I specialize in turning complex information into clear, actionable insights. My work spans empirical mixed-methods research, data-driven projects, and thought leadership at the intersection of media, technology, and public trust.
Research & Insights | Independent Data Projects | Thought Leadership
Research & Insights
From journalism and social media to consumer behavior and student learning, these data-driven projects draw on rigorous research methods — surveys, experiments, and content analysis — to examine how users engage with news and information.
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Diversifying the News? Twitter’s Potential vs. Reality
A longitudinal study of how journalists used Twitter in their reporting in 2009-2016, uncovering whose voices were amplified and whose were ignored.
Agenda Setting and the Early Influence of Political Blogs
An in-depth analysis of how online political conversations shaped or followed the media narrative during the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign.
How Sponsorship Shapes Trust in Online News
An A/B-style behavioral experiment uncovering how sponsor type, sponsor fit, and news story tone influence audience trust in news content.
UX and Market Research: Insights Across Industries
An award-winning team project using quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze customer behavior, identify market gaps, and reduce churn.
Internal Research Reports and Program Evaluation
Designing surveys and translating data into strategic insights that help inform departmental planning and improve student learning outcomes.
Independent Data Projects
Uncovering trends and modeling outcomes through big-data analysis, translating complex datasets into clear insights through the use of SQL, Microsoft Excel, and visualization tools.
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Presidential Predictions: A 2024 Forecast Model
A custom Excel model running 1,800 daily election simulations to predict voting outcomes by translating state polling data into probability estimates.
Mapping College Journalism Enrollment Trends
A longitudinal analysis of U.S. college journalism program growth and decline in 2012-2019, using Datawrapper and SQL to identify and visualize trends.
Thought Leadership
Exploring how data, technology, and transparency shape public trust and engagement. These projects offer critical insights into journalism, AI, and data-driven marketing campaigns.
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The Ethics of Transparency: Promise and Pitfalls
A critical examination of transparency as a journalistic principle: what it means in theory and practice and how it can build trust — or backfire.
Transparency in the Age of AI and Algorithms
An investigation into how digital platforms, AI, and automation both enhance and hinder the pursuit of transparency and public trust.
‘Do Us a Flavor’: A Crowdsourcing Success Story
An analysis of how Frito-Lay’s popular campaign leveraged consumer participation and data-driven strategy to build engagement and brand loyalty.
Kyle Heim 