![Shujun Liu PhD](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/7404?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Shujun Liu
(she/her)
PhD
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Shujun Liu
Research Associate, School Health Research Network, DECIPHer
Overview
I am a Research Associate in the School of Social Sciences and a member of the Centre for Development, Evaluation, Complexity and Implementation in Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer), where I work on the School Health Research Network (SHRN). My current research focuses on children’s digital media use and media literacy, and their relationships with health and wellbeing.
I completed my PhD in Communication at Tsinghua University in 2022. My doctoral research examined cross-national news coverage and the effects of media surrounding major international events. I subsequently worked on the ESRC-funded project Understanding Society: Linking Twitter with Survey Data, investigating online behaviour and its associated factors while contributing to methodological innovation in linking social media and survey data. Since then, I have developed a particular interest in children’s digital behaviour and wellbeing, particularly within household contexts.
My work draws on a broad range of quantitative methods, including survey, content analysis, online experiments and computational approaches. These include supervised and unsupervised machine learning, large language models and other AI-assisted methods. I also use advanced statistical techniques, including multilevel modelling, latent growth modelling and cross-lagged panel models.
Publication
2026
- Liu, S. and Downey, J. 2026. The return of resource nationalism? A multilingual topic analysis of news coverage on critical minerals across 16 countries (2015 – 2025). The Extractive Industries and Society 27 101959. (10.1016/j.exis.2026.101959)
- Liu, S. , Wang, H. and Yu, Z. 2026. Moving to campus: Examining motivations and outcomes for Chinese journalists transitioning to Higher Education. Journalism 27 (8), pp.2511-2530. (10.1177/14648849251365114)
- Liu, S. et al. 2026. Distracted parenting: Examining the implications of parental smartphone engagement on child wellbeing. Journal of Child and Family Studies (10.1007/s10826-026-03348-4)
- Boukes, M. , Lock, I. and Liu, S. 2026. Fifty years of diversity in Communication and Media Studies (1974–2023): the intertwined trends in geographic, gender, and methodological representation. Communication Research (10.1177/00936502261454813)
- Liu, S. 2026. Thomas Julian, Wilken Rowan and Rennie Ellie, Wi-Fi [Book Review]. Mobile Media & Communication 14 (2), pp.476-477. (10.1177/20501579251370445)
- Kuang, K. , Liu, S. and Chen, R. 2026. Mental health communication among sexual and gender minority groups in China: a longitudinal investigation of help-seeking intentions and behaviors. Health Communication (10.1080/10410236.2026.2670547)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2026. Policy on the move: active travel to school among 7–16-year-olds in Wales and its links to school policy and socio-demographic factors. BMC Public Health 26 1298. (10.1186/s12889-026-26995-0)
- Liu, S. and Kuang, K. 2026. Climate race or collaboration? Effects of strategy framing on trust in government, nationalist sentiments, and climate action intention in international politics. Journalism 27 (1), pp.143-162. (10.1177/14648849241285508)
2025
- Liu, S. et al. 2025. Learner health and well-being in Wales: Key findings from the SHRN Student Health and Wellbeing Survey in primary schools 2024. Project Report.The School Health Research Network.
