Dr Bernie Hogan

Bernie Hogan has interests in social networks, human-computer interaction, methodology (eg reliable capture of online networks, and networks in interviews), social informatics, quantitative analysis, everyday life, and social accessibility.

Email: bernie.hogan@oii.ox.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0)1865 287198

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Bernie’s research interests lie at the intersection of social networks and media convergence. That is, what medium do people use with their ties, and when? With new media, individuals simultaneously have more convenience but also more complexity, expenses and social pressure to adopt. Some individuals thrive in this new media ecology, while others feel it has isolated them. Within this framework, Bernie examines the eroding home-work boundary, the digital self, and the shift from public spaces to cyberpublics.

He is also working on a number of methodological issues, including reliable capture of online networks, efficient strategies for capturing networks in interviews, social science software development and the application of audit studies to online housing and job markets.

Bernie Hogan completed his BA(hons) at the Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada, where he received the University Medal in Sociology. Since then he has been working on Internet use and social networks at the University of Toronto under social network analysis pioneer Barry Wellman.

Bernie received his Masters of Arts at Toronto in 2003, and defended his PhD Dissertation in the Fall of 2008. His dissertation examines how the use of ICTs alters the way people maintain their relationships in everyday life. In 2005 he was an intern at Microsoft’s Community Technologies Lab, working with Danyel Fisher on new models for email management.

Areas of Interest for Doctoral Supervision

Behaviour, big data, ethics, social networks, social network analysis, social media, virtual communities

Research interests

social networks, human-computer interaction, methodology, social informatics, mixed methods, everyday life, social accessibility

Positions held at the OII

  • Senior Research Fellow, May 2017 –
  • Research Fellow, October 2008 – May 2017

Students supervised at the OII

Current students


Latest blog posts

Current projects

Past projects

  • College Connect

    Participants: Dr Bernie Hogan, Joshua Melville, Dr Nicole Ellison, Dr Christine Greenhow

    College Connect is webpage that visualizes social networks automatically from Facebook and puts them to work for the user. The target market of the application is prospective college students as well as those just entering college or university.

  • Knowledge Exchange Networks: A Case Study in the Efficacy of Interactive Visualization

    Participants: Dr Bernie Hogan, Dr Monica Bulger, Joshua Melville

    Knowledge exchange implies forging, facilitating and fostering social connections. Oxford's Knowledge Exchange Network addresses this need among university staff and external stakeholders. We assist the KE Network through interactive network mapping.

  • Me, My Spouse and the Internet: Meeting, Dating and Marriage in the Digital Age

    Participants: Professor William H. Dutton, Dr Bernie Hogan, Dr Nai Li, Dr Grant Blank, Dr Monica Whitty

    The project uses survey data from Australian and UK couples to look at the significance and impact of the Internet on intimate relationships, including how people use ICTs to meet each other and maintain relationships, and how ICTs affect their behaviour.

  • Who represents the Arab world online? Mapping and measuring local knowledge production and representation in the Middle East and North Africa

    Participants: Dr Bernie Hogan, Professor Mark Graham, Richard Farmbrough, Clarence Singleton, Dr Heather Ford, Dr Ilhem Allagui, Dr Ali Frihida, Ahmed Medhat Mohamed

    Using Wikipedia to explore the participation gap between those who have their say, and those whose voices are pushed to the side, in representations of the Arab world online.

Conference papers

  • Jeon, G., Hogan, B.J., Ellison, N. and Greenhow, C. (2016) "First-Generation Students and College: The Role of Facebook Networks as Information Sources", Proceedings of the 2016 ACM Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing [CSCW ’16]. 27 February – 2 March 2016.
  • Polonski, V.W. and Hogan, B. (2015) "Assessing the structural correlates between friendship networks and conversational agency in facebook groups", Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Web and Social Media, ICWSM 2015. 674-677.

Journal articles

Reports

  • Graham, M. and Hogan, B.J. (2014) Uneven openness: Barriers to MENA representation on Wikipedia. Oxford: Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford.
  • Hogan, B.J., Li, N. and Dutton, W.H. (2011) A Global Shift in the Social Relationships of Networked Individuals: Meeting and Dating Online Comes of Age. Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford.
  • Fisher, D., Hogan, B.J., Brush, A.J., Jacobs, A. and Smith, M. (2007) Using Social Sorting to Enhance Email Management. Microsoft Research Technical Report. MSR-TR-2007-19.
  • Hogan, B.J. and Fisher, D. (2006) A Scale for Measuring Email Overload. Microsoft Research Technical Report, MSR-TR-2006-65.

