM. [IR Link] [Details]
    2010 'Beyond billiard balls: transnational flows, cultural diversity and digital games'
    Kerr, Aphra (2010) 'Beyond billiard balls: transnational flows, cultural diversity and digital games' In: Governance of Digital Game Environments and Cultural Diversity. Transdisciplinary Enquiries. Edward Elgar. [IR Link] [Details]
    2009 'Knowledge Economy'
    Kerr, A. and Riain, S. (2009) 'Knowledge Economy' In: International Encyclopaedia of Human Geography. Oxford: Elsevier. [IR Link] [Details]
    2009 'New Media: New Pleasures?'
    Kerr, A., Brereton, P. and Kücklich, J. (2009) 'New Media: New Pleasures?' In: History of Audience Study. Volume 1. Media Audiences. SAGE Benchmarks in Communication. London: Sage Publications. [Details]
    2007 'Transnational flows: media use by Poles in Ireland'
    Kerr, A. (2007) 'Transnational flows: media use by Poles in Ireland' In: Mapping Irish Media: Critical Explorations. Dublin: UCD Press. [IR Link] [Details]
    2007 'Player-Centered Game Design: Player Modeling and Adaptive Digital Games'
    Charles, D., McNeill, M, McAlister, M. J. Kücklich, Kerr, A. Black, M. Moore, A. Stringer, K. (2007) 'Player-Centered Game Design: Player Modeling and Adaptive Digital Games' In: Worlds in Play. International Perspectives on Digital Games Research. . New York: Peter Lang. [Details]
    2007 'Locating the Digital Games Industry in the New Media Environment'
    Kerr, A. (2007) 'Locating the Digital Games Industry in the New Media Environment' In: The Gaming Industry - An Introduction. Hyderabad, India: Icfai Books. [Details]
    2007 'From Boston to Berlin – Creativity and Digital Media Industries in the Celtic Tiger'
    Kerr, A. (2007) 'From Boston to Berlin – Creativity and Digital Media Industries in the Celtic Tiger' In: My Creativity Reader. Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures. [IR Link] [Details]
    2006 'The business of making digital games'
    Kerr A. (2006) 'The business of making digital games' In: Understanding Digital Games. [DOI] [Details]
    2006 'Spilling Hot coffee. Grand Theft Auto as contested cultural product'
    Kerr, A. (2006) 'Spilling Hot coffee. Grand Theft Auto as contested cultural product' In: A Strategy Guide for Studying the Grand Theft Auto Series. Jefferson: McFarland press. [IR Link] [Details]
    2006 'The Business of Making Games'
    Kerr, A. (2006) 'The Business of Making Games' In: Understanding Digital Games. London: Sage Publications. [IR Link] [Details]
    2005 'New Media'
    Kerr, A. (2005) 'New Media' In: The Irish Media Guide. Dublin: Gill and MacMillan. [Details]
    2004 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun!'
    Kerr, A. (2004) 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun!' In: Strategies of Inclusion: Gender in the Information Society. Vol III: Surveys of Women’s User Experience. Trondheim: Norwegian University of Science and Technology. [Details]
    2003 'Girls/Women Just Want to Have Fun: A Study of Adult Female Players of Digital Games'
    Kerr, A. (2003) 'Girls/Women Just Want to Have Fun: A Study of Adult Female Players of Digital Games' In: Level Up: Proceedings from the first international conference of the International Digital Games Research Association. Utrecht: [IR Link] [Details]
    2003 'Súil Eile. An Irish perspective on the mass media, technology and globalisation'
    Kerr, A. (2003) 'Súil Eile. An Irish perspective on the mass media, technology and globalisation' In: Prometheus's Bequest: Technology and Change: Proceedings from the Macalester International Roundtable, 2002. Minnesota: Macalester College. [Details]
    2002 'Representing users in the design of digital games'
    Kerr, A. (2002) 'Representing users in the design of digital games' In: Computer Games and Digital Cultures. Finland: University of Tampere. [IR Link] [Details]
    2002 'The business of culture. New media industries in Ireland'
    Kerr, A. (2002) 'The business of culture. New media industries in Ireland' In: Ireland Unbound. A Turn of the Century Chronicle. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration. [Details]

