About

Dr. Jessica Taylor Piotrowski (Ph.D, 2010, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania) is an Associate Professor in the Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). She is the Director of the Center for research on Children, Adolescents, and the Media (CcaM), the Program Group Leader for Youth & Media Entertainment at ASCoR, and the Program Director for the Master’s Degree Entertainment Communication at the Graduate School of Communication at UvA. She is also the incoming Chair of the Children, Adolescents, and the Media division of the International Communication Association.

Dr. Piotrowski’s research investigates how children process and comprehend media content, with specific attention to the potential cognitive and socio-emotional benefits of media. She is currently a co-investigator on the project, The Entertainization of Childhood, where she is investigating the longitudinal outcomes associated with healthy media use on children’s development. She is also co-supervising a doctoral program looking at the educational potential of apps for young children. In her scholarship, she is particularly focused on understanding how young users process media content (cognitively, affectively, and physiologically) and the role of individual differences (dispositional, developmental, and social) in the selection and processing of media content.

Prior to joining the University of Amsterdam, Dr. Piotrowski worked as a Research Associate in the Media & the Developing Child research group at the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. She also worked as a Research Fellow for the Children’s Media Lab at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania where she directed several experimental investigations of children’s learning from television.

Dr. Piotrowski frequently speaks at academic and trade conferences on the role of media in the lives of young people today. Moreover, with a strong belief in forging the divide between academic scholarship and societal practice, Dr. Piotrowski often shares her work in higher education classrooms, at public policy organizations, at children’s media organizations, and with childcare providers both in the Netherlands and worldwide. She is the co-author of the forthcoming open access book Plugged In: How Media Attract and Affect Youth (Yale University Press, 2017), and regularly publishes in communication, psychology, and education journals.

Follow Dr. Piotrowski on Twitter: @jesstpiotrowski 

Follow CcaM on Twitter: @CcaM_UvA 

See also: www.jessicataylorpiotrowski.com

Peer-Reviewed Presentations

Piotrowski, J.T.  & Meester, L. (2015). The opportunities of creative apps in middle childhood.  In S.Vaala (Chair), Content, Context, and Consequences of “Educational” Apps in the Lives of Children. Paper symposium to be conducted at the meeting of the International Communication Association, San Juan, Puerto Rico.  

Busse, P. & Piotrowski, J.T. (2015). Assessing the longitudinal relationship between Peruvian children’s TV exposure and unhealthy food consumption. Paper to be presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Vossen, H.G.M., Piotrowski, J.T. , & Valkenburg, P.M. (2015). The longitudinal relationship between media violence and empathy: Was it sympathy all along? Paper to be presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Fikkers, K.M., Piotrowski, J.T., Lugtig, P., & Valkenburg, P.M. (2015). The role of perceived norms in the relationship between media violence exposure and adolescents’ aggression.  Paper to be presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Nikkelen, S., Vossen, H.G.M.,  Piotrowski, J.T., & Valkenburg, P.M. (2015). Media violence and adolescents’ ADHD-related behaviors: The role of parental mediation. Paper to be presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Diamessis, A. T. & Piotrowski, J.T. (2015). The association of educational media and parent mediation on preschoolers’ language development. Paper to be presented at the 6th International Conference on Literacy, Crete, Greece. 

Nikkelen, S., Vossen, H.G.M.,  Piotrowski, J.T., & Valkenburg, P.M. (2015). Media violence and adolescents’ ADHD-related behaviors: The role of parental mediation. Paper to be presented at the Etmaal 2015 Conference on Communication Science.  Antwerp, Belgium.

Fikkers, K.M., Piotrowski, J.T., Lugtig, P., & Valkenburg, P.M. (2015). The role of perceived norms in the relationship between media violence exposure and adolescents’ aggression.  Paper to be presented at the Etmaal 2015 Conference on Communication Science.  Antwerp, Belgium. 

Piotrowski, J.T. (2014). Participatory cues and program familiarity predict young children’s learning from educational television.  Paper presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, Seattle, WA, USA.

Fikkers, K.M., Piotrowski, J.T., & Valkenburg, P.M. (2014). Validity and reliability of media violence exposure measures.  Paper presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, Seattle, WA, USA.

Piotrowski, J.T., Litman, J.A., & Valkenburg, P. (2013). Measuring epistemic curiosity in young children.  In A. Strobel (Chair) Epistemic curiosity and need for cognition assessment and correlates. Paper symposium conducted at the 2013 meeting of the International Society of the Study of Individual Differences, Barcelona, Spain. 

