معرفی
Prof. Dr. Teresa K. Naab is Professor of Digital Communication at the University of Mannheim, appointed in February 2022. She is affiliated with the Faculty of Philosophy and the Institute of Media and Communication Studies. Her office is located at B 6, 30-32 – Room 427 in Mannheim. Naab leads research on digital communication's role in democratic processes and media literacy, with particular focus on online comment sections and user behavior in digital environments.
Her educational background includes:
- Media Management studies at Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media
- Doctorate on television use habits and rituals from Hanover University
- Habilitation in 2020 with a cumulative thesis on media use in new media environments from University of Augsburg
Prof. Naab's research centers on digital communication's societal impact, particularly examining how online discourse affects democratic processes and how individuals develop competence in the digital world. She investigates innovative methodologies for studying digital communication patterns and user behavior, with special attention to comment sections, civil discourse, and norm formation in digital spaces. Her work bridges academic research with practical applications through collaborations with media practitioners, digital application providers, and civil society actors.
Her publication record demonstrates consistent focus on online comment sections, digital media habits, and the psychological effects of digital communication. The research shows methodological diversity across content analysis, experimental designs, and longitudinal studies, with increasing attention to algorithmic media use and cross-cultural comparisons in recent years.
Prof. Naab leads several significant research initiatives:
- DFG-funded project "Mutual Sanctioning Among Users of Comment Sections"
- Working group "Political Expressions of Opinion on the Internet" funded by the Center for Advanced Internet Studies
- Interdisciplinary Working Group on the Analysis of Disrespectful Language (CAIS, Bochum)
- "Digital Media in Schools (DigiMeSch)" project for Alliance 90/The Greens parliamentary group in the Bavarian State Parliament
She teaches Bachelor's and Master's courses in communication science, focusing on digital media use, non-institutionalized content production, and empirical social research methods. Her teaching emphasizes practical application and knowledge transfer to strengthen connections between academia and social practice.