    Conference Publications

      Year Publication
    2010 Toward Trust as Result: An Interdisciplinary Approach
    De Paoli, S., Gangadharan, G., Kerr, A., D'Andrea, V., Serrano, M. Botvich, D. (2010) Toward Trust as Result: An Interdisciplinary Approach Proceedings of ALPIS, University of Trento (Italy),11-14 February 2010 . Sprouts: Working Papers on Information Systems, 10(8) [IR Link] [Details]
    2010 Integrating players, reputation and ranking to manage cheating in MMOGs
    Botvich D.;McGibney J.;Ostapenko G.;De Paoli S.;Kerr A.;Keatinge M. (2010) Integrating players, reputation and ranking to manage cheating in MMOGs FDG 2010 - Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games , pp.17-24 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2009 The cheating assemblage in mmorpgs: Toward a sociotechnical description of cheating
    De Paoli S.;Kerr A. (2009) The cheating assemblage in mmorpgs: Toward a sociotechnical description of cheating Breaking New Ground: Innovation in Games, Play, Practice and Theory - Proceedings of DiGRA 2009 [IR Link] [Details]
    2009 Trust and reputation policy-based mechanisms for self-protection in autonomic communications
    Serrano M.;Van Der Meer S.;Strassner J.;De Paoli S.;Kerr A.;Storni C. (2009) Trust and reputation policy-based mechanisms for self-protection in autonomic communications Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics) , pp.249-267 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2009 The Economy of Cheating in MMORPGs: A Case Study of Innovation
    De Paoli S. and Kerr, A. (2009) The Economy of Cheating in MMORPGs: A Case Study of Innovation 4th Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems [IR Link] [Details]
    2009 Rethinking the Role of Users in ICT Design: Reflections For the Internet
    Kerr, A, De Paoli, S., Storni, C. (2009) Rethinking the Role of Users in ICT Design: Reflections For the Internet The Good, the Bad and the Challenging. The user and the future of ICTs Slovenia, [Details]

    Published Reports

      Year Publication
    2010 Broadcasting in the New Ireland-Mapping & Envisioning Cultural Diversity Broadcasting.
    Titley, Gavan, Kerr, Aphra and King O Riain, Rebecca (2010) Broadcasting in the New Ireland-Mapping & Envisioning Cultural Diversity Broadcasting. Broadcasting authority of Ireland, Dublin. [IR Link] [Details]
    2009 Van Egeraat, C., O’Riain, S. and Kerr, A. (2009) Social and Spatial Structures of Collaboration and Innovation in the Knowledge Economy. Deliverable 11.2 for EU FP6 OPAALS Research Project.
    Van Egeraat, C., O’Riain, S. and Kerr, A. (2009) Social and Spatial Structures of Collaboration and Innovation in the Knowledge Economy. Deliverable 11.2 for EU FP6 OPAALS Research Project (2009) Van Egeraat, C., O’Riain, S. and Kerr, A. (2009) Social and Spatial Structures of Collaboration and Innovation in the Knowledge Economy. Deliverable 11.2 for EU FP6 OPAALS Research Project. EU FP6, Brussels. [Details]
    2008 Van Egeraat, C. O’Riain, S. Kerr, A. Sarkar, R. Chatterjee, J., Stanley, J., Rivera León, L. and Passani, A. (2008) A Research Agenda for Bridging Digital Ecosystems to Regional Development and Innovation in the Knowledge Economy: A Preliminary Report. Deliverable 11.1 for EU FP6 OPAALS Research Project.
    Van Egeraat, C. O’Riain, S. Kerr, A. Sarkar, R. Chatterjee, J., Stanley, J., Rivera León, L. and Passani, A. (2008) Van Egeraat, C. O’Riain, S. Kerr, A. Sarkar, R. Chatterjee, J., Stanley, J., Rivera León, L. and Passani, A. (2008) A Research Agenda for Bridging Digital Ecosystems to Regional Development and Innovation in the Knowledge Economy: A Preliminary Report. Deliverable 11.1 for EU FP6 OPAALS Research Project. EU FP6, Brussels. [Details]
    2010 Design & User Case Studies.
    De Pavoli, S. Stornic C, Botvich (2010) Design & User Case Studies. TSSG Waterford IT, Waterford. [Details]
    2009 Socio-Spatial Structures of Knowledge Flow and Innovation in the Irish Biotech and Digital Media Industries- Final Report.
    Van Egeratt (2009) Socio-Spatial Structures of Knowledge Flow and Innovation in the Irish Biotech and Digital Media Industries- Final Report. EU, EU. [Details]
    2009 The Games Industry in Ireland 2009.
    Aphra Kerr and Anthony Cawley (2009) The Games Industry in Ireland 2009. Maynooth University, NUIM. [IR Link] [Details]
    2005 Media Literacy in Northern Ireland.
    Aphra Kerr (2005) Media Literacy in Northern Ireland. University of Ulster, Centre for Media Research. [IR Link] [Details]

