Dr. Matthias Hofer

Work at ZHAW

Position

Quality Management, Data Management, Accreditations, Coordination Doctoral Program

Experience

• Senior Research and Teaching Associate
  Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich
  10 / 2014 - 09 / 2022
• SNF Ambizione fellow
  Swiss National Science Foundation, Ambizione Grant (CHF 442’536.00)
  01 / 2018 - 12 / 2019
• Visiting Scholar
  Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Department of Communication Research
  04 / 2019 - 10 / 2019
• Early Postdoc (SNF) Visiting Scholar
  College of Communication, Arts, & Sciences at Michigan State University, SNF Early Postdoc Grant (CHF 92'000.00)
  05 / 2015 - 11 / 2016
• Research and Teaching Assistant
  Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich
  11 / 2008 - 12 / 2013
• Market Research Tamedia AG
  Tamedia AG
  09 / 2006 - 11 / 2008
• Teacher for German and Latin
  Progymnasium, Grenchen SO, Learning Forum Ambassador
  05 / 2002 - 04 / 2006

Education and Continuing education

Education

• PhD (summa cum laude) / Media Psychology
  University of Zurich
  10 / 2008 - 05 / 2014
• Master / Communication Science, Computational Linguistics, German Linguistics
  University of Zurich
  09 / 2002 - 10 / 2008

Network

Membership of networks

Google Scholar

ORCID digital identifier

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9256-7765

Awards

• Silver Award in Innovative Research on Aging
  Mathers Insititute
  02 / 2022
• Top faculty paper award
  International Communication Association, 70th Annual Meeting of the International Communication Association, Gold Coast, Australia, May 21-25, 2020
  05 / 2020
• Best paper award
  German Communication Association, 26th annual meeting of the Media Reception and Effects division of the German Communication Association, Hohenheim, Germany, January 25–27 2018
  01 / 2018
• Dissertation award
  Swiss Association of Communication and Media Research
  06 / 2014
• Top faculty paper award
  International Communication Association, Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA), Boston, MA, May 26-30 2011
  05 / 2011

Media presence

• „Ensemble“, Apr, 27, 2021, «Das Foyer-Gefühl lässt sich nicht digital reproduzieren»
• Swiss National Television (SRF) “Schweiz aktuell”, July 12, 2019: „St. Galler Polizei bekämpft Gaffer“ [Local police against bystanders]
• SkeptisCH January 2018; “Paradox des Alterns”
• „Terra cognita: Schweizer Zeitschrift zu Integration und Migration“, 26, 2015: „Bloggen, twittern, posten – neue Formen, dem Ärger Luft zu machen?“
• 20 Minuten, January 23, 2015: „Positive News sorgen für negative Gefühle
• Sonntagszeitung, October 26, 2014: „Wie uns das Kino den Kopf verdreht“
• Zeit.de, July 31. 2012: „Das Grauen in Pixeln“
• SRF Wissenschaftssendung „Einstein“ 23. Februar 2012: „Anatomie des Happy Ends“

Publications

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

• Tamborini, R. et al. (2024) 'Toward defining prosocial and antisocial media content in terms of intuitive motivations', Journal of Media Psychology, 36(4), pp. 256–270. doi: 10.1027/1864-1105/a000435.
• Hofer, M. et al. (2024) 'Daily TV use and meaning in life among older adults : the moderating role of selective and compensatory TV use', Mass Communication and Society, 27(5), pp. 1006–1027. doi: 10.1080/15205436.2022.2135447.
• Hofer, M. and Hargittai, E. (2024) 'Online social engagement, depression, and anxiety among older adults', New Media & Society, 26(1), pp. 113–130. doi: 10.1177/14614448211054377.

