June 2024: Dr. Kathryn D. Coduto (COM)
Kathryn (Katy) Coduto is an assistant professor of media science in the Department of Mass Communication, Advertising and Public Relations, in the College of Communications. She .teaches courses in communication research methods, social media strategy, and communication theory. She earned her Ph.D. in Communication from Ohio State University. She was also awarded a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Media from Kent State University. Dr. Coduto researches the intersections of mass media and interpersonal communication, focusing on how individuals use media to connect with each other and make sense of the world around them. Recent studies have investigated compulsive social media use during major news events and the privacy management practices of individuals across a number of communication technologies, including dating applications and social media. Her work has been published in journals including the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Computers in Human Behavior, Political Communication, and the Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media. She has published in academic journals including Sexuality & Culture, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, and Computers in Human Behavior. Katy has also appeared in the media to discuss her research topics, most recently in The Boston Globe, KCBS San Francisco, and The New York Times. Her first book was released in September 2023: Technology, Privacy, and Sexting: Mediated Sex, from Lexington Books. This book is a deep dive into sexting, including understanding why people do it; the privacy beliefs and worries they have when sharing this content; and the ways they manage the content, both using technology but also trusting their partners. Prior to BU, Dr. Coduto was an assistant professor of communication and media studies at South Dakota State University. Prior to receiving her Ph.D., she worked as a research analyst and strategist for Marcus Thomas LLC, an integrated marketing communications company in Cleveland, Ohio.
What made you decide to be a social scientist/ why does social science matter to you?
I love being able to answer questions about the world; I originally wanted to be a journalist for that exact reason. As I went through my undergraduate program, I discovered social scientific research and realized just how much I could do within this field. I also feel empowered by social science; there was a time when the idea of statistics was so intimidating to me. But now, I am confident in my ability to navigate complex questions and their solutions through a variety of tools and techniques, all stemming from social scientific training and exploration.
Can you tell us about a recent research project that you’re excited about?
Dr. Allison McDonald, from the Faculty of Computing and Data Sciences, and I have been working on a project investigating sexting behaviors in romantic relationships. We specifically have asked people about how they negotiate, if they do, the sharing of this highly personal information with partners. I’m especially excited about this project, though, because we are also investigating what people do with sexual material once they’ve broken up. There isn’t much research in this area yet, and I think we’re getting really rich insights into how people are thinking about handling sensitive content throughout the lifetime of a relationship. I recently presented this work at the CHI 2024 conference and got some great feedback on potential design implications for improving technologies in these instances. We have another part of the study we’re hoping to launch soon, too.
What is the best piece of professional advice you ever received?
I had great advisors for both my master’s degree (Dr. Danielle Coombs at Kent State University) and my doctoral degree (Dr. Jesse Fox at Ohio State University). They both always encouraged me to follow my interests, and I always felt supported in exploring the ideas I was most passionate about. I think following your interests is critical to staying interested in and excited by the work you do; I love thinking about research and so much of that is because I study the things I am most interested in. I now pass that advice along to my own advisees, too—follow your interests!
What is your favorite course you’ve taught at BU?
I love teaching Communication Research (CM 722). Comm Research is many students’ first experience with social scientific research, especially in a communication context, and I love helping them realize how much they can do with research. I am always so excited when I see different concepts click into place for students, whether that be perfecting a research design, conducting a statistical analysis, or crafting implications from their research. It is always so rewarding.
Tell us a surprising fact about yourself.
Before coming to BU, I was an assistant professor at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD. My favorite place in the world is still Badlands National Park in western South Dakota—I haven’t been anywhere that can top it!