The Research Council of Lithuania launches an annual call for applications for funding student research projects during semesters to encourage students to actively participate in scientific activities and improve their scientific competence. In 2023-2024, the Research Council of Lithuania (LMTLT) funded 3 student research projects at the Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics, Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty.
One of the funded projects is “Methods for Integrating Expert Information and Generative Artificial Intelligence to Investigate the Content of Unethical and Misleading Advertising”. The project was carried out by Jonas Panceris, a student of the Marketing Technologies Bachelor's programme, and supervised by Dr Dalia Krikščiūnienė, Professor at the Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics.
Jonas Panceris examined the potential of intelligent technologies to help experts investigate the characteristics of political advertising content that raise questions about their ethicality for consumers. The results have shown that the ethicality of political advertising is characterised by a number of criteria, which can be used to generate advertising content with different ethical qualities using artificial intelligence. A database of Lithuanian political party advertisements was compiled during the research. The two-phase (expert evaluation and Q-methodology) experimental research showed that ethicality is perceived differently by the groups of respondents observing the advertisements but is similarly perceived in both real and AI-generated advertisements. The interdisciplinary research on political advertising and artificial intelligence is closely related to the objectives of the VU KnF research group "Marketing Technologies, Intelligent Systems and Digital Transformation Research", therefore Jonas actively participated in the team with his supervisor Prof. Dr Dalia Krikščiūnienė, Assist. Dr Skaistė Jurėnė and the student of the Marketing Technologies Bachalor's programme Jotautas Masys.
The second funded project is "Research on the Effectiveness of Intellectual Technologies in Creating Virtual Opinion Formers and Impact on Shaping Customer Relations”. This project was carried out by Gabrielė Senavaitytė, a student of the Marketing Technologies Bachelor's programme. She was supervised by Dr Dalia Krikščiūnienė, Professor at the Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics.
The project includes research and a scientific paper. Gabrielė Senavaitytė participated in the 18th Prof. Vladas Gronskas International Scientific Conference and delivered the presentation “Factors Shaping Influencer-Follower Engagement on Instagram”. On May 17, 2024, she presented the results of her research at the LMT Student Conference by delivering the presentation “The Impact of Intellectual Technologies Used to Create Virtual Influencers on Customer Relationship Building”.
The third funded project is “Research on Consumer Confidence in Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Cryptocurrency Wallets”. The project was carried out by Ugnius Kerulis, a student of Information Systems and Cyber Security Bachelor's programme. He was supervised by the Distinguished Professor Dr Vladislav Fomin (the Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics).
During the project, a research study to analyse the main factors influencing consumer confidence in cryptocurrency exchanges and cryptocurrency wallets was conducted. A research paper for the Baltic Journal of Modern Computing (BJMC), which is indexed in Clarivate, was developed.
The projects were carried out for 7 months in the semesters of autumn 2023 and spring 2024.
When the projects were over, the students submitted abstracts and delivered oral presentations at the student scientific conference “Naujoji mokslininkų karta” (Eng.: "The New Generation of Scientists"), which was organised by the Research Council of Lithuania and took place on 16-17 May this year.
How has participation in the project benefited you?
Jonas Panceris (a third-year student of the Marketing Technologies Bachelor's programme):
I have been actively and consistently involved in research activities, gaining knowledge and experience in all stages of research development: methodology, literature analysis, empirical research and data analysis. The knowledge I acquired is necessary for preparing my final thesis and for planning my further studies and career.
Ugnius Kerulis (a third-year student of the Information Systems and Cyber Security Bachelor's programme):
The interdisciplinary approach to cryptocurrencies has broadened my understanding of consumer attitudes towards computer engineering products and services. I have understood and accepted that it is not only the technical features of a product or service that determine its popularity, attractiveness or credibility in the eyes of consumers. I will use the new knowledge and skills I have acquired this year to prepare my bachelor thesis.
The student research projects during semesters are funded by the Research Council of Lithuania.
Read more about the call for applications for student research during semesters on the LMT website.