Research Students

(1) neurobiological mechanisms underlying cognitive functions,
(2) neuromodulation

CHEN Xueli is a Joint PhD candidate with a concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience. CHEN Xueli focuses on the following two research topics: (1) using electroencephalography (EEG) to explore the neural mechanisms underlying various cognitive functions (e.g., working memory, self-control); (2) utilizing non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques, such as transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial alternating-current stimulation (tACS), to modulate neural activity and cognitive functions. In addition, she also seeks to develop new stimulation techniques. She and her colleagues have developed a closed-loop real-time phase-locking tACS system to improve the reliability of tACS effects. In future, she wants to get expertise in the field of neuromodulation for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Workplace Bullying in Hong Kong — An Exploratory Study on the Cultural and Organizational Influences on its prevalence: Implications towards a Confucius Asian context

Elaine is a research student currently under the supervision of Professor Dennis Wong, at the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong. She obtained her Bachelor of Science (Psychology)/Bachelor of Arts (English) double degree from the University of New South Wales, Australia; and her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing in English from the University of Hong Kong; and Master of Social Sciences in Counselling from the City University of Hong Kong. Her research interests are bullying and workplace violence, as well as mental wellbeing. Her current research is an exploratory study on the cultural and organizational influences on the emergence and continuation of workplace bullying in Hong Kong.

A Mixed-Methods Approach to Couple Resilience in Chinese HIV Serodiscordant Same-Sex Male Couples

Ms. FU Rong’s research in Health Psychology at the City University of Hong Kong focuses distinctly on the resilience and health dynamics in HIV serodiscordant same-sex male couples in China. Her application of mixed methods allows her to delve deeply into these complex topics from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives, enriching the academic discourse in health psychology.

With her extensive background in community engagement and HIV prevention, Ms. FU’s research is not only academically rigorous but also grounded in real-world applicability. Her significant contribution as first author in four SCI-indexed journal articles reflects her passion for exploring underrepresented areas in health psychology, particularly LGBT health, women’s health, and the nuances of stigma and intersectionality in healthcare.

As an ad hoc reviewer for notable journals like AIDS and Behavior, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and BMC Infectious Disease, Ms. FU stays abreast of current research trends, which informs and enriches her own work. Her commitment to her field is evidenced by her continuous engagement with the academic community and her pursuit of research that bridges the gap between theoretical understanding and practical health interventions.

Social Inequality, Stratification, and Mobility;
Social Class;
Political Attitudes;
Urban Studies;
Quantitative Research

Ms. GU is currently in the final stage of her Ph.D. journey in the Applied Sociology Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences at the City University of Hong Kong.

Her research focuses on social inequality and social class. Her current working papers focus on stratified consequences, including mental health, political attitudes, and lifestyles. She is experienced in using quantitative methods.

Her publications can be seen in Chinese Sociological Review, Chinese Journal of Sociology, International Journal of Intercultural Relations, etc. Besides, she has several large survey experiences conducted in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc.

She is a confident teacher in classroom and able to transform complex information to the audience. Her teaching experience includes Basic Sociology, Research Methods in Social Science, Complex Organization, etc.

She is now searching for job opportunities in sociology, social policy, public administration, etc. Any interests or communication can be contacted through email.

Guan Xin’s doctoral research focuses on the concept of restrictive deterrence in drug trafficking activities. Specifically, she has been investigating the deterrent effect of drug offenses in Mainland China, with an emphasis on understanding the structure of crime strategies and their impact on the deterrent effect. Through her research, she has developed a dedicated scale for measuring the perceived efficacy of crime strategies, tailored specifically to drug offenses. This research involved conducting questionnaire surveys and applying statistical modelling and analysis techniques.

Guan Xin is an scholar with a academic research in the field of restrictive deterrence. With four published papers to her credit—three of which list Guan Xin as the first author—she has made contributions to the field. Additionally, Guan Xin is actively pursuing her research area and currently has two papers in progress, both related to restrictive deterrence.

Adept in the intricacies of data acquisition, cleaning, and analysis, Guan Xin's technical proficiency spans several programming languages, notably R and Python. Her expertise extends to the customization of R packages, web scraping, and the application of sophisticated natural language processing techniques, all of which have been instrumental in advancing her research endeavors.