  • Online Social Networks

    An introduction to the analysis of online social networks, providing students with the tools necessary to undertake research on online networks, and to give an overview of the type of questions that these data can answer.

  • Wrangling Data

    This course will familiarize the student with a variety of techniques for cleaning and shaping data.

  • In Conversation with Mark Newman: The Future of Network Science

    Recorded: 17 February 2016

    Duration: 01:28:08

    Mark Newman discusses the emergent interdisciplinary field of network science and some of the current key challenges in the analysis of networks across the social and physical sciences.

  • Cultures of Wikipedia

    Recorded: 15 January 2016

    Duration: 00:10:26

    Presentation on Bernie Hogan's Wikipedia research, on the occasion of Wikipedia's 15th Birthday.

  • Wrangling Data: OII MSc Methods Option Course

    Recorded: 26 July 2015

    Duration: 00:02:42

    This methods option course for the OII MSc in "Social Science of the Internet" will familiarize the student with a variety of techniques for cleaning and shaping data.

  • Online Social Networks: OII MSc Option Course

    Recorded: 12 June 2015

    Duration: 00:01:38

    This option course for the OII MSc in "Social Science of the Internet" introduces social network analysis with particular emphasis on research design, data collection and analysis.

  • Partner Compatibility and Online Dating Sites: Interview with Erina Lee

    Recorded: 10 December 2011

    Duration: 00:04:37

    Erina Lee discusses the importance of similarity between partners in terms of long-term relationship satisfaction. She discusses some compatibility dimensions that have been considered by eHarmony, as well as future directions for research.

  • Scammers on Online Dating Sites: Interview with Monica Whitty

    Recorded: 10 December 2011

    Duration: 00:06:04

    Monica Whitty discusses her recent work on dating scams, which has focused on attempting to identify a typology of victims, recognizing the techniques used by scammers, and also the psychological impact of the scams themselves.

  • Online Social Networks and Everyday Life

    Recorded: 22 November 2010

    Duration: 00:04:06

    Bernie Hogan discusses the main themes of his lecture in the OII's "Society and the Internet" lecture series: how do individuals manage the blurring of public and private boundaries on general social network sites?

  • Relationships and the Internet (Public Panel)

    Recorded: 4 December 2009

    Duration: 01:22:22

    This forum looks at the state of the art of academic research on relationships and the Internet and how this research informs research on the social aspects of the Internet in general, such as issues of trust and identity.

  • Has live streaming made it easier to hate each other online?

    22 February 2017 The Debrief


    ‘It’s not that livestreaming is changing how we interact,’ says Dr Bernie Hogan. ‘It’s that we’re doing a bad job of creating technology that allows us to empathise with each other, when those others are different from us.’

  • How Facebook divides us

    27 October 2016 The Times Literary Supplement


    Bernie Hogan considers how Facebook divides us, in the first part of a series in The Times Literary Supplement on the moral dimensions of modern life.

  • Stay there: we’ll bring the UK school to you

    19 April 2016 The Times


    Bernie Hogan comments on proposals by an online secondary school to provide education in China

  • Sina Weibo ends 140-character limit ahead of Twitter

    20 January 2016 BBC Technology


    Sina-Weibo, the most popular micro-blogging platform in China is dropping its 140 character limit for a single post. Twitter might be encouraged to do the same. Bernie Hogan comments.

  • Dangerous liaisons: A peep into the illicit world of adult dating sites

    22 September 2015 Management Today


    Bernie Hogan comments in an article in the wake of the Ashley Madison hack about the risks of online adult dating.

  • The Politics of Emoji Diversity

    25 November 2014 Motherboard - Vice.com


    Proposals have been put forward to diversify emoji, the digital images of faces used to denote expression, which are currently predominantly white. Bernie Hogan claims this will alter profoundly our understanding of emoji.

  • The Spammers Who Chase After Autographs

    13 November 2014 Motherboard - Vice.com


    The practice of spamming to elicit autographs is increasing. Bernie Hogan speculates on what might be behind the trend.

  • New apps make adultery harder to hide

    18 October 2014 The Times


    The Times reports on the development of apps to assist unfaithful partners cover their tracks whilst others assist the suspicious to check up on their partners. Bernie Hogan comments.

