David Zendle, Lecturer, Department of Computer Science
email: david.zendle@york.ac.uk
Our 60-second interview with David:
Could you please tell us what work you do in the field of mental health?
I build data infrastructure that allows researchers to measure digital behaviour - for example, tools for remotely recording how much screen time an individual has had over a long period of time, and what they have been watching. I also use this infrastructure to build policy-relevant evidence regarding the wellbeing impacts of technology use, primarily in the domain of video games.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring in this work?
When we have better tools for creating data, we can do better science - research that we can be more confident in, and that we can begin to apply in practical domains (e.g. policy and regulation). I really enjoy helping to unlock this potential in the work of my colleagues and mentees.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of this work?
Understanding the new research questions that we can ask when we have access to reliable and large-scale behavioural data can be challenging. In my early career I exclusively made use of self-report data, so hybridising my methods to deal with new (and better) data has required extensive ongoing learning, which has been humbling and difficult.
What impact do you hope your work is having - or can potentially have?
I hope that my work helps politicians, parents, gamers, clinicians to be a bit more confident about what technology is doing to the health of the people they care about.
Could you share with us one piece of advice that you follow for your own mental health?
Spend most of the time with the people you love.