Hi, there!
I’m Taewoo Kang | Ph.D. Candidate in Information & Media @ Michigan State University. My research program interrogates the impact of digital platforms on civic life through the application of quantitative and computational methods. CV
At the micro level, I investigate how digitally mediated communication shapes citizens’ socio-political attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors. At the macro level, I explore the function of digital infrastructure on civic engagement.
Ultimately, my work aims to illuminate how the interplay between micro-level digital practices and macro-level digital architectures can foster healthier democratic processes.
Recently, my micro-level research has focused on generative AI, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), both as a subject of inquiry and as a methodological tool in computational social science:
- Testing the utility of LLMs as tools for analyzing media texts.[1]
- Examining LLMs’ potential to foster more democratic digital public spheres.[2]
On the macro side, I study how elements of digital civic infrastructure—such as broadband availability at the community level and digitally mediated civic communication among residents—shape patterns of political behaviors. [3] [4] [5]
My solo and first-authored work has been recognized with several awards, including:
- Top Student-Led Paper, ICA 2024 Political Communication Division [PDF]
- Chaffee and McLeod Award, AEJMC 2023 Communication Theory & Methods Division [PDF]
- Top Faculty Paper, AEJMC 2024 Newspaper and Online News Division [PDF]
- Top Faculty Paper, AEJMC 2024 Community Journalism Group (second authored)
You can find my research published in leading journals including Communication Research, Information, Communication & Society, Social Media + Society, Journal of Information Technology & Politics, and Journalism Studies. [Google Scholar] [ORCiD]