  • Syrian beheading photos spur call for Facebook rethink

    27 August 2014 BBC News Technology


    Bernie Hogan is quoted in an article about graphic images of violence, in particular beheading, which appear on social media. He says that Facebook users should be better protected against distressing material.

  • Middle aged follow the stars and learn to socialise on net

    8 August 2014 The Times Technology


    Bernie Hogan contributes to an article on the rapid rise of use of social media by middle-aged people. He suggests that increasing trust of technology maybe a contributing factor.

  • Goosebump sensor developed by Korean research team

    25 June 2014 BBC News Technology


    A team in Korea has developed a device to measure goosebumps on the human body in real time. Bernie Hogan fears that it could be subverted by the entertainment industry leading to 'emotionally manipulative fluff'.

  • #BBCtrending: Why does Facebook want you to vote?

    22 May 2014 BBC News Trending


    Facebook introduced an 'I'm a voter' button on the day of local and European elections in the UK and the Netherlands. Bernie Hogan says this feature will provide the company with valuable data as well as encouraging voter turnout.

  • Could Emoji Ever Be a Language?

    28 March 2014 Motherboard - Vice.com


    Bernie Hogan is quoted in a piece about emoji, digital expressions of emotion, which form part of his research.

  • Apple seeks greater emoji racial diversity

    26 March 2014 BBC News Technology


    Bernie Hogan says that there are problems with extending the diversity of emoji, digital icons representing emotion, but he says that it's fair to think that in terms of racial diversity the range should be extended.

  • The algorithm method: how internet dating became everyone’s route to a perfect love match

    9 February 2014 The Observer


    The Observer looked at various online dating sites. eHarmony’s scientific, evidence based approach to matching couples is highlighted and research with the OII at the time of its launch is given as evidence of eHarmony’s serious approach.

  • Facebook’s 10th birthday: from college dorm to 1.23 billion users

    4 February 2014 The Guardian


    The technology Editor of the Guardian looks at the first 10 years of Facebook. Bernie Hogan says that part of its success is timing because the world was ready for it.

  • The Mark Forrest Show

    25 November 2013 BBC radio


    Bernie Hogan addresses the question of whether social media have a divisive influence on society with Mark Forrest on the early evening show (15.55 - 22.54 on the clock)

  • Tinder: the app that’s changing the way singletons meet and fall in love

    24 November 2013 The Observer


    Tinder, a dating app which shows photographs of potential dates within a maximum distance set by the user, is the next step in internet dating says Bernie Hogan. It is more individualising than existing online dating sites he says.

  • Tonight: Looking for Love

    29 October 2013 ITV


    ITV article (including online video) features comments from Dr Bernie Hogan who says online dating is no longer stigmatised; 30% of people looking for a partner do so online.

  • Children to have Linkedin profiles

    20 August 2013 BBC News Online


    Bernie Hogan comments on the decision by the networking site, LinkedIn to drop its minimum age for membership from 18 to 13.  He says it will help children differentiate between a public profile for employment and a personal profile.

  • Use of Social Media May Hurt your Marriage

    2 May 2013 HispanicBusiness.com


    A report on Bernie Hogan’s work on the effect of social media on established relationships which he presented at a symposium at the Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society.

  • Research in Brief

    25 April 2013 The Guardian


    Bernie Hogan's work on the impact of social media on strong relationships is included in the weekly research round-up.

  • Study says computer talk is killing relationships

    12 April 2013 News.com au


    Report on Bernie Hogan's research on the impact of social media on relationships, quoting him as suggesting that marital disharmony could be caused by overuse of these media.

  • Does Facebook put a strain on marriages?

    11 April 2013 Daily Mail


    Reporting on Bernie Hogan's findings on diverse communication and the impact on relationships the Daily Mail notes his suggestion that marital disharmony may be triggered by the stress of constantly maintaining many different forms of communication.

  • Too Much Media Could Hurt Marriage

    11 April 2013 Live Science


    Bernie Hogan's research reports that some people find using more media is detrimental to their relationship.

  • Social media. the perils and pleasures

    11 April 2013 University of Oxford


    Work by Bernie Hogan suggests that too much social media activity may damage strong relationships. He presented his findings as part of a symposium on the impact of online social media at the Annual Conference of British Psychological Society.

  • Social media could make dents in your love life

    10 April 2013 Economic Times (India)


    Report on Bernie Hogan's research into the effects of the use of social media on relationships.

