Skip navigation

Lara Dodd

PhD in Mathematics and Information Sciences

Using the popularity and prevalence of social media the study examines the information behaviour of aspiring undergraduates as they begin to make decisions about their UCAS application. It considers, for example, what the information needs of aspiring undergraduates really are, how they are searching for and sharing information, and, critically, whether they have the self-efficacy and the skills necessary to effectively meet those needs.

The proposed research will develop and employ a qualitative methodology whereby thousands of publicly accessible posts/tweets (i.e. Twitter) will be retrieved, analysed and modelled using NVivo software. Data collection slots will take place during three key time periods; the period leading up to the UCAS deadline, exam results day (the start of clearing), and freshers’ week to mark the before, during and after stages of the transition that new students pass through.

Research Supervisors

  • Dr Geoff Walton
  • Dr Morgan Harvey

Latest News and Features

Images shows the logo of Northumbria University's Aerospace Medicine and Rehabilitation Laboratory
Eating Disorder Research Animation Still
Dr Henrik Melin pictured with a life-sized replica of one of the Webb telescope’s 18 individual hexagonal mirrored panels. Image credit: Barry Pells/Northumbria University.
Professor Arlene Astell
Dr David Littlefair and Dr Joanne Atkinson, Deputy and Head of Department for Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing at Northumbria University are joined by public policy researchers, Professor Matthew Johnson, Dr Howard Reed, Dr Elliott Johnson and Dr Graham Stark.
The IDEAS-NET Team (L-R), Dr Eduwin Pakpahan, Professor Tracy Finch, Dr Sebastian Potthoff, Professor Katie Haighton, Professor Angela Bate (Co-Director), Professor Sonia Dalkin (Co-Director), Professor Joanne Gray, Professor Tom Sanders, Dr Jason Scott (Deputy Director), Professor Darren Flynn, Jamie Taylor (Project Manager)
More news
More events

Upcoming events

Back to top