    Other Journals

      Year Publication
    2014 'Indie/dependent – incubating indies in Dublin and Montreal '
    Kerr, Aphra Shepherd, Tamara (2014) 'Indie/dependent – incubating indies in Dublin and Montreal ' http://culturedigitally.org, NA . [Details]
    2012 'The Politics of Cultural Production'
    Kerr, Aphra (2012) 'The Politics of Cultural Production' http://culturedigitally.org, NA . [Details]
    2012 'Game for Work'
    Kerr, Aphra (2012) 'Game for Work' http://smartfutures.ie, NA . [Details]

    Conference Contributions

      Year Publication
    2019 Irish Game Based Learning Conference.
    Joshua D Savage and Aphra Kerr (2019) Irish Game Based Learning Conference. [Oral Presentation], Re-Staging Design: Queering Informal Game Making Education, Cork , 27-JUN-19 - 28-JUN-19 [Details]
    2019 European Sociology Association.
    Aphra Kerr and Joshua D Savage (2019) European Sociology Association. [Oral Presentation], Spatial Reasoning: re-coding spaces for inclusive game making, Manchester , 20-AUG-19 - 23-AUG-19 [Details]
    2019 CPT section of IAMCR.
    Barry, Marguerite, Aphra Kerr and Laura Grehan (2019) CPT section of IAMCR. [Oral Presentation], “Having our say”: Strategies for public engagement in responsible AI research and policy development, Madrid , 06-JUL-19 - 28-JUL-19 [Details]
    2019 DiGRA.
    Aphra Kerr and Joshua D Savage (2019) DiGRA. [Oral Presentation], De-Coding Informal Code/Spaces for Inclusive Game Making, Kyoto, Japan , 07-AUG-19 [Details]
    2019 World Anti-Bullying Forum.
    Delma Byrne, Aphra Kerr and Joshua D Savage (2019) World Anti-Bullying Forum. [Poster Presentation (Refereed)], Gender as a ‘Way of Doing’: The Case of CyberBullying in Ireland, Dublin , 04-JUN-19 - 06-JUN-19 [Details]
    2019 Communciation and Cultural Digital Platforms, IAMCR post-conference.
    Aphra Kerr (2019) Communciation and Cultural Digital Platforms, IAMCR post-conference. [Oral Presentation], Cultural Production, platform logics and cultural diversity: insights from the Digital Games Industry, Madrid , 12-JUL-19 - 12-JUL-19 [Details]
    2019 CPT section of International Association for Media and Communciation Research.
    Aphra Kerr (2019) CPT section of International Association for Media and Communciation Research. [Oral Presentation], Exploring ethics and values in data science training, Madrid , 07-JUL-19 - 12-JUL-19 [Details]
    2018 Media Industries: Current Debates and Future Directions.
    Kerr, Aphra (2018) Media Industries: Current Debates and Future Directions. [Oral Presentation], Beyond Diversity: Towards an Ethics of Inclusion, Kings College London , 18-APR-18 - 20-APR-18 [Details]
    2017 ‘Digital Democracy Symposium’, European Communication Research and Education Association.
    Kerr, Aphra, Barry, Marguerite and Kelleher, John D. (2017) ‘Digital Democracy Symposium’, European Communication Research and Education Association. [Oral Presentation], Public discourse and private practice in data science work: Ethical, social and contextual issues, Södertörn, Sweden , 10-NOV-17 - 11-NOV-17 [Details]
    2017 DIGRA UK.
    Aphra Kerr (2017) DIGRA UK. [Oral Presentation], Towards Comparative Game Industry and Production Studies: Beyond the global, Salford, UK , 05-MAY-17 - 05-MAY-17 [Details]
    2017 IAMCR, CPT Section, Cartagena, Columbia.
    Cristin O'Rourke and Aphra Kerr (2017) IAMCR, CPT Section, Cartagena, Columbia. [Oral Presentation], Privacy Shields for Whom? Key Actors and Privacy Discourses on Twitter and in Newspapers, Cartagena, Columbia , 16-JUL-17 - 22-JUL-17 [Details]
    2015 Presented at Consoel-ing Passions.
    Aphra Kerr (2015) Presented at Consoel-ing Passions. [Oral Presentation], Emotional Work in the Global Games Industry: Passion, Precarity and Play, Dublin , 18-JUN-15 - 20-JUN-15 [Details]
    2016 IAMCR Political Economy.
    Aphra Kerr (2016) IAMCR Political Economy. [Oral Presentation], Production Logics and the Digital Games Industry, Leicester, UK , 26-JUL-16 - 31-JUL-16 [Details]
    2016 Presented at the DIGRA/FDG conference.
    Aphra Kerr (2016) Presented at the DIGRA/FDG conference. [Oral Presentation], Production Logistics in Digital Games, Dundee, Scotland [Details]
