![Roser Beneito-Montagut](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/3093?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Overview
I see myself mainly as a sociologist, working at the intersection of sociology, science and technology, and ageing studies. My current research focuses particularly on later life, socio-technologies and care in the networked society, with particular emphasis on how connectedness technologies co-shape social relationships among older adults. I investigate social connectedness across diverse experiences and built environments, recognising that technological engagement is inherently embodied, situated within specific physical and sociocultural contexts. I am interested in everday life relations, emotions and affects.
I have written about the relationship between technology use, social isolation and lonelines; the socio-cultural and material dimensions of “being” and interacting online; emotions and about digital later life and ageing. I make use of a range of digital, creative and mixed research methods in my work, including online ethnographies) and have published extensively about methodological innovations in relation to the availability of digital data.
Publication
2024
- Begueria, A. and Beneito-Montagut, R. 2024. The observer observed: Ethnographic discomforts and (a)symmetrical relationships in a digital ethnography. Ethnography 25(3), pp. 273-293. (10.1177/14661381241246254)
- Vasalou, A. et al. 2024. In pursuit of thermal comfort: An exploration of smart heating in everyday life. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies 186, article number: 103245. (10.1016/j.ijhcs.2024.103245)
- Rodríguez‑Giralt, I., López‑Gómez, D. and Beneito-Montagut, R. 2024. Digital social connectedness as a lifeline for older people: Use and non‑use of VinclesBCN during the pandemic. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science 15(2), pp. 251-264. (10.1007/s13753-024-00556-8)
2023
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Begueria, A. and Cassián, N. 2023. The social connectedness of digital practices in later life: It’s not just about learning, it’s all about relationships. Sociological Review 71(3), pp. 581-600. (10.1177/00380261221144154)
- Beneito-Montagut, R., García-Santesmases, A. and López-Gómez, D. 2023. Technological ageism in a sheltered housing for older adults: An intersectional approach. In: Rosales, A., Fernández-Ardèvol, M. and Svensson, J. eds. Digital Ageism: How it Operates and Approaches to Tackling it. Routledge Studies in New Media and Cyberculture Routledge, pp. 172-171., (10.4324/9781003323686-10)
2022
- Edwards, A., Housley, W., Beneito-Montagut, R. and Fitzgerald, R. 2022. Freedom of speech and online harm in liberal democracies: a triadic concept. In: Housley, W. et al. eds. The SAGE Handbook of Digital Society - First Edition. London: SAGE, pp. 543-558.
- Housley, W., Edwards, A., Beneito-Montagut, R. and Fitzgerald, R. 2022. The emerging contours of digital society: remastering, reconsideration, reorientation and new socio-digital domains. In: Housley, W. ed. The SAGE Handbook of Digital Society - First Edition. London: SAGE, pp. 3-18.
- Housley, W., Edwards, A., Beneito-Montagut, R. and Ftizgerald, R. Housley, W. et al. eds. 2022. The SAGE handbook of digital society. 1st Edition. London: SAGE.
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Rosales, A. and Fernández-Ardèvol, M. 2022. Emerging digital inequalities: A comparative study of older adults’ smartphone use. SAGE Open: Social Media + Society 8(4), pp. 1-12. (10.1177/20563051221138756)
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2022. Digital and non-digital: Researching digital practices as trans-situated activities in everyday later life. In: Flick, U. ed. The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research Design., Vol. 2. Sage, pp. 835-850.
2021
- López-Gómez, D., Beneito-Montagut, R. and García-Santesmases, A. 2021. No future for care without new digital media? Making time(s) for mediated informal care practices in later life. International Journal of Cultural Studies 24(4), pp. 637-654. (10.1177/1367877920951818)
- Beneito-Montagut, R. and Begueria, A. 2021. "Send me a Whatsapp when you arrive home": mediated practices of caring about. In: Peine, A. et al. eds. Socio-gerontechnology: Interdisciplinary Critical Studies of Ageing and Technology. Routledge Advances in Sociology Abingdon, UK: Routledge, pp. 119-133.