Guan Xin has also applied her analytical skills to a range of social science research projects. Her role in these projects has been multifaceted, encompassing data analysis, literature review, and the synthesis of results. These projects have addressed a spectrum of societal issues, including the psychology of drug abuse, the dynamics of prisoner violence, youth development, the provision of caregiver support, career facilitation for minority groups, and the optimization of online education systems.

In reflecting on her personal attributes, Guan Xin is best characterized by her analytical nature, disciplined work ethic, and unwavering determination. These qualities have been honed throughout her academic career and inform her meticulous approach to research and life.

Guan Xin's diverse academic background and notable research achievements underscore her adaptability, resilience, and commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry.

Mental Health, Emotion Regulation, Resilience-Based Intervention

Hu Jinghan is a fifth-year PhD candidate in psychology, expected to graduate in the summer of 2024. Her research focuses on the positive psychological adaptation of newly arrived mother–child dyads from the Chinese mainland to Hong Kong, examining the intergenerational interaction of resilience between newly arrived mothers and their children. She specializes in designing various psychological interventions based on different theoretical models, such as resilience-based and emotion regulation-based interventions. Her research evaluates the effectiveness of psychological interventions, investigates intervention mechanisms, and identify the target populations for which the interventions are effective.

A grounded theory study into coping and well-being among heterosexual male victims of intimate partner violence

Stanley is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong. His research focus includes health psychology, family violence, child abuse and protection, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), youth and men's health, migrant well-being, public health, and social work. His doctoral thesis focuses on intimate partner violence against men using grounded theory methodology. In his research, he often uses qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods.

Stanley has published about eleven decent papers in top journals and is open to collaborations in these areas. He has also served as reviewer for notable journals as well as engaged in several community volunteering work. Stanley has also attended about two international conferences over the course of the PhD study.

As Stanley is expected to graduate in August, he is open to postdoctoral and faculty positions. Stanley has three years of teaching undergraduate courses like “youth in a changing society” with topics like cyberbullying, social media and online gaming addiction, online dating, labelling and deviant behaviors, NEET youths, volunteerism and civic responsibility, changing sexual practices among others. and four years combined of other departmental duties like grading, supervision, and lab duties.

Social indicators & psychometrics
Positive youth development & Positive education.
Mental health: suicide, anxiety, depression
Problematic interactive social media use

Since 2020, Yumei Li has been pursuing a Ph.D. in Social Work and Positive Psychology at City University of Hong Kong. She holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Sociology with a specialization in Social Psychology from Wuhan University. Her research focuses on assessment-based behavioral and psychological domains, including psychological measurement, mental health issues (such as depression, anxiety, suicide), problematic interactive media use behavior, and positive youth development.

Skilled in various quantitative analysis methods, Li endeavours to reveal potential developmental mechanisms across diverse psychological and behavioral domains. Her goal is to design and implement evidence-based intervention programs at both individual and systemic levels, with a specific emphasis on helping people, particularly children and adolescents, reduce psychological distress and behavioral problems, promoting well-being.

As of December 2023, Yumei Li has served as the lead/corresponding author for 7 papers published in high-impact international refereed journals, collaborated as the co-first author on 2 papers, and contributed as a co-author to 9 papers. Additionally, she has served as a reviewer for 13 SSCI journals and actively participated in 6 international academic conferences.

Organizational behavior
Organizational citizenship
Organizational management

I got a master's degree in economics from CityU and later had two RA experiences. Now studying for a PhD at CityU, my main research interests revolve around organizational studies and family economics.

My research interests encompass aging and social gerontology, particularly focusing on the dyadic relationship between grandparents and parents in their caregiving role for grandchildren within a Chinese cultural context. I have engaged in research on stroke patients' recovery, wisdom in older individuals, narrative therapy, and metaphor development, etc. Additionally, I am interested in exploring areas such as dementia and aging-related technology.

I am Liao Xu, a final-year doctoral student in Social Work in the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences at the City University of Hong Kong. My academic journey has been driven by a profound curiosity for analyzing social issues and phenomena, along with a strong passion for contributing to the helping profession.