Publications before appointment at the ZHAW

• Hofer, M., Birrer, A., Eden, A., & Seifert, A. (2024). Daily TV Use and Meaning in Life Among Older Adults: The Moderating Role of Selective and Compensatory TV Use. Mass Communication and Society, 27(5), 1006–1027.
• Hartmann, T., & Hofer, M. (2022). I know it is not real (and that matters) media awareness vs. presence in a parallel processing account of the VR experience. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 3, 694048.
• Hofer, M., & Hargittai, E. (2021). Online social engagement, depression, and anxiety among older adults. New Media & Society
• Pfund, G., Allemand, M., & Hofer, M. (2021). Daily Social Interactions as a route to purposeful days in older adulthood. Innovation in Aging, 5(Supplement_1), 214–214.
• Pfund, G. N., Hofer, M., Allemand, M., & Hill, P. L. (2021). Being social may be purposeful in older adulthood: A measurement burst design. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Online first.
• Hofer, M., Hartmann, T., Eden, A., Ratan, R., & Hahn, L. (2020). The role of plausibility in the experience of spatial presence in virtual environments. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 1, 1–9.
• Hofer, M., Tamborini, R., & Ryffel, F. A. (2020). Between a rock and a hard place: The role of moral intuitions and social distance in determining moral judgments of an agent in a moral dilemma. Journal of Media Psychology, 1–10.
• Hofer, M., & Eden, A. (2020). Successful aging through television: Selective and compensatory television use and well-being. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 64, 131–149.
• Hofer, M. (2020). Aging and media use and preferences. In J. Van den Bulck, M. L. Mares, & D. Ewoldsen (Eds.) The International Encyclopedia of Media Psychology. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley
• Hofer, M. (2020). Process model of the formation of spatial presence. In J. Van den Bulck, M. L. Mares, & D. Ewoldsen (Eds.) The International Encyclopedia of Media Psychology. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
• Tamborini, R., Hahn, L., Aley, M., Prabhu, S., Baldwin, J., Sethi, N., Novotny, E., Klebig, B., & Hofer, M. (2020). The impact of terrorist attack news on moral intuitions. Communication Studies, 1–17.
• Hofer, M. (2020). A measurement burst study of media use and well-being among older adults: Challenging at best. In E. Hargittai (Ed.) Research Exposed: How empirical social science gets done in the digital age (pp. 224–244). Columbia University Press
• Hofer, M., Hargittai, E., Büchi, M., & Seifert, A. (2019). Older adults’ Internet use and subjective well-being: The moderating role of Internet skills. International Journal of Communication, 13, 4426–4443
• Weber, P., Mangold, F., Hofer, M., & Koch, T. (Eds.) (2019). Meinungsbildung in der Netzöffentlichkeit Aktuelle Studien zu Nachrichtennutzung, Meinungsaustausch und Meinungsbeeinflussung in Social Media [Attitude formation online. Recent research on news use, exchange of ideas, and attitude formation on social media]. Baden-Baden: Nomos.
• Hofer, M. (2019). „The feeling of being there“: Presence-Erleben als Folge kognitiver und emotionaler Verarbeitungsprozesse [„The feeling of being there“: Presence as an effect of emotional and cognitive processes] In: H. Schramm, J. Matthes, & C. Schemer (Eds.), Emotions Meet Cognitions. Zum Zusammenspiel von emotionalen und kognitiven Prozessen in der Medienrezeptions- und Medienwirkungsforschung [Emotions meet cognitions: On the interplay between emotional and cognitive processes in media effects research]. Baden-Baden: Nomos.
• Kühne, R., Baumgartner, S., Koch, T., & Hofer, M. (Eds.) (2018). Youth and Media: Current Perspectives on Media Use and Effects. Baden-Baden: Nomos.
• Tamborini, R., Novotny, E., Prabhu, S., Hofer, M., Grall, C., Klebig, G., Hahn, L., Slaker, J., Ratan, R., & Bente G. (2018). The effect of behavioral synchrony with black or white virtual agents on outgroup trust. Computers in Human Behavior, 83.
• Wilhelm, C., Podschuweit, N., Hofer, M., & Koch, T. (Eds.) (2018). Medienwahl. Aktuelle Konzepte, Befunde und methodische Zugänge [Media Choice. Recent concepts, findings, and methodological approaches]. Baden-Baden: Nomos