- Edwards, A., Webb, H., Housley, W., Beneito-Montagut, R., Procter, R. and Jirotka, M. 2021. Forecasting the governance of harmful social media communications: findings from the digital wildfire policy Delphi. Policing and Society 31(1), pp. 1-19. (10.1080/10439463.2020.1839073)
2019
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2019. Qualitative analysis of social media data. In: Atkinson, P. et al. eds. SAGE Research Methods Foundations. SAGE, (10.4135/9781526421036840280)
- Fernández-Ardèvol, M. et al. 2019. Methodological strategies to understand Smartphone practices for social connectedness in later life. In: Zhou, J. and Salvendy, G. eds. Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population. Social Media, Games and Assistive Environments., Vol. 11593. Springer, pp. 46-64.
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Begueria, A. and Cassián Yde, N. 2019. The practices of learning digital technologies in later life: What are they made up?. Working paper. Bremen: University of Bremen. Available at: https://www.uni-bremen.de/fileadmin/user_upload/fachbereiche/fb9/zemki/media/photos/publikationen/working-papers/2019/CoFi_EWP_No-30_Beneito-Montagut.pdf
- Fernández-Ardèvol, M. et al. 2019. Methodological strategies to understand smartphone practices for social connectedness in later life. Presented at: ITAP 2019, Orlando, US, 26-31 Jul 2019 Presented at Zhou, J. and Salvendy, G. eds.Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population: Social Media, Games and Assistive Environments, Vol. 11593. Lecture Notes in Computer Science Cham, Switzerland: Springer Verlag pp. 46-64., (10.1007/978-3-030-22015-0_4)
2018
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Cassián, N. and Begueria, A. 2018. What do we know about the relationship between Internet mediated interaction and social isolation and loneliness in later life?. Quality in Ageing and Older Adults 19(1), pp. 14-30. (10.1108/QAOA-03-2017-0008)
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Begueria, A. and Cassián, N. 2018. 'I do everything, but I don't know how to make anything work': Affective and relational learning of social media in later life.. Aula 24, pp. 77-92., article number: 3.
2017
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Begueria, A. and Cassian, N. 2017. Doing digital team ethnography: being there together and digital social data. Qualitative Research 17(6), pp. 664-682. (10.1177/1468794117724500)
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2017. Emotions, everyday life and the social web: age, gender and social web engagement effects on online emotional expression. Sociological Research Online (10.1177/1360780417732955)
2016
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2016. Big data and educational research. In: Wyse, D. et al. eds. The BERA/Sage Handbook of Educational Research. SAGE Publications, pp. 913-934.
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2016. Healthcare, lifestyle and well-being apps. Who am I sharing my data with and what for?. Presented at: 21st National Ethics Councils (NEC) Forum, The Hague, Ministry of Health, Wellbeing and Sports (VWS), 10-11 May 2016.
- Souto-Otero, M. and Beneito-Montagut, R. 2016. From governing through data to governmentality through data: artefacts, strategies and the digital turn. European Educational Research Journal 15(1), pp. 14-33. (10.1177/1474904115617768)
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Begueria, A. and Cassian, N. 2016. Caring relationships online in later life. Gerontechnology 15(suppl), pp. 146. (10.4017/gt.2016.15.s.856.00)
2015
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2015. Encounters on the social web: everyday life and emotions online. Sociological Perspectives 58(4), pp. 537-553. (10.1177/0731121415569284)
2014
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2014. Social isolation and the social web. A study of Catalan older people using the Web 2.0 for interpersonal relationships. Presented at: AKTIVE Conference, Leeds, 8 - 9 April 2014.
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2014. Social Learning and the future of e-Learning. Presented at: Goberno Aberto Conference, Lugo, Spain, 18 -20 June 2014.
2013
- Roser, B., Duncan, S. and Christopher, B. 2013. Emergency management agencies use and adoption of Web 2.0.. Project Report. [Online]. Aston University: Aston University. Available at: http://www.disaster20.eu/final-outputs/
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Anson, S., Shaw, D. and Brewster, C. 2013. Risk communication and social media: Are we ready?. Presented at: 11th ESA conference: Crisis, Critique and Change, Turin, Italy, 28-31 August 2013.
- Souto-Otero, M. and Beneito-Montagut, R. 2013. ‘Power on’: Googlecracy, privatisation and the standardisation of sources. Journal of Education Policy 28(4), pp. 461-500. (10.1080/02680939.2013.775347)
- Souto-Otero, M. and Beneito-Montagut, R. 2013. 'Power on': Googlecracy, privatisation and the standardisation of sources. Journal of Education Policy 28(4), pp. 481-500.
- Beneito-Montagut, R. and Begueria, A. 2013. Elderly, social media and social isolation. Presented at: Global Aging: Rising Challenges, UOC´s Education & Technology for Social Change Unesco Chair, Barcelona, Spain, 5-6 November 2013.