  • Little love as dating websites face complaints over contracts

    4 March 2013 Independent.ie


    The European Consumer Centre in Dublin has seen a rise in the number of complaints since 2011 as more Irish singles use Internet dating sites.  The report refers to the OII report 'Me, My Spouse and the Internet.'

  • The 21 Winners Of The Facebook, Gates Foundation Education App Contest Are Making College Easier

    29 January 2013 TechCrunch


    College Connect, an app that visualizes social networks to help lower income students find better and more successful routes to university, is one of the winners of the College Knowledge Challenge. It was developed by an OII-MSU team.

  • UK ‘too heavy-handed’ with Twitter and online trolls

    20 August 2012 BBC Radio 1


    In the aftermath of an abusive tweet aimed at UK Olympic diver, Tom Daley, Newsbeat on BBC Radio 1 took a look at reactions in the UK and other countries to online trolls. Bernie Hogan said the UK is 'incredibly heavy handed'.

  • Wikipedia world: an interactive guide to every language. Infographic map

    4 April 2012 The Guardian


    In 'Show and Tell' on the Guardian Data Store, Simon Rogers, winner of the OII award for best internet journalist in 2011, highlights the Mapping Wikipedia project which shows millions of articles worldwide in a variety of languages.

  • Money can’t buy me love – or can it?

    13 February 2012 Irish Times


    An article in the Irish Times timed for St Valentine's Day on the costs of dating refers to OII research on online dating.

  • Trendfear: Do you ever feel you’re being left behind?

    30 January 2012 BBC News


    Can rapid innovation in technology create 'trendfear', a concern that we are missing out on something important? When is the tipping point when we need to know? Bernie Hogan comments that social media can make you feel you're missing the party.

  • 60 seconds with Bernie Hogan

    31 October 2011 Oxford Today


    The Oxford Alumni magazine interviews Bernie Hogan about social network sites and online relationships. He says the next step is to make the online world as natural as walking into a room full of friends.

  • Internet dating increasingly used by middle-aged

    28 October 2011 BBC Radio West Midlands


    Bernie Hogan was interviewed by BBC Radio West Midlands morning news show about his study into online dating as part of the BBC "Give an Hour" initiative to help people online (from 42:00 on the iPlayer clock).

  • The Plankton Generation

    4 August 2011 Daily Mail


    Bernie Hogan references OII research on online dating in an article on the dating prospects of middle-aged women and the partner choices of middle-aged men.

  • Why trust logging on when you can talk to friends face to face?

    19 June 2011 The Independent


    Why have over 100,000 UK users of Facebook left the social network? In an article exploring possible reasons, Bernie Hogan suggests the site may be a victim of its own success.

  • Gender-spotting tool could have rumbled fake blogger?

    17 June 2011 New Scientist


    Could specialist gender checking software have revealed the author of the Gay Girl in Damascus blog to be a man? Bernie Hogan tells New Scientist that there is a useful role for this technology.

  • Middle-aged are most likely to look for love online and a THIRD say they found partner on web

    14 February 2011 Daily Mail


    Coverage of an OII report on changes in online dating, part of the 'Me, My Spouse and the Internet' project.

  • Internet makes matches made in heaven

    14 February 2011 The Scotsman


    Coverage of an OII report on changes in online dating, part of the 'Me, My Spouse and the Internet' project.

  • Middle-aged most likely to seek love on the web

    14 February 2011 Toronto Sun


    Coverage of an OII report on changes in online dating, part of the 'Me, My Spouse and the Internet' project.

  • Middle-aged people looking for love online

    14 February 2011 The Times of India


    Coverage of an OII report on changes in online dating, part of the 'Me, My Spouse and the Internet' project.

  • Internet playing Cupid for middle-aged people:study

    14 February 2011 Daily News and Analysis (India)


    Coverage of an OII report on changes in online dating, part of the 'Me, My Spouse and the Internet' project.

  • Bernie Hogan interviewed on Radio Oxford

    14 February 2011 BBC Radio Oxford


    Bernie Hogan discusses the findings of an OII report on online dating

  • Bernie Hogan interviewed on Radio Kent

    14 February 2011 BBC Radio Kent


    Bernie Hogan discusses the findings of an OII report on online dating

  • Middle aged most likely to seek love on the web

    14 February 2011 Reuters


    Coverage of an OII report on changes in online dating, part of the 'Me, My Spouse and the Internet' project.

  • Middle-aged ‘look online for love’

    14 February 2011 Press Association


    Coverage of an OII report on changes in online dating, part of the 'Me, My Spouse and the Internet' project.