- Che, S. et al., 2025. Communicating climate change to young adults in China: examining predictors of user engagement on Chinese social media. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management 17 (1), pp.547-572. (10.1108/IJCCSM-09-2024-0151)
- Liu, S. et al. 2025. Linking survey with Twitter data: Examining associations among smartphone usage, privacy concern and Twitter linkage consent. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 28 (1), pp.71-85. (10.1080/13645579.2023.2299482)
2024
- Liu, S. 2024. Personalization of Trump and Xi in the U.S.-China trade conflict news: Comparison between the U.S. and China. International Communication Gazette 86 (8), pp.672-692. (10.1177/17480485231206364)
- Page, N. et al. 2024. Data Resource Profile: The School Health Research Network (SHRN) Student Health and Well-being (SHW) survey of 11-16-year-olds (2017-2023). International Journal of Epidemiology 53 (6) dyae161. (10.1093/ije/dyae161)
- Al Baghal, T. et al., 2024. Linking survey and LinkedIn data: Understanding usage and consent patterns. Journal of Survey Statistics and Methodology 12 (5), pp.1200-1211. smae029. (10.1093/jssam/smae029)
- Liu, S. and Kai, K. 2024. The role of emotions in climate change communication: Examining the effects of strategy and issue framing on emotional responses and online climate action intentions. Current Psychology 43 , pp.27070-27083. (10.1007/s12144-024-06346-1)
- Liu, S. 2024. Building network agenda in China-U.S. trade conflict news: Transnational comparative study across China, the United States, Singapore and Ireland. Newspaper Research Journal 45 (2), pp.134-156. (10.1177/07395329231221519)
- Liu, S. et al. 2024. Understanding Twitter usage through linked data: An analysis of motivations and online behavior. Presented at: 2nd Digital Footprints Conference: Linking Digital Data for Social Impact Bristol, UK 8 - 9 May 2024. Vol. 9.Vol. 4. Swansea University. (10.23889/ijpds.v9i4.2418)
- Che, S. , Kuang, K. and Liu, S. 2024. Climate agenda-setting for Chinese youth by Chinese non-governmental organizations: a case study of Chinese weather enthusiasts on Bilibili. Weather, Climate, and Society (10.1175/WCAS-D-23-0131.1)
- Liu, S. et al. 2024. Examining household effects on individual Twitter adoption: A multilevel analysis based on U.K. household survey data. PLoS ONE 19 (1) e0297036. (10.1371/journal.pone.0297036)
2023
- Liu, S. , Boukes, M. and De Swert, K. 2023. Strategy framing in the international arena: A cross-national comparative content analysis on the China-US trade conflict coverage. Journalism 24 (5), pp.976-998. (10.1177/14648849211052438)
- Liu, S. and Boukes, M. 2023. Strategy framing of international conflicts. In: Zhang, S. I. and Peng, A. Y. eds. China, Media, and International Conflicts. Communicating China Routledge. , pp.9-27. (10.4324/9781003261278-2)
2022
- Guo, J. and Liu, S. 2022. From #blacklivesmatter to #stopasianhate: examining network agenda-setting effects of hashtag activism on twitter. Social Media + Society 8 (4)(10.1177/20563051221146182)
- Liu, S. , Sloan, L. and Williams, M. 2022. Exploring the association among different types of Twitter activity, loneliness level, and life satisfaction. Presented at: EMERGE 2022: International Conference on Digital Society Now 16 December 2022. Published in: Mevorah, V. , Guga, J. and Markov, Č. eds. EMERGE 2022: Digital Society Now. Belgrade: Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade.
Articles
- Liu, S. and Downey, J. 2026. The return of resource nationalism? A multilingual topic analysis of news coverage on critical minerals across 16 countries (2015 – 2025). The Extractive Industries and Society 27 101959. (10.1016/j.exis.2026.101959)
- Liu, S. , Wang, H. and Yu, Z. 2026. Moving to campus: Examining motivations and outcomes for Chinese journalists transitioning to Higher Education. Journalism 27 (8), pp.2511-2530. (10.1177/14648849251365114)
- Liu, S. et al. 2026. Distracted parenting: Examining the implications of parental smartphone engagement on child wellbeing. Journal of Child and Family Studies (10.1007/s10826-026-03348-4)
- Boukes, M. , Lock, I. and Liu, S. 2026. Fifty years of diversity in Communication and Media Studies (1974–2023): the intertwined trends in geographic, gender, and methodological representation. Communication Research (10.1177/00936502261454813)
- Liu, S. 2026. Thomas Julian, Wilken Rowan and Rennie Ellie, Wi-Fi [Book Review]. Mobile Media & Communication 14 (2), pp.476-477. (10.1177/20501579251370445)