    2015 IAMCR CPT Section.
    Aphra Kerr (2015) IAMCR CPT Section. [Oral Presentation], The Recruitment of Passion and Community in the Service of Capital: Online COmmunity Managers in the Surveillant Assemblage, Montreal, Canada , 12-JUL-15 - 16-JUN-16 [Details]
    2014 Presented at the Pictilin, Creative Media Conference.
    Aphra Kerr, John D. Kelleher and Katarina Vesikko (2014) Presented at the Pictilin, Creative Media Conference. [Oral Presentation], Games as a Service: The Invisible Labour of Community Managers, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland , 03-NOV-14 [Details]
    2014 Presented at the Pictilin, Creative Media Conference.
    Aphra Kerr and Raymond Payne (2014) Presented at the Pictilin, Creative Media Conference. [Oral Presentation], Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark- the evolution of creation and creativity between DJ and audience, Dundalk Institute of Technology , 03-NOV-14 [Details]
    2014 Presented at the Pictilin, Creative Media Conference.
    Aphra Kerr and Edward Sugden (2014) Presented at the Pictilin, Creative Media Conference. [Oral Presentation], Discourses Around Video Games within Newsprint Media in the USA and Ireland between 2001 to 2014, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland , 03-NOV-14 [Details]
    2014 Presented at the Dynamics Virtual Work: The Transformation of Labour in a Global Digital Economy, Conference.
    Aphra Kerr and Dr John Kelleher and Katatrina Vesikko (2014) Presented at the Dynamics Virtual Work: The Transformation of Labour in a Global Digital Economy, Conference. [Oral Presentation], Occupational Implications of Games as a Service: The Invisible Work of Community Managers, University of Hertfordshire , 03-SEP-14 - 05-SEP-14 [Details]
    2013 Presented at the Community Communications division of the International Media and Communications Research conference.
    Aphra Kerr and Linda O'Keefe (2013) Presented at the Community Communications division of the International Media and Communications Research conference. [Oral Presentation], Mobilising the City? Teenagers and mobile sound technologies in urban city spaces, Dublin Ireland [Details]
    2013 Part of the Strategies and Tactics for Promoting Indie Game Design Panel, Association for Internet Research.
    Aphra Kerr (2013) Part of the Strategies and Tactics for Promoting Indie Game Design Panel, Association for Internet Research. [Oral Presentation], Towards Creative Autonomy:Tactics for Survival, Denver, Colorado, USA , 23-OCT-13 - 28-OCT-13 [Details]
    2013 Presented at the Communication Technology division of the International Media Communications Research Conference.
    Aphra Kerr (2013) Presented at the Communication Technology division of the International Media Communications Research Conference. [Oral Presentation], Governing Games- Economic Technological and Policy Issues, Dublin Ireland [Details]
    2012 Panel convenor and chair, at the Association for Internet Research.
    Aphra Kerr, Sal Humphreys, Mira Burri and Greg Lastowka (2012) Panel convenor and chair, at the Association for Internet Research. [Oral Presentation], Governing Games [in the public interest]- Social, Economic and Policy Issues, Salford, Manchester, UK [Details]
    2011 Presented at the Game Behind the Video Game. Business, Regulation and Society in the Games Industry.
    Aphra Kerr (2011) Presented at the Game Behind the Video Game. Business, Regulation and Society in the Games Industry. [Oral Presentation], Globalisation and Mobile Labour in the Digital Games Industry: Implications for policy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA , 09-APR-11 [Details]
    2011 Presented at A Decade in Internet Time: Symposium on the Dynamics of the Internet and Society;iCS and Oxford Institute.
    Aphra Kerr, De.Paoli S. and Keating, M. (2011) Presented at A Decade in Internet Time: Symposium on the Dynamics of the Internet and Society;iCS and Oxford Institute. [Oral Presentation], Human and Non-Human Aspects of Governance and Regulation of MMOGs, Oxford University UK , 21-SEP-11 - 21-SEP-11 [Details]