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2013. Elderly and social media: Bridging the gap of eMarginality through social media. Presented at: 11th ESA Conference "Crisis, critique and change", Turin, 28 - 31 August 2013.
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Anson, S., Shaw, D. and Brewster, C. 2013. Governmental social media use for emergency communication. Presented at: 10th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, Baden-Baden, 12-15 May 2013Proceedings of the 10th International ISCRAM Conference. Baden-Baden: pp. 828-833.
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Shaw, D. and Brewster, C. 2013. Disaster 2.0 case studies: Using web 2.0 applications and semantic technologies to strengthen public resilience to disasters. Project Report. [Online]. Birmingham: Aston University. Available at: http://www.disaster20.eu/final-outputs/
2011
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2011. Ethnography goes online: Towards a user-centred methodology to research interpersonal communication on the internet. Qualitative Research 11(6), pp. 716-735. (10.1177/1468794111413368)
Articles
- Begueria, A. and Beneito-Montagut, R. 2024. The observer observed: Ethnographic discomforts and (a)symmetrical relationships in a digital ethnography. Ethnography 25(3), pp. 273-293. (10.1177/14661381241246254)
- Vasalou, A. et al. 2024. In pursuit of thermal comfort: An exploration of smart heating in everyday life. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies 186, article number: 103245. (10.1016/j.ijhcs.2024.103245)
- Rodríguez‑Giralt, I., López‑Gómez, D. and Beneito-Montagut, R. 2024. Digital social connectedness as a lifeline for older people: Use and non‑use of VinclesBCN during the pandemic. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science 15(2), pp. 251-264. (10.1007/s13753-024-00556-8)
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Begueria, A. and Cassián, N. 2023. The social connectedness of digital practices in later life: It’s not just about learning, it’s all about relationships. Sociological Review 71(3), pp. 581-600. (10.1177/00380261221144154)
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Rosales, A. and Fernández-Ardèvol, M. 2022. Emerging digital inequalities: A comparative study of older adults’ smartphone use. SAGE Open: Social Media + Society 8(4), pp. 1-12. (10.1177/20563051221138756)
- López-Gómez, D., Beneito-Montagut, R. and García-Santesmases, A. 2021. No future for care without new digital media? Making time(s) for mediated informal care practices in later life. International Journal of Cultural Studies 24(4), pp. 637-654. (10.1177/1367877920951818)
- Edwards, A., Webb, H., Housley, W., Beneito-Montagut, R., Procter, R. and Jirotka, M. 2021. Forecasting the governance of harmful social media communications: findings from the digital wildfire policy Delphi. Policing and Society 31(1), pp. 1-19. (10.1080/10439463.2020.1839073)
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Cassián, N. and Begueria, A. 2018. What do we know about the relationship between Internet mediated interaction and social isolation and loneliness in later life?. Quality in Ageing and Older Adults 19(1), pp. 14-30. (10.1108/QAOA-03-2017-0008)
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Begueria, A. and Cassián, N. 2018. 'I do everything, but I don't know how to make anything work': Affective and relational learning of social media in later life.. Aula 24, pp. 77-92., article number: 3.
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Begueria, A. and Cassian, N. 2017. Doing digital team ethnography: being there together and digital social data. Qualitative Research 17(6), pp. 664-682. (10.1177/1468794117724500)
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2017. Emotions, everyday life and the social web: age, gender and social web engagement effects on online emotional expression. Sociological Research Online (10.1177/1360780417732955)
- Souto-Otero, M. and Beneito-Montagut, R. 2016. From governing through data to governmentality through data: artefacts, strategies and the digital turn. European Educational Research Journal 15(1), pp. 14-33. (10.1177/1474904115617768)
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Begueria, A. and Cassian, N. 2016. Caring relationships online in later life. Gerontechnology 15(suppl), pp. 146. (10.4017/gt.2016.15.s.856.00)
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2015. Encounters on the social web: everyday life and emotions online. Sociological Perspectives 58(4), pp. 537-553. (10.1177/0731121415569284)
- Souto-Otero, M. and Beneito-Montagut, R. 2013. ‘Power on’: Googlecracy, privatisation and the standardisation of sources. Journal of Education Policy 28(4), pp. 461-500. (10.1080/02680939.2013.775347)
- Souto-Otero, M. and Beneito-Montagut, R. 2013. 'Power on': Googlecracy, privatisation and the standardisation of sources. Journal of Education Policy 28(4), pp. 481-500.