• Tamborini, R., Grall, C., Prabhu, S., Hofer, M., Novotny, E., Hahn, L., Klebig, B., Kryston, K., Baldwin, J., Aley, M., & Sethi, N. (2018). Using attribution theory to explain the affective dispositions of tireless moral monitors toward narrative characters. Journal of Communication, 68, 842–871.
• Hofer, M. & Rieger, D. (2018). On being happy through entertainment: Hedonic and non-hedonic entertainment experiences. In J. A. Muñiz Velázquez, & C. Pulido (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Positive Communication (pp. 120–128). Routledge.
• Seifert, A., Hofer, M., & Rössel, J. (2018). Older adults’ perceived sense of social exclusion from the digital world. Educational Gerontology, 44, 775–785.
• Seifert, A., Hofer, M., & Allemand, M. (2018). Mobile data collection: Smart, but not (yet) smart enough. Frontiers in Neuroscience, section Neural Technology, 12.
• Hahn, L., Tamborini, R., Klebig, B., Novotny, E., Grall, C., Hofer, M., & Lee, H. (2018). The representation of altruistic and egoistic motivations in popular music over 60 years. Communication Studies, 13, 1–20.
• Hofer, M., Hüsser, A., & Prabhu, S. (2017). The effect of an avatar’s emotional expressions on players’ fear reactions. Computers in Human Behavior, 75, 883–890.
• Hofer, M. (2017). Confoundation check. In J. Matthes, R. Potter, & C. S. Davis (Eds.), International Encyclopedia of Communication Research Methods. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. doi.org 10.1002/9781118901731.iecrm0039
• Rieger, D., & Hofer, M. (2017). How movies can ease the fear of death: The survival or death of the protagonists in meaningful movies. Mass Communication and Society, 18, 1–24.
• Tamborini, R., Hofer, M., Prabhu, S., Grall, C., Novotny, E. R., Hahn, L., & Klebig, B. (2017). The impact of terrorist attack news on moral intuitions and outgroup prejudice. Mass Communication and Society, 10, 1–25.
• Hofer, M. (2017). Mean centering. In J. Matthes, R. Potter, & C. S. Davis (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of Communication Research Methods. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
• Hofer, M., & Allemand, M. (2017). Dispositional and situational emotion regulation in younger and older adults. GeroPsych, 30, https://doi.org/109–118.
• Hofer, M. (2017). Responses to sad media/tragedy. In P. Rössler, C. A. Hoffner, & L. van Zoonen (Eds.), The International Encyclopedia of Media Effects (pp. 1731–1743). Hoboken, NJ, USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
• Hofer, M. (2016). [Review of the book Medienrezeptionsforschung [Media Reception Research], by H. Bilandzic, H. Schramm, & J. Matthes], Medien & Kommunikationswissenschaft
• Hofer, M. (2016). Der Einfluss von Faktualität und Fiktionalität auf Eudaimonisches Unterhaltungserleben – Die mediierende Rolle wahrgenommener Realität. [The influence of factuality and fictionality on eudaimonic entertainment experiences – The mediating role of perceived realism]. In. C. Wünsch, M. Czichon (Eds.), Reihe Rezeptionsforschung: Vol. 32. Rezeption und Wirkung Fiktionaler Medieninhalte (pp. 79–96). Baden-Baden: Nomos
• Hofer, M. (2016). Older adults' media use and well-being: Media as a resource in the process of successful aging. In L. Reinecke & M. B. Oliver (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Media Use and Well-being. International Perspectives on Theory and Research on Positive Media Effects (pp. 106–117). Routledge
• Hofer, M., Hüsser, A., & Brandao, P. (2016). „Schweigen ist Gold“ – Zum Einfluss von Avatar-Emotionen auf das Emotionserleben bei Computerspielen – Identifikation als Mediator. [„Silence is golden“ – The influence of avatar emotions on perceived emotions during computer game play – the mediating role of identification]. In. C. Wünsch, M. Czichon (Eds.), Reihe Rezeptionsforschung: Vol. 32. Rezeption und Wirkung Fiktionaler Medieninhalte (pp. 97–114). Baden-Baden: Nomos
• Hofer, M. (2016). Presence und Involvement. Baden-Baden: Nomos.
• Odağ, Ö., Hofer, M., Schneider, F. M., & Knop, K. (2016). Testing measurement equivalence of eudaimonic and hedonic entertainment motivations in a cross-cultural comparison. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 42. 108–125.
• Hofer, M., & Fahr, A. (2016). Apparative Messungen in der Werbewirkungsforschung. [Psychophysiological measurement in advertising research]. In G. Siegert, W. Wirth, P. Weber, & J. Lischka (Eds.), Handbuch Werbeforschung (pp. 573–592). Springer VS
