Research

Media Psychology | Communication Technology | Causal Inference

PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES

Tang, J., Liu., M., Bisberg, A.,  Kim S., Williams, D. (2026). Intergroup contact, contact heterogeneity, and cross-group friendship: Evidence from a global prosocial mobile game. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcmc/zmag001 (SSCI, Q1, 5-Year IF: 7.0)

Yin, S., Huang, S., Xue, P., Xu, Z., Lian, Z., Ye, C., Ma, S., Liu, M., ... & Li, C. (2025). Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) usage guidelines for scholarly publishing: a cross-sectional study of medical journals. BMC Medicine, 23, 77. (5-Year IF: 8.8)

Liu, M., Tang, L., Williams, D. (2025). Sympathy for the Devil: Serial Mediation Models for Toxicity, Community and Retention. Media and Communication. (5-Year IF: 3.5)

Liu, M., Sun, Q., Williams, D. (2024). With Great Power Comes Great Accountability: Network Positions, Victimization, Perpetration, and Victim-Perpetrator Overlap in an Online Multiplayer Game. New Media & Society. (5-Year IF: 7.244)

Williams, D., Liu, M., Choi, S., Bowman, N., Shaikh, S. (2024). Playing Through The Pandemic: Gaming Usage as a Buffer During COVID-19. Games and Culture, 15554120241236531. (5-Year IF: 2.6)

Choi, S., Liu, M., Sun, J., Huang, K. (2023). Who benefits from directed communication? Communication directionality, network structures, and perceived social capital in an MMOG. Computers in Human Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.107825 (5-Year IF: 8.582)

Kim, S. S., Liu, M., Qiao, A., & Miller, L. C. (2022). “I want to be Alone, but I don’t want to be lonely”: Uncertainty management regarding social situations among college students with social anxiety disorder. Health Communication, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2021.1912890 (5-Year IF: 3.585)

Liu, M., Yegiyan, N., Lai, M. (2022). Appetitive food, aversive warning: Interaction effects of visual and verbal cues on psychophysiological and attitudinal responses to food PSAs. Media Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2022.2082982 (5-Year IF: 5.497)

Liu, M., Choi, S., Kim, D. O., & Williams, D. (2021). Connecting in-game performance, need satisfaction, and psychological well-being: A comparison of older and younger players in World of Tanks. New Media & Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448211062545 (5-Year IF: 7.244)

Wang, L., Christensen, J. L., Smith, B. J., Gillig, T. K., Jeong, D. C., Liu, M., ... & Miller, L. C. (2021). User-Agent bond in generalizable environments: Long-term risk-reduction via nudged virtual choices. Frontiers in Psychology, 3354. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.695389 (5-Year IF: 4.214)

Zhang, J., Calabrese, C., Ding, J., Liu, M., & Zhang, B. (2018). Advantages and challenges in using mobile apps for field experiments: A systematic review and a case study. Mobile Media & Communication, 6(2), 179-196. https://doi.org/10.1177/2050157917725550 (5-Year IF: 4.107)

Chang, W., Chen, Z., Tian, L., Liu, M., Ma, L., & Li, W. et al. (2014). Studying the indiscriminate media coverage of celebrity suicide and the potential influence of prevention in China. Chinese Journal of Health Education.

BOOK CHAPTER 

Choi, S., Liu, M., & Williams, D. (2025). Relationship Formation and Maintenance in and through Video Games. J. Nussbaum & M. Schmierbach (eds.), The Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Communication. Oxford University Press.

RECENT CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

2026 Liu, M., Wang, Y., Zhou, J., Wu, K., Li, C., Wang, H. (June 2026). Mapping News Desertification: Media Ecology, Spatial Heterogeneity, and Local News in China. Paper accepted for presentation at the 76th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association, Cape Town, South Africa. (🏆 Top Paper Award)

2025 Liu, M., Malthouse, E., Choi, J.R., Viswanathan, V., & DeGaris, L. (June 2025). From free trial to paid subscriber: Exploring optimal thresholds for synergy across the marketing funnel between owned and paid media in the streaming industry. Paper accepted for presentation at the 2025 International Communication Association (ICA) 75th Annual Convention, Denver, USA.

2025 Liu, M., Choi, J.R., DeGaris, L, Malthouse, E. (June 2025). From Scroll to Subscribe: Leveraging Social Media to Build Local News Reader Habits and Reduce User Churn. Paper accepted for presentation at the 2025 International Communication Association (ICA) 75th Annual Convention, Denver, USA.

2024 Liu, M., Tang, L., Young, L. (Nov 2024). Birds of a Feather Flock Together? The Coevolution of Friendship Networks and Toxic Behaviors in a Multiplayer Online Game. Paper accepted for presentation at the National Communication Association (NCA) 110th Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA. (🏆 Top Paper Award)

2024 Liu, M., Gao, Z., Bisberg, A., Williams, D. (June 2024). From Isolation to Compassion: A Natural Experiment of How Stay-at-Home Orders Unleashed a Wave of Virtual Altruism. Paper accepted for presentation at the 2024 International Communication Association (ICA) 74th Annual Convention, Gold Coast, Australia.

2024 Chang, H., Liu, M., Choi, S., Lee, E., Williams, D. (June 2024). Determinants of Social Influence: How Social Networks and Traits affect Social Value. Paper accepted for presentation at the 2024 International Communication Association (ICA) 74th Annual Convention, Gold Coast, Australia.

2024 Tang, L., Lee, E., Liu, M., Nan, Y., Young, L. (June 2024). Inferential Network Modeling in Communication Research From 2005 to 2023: A Systematic Review. Paper accepted for presentation at the 2024 International Communication Association (ICA) 74th Annual Convention, Gold Coast, Australia.

Teaching