Dissertation Topic and Research Interests

Khalid's dissertation focuses on influencer marketing from the perspective of the relationship between the influencers and their followers.

According to Khalid, "Influencer marketing is a relatively new area that needs to be explored, given the fact that professional marketers/advertisers are keening toward increasing their influencer marketing budget in the upcoming years. In my dissertation, I am interested in investigating the relationship stages and what factors could influence the consumers/followers’ attitude and purchase intention toward the endorsed product."

Aside from his dissertation, corporate social responsibility, corporate social advocacy, and cause-related marketing are other research areas of interest to Alharbi.  Below are his answers to questions about his involvement with AEJMC and the work he's currently pursuing:

 

Reasons for Joining AEJMC 

I have started the Ph.D. program with limited knowledge of conferences in our field. Thanks to the efforts of the faculty members at U of SC, I was able to be familiar with AEJMC in my first year as a Ph.D. student. Since then, I have seen the value of being part of this dynamic and knowledgeable community. I have found AEJMC to be a great motivational event for me to be more productive in research after getting exposed to incredible research projects and inspired by meaningful discussions.

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Favorite AEJMC Memory

My favorite AEJMC memory would be getting my first solo-authored paper accepted at AEJMC (AD division). It was a special moment because as Ph.D. students we rarely aim or have enough confidence to submit solo-authored papers to conferences. This was my first attempt to submit a research project by myself to AEJMC. It was a turning point for me.

 

Advice You'd Give Your Past Self When Starting Grad School

I would tell myself to be more prepared for the ups and downs of grad school life, give more time to my family, take advantage of networking with my cohorts as early as possible, and finally take a break when needed. I have learned throughout the Ph.D. life that there is no limit to the work that you could do. However, we need to watch our mental and physical health throughout the process. Sometimes, we can get lost with the number of projects that we can get involve in, but we need to prioritize what genuinely important to us and our career goal.

 

Fun (and Little Known) Fact About Yourself

I have been playing soccer in a competitive level for more than a decade. I enjoy playing and watching soccer games whenever I have a chance. With the intensity of the graduate school, I have become busier with my school related work and don’t have enough time to enjoy the sport. Hopefully, things will change a little after graduation. 

 

Future Career Goals

I have two big goals that I would like to pursue in the near future. First, I would like to be an active scholar whose work can be recognized in major conferences and well-established journals. Second, I aim to become more effective at teaching where I enhance students learning in college by embracing efficient teaching methods, using valuable materials, and providing a safe and encouraging environment in the classrooms.

 

Question You'd Like to Ask Other Graduate Students

As a Ph.D. student, what was your strategy to actively maintain both taking classes and producing research?

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Khalid's Responses to the Questions from Previous Graduate Students

Throughout their graduate career, what the most memorable moment and how did it impact you?
The most memorable moment so far is passing the comprehensive exam. It was a moment where I realized that I am a step closer to completing the PhD program. 

If you were to recommend a book that had most influence on your academic journey, what would it be?
SPSS Survival Manual was a life-saving book, especially when I started the program. It was beneficial to follow the statistical steps in order to select the right analysis and read the results correctly.

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(Posted October 2021)

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