• Hofer, M. (2016). [Review of the book Medienrezeptionsforschung [Media Reception Research], by H. Bilandzic, H. Schramm, & J. Matthes], Medien & Kommunikationswissenschaft
• Hofer, M., Burkhard, L., & Allemand, M. (2015). Age differences in emotion regulation during a distressing film scene. Journal of Media Psychology: Theories, Methods, and Applications, 27, 47–52.
• Hofer, M. (2015). The effects of light-hearted and serious entertainment on enjoyment of the first- and the third-person. Journal of Media Psychology: Theories, Methods, and Applications, 28, 42–48.
• Hofer, M., Allemand, M., & Martin, M. (2014). Age differences in non-hedonic entertainment experiences. Journal of Communication, 64, 61–81.
• Hofer, M., & Aubert, V. (2013). Perceived bridging and bonding social capital on Twitter: Differentiating between followers and followees. Computers in Human Behavior, 29, 2134–2142.
• Hofer, M. (2013). Appreciation and enjoyment of meaningful entertainment. Journal of Media Psychology: Theories, Methods, and Applications, 25, 109–117.
• Hofer, M., & Sommer, K. (2013). Seeing the others ... Der Einfluss von Kommentaren zu redaktionellen Inhalten auf den Third-Person-Effekt. [Seeing the others… The influence of user comments on news websites on the third-person effect]. In O. Jandura & A. Fahr (Eds.), Theorieanpassungen in der digitalen Medienwelt. (pp. 159-174). Baden-Baden: Nomos
• Hofer, M. (2013). Präsenzerleben und Transportation. [Presence and transportation]. In W. Schweiger & A. Fahr (Eds.), Handbuch Medienwirkungsforschung. (pp. 279-294). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften
• Fahr, A., & Hofer, M. (2013). Psychophysiologische Messmethoden. [Psychophysiological measurement]. In W. Möhring & D. Schlütz (Eds.), Handbuch standardisierte Erhebungsmethoden in der Kommunikationswissenschaft (pp. 347–365). [S.l.]: Vs Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften
• Hofer, M., Wirth, W., Kuehne, R., Schramm, H., & Sacau, A. (2012). Structural equation modeling of spatial presence: The influence of cognitive processes and traits. Media Psychology, 15, 373–395.
• Hofer, M. (2012). Zur Wirkung der Nutzung von Online-Medien auf das Sozialkapital. [The effect of using online media on social capital]. In L. Reinecke (Ed.), Unterhaltungsforschung: Vol. 7. Unterhaltung in neuen Medien. Perspektiven zur Rezeption und Wirkung von Online-Medien und interaktiven Unterhaltungsformaten (pp. 289–307). Köln: von Halem
• Wirth, W., Hofer, M., & Schramm, H. (2012). The role of emotional involvement and trait absorption in the formation of spatial presence. Media Psychology, 15, 19-43.
• Wirth, W., Hofer, M., & Schramm, H. (2012). Beyond pleasure: Exploring the eudaimonic entertainment experience. Human Communication Research, 38, 406–428.
• Schramm, H., Wirth, W. & Hofer, M. (2012). Genese und Modifikation von Emotionen bei der Rezeption von Musik. Eine appraisaltheoretische Modellierung [Genesis and modification of emotions during the reception of music. An appraisal theoretical model]. Musikpsychologie, 22, 123-142
• Hofer, M., & Wirth, W. (2012). It's right to be sad: The role of meta-appraisals in the sad film paradoxon. A multiple mediator model. Journal of Media Psychology: Theories, Methods, and Applications, 24. 43-54.
• Hofer, M. (2011). Mitfühlende Rezeption: Der Einfluss von Empathiefähigkeit auf Emotionen und Empathie bei der Rezeption eines traurigen Zeichentrickfilms. [The influence of dispositional empathy on emotions and empathy during the reception of a sad anime movie]. M & K, 59, 324-344
• Hofer, M. & Wirth, W. (2011). Supplanting oder Supplementing? Der Einfluss von Chat-Kommunikation und das Sozialkapital der Nutzer. [Supplanting or supplementing? The influence of chat communication on social capital]. In M. Hartmann & J. Wimmer (Eds.), Digital technologies revisited (pp. 112-137). Opladen: Leske + Budrich
• Schramm, H., & Hofer, M. (2008). Musikbasierte Radioformate. [Music-based radio formats]. In H. Schramm (Ed.), Musik im Radio. Rahmenbedingungen, Konzeption, Gestaltung (pp. 113–134). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften / GWV Fachverlage GmbH Wiesbaden
• Wirth, W & Hofer, M. (2008). Präsenzerleben. Eine medienpsychologische Modellierung. [Presence: A media psychological perspective]. Montage AV, 17, 159–176.

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