As an undergraduate at Central China Normal University, I chose sociology as my major to delve into relevant theories. Upon graduation I pursued a Master of Social Work at Columbia University. As a licensed social worker, I gained valuable experience in diverse settings, such as a care manager for older individuals in long-term healthcare system. This experience solidified my research interests in social gerontology, family dynamics, and the intersection of assistive technologies with aging populations, etc.

My current career goal is to find opportunities to advance research in these areas while further honing my skills in both research and teaching. I describe myself as a curious and self-driven individual, a quick learner, and a dedicated team player. If you have any further questions about my background or research, please feel free to email me at xuliao2-c@my.cityu.edu.hk.

Narrative communication
Narrative co-construction
Healthcare communication
Shared decision making
Organizational communication
Leadership
Medical Sociology
Power and agency

Weiwei Lu is a passionate narrative practitioner and therapist. After she graduated from the master's program of narrative therapy and community work at the University of Melbourne, she joined the social and behavioural sciences department to continue her theoretical investigation in narrative research in the context of communication.

Her Ph.D. thesis investigates the interplays among narrative, power, and agency in transformative communications from a relational perspective. Her empirical research lands on narrative communication, healthcare communication, and organizational communication. Her thesis aims to develop a narrative-based model of shared decision making on cancer treatment.

She has presented her research projects in diverse international conferences on communication in healthcare and organization (ICCH, COMET, ISDM, ABC, ICA) and received extensive acknowledgements. She is currently a committee member of early career researchers’ group in the International Shared Decision Making Society (ISDMS). She is also co-chairing the Asia Network of Shared Decision Making research (https://www.isdmsociety.org/special-interest-groups-asia-network/).

legitimacy, legal consciousness, legal mobilization, legal socialization, social capital

My research interests revolve around criminology and legal sociology, with a specific focus on utilizing diverse methods and theories to examine legal socialization. I am particularly enthusiastic about applying theories from these fields to investigate and enhance the criminal justice system and the broader legal system. I am familiar with a broad range of research methods, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches.

For my PhD thesis, I am studying Identity Theft in College Admission, which represents the first empirical study of this crucial offense. My research explores the perspectives of both offenders (their modus operandi) and victims (their pursuit of legal recourse and compensation).

I hold an M.A. in sociology of education from Teachers College, Columbia University and a B.A. degree in education from Beijing Normal University.

Family Studies; Gender Inequality; Social Stratification

2020-, City University of Hong Kong, Applied Sociology

2016-2017, New York University, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

2012-2016, Nanjing Normal University, Sociology

Currently, Xu Chi focuses on the evolvement of family intergenerational relationship and its consequences on gender (in)equality and social stratification.

Social Enterprise
People with Disabilities
Workplace Inclusion
CSR/ESG/D&I

My PhD research focuses on the role of work integration social enterprises (WISEs) in fostering workplace inclusion for employees with disabilities. Throughout my academic journey, I have gained extensive experience in qualitative research methods (such as interview and ethnographic participant observation) and have developed proficiency in utilizing NVivo for thematic analysis. I have also participated in various projects using quantitative methods and am familiar with SPSS. With a firm belief in the principle of "leave no one behind," I am committed to making a positive difference in the lives of people with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups. By combining my academic pursuits and real-world experience, I aim to collaborate with like-minded individuals and organizations to create inclusive and sustainable society.

Practical and Theoretical Exploration of Using Filmmaking as A Therapeutic Intervention to Reduce Aggression in Children and Adolescents.

I am a psychological counselor and scientific researcher. I am equipped with extensive training in psychological counseling, spanning individual and family counseling, dedicated to aiding individuals grappling with psychological distress. Simultaneously, I channel my attention and skills into scientific research, focusing on the mental health and psychological development of children, adolescents, and young adults. My research contributions encompass the publication of several SSCI papers and authorship of chapters in relevant books. In addition, I have been an anonymous reviewer for several journals, including the Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, Current Psychology, and BMC Psychiatry. My doctoral thesis delves into a practical and theoretical study of employing filmmaking to mitigate aggression in children and adolescents. The comprehensive study, spanning over three years, presents an aggression-reducing intervention applicable in educational institutions, communities, and institutions catering to young people with aggressive issues. My commitment remains steadfast in supporting the vulnerable group in life.