Dr. Alex P. Leith (he/they)
Assistant ProfessorOffice Phone: (618) 650-2245
Email: aleith@siue.edu
Twitter: @APLeith
About
My research examines online communities and their relationship with content creators. I began with qualitative research methods while completing my master's degree in Speech Communication here at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. While completing my Ph.D., I began exploring methods for upscaling qualitative methods to computational analysis. My primary research utilizes the machine learning practice of natural language processing to explore livestream chats. I was hired into the Mass Communications department to teach media analytics and design courses, as well as building new courses. My interests include video games and representations of mental health, gender, race, and LGBTQ online.
Education
Ph.D., Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
M.A., Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL
B.A., Brigham Young University Idaho, Rexburg, ID
Research Interests
Livestreaming, parasocial relationships, video games, virtual reality, social platforms
Selected Research
Peer-Reviewed Journals
Leith, A. P., & Gheen, E.* (2022). Twitch in the time of quarantine: The role of engagement in needs fulfillment. Psychology of Popular Media, 11(3), 275-280. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000372
Foxman, M., Beyea, D., Leith, A. P., Ratan, R. A., Chen, V. H. H., & Klebig, B. (2022). Beyond genre: Classifying virtual reality experiences. IEEE Transactions on Games, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.1109/TG.2021.3119521
Leith, A. P. (2021). Parasocial cues: The ubiquity of parasocial relationships on Twitch. Communication Monographs, 88, 111-129. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2020.1868544
Conference Proceedings
Foxman, M., Ratan, R., Bouzek, D., & Leith, A. P. (in press). Virtually limited: Boundaries of play in virtual reality production. To be published in DiGRA 2023 Extended Abstract Proceedings. Seville, Spain.
Leith, A. P., Foxman, M., Onuche, M.*, Ratan, R., & Lim, C. (in press). Mixed feelings and realities: Joyful to nauseating sentiments about VR on Twitter. To be published in DiGRA 2023 Extended Abstract Proceedings. Seville, Spain.
Foxman, M., Leith, A. P., Beyea, D., Klebig, B., Chen, V. H. H., & Ratan, R. (2020). Virtual reality genres: Comparing preferences in immersive experiences and games. In CHI PLAY '20: Extended Abstracts of the 2020 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play (pp. 237-241). ACM Digital Library. https://doi.org/10.1145/3383668.3419881
Leith, A. P.(2019). Playing games for others: Constructing a gameplay livestreaming taxonomy. In R. Ratan, B. Winn, & E. LaPensée (Eds.), Proceedings of Meaningful Play 2018 (pp. 372-379). ETC Press. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/9995969
* signifies SIUE student author
Grants
External
2021-2025: $1,599,851 - FW-HTF-R: Collaborative Research: Virtual Meeting Support for Enhanced Well-Being and Equity for Game Developers. Ratan, R. A., Foxwell, M., Leith, A. P., Beyea, D., and Winn, B.
Internal
2023-2024: $6,300 – OER Adoption, Adaptation, and Implementation Incentive Program. Leith, A. P.
2021-2022: $2,000 – New Faculty Incentive Program. Leith, A. P.
Courses Taught
FST 101: Succeeding & Engaging at SIUE
MC 323: Digital Publishing and Design
MC 327: Design and Writing for the World Wide Web
MC 451: Research Methods of Mass Media
MC 471: Special Topics in Mass Media: Introduction to Data Analytics in Journalism
MC 590: Independent Study in Mass Communications