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2011. Ethnography goes online: Towards a user-centred methodology to research interpersonal communication on the internet. Qualitative Research 11(6), pp. 716-735. (10.1177/1468794111413368)
Book sections
- Beneito-Montagut, R., García-Santesmases, A. and López-Gómez, D. 2023. Technological ageism in a sheltered housing for older adults: An intersectional approach. In: Rosales, A., Fernández-Ardèvol, M. and Svensson, J. eds. Digital Ageism: How it Operates and Approaches to Tackling it. Routledge Studies in New Media and Cyberculture Routledge, pp. 172-171., (10.4324/9781003323686-10)
- Edwards, A., Housley, W., Beneito-Montagut, R. and Fitzgerald, R. 2022. Freedom of speech and online harm in liberal democracies: a triadic concept. In: Housley, W. et al. eds. The SAGE Handbook of Digital Society - First Edition. London: SAGE, pp. 543-558.
- Housley, W., Edwards, A., Beneito-Montagut, R. and Fitzgerald, R. 2022. The emerging contours of digital society: remastering, reconsideration, reorientation and new socio-digital domains. In: Housley, W. ed. The SAGE Handbook of Digital Society - First Edition. London: SAGE, pp. 3-18.
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2022. Digital and non-digital: Researching digital practices as trans-situated activities in everyday later life. In: Flick, U. ed. The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research Design., Vol. 2. Sage, pp. 835-850.
- Beneito-Montagut, R. and Begueria, A. 2021. "Send me a Whatsapp when you arrive home": mediated practices of caring about. In: Peine, A. et al. eds. Socio-gerontechnology: Interdisciplinary Critical Studies of Ageing and Technology. Routledge Advances in Sociology Abingdon, UK: Routledge, pp. 119-133.
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2019. Qualitative analysis of social media data. In: Atkinson, P. et al. eds. SAGE Research Methods Foundations. SAGE, (10.4135/9781526421036840280)
- Fernández-Ardèvol, M. et al. 2019. Methodological strategies to understand Smartphone practices for social connectedness in later life. In: Zhou, J. and Salvendy, G. eds. Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population. Social Media, Games and Assistive Environments., Vol. 11593. Springer, pp. 46-64.
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2016. Big data and educational research. In: Wyse, D. et al. eds. The BERA/Sage Handbook of Educational Research. SAGE Publications, pp. 913-934.
Books
- Housley, W., Edwards, A., Beneito-Montagut, R. and Ftizgerald, R. Housley, W. et al. eds. 2022. The SAGE handbook of digital society. 1st Edition. London: SAGE.
Conferences
- Fernández-Ardèvol, M. et al. 2019. Methodological strategies to understand smartphone practices for social connectedness in later life. Presented at: ITAP 2019, Orlando, US, 26-31 Jul 2019 Presented at Zhou, J. and Salvendy, G. eds.Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population: Social Media, Games and Assistive Environments, Vol. 11593. Lecture Notes in Computer Science Cham, Switzerland: Springer Verlag pp. 46-64., (10.1007/978-3-030-22015-0_4)
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2016. Healthcare, lifestyle and well-being apps. Who am I sharing my data with and what for?. Presented at: 21st National Ethics Councils (NEC) Forum, The Hague, Ministry of Health, Wellbeing and Sports (VWS), 10-11 May 2016.
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2014. Social isolation and the social web. A study of Catalan older people using the Web 2.0 for interpersonal relationships. Presented at: AKTIVE Conference, Leeds, 8 - 9 April 2014.
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2014. Social Learning and the future of e-Learning. Presented at: Goberno Aberto Conference, Lugo, Spain, 18 -20 June 2014.
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Anson, S., Shaw, D. and Brewster, C. 2013. Risk communication and social media: Are we ready?. Presented at: 11th ESA conference: Crisis, Critique and Change, Turin, Italy, 28-31 August 2013.
- Beneito-Montagut, R. and Begueria, A. 2013. Elderly, social media and social isolation. Presented at: Global Aging: Rising Challenges, UOC´s Education & Technology for Social Change Unesco Chair, Barcelona, Spain, 5-6 November 2013.
- Beneito-Montagut, R. 2013. Elderly and social media: Bridging the gap of eMarginality through social media. Presented at: 11th ESA Conference "Crisis, critique and change", Turin, 28 - 31 August 2013.