Piotrowski, J.T., Jordan, A.B., Bleakley, A., & Hennessy, M. (2013). Identifying household television practices to reduce children’s television time.  Paper presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, London, England.

Vossen, H.G.M., Piotrowski, J.T., Valkenburg, P.M. (2013). Development and validation of the adolescent measure of empathy and sympathy (AMES). Paper presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, London, England.

Valkenburg, P.M., Piotrowski, J.T., Hermanns, J., de Leeuw, R. (2013). Developing and validating the perceived parental media mediation scale: A self-determination perspective. Paper to be presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, London, England.

Fikkers, K.M., Piotrowski, J.T., Weeda, W., Vossen, H.G.M., & Valkenburg, P.M. (2013). How Family Conflict Moderates the Relationship between Media Violence and Adolescents' Aggression.  Paper presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, London, England.

Fikkers, K.M., Piotrowski, J.T., Weeda, W., Vossen, H.G.M., & Valkenburg, P.M. (2013). Double dose: The joint effect of media violence and family conflict on adolescents’ aggression. Paper presented at the George Gerbner Conference on Communication, Conflict, and Aggression, Budapest, Hungary.

Vossen, H.G.M., Piotrowski, J.T., & Valkenburg, P.M. (2013). Development and validation of the adolescent measure of empathy and sympathy (AMES).  Paper presented at the Etmaal 2013 on Communication Science.  Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Fikkers, K.M., Piotrowski, J.T., Weeda, W., Vossen, H.G.M., & Valkenburg, P.M. (2013). Double dose: How violent media exposure and family conflict interact to predict adolescents’ aggression.  Paper presented at the Etmaal 2013 on Communication Science.  Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Piotrowski, J.T. (2012, June). How reduced narrative processing demands impact preschoolers’ comprehension of educational television. Paper presented at the StoryNet workshop Narratives and Entertainment.  Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Piotrowski, J.T. (2012, May). How reduced narrative processing demands impact preschoolers’ comprehension of educational television. Paper presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, Phoenix, AZ. (Awarded Top Paper)

Lapierre, M.A., Piotrowski, J.T., & Linebarger, D.L. (2012, May). Background television in homes with young children.  Paper presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, Phoenix, AZ. (Awarded Top Paper)

Linebarger, D.L., Barr, R., Lapierre, M.A., Piotrowski, J.T., & Finch, J. (2012, June). Relations among early television exposure, parental supervision during that exposure, and temperament.  Poster presented at the meeting of the International Conference on Infant Studies, Minneapolis, MN.

Piotrowski, J.T., Lapierre, M.A., & Linebarger, D.L. (2011, November). Association between parenting style and children’s media use.  In N. Jennings (Chair), Parenting, caregiving, and Media: Young children and their media environment. Paper symposium conducted at the meeting of the National Communication Association, New Orleans, LA.  

Lapierre, M.A., Piotrowski, J.T., & Linebarger, D.L. (2011, November). Parenting and media use: Where do American parents turn for media advice? In N. Jennings (Chair), Parenting, caregiving, and Media: Young children and their media environment. Paper symposium conducted at the meeting of the National Communication Association, New Orleans, LA.  

Garrity, K., Piotrowski, J.T., Lapierre, M.A., & Linebarger, D.L.  (2011, November). The influence of the home literacy environment on children’s language and literacy skills.  Paper presented at the meeting of the National Communication Association, New Orleans, LA.

Piotrowski, J.T., Bleakley, A., Hennessy, M., Kydd, S., & Jordan, A.B. (2011, October). Demographic differences in the relationship between parents’ television reduction behaviors and children’s viewing time.  Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C.

Jordan, A.B., Hennessy, M., Piotrowski, J.T.*, Bleakley, A., Kydd, S., Mallya, G., Solomon, S.R., & Winkler, R. (2011, October). Developing media interventions to reduce household sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.  Poster presented at the annual meeting of The Obesity Society, Orlando, FL.  (*Presenting author).

Piotrowski, J.T., Lapierre, M.A., Linebarger, D.L. (2011, May). How American children spend their time: Media and other activities.  Paper presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, Boston, MA.

