معرفی
Brian McKernan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication and Media Studies at Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Pace University. His work bridges sociology, communication, and digital media, focusing on political communication, conspiracy theories, and the societal impact of video games.
Education:
- PhD in Sociology, University at Albany, SUNY (2013)
- MA in Sociology, Fordham University (2006)
- BA in Criminal Justice, Saint Anselm College (2004)
McKernan's research explores how digital platforms shape political persuasion, misinformation, and cultural narratives. He investigates the role of video games in moral reasoning, social discourse, and political engagement, often using cultural sociology and narrative analysis. His work also addresses information literacy, cognitive biases, and the design of tools to improve reasoning in intelligence and journalism contexts.
His recent publications reveal a strong trend in interdisciplinary research combining communication, sociology, and human-computer interaction. Key themes include the analysis of election conspiracy theories, media coverage of historical games, digital political advertising, and the development of crowdsourced reasoning platforms like TRACE. His scholarship frequently involves collaboration with experts in psychology, information science, and game design.
McKernan teaches courses such as Media, Culture, and Society; Digital Cultures; and Political Communication, reflecting his expertise in media and sociopolitical dynamics. While no formal students are listed, his collaborative projects suggest active mentorship and team-based research. He has contributed to major interdisciplinary projects focused on serious games and analytical reasoning, indicating involvement in funded research initiatives.
His research is supported by work in labs and teams focused on digital media analysis, serious game design, and intelligence reasoning, including the TRACE and CYCLES projects. These efforts emphasize user-centered design, cognitive training, and the mitigation of cognitive biases through technology.
