Bio

Byron Reeves received a B.F.A. in graphic design from Southern Methodist University and his M.A. and a Ph.D. in communication from Michigan State University.

Prior to joining Stanford in 1985, he taught at the University of Wisconsin where he was director of graduate studies and associate chair of the Mass Communication Research Center.

He teaches courses in mass communication theory and research, with particular emphasis on psychological processing of interactive media. His research includes message processing, social cognition, and social and emotion responses to media, and has been published in books of collected studies as well as such journals as Human Communication Research, Journal of Social Issues, Journal of Broadcasting, and Journalism Quarterly. He is co-author of The Media Equation: How People Treat Computers, Television, and New Media Like Real People and Places (Cambridge University Press).

His research has been the basis for a number of new media products for companies such as Microsoft, IBM, and Hewlett-Packard, in the areas of voice interfaces, automated dialogue systems and conversational agents. He is currently working on the applications of multi-player game technology to learning and the conduct of serious work.

Academic Appointments

Honors & Awards

  • Maier Faculty Development Award, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1984)
  • Paul C. Edwards Professorship, Stanford University (1992)
  • Fellow, International Communication Association (1997)
  • Outstanding Alumni Award, Michigan State University (2001)
  • Nelson Award, Distinguished Service to Mass Communication Education (2008)

Professional Education

  • Ph.D., Michigan State University, Communication (1976)
  • M.A., Michigan State University, Communication (1974)
  • B.F.A., Southern Methodist University, Journalism and Graphic Design (1972)

Contact

  • Academic
    reeves@stanford.edu
    University - Faculty Department: Communication Position: Professor
    • Rm 300A
    • McClatchy Hall
    • Stanford,  California  94305-2055 
    (650) 724-0432 (fax)

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 2050

Links

Research Interests

  • Social and Emotional Learning
  • Technology and Education

2020-21 Courses

Stanford Advisees

  • Doctoral Dissertation Reader (AC)
    Jihye Lee, Mufan Luo
  • Doctoral (Program)
    Dan Muise
  • Postdoctoral Research Mentor
    Xiaoran Sun

All Publications

  • Computer agents versus avatars: Responses to interactive game characters controlled by a computer or other player INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN-COMPUTER STUDIES Lim, S., Reeves, B. 2010; 68 (1-2): 57-68

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2009.09.008

    View details for Web of Science ID 000273311200004

  • Government Uses for Games and Virtual Worlds: Optimizing Choices for Citizens and Government Workers in the Areas of Energy Efficiency, Educational Assessment, Worker Productivity, Health and Quality of Information Exchanges White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Reeves, B., Cunningham, J., Scarborough, J., Read, J. L. 2010
  • Being in the Game: Effects of Avatar Choice and Point of View on Psychophysiological Responses During Play MEDIA PSYCHOLOGY Lim, S., Reeves, B. 2009; 12 (4): 348-370

    View details for DOI 10.1080/15213260903287242

    View details for Web of Science ID 000274637900002

  • Being in the game: Effects of avatar choice and point of view on arousal responses during play Media Psychology Reeves, B., Lim, S., 2009; 12 (4): 348-370
  • Total Engagement: Using Games and Virtual Worlds to Change the Way People Work and Businesses Compete Reeves, B., Read, J. L. Harvard Business School Press. 2009
  • Leadership's online labs HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW Reeves, B., Malone, T. W., O'Driscoll, T. 2008; 86 (5): 58-?

    View details for Web of Science ID 000255356700017

  • A marketplace for attention: Responses to a synthetic currency used to signal information importance in E-mail First Monday Reeves, B., Roy, S., Gorman, B., Morley, T. 2008; 13 (5)
  • Leaderships Living Lab: Implications of Multiplayer Games for the Enterprise Harvard Business Review Reeves, B., Malone, T., O'Driscoll, T. 2008
  • The effect of user control on the cognitive and emotional processing of pictures MEDIA PSYCHOLOGY Wise, K., Reeves, B. 2007; 9 (3): 549-566

    View details for Web of Science ID 000247271000004

  • Foundations and opportunities for an interdisciplinary sciences of learning. The Cambridge Handbook of the Learning Sciences Bransford, J., Barron, B., Pea, R., Meltzoff, A., Kuhl, P., Bell, P., Stevens, D., Shwartz, D., Vye, N., Reeves, B., Roschelle, J., Sabelli, N. Cambridge University Press. 2006
  • The new videomalaise: Effects of televised incivility on political trust AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE REVIEW Mutz, D. C., Reeves, B. 2005; 99 (1): 1-15

