In accordance with the Regulations on the Awarding of Outstanding Student Achievements in Humanities and Social Sciences Research at Zhejiang University，following individual applications, faculty preliminary reviews, peer-review evaluations, on-site defence presentations, and expert deliberations, a total of 30 achievements have been honoured with the 11th Zhejiang University Student Awards for Outstanding Achievements in Humanities and Social Sciences Research (including 2 Special Awards, 12 First Prizes, and 16 Second Prizes). Among these, the School has been awarded one First Prize for Postgraduate Research Achievements and two Second Prizes for Undergraduate Research Achievements.
Summary of Award-Winning Achievements
First Prize, Outstanding Postgraduate Research Award
Award-winning paper: Smartphones as Surrogate Attachment: Examining Digital Dependency and Emotional Bonds Among Left-Behind Children in China
Authors: Yu Fang, Wang Kexin (Supervisor), Wang Jianjuan
Journal: Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking (SSCI, Q1, August 2025)
This study transcends previous research's singular focus on parental figures, comprehensively analysing how complex attachment networks between left-behind children and their parents influence surrogate attachment to mobile phones. It reveals the psychological mechanisms whereby smartphones function as a ‘pacifier’, confirming the vital importance of distant parental emotional support for the mental wellbeing of left-behind children. This provides empirical evidence for implementing emotional support interventions within left-behind families.
Second Prize, Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award
Award-winning paper: A Geographically-Based Self-Correcting Framework: Investigating the Mechanisms of Rural Social Networks in Debunking Online Rumours
Author: Zhou Qianqian
This paper, grounded in fieldwork and grounded analysis of a typical village, adopts a media-constructed rural society perspective to construct a geographically-based self-correction framework. It identifies distributed, centralised, and diffusive pathways for rumour verification, reveals two key characteristics of rural rumour debunking, and elucidates rural resilience within digitalisation. This offers new insights into understanding transformation and integration within rural societies in the digital age.
Second Prize, Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award
Award-winning paper: Empathy in Human-Machine Communication: The Influence of Chatbot Communication Strategies and Perceived Listening on Social Media Users' Self-Disclosure Intentions
Author: Qian Yingke
Chatbots on social media platforms have transformed human-machine interactions from private exchanges to publicly observable engagements. Using Weibo's ‘Comment Robert’ as a case study, this research demonstrates that employing a socially oriented communication style enhances users' perceptions of attentiveness and empathy, ultimately increasing their willingness to self-disclose. The findings contribute to optimising chatbot design and improving platform ecosystems.