Email: yanliu10@illinois.edu
Cohort: 2021
Research Interests
Anna’s research lies at the intersection of strategic communication, data and emerging data-driven technologies (algorithms and AI), consumer behaviors, and media sociology.
She takes a behavioral approach to study data and data-driven technologies (algorithms and AI) in message design and media exposure for consumer empowerment and societal good. Specifically, she studies people’s perceptions and behaviors surrounding data and data-driven technologies, focusing on three key questions: (1) how NGOs and brands ethically and effectively communicate data in message design to persuade consumer pro-social behaviors and promote consumer protection, (2) how people understand and strategically engage with algorithms to influence media exposure and public visibility on digital platforms, and (3) how AI biases, and people’s understanding of these biases, shape the influence of AI-generated content on people’s perceptions and behaviors.
Anna employs a mixed-method approach, using computational methods (e.g., engagement metrics, sentiment analysis, topic modeling, computational visual analysis), traditional quantitative (e.g., experiment, survey, content analysis), and qualitative methods (e.g., interview, netnography) in her research.
Anna’s research interest and teaching philosophy are informed by her 5 years of professional experience in Ipsos, a global marketing and consumer research company. Before joining ICR, Anna was a Senior Research Manager at Ipsos, where she conducted research on brands, advertising, media, products, and consumers using a various methods, including survey, experiment, content analysis, focus group, in-depth interview, observation, home visit, shop-along, consumer diary, eye-tracking, social media analytics, etc.
Anna earned a B.A. in journalism from Renmin University of China and an M.S.S.c. in advertising from Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Recent Publications/Presentations
Liu, A. Y. (In press). Ephemeral Visibility and Externally Visible Production: How Algorithmic Automation Accelerates Fans’ Data Work. New Media & Society.
Liu, A. Y., Ji, A. R., Taneja, H. & Nelson, M. R. (2025). Stakeholder-Desired Audiences: Fans’ Audience Data Imaginaries and How They Shape Industry Data Practices. Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies.
Liu, A. Y., & Taneja, H. (2025). Visibility of K-pop in the US: Global Rankings, ‘Audience Mis-aggregation’, and Mainstream Attention to Niche Genre. Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies.
Liu, A. Y. (2025, Jun 12-16). Context Matters: Exploring Consumers’ Sense-Making of Online Ratings in the Social Context. International Communication Association (ICA) Annual Conference, Denver, United States.
Gong, Z., Chen, T., Liu, A. Y., Xuan, J., & Su, L. Y. F. (2025, March 6-9). Navigating Consumer Acceptance of Cultured Meat: An Exploratory Narrative Review of Communication Strategies. American Academy of Advertising (AAA) Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, United States.
Courses Taught
- ADV 284: Consumer Insight (Teaching Assistant)
- ADV 281: Advertising Research Method (Instructor of Record)
- ADV 250: Advertising and Brand Strategy (Teaching Assistant)
- ADV 150: Introduction to Advertising (Teaching Assistant)
- MACS 100: Introduction to Popular TV & Movies (Teaching Assistant)
Awards and Honors
- James Webb Young Grad Research Award, Department of Advertising, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Bart A. Cummings Advertising Gift Fund (Research fund for dissertation), Department of Advertising, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Petullo Fellowship, Department of Advertising, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- James Webb Young Travel Fund, Department of Advertising, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- MusicID 2024 Digital Research Fellowship