Curriculum Vitae
A comprehensive C.V. can be downloaded here: [Word] [.pdf]
Document last updated: 07.17.10
Research Philosophy and
Direction*
*Complete research statement available: [Word]
[.pdf]
During my time as a graduate student, I have come to understand the value
of applying quantitative research methods in the study of social phenomenon.
For me, the way to truly understand human communication is through the
rigorous application of the scientific method. Thus, I have worked diligently
to develop a falsifiable and theoretically-sound program of research with
the stated goal of understanding the psychology behind media entertainment.
Generally, my interest in entertainment media are primarily driven by
a fascination for understanding how people use their leisure time; that
is, time not spent working or sleeping. As our society continues to modernize
and become more convenient, the amount of leisure time available to the
average person has dramatically increased. As far back as the early 20th
century, Hart (1925) noted that:
“the eight-hour work day is now the accepted working day in almost all
industries. That leaves eight hours in which people may follow their own
pursuits. It is a matter of concern in a democracy what those pursuits
shall be” (pp. 111).
I want to understand what people do with and get from leisure activities,
activities thought by Aristotle to bring us closest to happiness (c.f.
Arnold, 1989). Moreover, I want to understand the role of entertainment
media as a leisure activity, and the functional role of enjoyment as a
possible indicator for psychological well-being (Ryan & Deci, 2000).
Finally, I want to understand how using entertainment media affects our
thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Primarily, I consider myself an experimentalist. The bulk of my research
takes great care to carefully explicate theoretically-relevant constructs
so that they can be experimentally manipulated in order to test predicted
outcomes. However, I also feel that at times it is important to step back
and simply ‘look under the microscope’, especially in areas where contemporary
theories may not offer sound or valid explanations for observed phenomenon
(for example, the often-discussed empathy paradox in that some theories
of enjoyment cannot explain the appeal of negatively-valenced entertainment
media; Zillmann, 1991). In these circumstances, I feel strongly that inductive
reasoning can be useful in helping create new theory from observed phenomenon;
at the very least, it can help us create testable situations in which
old and new logics can be compared. Thus, by striking a balance between
the strict experimentalist and the curious observant, I hope to further
our understanding of the psychology of entertainment media, and I strive
to reflect this epistemology in my scholarly work.
Recent Publications*
*see CV for full list of publications
JOURNAL ARTICLES (not including articles in submission or under review)
hyperlinks to full-text articles, when available
Eden, A., Bowman, N. D., Maloney, E. (in press). Gender attribution in video games. Manuscript forthcoming in Journal of Media Psychology.
Neuberger, L. B., Silk, K, J., Yun, D., Bowman, N. D., & Anderson, J. (in press). Concern as motivation for protection: An investigation of mothers’ concern about their daughters’ breast cancer risk. Manuscript forthcoming in Journal of Health Communication.
Tamborini, R., Weber, R., Eden, A., Bowman, N. D., & Grizzard, M. (in press). Repeated exposure to daytime soap opera and shifts in moral judgment toward social convention. Manuscript forthcoming in Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 54(4).
Tamborini, R., Bowman, N. D., Eden, A., Grizzard, M., & Organ, A. (in press). Defining media enjoyment as the satisfaction of intrinsic needs. Manuscript forthcoming in Journal of Communication.
Silk, K., Yun, D., Bowman, N. D., Neuberger, L., & Atkin, C. (2009). Factors influencing mothers’ intention to teach adolescent daughters preventive measures to reduce breast cancer risks: Self-efficacy, response efficacy, and personal responsibility. Communication Research Reports, 26(2), 134-145.
Bowman, N. D. (2008). A PAT on the back: Media flow theory revis(it)ed. Rocky Mountain Communication Review, 4(1), 27-39.
Huh, S. & Bowman, N. D. (2008). Perception and addiction of online games as a function of personality traits. Journal of Media Psychology, 13(2).
Lewis, M. L., Weber, R., & Bowman, N. D. (2008). “They may be pixels, but they’re MY Pixels”: Developing a metric of character attachment in role-playing video games. CyberPsychology and Behavior, 11(4).
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
Bowman, N. D. (in press). In the mood to game: The extension of mood management theory to video games. Paper to be published in the Proceedings of the National Communication Association Doctoral Honor’s Seminar, Tuscaloosa, AL.
Schultheiss, D., Bowman, N.D., Schumann, C.(2008). Community vs. solo-playing in multiplayer internet games. In Mosberg-Iverson, S. (Ed.), IT University of Copenhagen. Proceedings of The [Player] Conference 2008 (pp. 452-471).
INVITED BOOK CHAPTERS
Bowman, N. D., McCabe, J., & Isaacson, T. (in press). Fantasy Sports and Sports Fandom: Implications for Mass Media Research. In A. Earnheardt, P. Hardikas, & B. Hugenberg (Eds.), Sports Fandom Anthology (title pending). New York: Rowan & Littlefield. [overview]
Tamborini, R., & Bowman, N. D. (2010). Presence in Video Games. In C. Bracken & P. Skalski (Eds.) Immersed in Media: Telepresence in Everyday Life. New York: Routledge.