    Book Review

      Year Publication
    2015 Review of ‘Understanding the Media’ Eoin Devereux. Third Edition. Sage Publications.
    Kerr, Aphra (2015) Review of ‘Understanding the Media’ Eoin Devereux. Third Edition. Sage Publications. Book Review [DOI] [Details]
    2009 Review of Costall, A and Drier, O. (Eds) (2006) Doing Thing with Things. The Design of Everyday Objects.
    Kerr, Dr Aphra (2009) Review of Costall, A and Drier, O. (Eds) (2006) Doing Thing with Things. The Design of Everyday Objects. Book Review [IR Link] [Details]
    2008 Play between Worlds: Exploring Online Game Culture.
    Kerr, A (2008) Play between Worlds: Exploring Online Game Culture. LONDON: Book Review [DOI] [Details]
    2008 Review of ‘T L Taylor, (2006) Play Between Worlds: Exploring Online Game Culture’.
    Dr Aphra Kerr (2008) Review of ‘T L Taylor, (2006) Play Between Worlds: Exploring Online Game Culture’. Book Review [Details]

    Thesis

      Year Publication
    2000 Ireland in the Global Information Economy: Innovation and Multimedia Content Industries.
    Dr Aphra Kerr (2000) Ireland in the Global Information Economy: Innovation and Multimedia Content Industries. Dublin City University: Thesis [Details]
    1995 The Use of Communication Technologies and the Potential Adoption of the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) in the Irish Media and Information Industries.
    Dr Aphra Kerr (1995) The Use of Communication Technologies and the Potential Adoption of the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) in the Irish Media and Information Industries. Thesis [Details]