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Anson, S., Shaw, D. and Brewster, C. 2013. Governmental social media use for emergency communication. Presented at: 10th International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, Baden-Baden, 12-15 May 2013Proceedings of the 10th International ISCRAM Conference. Baden-Baden: pp. 828-833.
Monographs
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Begueria, A. and Cassián Yde, N. 2019. The practices of learning digital technologies in later life: What are they made up?. Working paper. Bremen: University of Bremen. Available at: https://www.uni-bremen.de/fileadmin/user_upload/fachbereiche/fb9/zemki/media/photos/publikationen/working-papers/2019/CoFi_EWP_No-30_Beneito-Montagut.pdf
- Roser, B., Duncan, S. and Christopher, B. 2013. Emergency management agencies use and adoption of Web 2.0.. Project Report. [Online]. Aston University: Aston University. Available at: http://www.disaster20.eu/final-outputs/
- Beneito-Montagut, R., Shaw, D. and Brewster, C. 2013. Disaster 2.0 case studies: Using web 2.0 applications and semantic technologies to strengthen public resilience to disasters. Project Report. [Online]. Birmingham: Aston University. Available at: http://www.disaster20.eu/final-outputs/
Research
My research is situated at the intersection of sociology, technology, and ageing studies. I am particularly interested in conducting research on how connectedness technologies co-shape social relationships among older adults.
I am currently developing two research agendas: (1) multisensory social connectedness and technological artefacts for disabilities, and (2) technologies for dementia.
I just finalised a research project (Wales Innovation Fund) that sought to collaboratively establish a foundational framework for understanding the complex landscape of assistive technology adoption among people living with dementia. By collaborating individuals directly experiencing dementia, and professionals from third-sector organizations, the project aimed to comprehensively map the nuanced needs, challenges, and barriers that diverse people living with dementia encounter when engaging with assistive technologies.
I have been PI and co-investigator in different institutions nationally and internationally (e.g. More Years Better Lives – The Joint Programming Initiative (JPI), Barcelona City Council, R&D&I-Spain, Wales Innovation Network Fund (WIN), GW4, Fundació LaCaixa/ACUP).
In parallel, I have developed sound expertise in digital research methods. My interest is in developing innovative digital, creative co-research methods and co-research with traditionally underrepresented groups of people in research.
Teaching
I am the co-convenor of the modules "Digital Society: Theory, Method and Data" and "Sociological Inquiries". I also teach in several other undergraduate and postgraduate modules of SOCSI and supervise UG, PGR and PhD students.
Biography
I am an interdisciplinary researcher advancing an innovative research agenda at the intersection of sociology, science and technology, and ageing studies. My unique academic journey has shaped my approach to social research. Beginning with a Fine Arts and Multimedia background, where my doctoral thesis examined digital social interactions in artwork through postmodern philosophical and sociological theories, I discovered my passion for studying human interactions in digital spaces. This shift was complemented by a BSc in Communication (UOC, Spain) with strong foundations in sociology and research methods, and an MRes in Sociology from the University of Bath
Honours and awards
PhD (Fine Arts), MRes (Sociology), MA (Multimedia), BA (Communication) and BA(Fine Arts).
Professional memberships
Founding member of the Socio-Gerontechnology Network
Affiliate of CareNet (IN3, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya), Barcelona
Affiliate of Adult Social Care Research Centre (Cardiff University)
Academic positions
Senior Lecturer in Multimedia at the School of Computing, Multimedia and Telecommunications at the Open University of Catalonia;
Research Fellow at Aston Business School, Aston University (2012-2013);
Lecturer in Digital Art and Sculpture at the Fine Arts Faculty at the Miguel Hernández University (1998-2006).
Committees and reviewing
Editorial Team Qualitative Research (Jan 2025 - )
NIHRCC - RPSC Technology Enabled Social Care Call Committee (2024-2025)
Supervisions
I am interested in supervising research on a range of topics such as:
- Relationships and affects online
- Older people and technology
- Mediated care practices and techno-care
- Digital sociology and digital social research
But I am always happy to consider any topic related with our "digital doings".
Current supervision
Contact Details
Beneito-MontagutR@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 29208 76124
Glamorgan Building, Floor Second Floor, Room 2.05, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3WA
+44 29208 76124
Glamorgan Building, Floor Second Floor, Room 2.05, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3WA