Prof. Dr. Stefan Aufenanger

SoCuM AG 2

Institute for Educational Science
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Georg Forster-Building
Room 02.309
Jakob-Welder-Weg 12
55099 Mainz

Tel: +49 6131 39-26652
E-Mail: aufenang@uni-mainz.de
Website



SoCuM Project: Moral Panics and Media – Media Influence in Public Discussion
(Within the framework of AG 2)

In public discussion on the influence of media, in particular of television, internet and computer games, allegations of influence are repeatedly made that do not, in the first instance, withstand scientific testing. These allegations play a particular role in the political arena, as politics are apparently more oriented towards such discussions than to consulting science directly, or to being led by serious scientific statements. Media Science and Media Pedagogy are now interested in how such topics arise in the public arena, how they are perceived and argued there, how they influence the formation of political will, and naturally how they are processed by the recipients as well as how their views are influenced. The following two questions will be addressed in the research project:

  • How are ideas about media influence constituted in the public arena? Which roles do particular media play and who are their ‘moral entrepreneurs’? Which sources are used as references and how are they argued?
  • Which concepts and world views or interpretation patterns are journalists and editors endowed with, that are determined by public discussion on media influences?

Research Interests
Theory and Systematics of Media Pedagogy and Media Competence; Media Education in the Family, Kindergarten and School; Teaching and Learning with Digital Media; Media Ethics; Qualitative Media Research; Higher Education Research

Academic Background
Studies in Science Education and Sociology in Mainz; Diploma in Education Studies (1975) and a PhD in Sociology (1980). Research Associate and Higher Education Assistant at the Mainz Institute of Pedagogy; scientific functions and Fellowship at University of Fribourg/Switzerland, Osnabrück and Freiburg. 1991, qualified as University lecturer in Education Science at Mainz University. Professor of Education Science and Media Pedagogy at the University of Hamburg (1993-2004); Professor of Education Science and Media Pedagogy at Mainz University (since 2005); Scientific Director of the „Stiftung Lesen“ (Reading Foundation), member of the Media Literacy Expert Group of the Media Directorship at the EU Commission in Brussels (2006-2010); Board Member and Treasurer of the German Society for Education Science (DGfE); member of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the Association for Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Guest Professor at the Shanghai Normal University, China (2010), currently Dean of Social Sciences, Media and Sport at Mainz University.

Publications (Top 5)

2011
(with Lena Groß): Wie wirken didaktische Elemente der Hochschullehre auf die zeitliche Gestaltung des Studiums? In: Zeitschrift für Hochschulentwicklung 6/2. P. 123-132.
2010
(with Franz Hamburger, Luise Ludwig and Rudolf Tippelt, eds.): Bildung in der Demokratie. Beiträge zum 22. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Erziehungswissenschaft. Opladen: Barbara Budrich.
2007
Medienkonservatismus. In: Zeitschrift für Medienpsychologie Vl./19. P. 76-79.
2007
(with Renate Luca): Geschlechtersensible Medienkompetenzförderung. Mediennutzung und Medienkompetenz von Mädchen und Jungen sowie medienpädagogische Handlungsmöglichkeiten. Berlin: Vistas.
2006
Interview. In: Ayaß, Ruth/Bergmann, Jürgen (eds.): Qualitative Methoden der Medienforschung. Reinbek bei Hamburg. P. 97-114.