    Technical Publication

      Year Publication
    2009 The Games industry in Ireland 2009.
    Kerr, A. and Cawley, A. (2009) The Games industry in Ireland 2009. Technical Publication [IR Link] [Details]

    Working Paper

      Year Publication
    2009 The sociology of trusted systems: the episteme and judgment of a technology.
    De Paoli, S., Kerr, A. and Storni, C. (2009) The sociology of trusted systems: the episteme and judgment of a technology. Working Paper [IR Link] [Details]
    2009 Social and Spatial Structures of Collaboration and Innovation in the Irish Biotech and Digital Media Industries.
    Van Egeraat, C., O’Riain, S. and Kerr, A. (2009) Social and Spatial Structures of Collaboration and Innovation in the Irish Biotech and Digital Media Industries. Maynooth: Working Paper [Details]
    2008 Conceptualising Trust : A Literature Review.
    De Paoli, S. and Kerr, A. (2008) Conceptualising Trust : A Literature Review. Working Paper [IR Link] [Details]
    2009 Socio-Spatial Structures of Knowledge Flow and Innovation in the Irish Biotech and Digital Media Industries.
    Van Egeraat, C., Ó Riain, S. and Kerr, A. (2009) Socio-Spatial Structures of Knowledge Flow and Innovation in the Irish Biotech and Digital Media Industries. Working Paper [IR Link] [Details]
    2005 The Future of the BBC.
    White, A., Messenger Davies, M., Hill, A., and Kerr, A. (2005) The Future of the BBC. Working Paper [Details]
    2004 Media Literacy in Northern Ireland.
    Dr. Aphra Kerr (2004) Media Literacy in Northern Ireland. Working Paper [IR Link] [Details]
    2004 New Media: New Pleasures?.
    Kerr, A., Brereton, P., Kücklich, J. and Flynn, R. (2004) New Media: New Pleasures?. Working Paper [IR Link] [Details]
    2003 Girls/Women Just Want to Have Fun.
    Dr Aphra Kerr (2003) Girls/Women Just Want to Have Fun. Working Paper [Details]
    2002 Loading…Please Wait. Ireland and the Global Games Industry.
    Dr Aphra Kerr (2002) Loading…Please Wait. Ireland and the Global Games Industry. Working Paper [IR Link] [Details]

    Conference Hosted

      Year Publication
    2013 National and Transnational Cultural Flows and Place.
    Aphra Kerr (2013) National and Transnational Cultural Flows and Place. Conference Hosted [Details]

    Honours and Awards

      Year Title Awarding Body
    2019 IASH-SSPS Research Fellowship University of Edinburgh
    2016 DiGRA Distinguished Scholar Digital Games Research Association
    2011 Teaching and Learning Innovation Project Award : Teaching Research Ethics Maynooth University
    2011 Annenberg Visiting Scholar in Culture & Communication Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania
    2001 Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellow Irish Research Council
    1995 European PhD fellowship United Nations University & EU
    1993 Irish American Partnership Postgraduate Fellowship Irish American Partnership Scholar Programme

    Professional Associations

      Association Function From / To
    International Association for Media and Communication Research Chair of the Communication Policy & Technology section 01-AUG-16 / 31-JUL-19
    European Sociology Association Member 01-AUG-18 /
    International Association for Media and Communciations Research Vice-chair Communication Technology & Policy section 01-AUG-12 / 31-JUL-16
    Association for Internet Researchers Member 01-JAN-12 /
    Sociology Association of Ireland Member 01-JAN-06 /
    Digital Games Research Association Founding member 01-SEP-03 /

    Committees

      Committee Function From / To
    Academic Council Research Committee Member 2016 / 2019
    Social Sciences Research Ethics Sub-Committee Sociology representative 2009 / 2011