Lapierre, M.A., Piotrowski, J.T., & Linebarger, D.L. (2011, April). Doctor’s orders: Assessing the relationship between pediatricians’ media guidance and children’s media use in American families.  Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Montreal, QC Canada.

Linebarger, D.L., Barr, R.F., Lapierre, M.A., & Piotrowski, J.T. (2011, April). Predicting executive function skills from background television exposure.  Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Montreal, QC Canada.

Piotrowski, J.T. ,Jennings, N., & Linebarger, D.L. (2011, March). Extending the lessons of educational television with young children.  In S.M. Fisch (Chair), New directions in children’s learning from media: Learning from multiple media platforms. Symposium conducted at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Montreal, QC Canada.

Lapierre, M.A., Piotrowski, J.T., & Linebarger, D.L. (2011, March). Investigating correlates of self-regulation in early childhood with a nationally representative sample of U.S. Families.  Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Montreal, QC Canada.

Lapierre, M.L., Piotrowski, J.T., & Linebarger, D.L. (2010, November). Measuring the home media environment of young children: Results from a nationally representative sample of American families. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Communication Association, San Francisco, CA.

Linebarger, D.L., Lapierre, M.A., & Piotrowski, J.T. (2010, April). The implications of background television exposure.  In J.T. Piotrowski (Chair), A window into children’s media use: Results from a national parent survey. Symposium conducted at the Conference on Human Development, New York City, NY.

Piotrowski, J.T. ,Lapierre, M.A., & Linebarger, D.L. (2010, April). How young children spend their time.  In J.T. Piotrowski (Chair), A window into children’s media use: Results from a national parent survey. Symposium conducted at the Conference on Human Development, New York City, NY.

Lapierre, M.A., Piotrowski, J.T. ,& Linebarger, D.L. (2010, April). Understanding the home media environment: Results from the Annenberg survey of children, media, and parenting practices.  In J.T. Piotrowski (Chair), A window into children’s media use: Results from a national parent survey. Symposium conducted at the Conference on Human Development, New York City, NY.

Garrity, K., Linebarger, D.L., Piotrowski, J.T., & Lapierre, M. (2010, April). The influence of the home literacy environment on children’s language and literacy skills. Paper presented at the Conference on Human Development, New York City, NY. 

Linebarger, D.L., Lapierre, M.A., Vaala, S., Piotrowski, J.T., Barr, R. (2010, March). The implications of repeated exposure to background television on young children’s executive functioning skills: Results from a national parent survey.  In R. Barr (Chair), Learning from media during childhood. Symposium conducted at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, New York City, NY.

Linebarger, D.L., Piotrowski, J.T., & Lapierre, M. (2009, November).  The relationship between media use and the language & literacy skills of young children: Results from a national parent survey.  In M. Robb (chair), Young children’s patterns of media use and related outcomes as a function of economic and minority status.  Paper symposium presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Washington, DC.

Piotrowski, J.T., Vaala, S., & Linebarger, D.L. (2009, April). Can Postcards from Buster help inside the ELL classroom? An examination of receptive and productive vocabulary acquisition.  Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Denver, CO.

Piotrowski, J.T. & Linebarger, D.L. (2008, May). The impact of television narratives on the early literacy skills of preschoolers.  Paper presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, Montreal, CA.

Sanders-Jackson, A., Cappella, J.N., Linebarger, D.L., Piotrowski, J.T., O’Keeffe, M., Strasser, A., & Lerman, C. (2008, May). Addiction and eyes on screen: How smokers process smoking-related PSAs.  Paper presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, Montreal, CA.

Piotrowski, J.T. & Linebarger, D.L. (2007, November). Exploring individual eye movement patterns when viewing smoking cessation PSAs.  Paper presented at the meeting of the National Communication Association, Chicago, IL.

Piotrowski, J.T. (2007, May). Measuring narrative in children’s television programming. Paper presented at the workshop Exploring Media Narratives: New Concepts & Methods, Erfurt, Germany.

Piotrowski, J.T. & Linebarger, D.L. (2007, March). Evaluating interactive media within the context of learning. Poster session presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Boston, MA.

Linebarger, D.L. & Piotrowski, J.T. (2007, March). Evaluating the educational potential of health interstitials with preschoolers.  Paper presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Boston, MA.

