Kelly Dillon, a recent PhD graduate, was named the 2017 Outstanding Student Dissertation Award recipient for American Psychological Association (APA) Division 46. The award is given to an exceptional dissertation research program related to any form of media.

Dillon’s research focuses on cyberbystander intervention in cyberbullying. She designed a unique experiemental paradigm that exposed participants to cyberbullying in real time, and she measured what their direct, indirect and non-responses were to the bullying behavior.

The number of cyberbystanders that were present varied, to determine if there was a diffusion of responsibility. This phenomenon has not been tested in a controlled environment in real time online, and her design offers researchers that opportunity.

“To be recognized and honored by a prestigious organization and to have the Division chair compliment my research is honestly a dream come true,” Dillon said. “All I’ve ever wanted to do is make a positive difference in the world, and some of the academy’s experts believe my work can do that.”

Dillon is now an assistant professor in Wittenberg University’s Department of Communication.