    View details for Web of Science ID 000227684400001

  • Learning theories and education: Toward a decade of synergy Handbook of Educational Psychology Bransford, J., Vye, N., Stevens, R., Kuhl, P., Schwatz, D., Bell, P., Meltzoff, A., Barron, B., Pea, R., Reeves, B., Roschelle, J., Sabelli, N. 2005; 2
  • Perceptual bandwith COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ACM Reeves, B., Nass, C. 2000; 43 (3): 65-70

    View details for Web of Science ID 000085566400021

  • Social issues and the effects of high-bandwidth interactions Proceedings of the Internet2 Socio-Technical Summit Reeves, B. 2000: 81–89
  • The effects of animated characters on anxiety, task performance and evaluations of user interfaces Proceedings of the CHI 2000 Conference Reeves, B. 2000
  • The effects of screen size and message content on arousal and attention Media Psychology Reeves, B., Lang, A., Young, E., Tatar, D. 1999; 1: 49-67
  • Switching channels: The effects of television channels on the mental representations of television news JOURNAL OF BROADCASTING & ELECTRONIC MEDIA Leshner, G., Reeves, B., Nass, C. 1998; 42 (1): 21-33

    View details for Web of Science ID 000074066500002

  • Negative video as structure: Emotion, attention, capacity, and memory JOURNAL OF BROADCASTING & ELECTRONIC MEDIA Lang, A., NEWHAGEN, J., Reeves, B. 1996; 40 (4): 460-477

    View details for Web of Science ID A1996WA32200002

  • A bio-informational theory of emotion: Motion and image size effects on viewers JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION Detenber, B. H., Reeves, B. 1996; 46 (3): 66-84

    View details for Web of Science ID A1996VD93000005

  • Technology and roles: A tale of two TVs JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION Nass, C., Reeves, B., Leshner, G. 1996; 46 (2): 121-128

    View details for Web of Science ID A1996UH04400007

  • The Media Equation: How People Treat Computers, Television and New Media Like Real People and Places Reeves, B., Nass, C. Cambridge University Press. 1996
  • Hemispheres of scholarship: Psychological and other approaches to studying communication The audience and its landscape Reeves, B. Westview Press. 1996: 265–280
  • CAN COMPUTER PERSONALITIES BE HUMAN PERSONALITIES INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN-COMPUTER STUDIES Nass, C., Moon, Y., Fogg, B. J., Reeves, B., Dryer, D. C. 1995; 43 (2): 223-239

    View details for Web of Science ID A1995RZ74100004

  • Designing experiments that assess psychological responses to media messages Measuring psychological responses to media Reeves, B., Geiger, S. Lawrence Erlbaum. 1994
  • THE EFFECTS OF SCENE CHANGES AND SEMANTIC RELATEDNESS ON ATTENTION TO TELEVISION COMMUNICATION RESEARCH Geiger, S., Reeves, B. 1993; 20 (2): 155-175

    View details for Web of Science ID A1993KU97500001

  • WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM ... ATTENTION FOR TELEVISION SEQUENCES HUMAN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH Geiger, S., Reeves, B. 1993; 19 (3): 368-387

    View details for Web of Science ID A1993KM18300003

  • We interrupt this program: Attention for television sequences Human Communication Research Reeves, B., Geiger, S. 1993; 19: 368-387
  • THE EVENINGS BAD-NEWS - EFFECTS OF COMPELLING NEGATIVE TELEVISION-NEWS IMAGES ON MEMORY JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION Newhagen, J. E., Reeves, B. 1992; 42 (2): 25-41

    View details for Web of Science ID A1992HW20400002

  • ON HOW WE STUDY AND WHAT WE STUDY JOURNAL OF BROADCASTING & ELECTRONIC MEDIA Reeves, B. 1992; 36 (2): 235-238

    View details for Web of Science ID A1992JD19200010

  • On how we study and what we study Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media Reeves, B. 1992; 36: 235-238
  • This evening’s bad news: Effects of compelling negative television news images on memory Journal of Communication Newhagen, J., Reeves, B. 1992; 42
  • MEDIA STUDIES AND PSYCHOLOGY COMMUNICATION RESEARCH Reeves, B., Anderson, D. R. 1991; 18 (5): 597-600

    View details for Web of Science ID A1991GJ93300001

  • NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE TELEVISION MESSAGES - EFFECTS OF MESSAGE TYPE AND CONTEXT ON ATTENTION AND MEMORY AMERICAN BEHAVIORAL SCIENTIST Reeves, B. R., NEWHAGEN, J., Maibach, E., Basil, M., Kurz, K. 1991; 34 (6): 679-694