Piotrowski, J.T. (2006, November). The time-crunched family and preschool television: Is 24-hour television the answer? Paper presented at the meeting of the National Communication Association, Student Division, San Antonio, TX. (Awarded Top Paper)

Taylor, J.L. (2006, May). Repeated viewings of Dora the Explorer and its influence on young children’s learning. Paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Communication Association, Applied Communication Division, Philadelphia, PA.  (Awarded Top Paper)

Invited Presentations

Piotrowski, J.T.  (2015).  The opportunities and challenges of games in the classroom.  Invited speaker. Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap (Ministry of Education, Culture and Science), Den Haag, NL.

Piotrowski, J.T. (2015).  Positive media effects in childhood.  Invited speaker. Pedagogy Department, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, NL.

Piotrowski, J.T., (2014). Learning while playing? Invited speaker. Apps for Kids Seminar, co-hosted by Cinekid & Kennisnet, Amsterdam, NL.

Piotrowski, J.T. (2014).  Learning while playing? The educational opportunities of digital media in childhood. Invited speaker. Congres Digitalisering in Opvoeding en Onderwijs (Congress on Digital Media in Education), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NL.

Piotrowski, J.T., Vossen, H., & Valkenburg, P. (2013).  The reciprocal relationship between media and childhood.  Paper presented at the 1st Children and Media Congress, Istanbul, Turkey.

Piotrowski, J.T. (2013, October).  Cinekid Expert Meeting: Designing Apps for children. Invited panelist. Cinekid for Professionals Conference, Amsterdam, NL. 

Piotrowski, J.T. (2013, May). Children and media: An international perspective. Invited speaker, Northwestern University, Evanson, IL, USA.

Piotrowski, J.T. (2013, May). Growing up digital. Invited speaker, Northwestern University, Evanson, IL, USA. 

Piotrowski, J.T. (2012, March). Mass communication seminar.  Invited speaker, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven: School for Mass Communication Research, Leuven, Belgium.

Piotrowski, J.T. (2011, March). Professor dinner discussion series.  Invited speaker, Penn Alumni Student Society, Philadelphia, PA.

Piotrowski, J.T. (2011, February).  Professional development series: Organizing materials for the dissertation. Invited panelist, Annenberg School for Communication, Philadelphia, PA.

Piotrowski, J.T. (2011, February).  Teaching workshop for graduate students: Mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.  Invited panelist, Center for Teaching and Learning & Annenberg School for Communication, Philadelphia, PA.

Piotrowski, J.T. (2010, November).  Children and media socialization.  Invited panelist, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

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Piotrowski, J.T. (2010, March).  Professional development workshop series II: Making the most of conference presentations.  Invited panelist, Annenberg Center for Advanced Study in Communication, Philadelphia, PA. 

Piotrowski, J.T. & Linebarger, D.L. (2009, December). Children’s television: Extending research into practice.  Invited presentation, PBS Kids Sprout, Philadelphia, PA.

Internal Research Grant (2013, December) for the doctoral project “There’s an App for That!  Distinctive Features of Apps for Young Children”, Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR), University of Amsterdam.

Excellence in Teaching Award (2013, December) for the course “Digital Media Across the Lifespan”, Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR), University of Amsterdam.

Excellence in Teaching Award (2013, June) for the course “Persuasion & Resistance”, Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR), University of Amsterdam.

Top Paper Award (2012) from the Children, Adolescents, and the Media Division of the International Communication Association. Awarded for paper: How reduced narrative processing demands impact preschoolers’ comprehension of educational television.

Top Paper Award (2012) from the Children, Adolescents, and the Media Division of the International Communication Association. Awarded for paper: Background television in homes with young children. (with M.A. Lapierre (1st author) and D.L. Linebarger (3rd author))

Annenberg Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship (2010), from the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania.

Nominee, Penn Prize for Excellence in Teaching (2007) from the College of Arts & Science, University of Pennsylvania. Nominated for Excellence in Teaching by a Graduate Student.

Top Paper Award (2006) from the Mass Communication Division of the National Communication Association. Awarded for paper: The time-crunched family and preschool television: Is 24- hour television the answer?

Top Paper Award (2006) from the Applied Communication Division of the Eastern Communication Association. Awarded for paper: Repeated viewings of Dora the Explorer and its influence on young children’s learning.

James D. Woods Award (2005) from the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania. Awarded for outstanding teaching by a graduate student.

Full Tuition and Research Stipend (2004-2009), from the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania.

George Gerbner Award (2004) from the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania. Awarded for best senior honors thesis by an undergraduate student.