    Employment

      Employer Position From / To
    University of Pennsylvania Visiting Lecturer 03-JAN-11 / 31-MAY-11
    Maynooth University Lecturer/Senior Lecturer 01-SEP-05 /
    University of Ulster Research Fellow 01-SEP-04 / 31-AUG-05
    Dublin City University Postdoctoral Fellow 01-FEB-00 / 30-APR-04
    Dublin City University Lecturer 01-FEB-98 / 30-MAY-01
    Griffith College Lecturer 01-SEP-94 / 01-JUL-98
    United Nations University European Research Fellow 01-SEP-95 / 30-APR-96

    Education

      Year Institution Qualification Subject
    2000 DCU PhD
    1992 DCU BA
    1995 DCU MA (by research)

    Outreach Activities

      Description

    Gamecraft is a volunteer run initiative running diversity and inclusion events around digital technology. Link

    Moderator of ‘Citizens' Think-in on Artificial Intelligence, Privacy and Civil Liberties’ Discussion moderator. Open to the public. Part of Science Week and in collaboration with ADAPT - the Global Centre for Digital Content Technology. Link

    An initiative of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to bring together a range of stakeholders to run media literacy events in Ireland. Link

    Judge of the 3 minute PhD competition for Researchfest @Inspirefest, a two day conference and festival promoting inclusion and diversity in science and technology. Link

    Expert Advisor to the games industry content and age classification system for all game systems across Europe. Link

    A community outreach website, social media presence and events sharing information and promoting networking among game makers and policy makers in Ireland. Funded by industry, run by volunteers. Link

    Teaching Interests

    Semester 1 2018/19
    • Political Economies and Cultures of the Internet (MA) 
    • Media and Society (UG), 
    Previously: 
    • Craft and Logics (PhD)
    • Special Topic Thesis Class: Networked Media & the Quantified Self (UG),
    • Technology and Culture (UG),
    • Advanced Digital Research Methods (MA), 
    • Special Topics Thesis Class - Games and Play (UG), 
    • The Sociological Imagination: Culture and Everyday Life (UG), 
    • Fieldwork research methods (UG), 
    • Globalisation and the Media (MA), 
    • Online Research Methods (MA), 
    • Critical Issues in Digital Games (MA), 
    • Futures of Work (MA)
    Postgraduate students:
    1. Cristín O’Rourke, ‘Re-conceptualising Privacy in the Surveillance Society: identifying key actors, policies and impacts.’ John Hume Scholar, 2015.
    2. Joshua D. Savage,  ‘Playing by the Rules: Governing Content and Conduct in Transnational Online Media’, John Hume Scholar, 2016. Irish Research Council Government of Ireland postgraduate scholar, 2017-
    3. Josh Moody 'Surveying Ireland’s Creative Industries: A Paragon of the Brave New World of Work?' Co-supervision with Prof. Sean O'Riain. John Hume Scholar, 2017, Irish Research Council Government of Ireland postgraduate scholar, 2018.  
    4. Negin Harandi 'Smart Cities and Digital inclusion.' ADVANCE CRT, Science Foundation Ireland scholar, 2020. 


    Recent Postgraduates

      Graduation Student Name University Degree Thesis
    2015 Jean Hogarty Maynooth University PhD The Rhythm of Our Lives: Popular Music and Cultural Memory in the Age of the Internet and Retro Culture
    2014 Linda O'Keeffe Maynooth University PhD Spaces of Reproduction: How Teenagers Co-construct Post Industrial Soundscapes in Smithfield, Dublin.
    2010 Max Keatinge Maynooth University MLitt The Expression and Constraint of Human Agency in the Massively Multiplayer Online Games of World of Warcraft and Eve-Online: a Comparative Case Study
    2019 Jim Murphy Maynooth University PhD Standardising the city: A material-discursive genealogy of CPA-I_001, ISO 37120 and BSI PAS 181
    2016 Oskar Milik NUI (UCD) PhD Protecting face in virtual life: An ethnographic analysis of identity categories and information systems of social control in Massively Multiplayer Online Worlds