    View details for Web of Science ID A1991FY96300004

  • COMBINING, DISTINGUISHING, AND GENERATING THEORIES IN COMMUNICATION - A DOMAINS OF ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK COMMUNICATION RESEARCH Nass, C. I., Reeves, B. 1991; 18 (2): 240-261

    View details for Web of Science ID A1991FF67900006

  • Positive and negative political advertising: Effectiveness of ads and perceptions of campaigns Television and political advertising: Psychological processes Basil, M., Schooler, C., Reeves, B. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 1991: 245–262
  • Evaluation and memory for political candidates in televised commercials Television and political advertising: Psychological processes Geiger, S., Reeves, B. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 1991: 125–144
  • Cognitive processing of media Special issue of Communication Research Reeves, B., Anderson, D. 1991; 18
  • Emotion and memory responses to negative political advertising Television and political advertising: Psychological processes Newhagen, J., Reeves, B. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 1991: 197–220
  • Negative and positive television messages: Effects of message type and message context on attention and memory American Behavioral Scientist Reeves, B., Newhagen, J., Maibach, E., Basil, M., Kurz, K. 1991: 679-694
  • THEORIES ABOUT NEWS AND THEORIES ABOUT COGNITION - ARGUMENTS FOR A MORE RADICAL SEPARATION AMERICAN BEHAVIORAL SCIENTIST Reeves, B. 1989; 33 (2): 191-198

    View details for Web of Science ID A1989AX05400011

  • EMOTIONAL TELEVISION SCENES AND HEMISPHERIC-SPECIALIZATION HUMAN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH Reeves, B., Lang, A., Thorson, E., Rothschild, M. 1989; 15 (4): 493-508

    View details for Web of Science ID A1989U859500001

  • INFLUENCE OF STORY SCHEMA DEVELOPMENT ON CHILDRENS ATTENTION TO TELEVISION COMMUNICATION RESEARCH MEADOWCROFT, J. M., Reeves, B. 1989; 16 (3): 352-374

    View details for Web of Science ID A1989AC00500003

  • Influence of story schema development on children's attention to television Communication Research Reeves, B., Meadowcroft, J. 1989; 16: 352-374
  • HEMISPHERICALLY LATERALIZED EEG AS A RESPONSE TO TELEVISION COMMERCIALS JOURNAL OF CONSUMER RESEARCH ROTHSCHILD, M. L., Hyun, Y. J., Reeves, B., Thorson, E., Goldstein, R. 1988; 15 (2): 185-198

    View details for Web of Science ID A1988Q202300003

  • CITATION NETWORKS OF COMMUNICATION JOURNALS, 1977-1985 - CLIQUES AND POSITIONS, CITATIONS MADE AND CITATIONS RECEIVED HUMAN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH Rice, R. E., Borgman, C. L., Reeves, B. 1988; 15 (2): 256-283

    View details for Web of Science ID A1988R508800004

  • Communication and children: Development of language, communicative competence, and understanding of media Handbook of communication science Wartella, E., Reeves, B. Sage. 1987: 619–650
  • WATCHING TELEVISION - EXPERIMENTS ON THE VIEWING PROCESS COMMUNICATION RESEARCH Reeves, B., Thorson, E. 1986; 13 (3): 343-361

    View details for Web of Science ID A1986D765200004

  • EEG ACTIVITY AND THE PROCESSING OF TELEVISION COMMERCIALS COMMUNICATION RESEARCH ROTHSCHILD, M. L., Thorson, E., Reeves, B., Hirsch, J. E., Goldstein, R. 1986; 13 (2): 182-220

    View details for Web of Science ID A1986C812200002

  • Effects of Mass Communication Reeves, B., Hawkins, R. Science Research Associates, Inc.. 1986
  • Attention to local and global complexity in television messagesCommunication yearbook Communication yearbook 10 Thorson, E., Reeves, B., Schleuder, J. Sage. 1986
  • Attention to television: Psychological theories and chronometric measures Perspectives on media effects Reeves, B., Thorson, E., Schleuder, J. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 1986
  • ATTENTION TO TELEVISION - INTRASTIMULUS EFFECTS OF MOVEMENT AND SCENE CHANGES ON ALPHA-VARIATION OVER TIME INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE Reeves, B., Thorson, E., ROTHSCHILD, M. L., McDonald, D., Hirsch, J., Goldstein, R. 1985; 27 (3-4): 241-255

    Abstract

    Central and occipital EEG alpha were used as an on-line measure of momentary changes in covert attention during television viewing. Alpha was recorded during nine 30-second commercials shown embedded in a half-hour situation comedy. Two time series were constructed for data analysis. A stimulus series consisted of codes representing the presence or absence of scene changes or person and object movement for each half-second interval of the commercials. The alpha series consisted of median alpha scores for each half-second interval, aggregated across 26 subjects. The alpha series was regressed on the movement and scene change series, both of which produced significant increments in R, even after autocorrelational effects inherent in the alpha series were removed. As a validity check on the attentional interpretation of alpha, it was shown that mean alpha for each commercial was significantly (negatively) correlated with recall and recognition of commercial contents. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for further use of continuously-recorded alpha in research on factors that influence attention to television.

