Helsper, Ellen J.


Dr Ellen J. Helsper  

Department

Position held

Department of Media and Communications

Lecturer in Media and Communications (Quantitative media research)

Non LSE positions held

Department

Position held

Oxford Internet Institute (University of Oxford)

Research Associate

Welsh Assembly Committee

Special Advisor on Digital Inclusion

PUC Chile, Media and Communications Department

Associate lecturer

Experience keywords:

interpersonal mediated communication; quantitative and qualitative research methodology, cross-cultural research; media and everyday life; internet; social identity; digital exclusion; social exclusion; information and communication technologies (ICTs)

Research summary > [Click to expand]

My main research interest is in the role of new media in the everyday life of disadvantaged social groups. An important element is the development of a theoretical framework to understand the links between digital and social exclusion. My current interest is in further developing the corresponding fields model. This model seeks to theorise the multiple barriers that lead to digital disengagement as well as those factors that stop digital engagement from having an impact on economic, social, cultural, and personal aspects of everyday life. This interest is backed up by analysis of international datasets which have comparable data in this area. Cross-cultural comparisons of the processes that lead to engagement and to mediation of our everyday life, pose interesting questions about the generalisability of research in different socio-cultural contexts.

I also continue work on the role of digital media in people's everyday social and personal relationships. This includes the relationship of mediated communication with social and psychological well-being and the cross cultural similarities and differences in the processes that make people lead 'digital' or 'non-digital' lives. The theoretical and empirical complications of disentangling forced exclusion and choice in these matters is what fascinates me most. Recent publications include 'Netiquette within Married Couples: Agreement about Acceptable Online Behavior and Surveillance' (Computers in Human Behavior), 'Gendered Internet use across generations and lifestages' (Communication Research) and 'Digital natives and digital immigrants: Where is the evidence?' (British Journal of Educational Research).

Having worked on the research project, UK Children Go Online, I am now on the advisory board of the EU Kids Online project, for the EC's Safer Internet Plus programme. There my contributions are in developing the methodology and my research input will focus on digital inclusion and mediated parent-child relationships across Europe.

Sectors and industries to which research relates:

Information TechnologyMedia Technology and New MediaPolicy and Regulatory BodiesTelecommunications

Countries and regions to which research relates:

Latin America; Chile; US; Europe; UK

Languages:

German [Spoken: Intermediate, Written: Basic]; Spanish [Spoken: Fluent, Written: Fluent]; Dutch [Spoken: Fluent]

Media experience:

RadioTV

Contact Points

LSE phone number:

+44 (0)20 7955 6420

Publications

The following references are sourced from LSE Research Online|. References that are linked lead to the full text.

2013

Helsper, Ellen J. and Reisdorf, Bianca C. (2013) A quantitative examination of explanations for reasons for internet nonuse. Cyberpsychology, behavior, and social networking, 16 (2). pp. 94-99. ISSN 2152-2715

Livingstone, Sonia and Helsper, Ellen (2013) Children, internet and risk in comparative perspective. Journal of children and media, 7 (1). pp. 1-8. ISSN 1748-2801

2012

Smahel, David and Helsper, Ellen and Green, Lelia and Kalmus, Veronika and Blinka, Lukas and Ólafsson, Kjartan (2012) Excessive internet use among European children. London School of Economics & Political Science, London, UK

Helsper, Ellen (2012) A corresponding fields model for the links between social and digital exclusion. Communication theory, 22 (4). pp. 403-426. ISSN 1050-3293

Helsper, Ellen and Gerber, Monica M. (2012) The plausibility of cross-national comparisons of internet use types. The information society, 28 (2). pp. 83-98. ISSN 0197-2243

Helsper, Ellen (2011) The emergence of a digital underclass: digital policies in the UK and evidence for inclusion. Media policy brief, 3. Department of Media and Communications, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK

Eynon, Rebecca and Helsper, Ellen (2011) Adults learning online: digital choice and/or digital exclusion? New media & society, 13 (4). pp. 534-551. ISSN 1461-4448