- Kuang, K. , Liu, S. and Chen, R. 2026. Mental health communication among sexual and gender minority groups in China: a longitudinal investigation of help-seeking intentions and behaviors. Health Communication (10.1080/10410236.2026.2670547)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2026. Policy on the move: active travel to school among 7–16-year-olds in Wales and its links to school policy and socio-demographic factors. BMC Public Health 26 1298. (10.1186/s12889-026-26995-0)
- Liu, S. and Kuang, K. 2026. Climate race or collaboration? Effects of strategy framing on trust in government, nationalist sentiments, and climate action intention in international politics. Journalism 27 (1), pp.143-162. (10.1177/14648849241285508)
- Che, S. et al., 2025. Communicating climate change to young adults in China: examining predictors of user engagement on Chinese social media. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management 17 (1), pp.547-572. (10.1108/IJCCSM-09-2024-0151)
- Liu, S. et al. 2025. Linking survey with Twitter data: Examining associations among smartphone usage, privacy concern and Twitter linkage consent. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 28 (1), pp.71-85. (10.1080/13645579.2023.2299482)
- Liu, S. 2024. Personalization of Trump and Xi in the U.S.-China trade conflict news: Comparison between the U.S. and China. International Communication Gazette 86 (8), pp.672-692. (10.1177/17480485231206364)
- Page, N. et al. 2024. Data Resource Profile: The School Health Research Network (SHRN) Student Health and Well-being (SHW) survey of 11-16-year-olds (2017-2023). International Journal of Epidemiology 53 (6) dyae161. (10.1093/ije/dyae161)
- Al Baghal, T. et al., 2024. Linking survey and LinkedIn data: Understanding usage and consent patterns. Journal of Survey Statistics and Methodology 12 (5), pp.1200-1211. smae029. (10.1093/jssam/smae029)
- Liu, S. and Kai, K. 2024. The role of emotions in climate change communication: Examining the effects of strategy and issue framing on emotional responses and online climate action intentions. Current Psychology 43 , pp.27070-27083. (10.1007/s12144-024-06346-1)
- Liu, S. 2024. Building network agenda in China-U.S. trade conflict news: Transnational comparative study across China, the United States, Singapore and Ireland. Newspaper Research Journal 45 (2), pp.134-156. (10.1177/07395329231221519)
- Che, S. , Kuang, K. and Liu, S. 2024. Climate agenda-setting for Chinese youth by Chinese non-governmental organizations: a case study of Chinese weather enthusiasts on Bilibili. Weather, Climate, and Society (10.1175/WCAS-D-23-0131.1)
- Liu, S. et al. 2024. Examining household effects on individual Twitter adoption: A multilevel analysis based on U.K. household survey data. PLoS ONE 19 (1) e0297036. (10.1371/journal.pone.0297036)
- Liu, S. , Boukes, M. and De Swert, K. 2023. Strategy framing in the international arena: A cross-national comparative content analysis on the China-US trade conflict coverage. Journalism 24 (5), pp.976-998. (10.1177/14648849211052438)
- Guo, J. and Liu, S. 2022. From #blacklivesmatter to #stopasianhate: examining network agenda-setting effects of hashtag activism on twitter. Social Media + Society 8 (4)(10.1177/20563051221146182)
Book sections
- Liu, S. and Boukes, M. 2023. Strategy framing of international conflicts. In: Zhang, S. I. and Peng, A. Y. eds. China, Media, and International Conflicts. Communicating China Routledge. , pp.9-27. (10.4324/9781003261278-2)
Conferences
- Liu, S. et al. 2024. Understanding Twitter usage through linked data: An analysis of motivations and online behavior. Presented at: 2nd Digital Footprints Conference: Linking Digital Data for Social Impact Bristol, UK 8 - 9 May 2024. Vol. 9.Vol. 4. Swansea University. (10.23889/ijpds.v9i4.2418)
- Liu, S. , Sloan, L. and Williams, M. 2022. Exploring the association among different types of Twitter activity, loneliness level, and life satisfaction. Presented at: EMERGE 2022: International Conference on Digital Society Now 16 December 2022. Published in: Mevorah, V. , Guga, J. and Markov, Č. eds. EMERGE 2022: Digital Society Now. Belgrade: Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade.
Monographs
- Liu, S. et al. 2025. Learner health and well-being in Wales: Key findings from the SHRN Student Health and Wellbeing Survey in primary schools 2024. Project Report.The School Health Research Network.
