1. Social Media for Researchers
Louise Tripp
Subject Librarian:
English, European Languages, Linguistics
A21/51, The Library
l.tripp@lancaster.ac.uk
Tel. (01524) 592546
Tanya Williamson
Assistant Librarian
A21/51, The Library
t.williamson1@lancaster.ac.uk
Tel. (01524) 594284

2. Why use Social Media?
What is it?
Who is using it?
How is it relevant?
• Vitae RDF
Framework
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3. Essential competencies
The Researcher Development
Framework:
• A1: Knowledge Base
• B3: Professional and career
development
• D2: Communication and
dissemination
• C1: Professional conduct
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4. A1: Knowledge Base
Information seeking, information
literacy and management
Useful tools:
• Twitter
• Blogs
• Mendeley
• ResearchGate
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5. B3: Professional and Career
Development
Networking, reputation, esteem
Consider non-academic and academic tools:
• Twitter
• Blogs
• ResearchGate
• Academia.edu
• LinkedIn
• ImpactStory
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6. D2: Communication and
Dissemination
Communication methods,
communication media, publication
Useful tools:
• All previously mentioned
• Dropbox, Google Drive – file sharing
• Skype – videoconferencing
• Prezi, SlideShare – collaborative
presentation tools
• YouTube
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7. Twitter
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8. Blogs
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9. Mendeley
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10. ResearchGate
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11. Academic.edu
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12. LinkedIn
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13. Slideshare
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14. Prezi
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15. Google Drive
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16. Dropbox
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17. Tips for success
• Decide what you want to achieve from each tool you choose
• Decide how much you will mix personal and professional
• Invest some time setting up: include a profile photo, information about
yourself, publications, interests
• Invest time keeping them up-to-date
• Remember it’s social: connect, converse, relate, share…
• Consider privacy settings
• Don’t expect success straight away, but do expect followers!
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18. C1: Professional Conduct
Ethics, legal requirements, IPR
and copyright, co-authorship
• Collaborative work
• Privacy settings
• Intellectual Property Rights
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19. Pitfalls
• Privacy and the blurring of boundaries between personal and professional use
• The risk of jeopardising their career through injudicious use of social media
• Lack of credibility
• The quality of the content they posted
• Time pressures
• Social media use becoming an obligation
• Becoming a target of attack
• Too much self-promotion by others
• Possible plagiarism of their ideas
• Commercialisation of content and copyright issues
From Lupton, 'Feeling better connected' Social media us by academics' (2014)
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20. Useful links
Miah A. The A to Z of Social Media for Academia. [Webpage]
[cited 16 June 2014]; Available from:
http://www.andymiah.net/2012/12/30/the-a-to-z-of-social-
media-for-academics/
Meet the people using social media to make a difference.
[Webpage] 2014 [cited 16 June 2014]; Available from:
http://www.nhsemployers.org/news/2014/05/meet-the-
people-using-social-media-to-make-a-difference
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21. Useful links
Lupton D. ‘Feeling Better Connected’: Academics’ Use of Social
Media. [Webpage] 2014 [cited 16 June 2014]; Available from:
http://www.canberra.edu.au/faculties/arts-
design/attachments/pdf/n-and-mrc/Feeling-Better-Connected-
report-final.pdf
RIN. Social media: a guide for researchers. [Webpage] 2011
[cited 16 June 2014]; Available from: http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-
work/communicating-and-disseminating-research/social-media-
guide-researchers
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22. Useful links
CIBER. Social media and research workflow. [Webpage] 2010
[cited 16 June 2014]; Available from: http://ciber-
research.eu/download/20101111-social-media-report.pdf
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23. Questions?
Can we see that
again?
Where shall I
begin?
What about…?
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