Matthew J. A. Craig, PhD

Matthew J. A. Craig, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Associate

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Biography

Matthew Craig, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Information Integrity Institute in the College of Communication and Information at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a Postgraduate Research Fellow with the Communication and Social Robotics (COMBOT) Labs. He received his PhD in Communication & Information from Kent State University’s College of Communication & Information and earned his M.A. in Communication and B.A. in Organizational Communication from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

As an interdiciplinary, human-computer interaction scholar, Craig’s research seeks to elucidate the connection between users’ understanding of AI-embedded systems and their information seeking and privacy management behaviors. His research also applies communication theory to human-robot interaction contexts concerning affective computing. Craig’s work has been presented nationally and internationally at venues such as the Media Psychology Division of the German Psychological Association, International Communication Association, ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, Nation Communication Association, and Central States Communication Association. Recent publications include articles in Telematics and Informatics, Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans, Communication Studies, Late-Breaking Reports in the ACM/IEEE International Conferences on Human-Robot Interaction, and book chapters in the Sage Handbook of Human-Machine Communication, De Gruyter Handbook of Media Technology and Innovation, and De Gruyter Handbook of Robotics in Society and Culture.

Outside of academia, Craig was the Coalition Director for the Michigan Coalition for HIV Health and Safety, where he educated lawmakers about HIV and legislation to modernize Michigan’s HIV laws in Lansing, Michigan, and across the state. He is also a political consultant for political campaigns and organizations on matters related to strategic communication, including opposition research, disinformation, and emerging media and technology.

Interests

  • Human-machine communication (HMC)
  • Privacy
  • New Media
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Social Robotics

Education

  • PhD in Communication & Information, 2024

    Kent State University

  • MA in Communication, 2020

    Western Michigan University

  • BA in Organizational Communication & Gender and Women's Studies, 2017

    Western Michigan University

Publications

HMC in the educational context

Techonlogies in HMC can interrupt a lot of our pedagogical techniques and has the opportunity to change what education looks like for many. Using robots in the classroom is not a new endeavor. From social robots as stand-ins for math tutoring, working with students identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), to telepresence robots there are various uses for robots and they don’t need to be overly sophisticated either. AI can be used in the classroom as tools to facilitate individualized learning, however, in its adoption we must understand who is involved in its development and adoption and how these systems can and do harm those most often marginalized. HMC scholars need to be interdisciplinary and holistic in their research about AI in educational contexts. VR and AR systems also have great use in the classroom, especially regarding public speaking. These technologies have a great opportunity for enhancing instructor content by providing immersive experiences for students (and instructors too). Regarding HMC and instructional communication research, variables such as immediacy, credibility, and teacher clarity are important for encouraging positive interactions with machine actors in the classroom settings. This chapter provides a bird’s eye view of the use of HMC technology in the classroom and important avenues of work regarding HMC in instructional communication research. (Abstract provided is not in final published chapter and is only to provide a synopsis here)

Robots, AI, automation, and those who define them

Teaching

*denotes instructor of record

Kent State University

*EMAT 33310: Human-Computer Interaction

Spring 2024, 2023, 2022

*COMM 15000: Introduction to Human Communication

Fall 2023, 2022, 2021 Summer 2023, 2022

Western Michigan University

*COM 3000: Communication Research Methods

Spring 2024

COM 3000: Communication Research Methods

Fall 2019 Spring 2020

COM 2800: Introduction to Organizational Communication

Spring 2020

COM 2500: Introduction to Public Relations

Fall 2019

COM 1000: Communication and Community Engagement

Fall 2018 Spring 2019

Contact