Social Media Research Lab

The Social Media Research Lab is a place where theory meets practice. In the classroom, students learn the fundamental concepts that underlie social media communication and its societal impacts. In the lab, those fundamentals are put into practice and applied to real-world scenarios. Companies large and small use social listening to improve their customer service, gather feedback, identify trends, and develop new products or marketing campaigns. Using the latest analytics tools, students in the Social Media Research Lab learn to track mentions, monitor comments, and analyze sentiment–all critical skills in the modern social media marketing landscape.

Through partnerships with leading companies like the global PR firm MikeWorldWide, the Social Media Research Lab provides opportunities for students to both hone their skills and build a work portfolio for the job market.

Collaboration with MikeWorldWide

A new partnership between the University of Rhode Island’s Harrington School of Communication and Media and MikeWorldWide, a leading global public relations firm, is giving Harrington students real-world experience in social media strategy and analytics.

Under the partnership, students in Harrington’s Social Media Research Lab are working as an extension of MikeWorldWide’s insights and analytics team, while receiving guidance and support from URI faculty member Joon Kyoung Kim, an assistant professor of public relations who studies organizational use of social media. The students receive full training on MWW’s proprietary tools and processes, while being paid to contribute to a mix of client and new business work for the firm.

photo of two students with quote that reads "Working as a Social Media Research Lab member has allowed me to venture through new territory, and has allowed me to explore the PR/Marketing side of the industry. I have learned so much about the industry and am enthusiastic about the opportunities that this alone could bring to the table for me." Juan Porres, Undergraduate Student

photo of student with quote that reads "My social media lab job has helped me gain experience and feel involved here at URI! By working with MikeWorldWide, I have gained first-hand experience in social media research and business. In a short time, I have learned major concepts and can now better understand how large companies handle their business." Sophie Chatell, Undergraduate Student

Student photo with quote that reads "Working in the research lab has allowed me to get hands-on experience with different research tools and methods. I love working with real brands and learning about their online presence. The research lab gives a sense of what it would be like to work in a professional environment." Kaitlyn Ivory, Undergraduate Student

“When it comes to mastering research skills, I believe nothing is better than having first-hand experience. Working with leading companies in the communication and public relations industries, the Social Media Research Lab students not only learn research skills, but also apply their skills to real work situations. Through the real projects and collaboration with the real clients, it has been a great pleasure to observe students’ growth as researchers and communication professionals.”

Joon Kim, Program Director

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Contact Us

Ranger Hall, Room 207
10 Ranger Road
Kingston, RI 02881

p: 401.874.2110
f: 401.874.2892
uriharringtonschool@etal.uri.edu