Helsper, Ellen (2011) Book review: the social dynamics of information and communication technology - by Eugene Loos, Enid Mante-Meijer and Leslie Haddon. Information communication & society, 14 (2). pp. 295-297. ISSN 1369-118X

2010

Helsper, Ellen and Whitty, Monica (2010) Netiquette within married couples: Agreement about acceptable online behavior and surveillance between partners. Computers in human behavior, 26 (5). pp. 916-926. ISSN 0747-5632

Helsper, Ellen (2010) Gendered internet use across generations and life stages. Communication research, 37 (3). pp. 352-374. ISSN 0093-6502

Georgiou, Myria and Haddon, Leslie and Helsper, Ellen and Wang, Yinhan (2010) Existential field 8: appendix to the report - special focus pieces. Family Platform Project

Livingstone, Sonia and Helsper, Ellen (2010) Balancing opportunities and risks in teenagers' use of the internet: the role of online skills and internet self-efficacy. New media & society, 12 (2). pp. 309-329. ISSN 1461-4448

Helsper, Ellen and Eynon, Rebecca (2010) Digital natives: where is the evidence? British educational research journal, 36 (3). pp. 503-520. ISSN 0141-1926

2009

Helsper, Ellen (2009) The ageing internet: digital choice and exclusion among the elderly. Working with older people, 13 (4). pp. 28-33. ISSN 1366-3666

2008

Helsper, Ellen (2008) Digital inclusion: an analysis of social disadvantage and the information society. Department for Communities and Local Government, London, UK

Helsper, Ellen (2008) Digital natives and ostrich tactics?: the possible implications of labelling young people as digital experts. Beyond Current Horizons. Futurelab, Bristol, UK

Helsper, Ellen and Dutton, William and Gerber, Monica (2008) To be a network society: a cross-national perspective on the internet in Britain. Research report, 17. Oxford Internet Institute, Oxford, UK

Livingstone, Sonia and Helsper, Ellen (2008) Parental mediation and children’s Internet use. Journal of broadcasting & electronic media, 52 (4). pp. 581-599. ISSN 0883-8151

Dutton, William and Helsper, Ellen and Whitty, Monica and Buckwalter, Galen and Lee, Erina (2008) Mate selection in the network society: the role of the Internet in reconfiguring marriages in Australia, the United Kingdom and United States. Oxford Internet Institute, Oxford

Helsper, Ellen (2008) Internet use and opinion formation in countries with different ICT contexts. Observatorio (OBS*), 2 (3). pp. 121-149. ISSN 1646-5954

Bradbrook, Gail and Alvi, Imran and Fisher, John and Lloyd, Heidi and Moore, R. and Thompson, V. and Brake, D. and Helsper, Ellen and Livingstone, Sonia (2008) Meeting their potential: the role of education and technology in overcoming disadvantage and disaffection in young people. BECTA, Coventry, UK

2007

Livingstone, Sonia and Helsper, Ellen (2007) Gradations in digital inclusion: children, young people and the digital divide. New media & society, 9 (4). pp. 671-696. ISSN 1461-4448

Dutton, William and Helsper, Ellen (2007) Internet in Britain: 2007. University of Oxford, Oxford Internet Institute, Oxford, UK

2006

Livingstone, Sonia and Helsper, Ellen (2006) Does advertising literacy mediate the effects of advertising on children? A critical examination of two linked research literatures in relation to obesity and food choice. Journal of communication, 56 (3). pp. 560-584. ISSN 1460-2466

Helsper, Ellen (2006) OSS Watch survey 2006. OSS Watch, Joint Information Systems Committee, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

2005

Helsper, Ellen (2005) R18 material: its potential impact on people under 18- an overview of the available literature. Ofcom, London

LSE Research Online is the primary resource for references to publications. For queries or updates please email the LSE Research Online team at lseresearchonline@lse.ac.uk|.

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