    View details for Web of Science ID A1985C649200008

    View details for PubMedID 4044133

  • Memory effects of over-time measures of viewer liking and activity during programs and commercials Advances in consumer research Thorson, E., Reeves, B. Association for Consumer Research. 1985
  • Effects of program context on the processing of television commercials Proceedings of the American Academy of Advertising Schleuder, J., Lang, A., Rothschild, M. 1985
  • HISTORICAL TRENDS IN RESEARCH ON CHILDREN AND THE MEDIA - 1900-1960 JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION WARTELLA, E., Reeves, B. 1985; 35 (2): 118-133

    View details for Web of Science ID A1985APA6500013

  • MESSAGE COMPLEXITY AND ATTENTION TO TELEVISION COMMUNICATION RESEARCH Thorson, E., Reeves, B., SCHLEUDER, J. 1985; 12 (4): 427-454

    View details for Web of Science ID A1985ATP5600001

  • Trends in children’s television The future of children's television Wartella, E., Reeves, B. Boys Town. 1984: 15–28
  • Television's influence on children's encoding of person information Human Communication Research Reeves, B., Garramone, G. 1983; 10: 257-268
  • Now you see them, now you don't: Demonstrating effects of communication programs Public Relations Quarterly, Fall Reeves, B. 1983
  • 'Fraught with such great possibilities': The historical relationship of communication research to mass media regulation Proceedings of the tenth annual telecommunications policy research conference Reeves, B., Baughman, J. 1983: 19–52
  • A BIBLIOMETRIC EVALUATION OF CORE JOURNALS IN COMMUNICATION-RESEARCH HUMAN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH Reeves, B., Borgman, C. L. 1983; 10 (1): 119-136

    View details for Web of Science ID A1983RL35500006

  • Recurring issues in research on children and media Education Technology Warella, E., Reeves, B. 1983; 23: 5-8
  • Children's person perception: Generalization from television to real people Human Communication Research Reeves, B., Garramone, G. 1982; 8: 317-326
  • Social cognition and mass communication Social cognition and communication Reeves, B., Chaffee, S., Tims, A. 1982: 287–326
  • CHILDREN AND TELEVISION-NEWS JOURNALISM QUARTERLY Drew, D. G., REEVES, B. B. 1980; 57 (1): 45-?

    View details for Web of Science ID A1980JX57800007

  • The nature of mass media effects Television and social behavior: Beyond violence and children McLeod, J., Reeves, B. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 1980: 17–54
  • LEARNING FROM A TELEVISION-NEWS STORY COMMUNICATION RESEARCH Drew, D., Reeves, B. 1980; 7 (1): 121-135

    View details for Web of Science ID A1980JT41500006

  • Children's impressions of television characters Proceedings of the sixth annual telecommunications policy research conference Reeves, B., Faber, R. 1979
  • The dimensional structure of children's perceptions of television characters: A replication Human Communication Research Reeves, B., Lometti, G. 1979; 5: 247-256
  • Children's understanding of television people Children communicating: Media and development of thought, speech and understanding Reeves, B. Safe. 1979: 115–156
  • Children's perceived reality of television and effects of TV on social behavior Journalism Quarterly Reeves, B. 1978; 55: 682-689
  • A multidimensional measure of children's identification with television characters Journal of Broadcasting Reeves, B., Miller, M. M. 1978; 22: 71-86
  • Investigating the assumptions of uses and gratifications research Communication Research Lometti, G., Reeves, B., Bybee, C. 1977; 4: 321-338
  • Children's perceptions of television characters Human Communication Research Reeves, B., Greenberg, B. 1977; 3: 113-117
  • Linking dramatic TV content to children's occupational sex role stereotypes Journal of Broadcasting Miller, M. M., Reeves, B. 1976; 20: 35-50
  • Children and the perceived reality of television Journal of Social Issues Greenberg, B., Reeves, B. 1976; 32: 86-97
  • Children's television and the economically disadvantaged child: Research findings and policy implications The federal role in children's television programming Greenberg, B., Reeves, B. Institute for Communication Research. 1975