Sherry, J. L., & Bowman, N. D. (2008). History of the Internet. In H. Bidgoli (Ed.), The Handbook of Computer Networks, Volume I: Key Concepts, Data Transmission, Digital and Optical Networks. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Sherry, J. L., & Bowman, N. D. (2008). Computer games and child development. In W. Donsbach (Ed). International Encyclopedia of Communication, Vol. 3. Oxford: Blackwell.
Top Papers/Competitive Papers
Bowman, N. D., & Tamborini, R. (2010, June). User demand and mood repair: The intervention potential of video game interactivity. Top two faculty papers in Game Studies, International Communication Association, Singapore.
Tamborini, R., Eden, A., Bowman, N. D., Grizzard, M., & Lachlan, K. (2009, May). Moral subcultures in dispositional formation: The acceptance and appeal of violence. Top four papers in Mass Communication, International Communication Association, Chicago.
Bowman, N. D. (2008, June). In the mood to game: The extension of mood management theory to video games. Paper presented at the National Communication Association Doctoral Honor’s Seminar, Tuscaloosa, AL. [one of 12 papers invited for presentation].
Recent
Conference Papers*
*see CV for full list of papers
2010 (includes forthcoming presentations)
Bowman, N. D., & Tamborini, R. (2010, November). The effect of user demand and mood state on selective exposure to video games. Paper to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Communication Association, San Francisco.
Bowman, N. D., Schultheiss, D., & Schumann, C. (2010,October). The influence of character attachment on Internet video game play motivations. Paper to be presented at the Third European Communication Conference (ECREA), Hamburg.
Schultheiss, D., Schumann, C., & Bowman, N. D. (2010, October). Silvergamers: Elderly video gaming and the Internet. Paper to be presented at the Third European Communication Conference (ECREA), Hamburg.
Tamborini, R., Grizzard, M., Bowman, N. D., Lewis, R., Reinecke, L., & Eden, A. (2010, June). Defining media enjoyment in functional terms. Paper to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Communication Association, Singapore.
Bowman, N. D., & Groskopf, J. (2010, April). Appalachia: Where the Squids hate the Chalkies: A Burkeian analysis of The Squidbillies animated series. Paper to be presented at the Annual Meeting of Southern States Communication Association, Memphis.
Jensen, R., & Bowman, N. D. (2010, April). Will sports fans revolt if advertisements are placed on uniforms of their favorite teams? Paper to be presented at the Annual Meeting of International Academy of Business Disciplines, Las Vegas.
Isaccson, T., Bowman, N. D., & Atkin, C. (2010, April). Generating buzz or driving attendance? The influence of story type and source on university sports fan attitudes and behavioral intentions. Paper to be presented at the Scholarly Conference on College Sport, Chapel Hill, NC.
Bowman, N. D., Bryant, T., Campbell, R., & Mauldin, L. (2010, March). Pantry partners: Using media studies students to program and promote community events. Paper presented at the Gulf Shores Summit on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Through Higher Education, Athens, GA.
Bowman, N. D., Sherry, J. L., & Harp, S. (2010, March). The Michigan State University School of Rock: Partnering communication students with communities in need of (communication) expertise. Paper presented at the Gulf Shores Summit on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Through Higher Education, Athens, GA.
Bowman, N. D. (2010, March). Towns County Food Pantry and Media Studies Partnership. Panel presented at the Annual Meeting of the Appalachian Studies Association, Dahlonega, GA.
Jensen, R., Bowman, N. D., Sosa, J., Wang, W., & Larson, B. (2010, February). Preliminary results of a Web-based pilot study to gauge public opinions about advertisements in Major League Soccer jerseys. Paper presented at the Fourth Summit on Communication & Sport, Cleveland.
2009
Silk, K. J., Neuberger, L., Hamel, L. M., & Bowman, N. D. (2009, November). The role of social norms in increasing blood donation behavior. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Communication Association, Chicago.
Tamborini, R., Eden, A., Bowman, N. D., & Grizzard, M. (2009, November). Predicting appeal from instinctive moral values. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Communication Association, Chicago.
Joeckel, S., & Bowman, N. D. (2009, July). Technological innovations in the video game industry: Improvements in game play visuals and its effect on game enjoyment. Paper presented at the International Association for Media and Communication Research, Mexico City, Mexico.
Neuberger, L. B., Silk, K, J., Yun, D., Bowman, N. D., & Anderson, J. (2009, May). Concern as motivation for protection: An investigation of mothers’ concern about their daughters’ breast cancer risk. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Communication Association, Chicago.
Eden, A., Bowman, N. D., Maloney, E. (2009, May). Gender attribution in video games. Paper to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Communication Association, Chicago.
Tamborini, R., Bowman, N. D., Eden, A., & Grizzard, M. (2009, May). Enjoying entertainment and intrinsic motivations: Toward a definition of enjoyment as need satisfaction. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Communication Association, Chicago.