Teaching
I have contributed to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching at Tsinghua University and Cardiff University through lectures, seminar facilitation, assessment and academic guidance. My teaching spans communication, digital media, journalism, public speaking, risk communication and wider social issues. I have also developed digital teaching materials for SAGE Research Methods, including the video Strategy Versus Issue Framing in Survey Research.
Biography
Education and qualifications:
- 2022 PhD in Political Communication, Tsinghua University
- 2013 MA in Journalism, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- 2012 BA in Sport Journalism, Beijing Sport University
Career overview:
- 2024 - present Research Associate, DECIPHer, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
- 2022 - 2024 Research Associate, ESRC project "Understanding Society: Linking Twitter Data with Survey Data", School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
- 2019 - 2020 Visiting scholar , School of Communication, University of Amsterdam
Honours and awards
- GW4 Crucible 2025: Leadership development programme
- Chinese National Scholarship
- Tsinghua Scholarship for Overseas Graduate Studies
Professional memberships
- International Communication Association (ICA)
- International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR)
- National Communication Association (NCA)
Speaking engagements
- Shujun Liu and Kai Kuang (November 16). Negative or positive toward China-U.S. climate policy: Examining the effect of strategy and issue framing on emotional responses and online climate actions. 109th Annual Convention of National Communication Association (NCA).
- Shujun Liu, Luke Sloan, Matthew Williams, Tarek Al Baghal, Curtis Jessop, Paulo Serodio (July 19). Linking twitter and survey data: Examining the association among mobile technology use, privacy concern and twitter consent. 2023 Annual Conference of European Survey Research Association (ESRA).
- Shujun Liu, Luke Sloan, Matthew Williams, Tarek Al Baghal, Curtis Jessop, Paulo Serodio (June 2023). Antecedents of twitter adoption: Examining associations among household economic capital, mobile technology use and twitter adoption. 73rd Annual Conference of International Communication Association (ICA).
- Shujun Liu and Kai Kuang (June 2023). Examining the effects of international-level strategy framing on cynicism and nationalist sentiments in climate change context. 73rd Annual Conference of International Communication Association (ICA).
- Shujun Liu and Kai Kuang (June, 2023). Examining the Effects of National-Level Strategy Framing in Climate Communication. 2023 Annual Conference of International Environmental Communication Association (IECA).
- Shujun Liu, Luke Sloan, Matthew Williams, Tarek Al Baghal, Curtis Jessop, Paulo Serodio (Dec 2022). Does social media make you lonely: Exploring the association among different types of activity on twitter, mental health and life satisfaction. EMERGE2022: Forum on the Future of AI Driven Humanity & International Conference Digital Society.
- Shujun Liu (May 2022). Beyond conflicting words: Analysis of China’s propaganda cartoon on China-US relationship. 72nd Annual Conference of International Communication Association (ICA).
- Shujun Liu and Jing Guo (May 2022). Hatred against Hatred: Analysis of Incivility on Twitter during BlackLivesMatter Movement. 72nd Annual Conference of International Communication Association (ICA).
- Shujun Liu (May 2022). Network agenda setting in China-US trade conflict news: A comparative study across China, the US, Singapore and Ireland. 72nd Annual Conference of International Communication Association (ICA).
- Shujun Liu and Jacqueline Tizora (July 2021). The research on media image of Xi and Trump. 2021 annual conference of International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR).
- Shujun Liu, Mark Boukes and Knut De Swert (May 2021). Strategy framing in the international arena: Cross-national comparative content analysis on China-US trade conflict coverage. 71st Annual Conference of International Communication Association (ICA).
- Shujun Liu and Mark Boukes (May 2021). Determining news portrayal of economic consequence: Cross-national comparative content analysis on China-US trade conflict news. 71st Annual Conference of International Communication Association (ICA).
- Shujun Liu (May 2021). Personalization of Xi and Trump in China-US trade conflict news: A cross-national comparative content analysis. 2021 Doctoral Colloquium of International Communication Association (ICA).
