Ahmet Akbiyik

I am a researcher and data scientist focused on harnessing data, technology, and rigorous research to develop impactful solutions for online interactions. As a Quantitative UX Researcher at Meta, I have led projects that informed product strategy, designed evidence-based interventions, and conducted experiments to guide investment decisions.

I hold a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. My research centers on migration, social cohesion, and the role of digital platforms in shaping intergroup relations. My work has been supported by The Weatherhead Center for International Affairs and The Institute for Quantitative Social Science (IQSS), and has received grants from J-PAL at MIT and The Stone Program at Harvard.

My Ph.D. research examined disinformation and intergroup relations across digital platforms such as Facebook, X, WhatsApp, and Telegram. I conducted survey studies and collaborated with colleagues on projects in diverse regions, including Sweden, Turkey, and Lebanon, focusing on how disinformation influences individual attitudes and intergroup dynamics.

Prior to embarking on my graduate studies, I earned my B.A. in Political Science and Economics at Bogazici University in Istanbul and my M.A. in Political Science at Boston University.

Attitudes toward an outgroup (such as refugees), even when not rooted in empirical evidence, can be difficult to alter, and correcting misperceptions often has limited impact. In my dissertation, I am conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to explore strategies for changing these resistant attitudes. My study involves bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds into WhatsApp groups, where they engage in non-political interactions. After these interactions, I introduce fact-checked information about their outgroup to see if this prior engagement makes participants more open to accepting the information. By lowering barriers created by prior beliefs through non-political interaction, fact-checked information may have a more significant impact on attitudes toward the outgroup.

Click on the image to view my research design summary:

Link for my pre-analysis plan

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I can be reached at my email: ahmetutkuakbiyik@gmail.com