My dissertation explored performance aspects of gender in an online role-playing environment. The outcome included a typology of the construction of gender online via content analysis, as well as a possible model for exploring the construction of gender in general.
 
I am currently looking at representations of online dating sites and comparing the secular versus nonsecular ones to see what the promotional similarities and differences are between the two types.  I am also examining the mother/child role in the television series Once upon a Time.

Croucher, S.M., DeMaris, A., Diers-Lawson, A.R. & Roper, S.L. (2015). Self-reporting and the argumentativeness scale: An empirical examination.  Argumentation: An International Journal on Reasoning. First online 15 October 2015, ISSN: 0920-427X (Print) 1572-8374 (Online).
 
Roper, S. L. & Ferris, S. P. (2006). MOOs as virtual communities: A case study of the _DragonWings_ MOO. In Dr. Subhasish Dasgupta_s (Ed.) The Encyclopedia of Virtual Communities.
 
Roper, S. L. & Kindred, J. (2005, November). _IM here: Reflections on virtual office hours._ First Monday, 10(11). Available at http://firstmonday.org/issues/issue10_11/roper/index.html.
 
Kindred, J., & Roper, S. L. (2004). Making connections via Instant Messenger (IM): Student use of IM to maintain personal relationships. Qualitative Research Reports, 5, 48-54.
 
Ferris, S.P., & Roper, S.L. (Summer 2002). Same and mixed-gender intimacy in a virtual environment. Qualitative Research Reports, 3(3), 47-55.
 
Agosto, D., Platzner, R., & Roper, S. L. (2000). In retrospect: One semester, three stories. In the Proceedings of the Third and Fourth Annual Teaching/Learning Conference.

Modern Fairy Tales: Examining Power and Perception of Female Characters in Once Upon a Time, Presented at the Women & Society Conference, Poughkeepsie, NY, October 2014.

What's in a name for online dating?, Presented at the Annual National Communication Association Conference, Washington, DC, November 2013.

Panel Chair: Self Presentation Skills and Communication Competence, Presented at the Annual National Communication Association Conference, Washington, DC, November 2013.

"Big Sexy": An examination of plus size reality, presented at the Women & Society Conference, Poughkeepsie, NY, October 2011.

"Webkinz" and the gendering of artifacts, presented at the National Women's Studies Associations Conference, Denver, CO, November 2010.

A Little TLC: Depictions of Motherhood and the Working Mom as a "Learning Experience, presented at the Women & Society Conference, Poughkeepsie, NY, October 2009.

Gendered Artifacts on Webkinz, presented at the Women & Society Conference, Poughkeepsie, NY, October 2008.

Gender representations in "Second Life." Presented at the Annual National Communication Association Conference, Chicago, IL, November 2007.
 
The Circle of Life has speed bumps: A look at expectations of fertility for long-term couples. Presented at the New York State Communication Association Conference, Kerhonkson, NY, October 2007.
 
Bigger is not always better: An examination of mediated representations of gender. Presented at the Women & Society Conference, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, October 2007.

'Believe me, if I could, I would have already!': An Examination of Conception, Infertility and Support Among Women Online, presented at the Eastern Communication Association Convention, Providence, RI, April 2007.

'Faculty, Students, and Administrators, Lend me your Internet Connection': An Exploration of College Learning Environments and the Blurring of 'In-Class Time,' presented at the Eastern Communication Association Convention, Providence, RI, April 2007.

Grappling with the question 'So when are you going to have a baby' while trying to conceive, presented at the Women & Society Conference, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, November 2006.

Gender in a box: Representations of femininity and masculinity in family comic strips. Presented at the New York State Communication Association Conference, Kerhonkson, NY, October 2006.

Stripping down gender: Gender representations in family comic strips, presented at the Women & Society Conference, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, September 2005.

IM here: An exploratory look at virtual office hours, presented at the International Communication Association Convention, New York, NY, May 2005.

Pedagogy in Cyberspace: A Roundtable Discussion on the Evolving Online Teaching Environment, presented at the Eastern Communication Associations 96th Annual Convention, Pittsburgh, PA, with Missy Alexander, Jenny Kindred, and Sharmila Pixy Ferris, May 2005.

I Am What I Want You to See: Identity and the Instant Messenger Away Message, presented at the annual meeting of the National Communication Association, Miami Beach, FL, November 2003.

Town Hall Debate on Resolved: that greater use of online learning should be encouraged in the Communication discipline with Ron Jacobs, Fran Mindel, and Maureen Minielli presented at the annual meeting of the National Communication Association, Miami Beach, FL, November 2003.

S/he: Gender in a Virtual Environment, presented at the Women & Society Conference, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, November 2003.

Making Connections Via Instant Messenger (IM): Student Use of IM in the Maintenance of Personal Relationships, presented at the National Communication Association Conference, November 2002.

"S/he: Gender in a Virtual Environment," presented at the Women & Society conference, June 2002.

Putting it together: Gender construction in an online environment, presented at the National Women's Studies Association Conference, June 2002.

S/He: Gender in a virtual environment, presented at the Women & Society Conference, June 2002.

Cyber-education in communication, a Table Talk Series presented at the National Communication Association Conference, November 2001.

Lending a helping paw: Therapeutic healing from our four-legged friends, presented at the New York State Communication Association Conference, October 2001.

Cyber-education in communication, a Table Talk Series presented at the National Communication Association Conference, November 2000

Recognition Award for the Women & Society Conference (Director and Co-Director of Conference for over 10 years) from the Dutchess County Legislature, October 2016

Best Paper Award from the Human Information Technologies Interest Group for A study on gender differences within a virtual reality," presented at the Eastern Communication Association Conference, April 1997.

Teaching Assistantship at Rutgers University, 1997-2001

Rutgers Graduate School Conference Travel Award Recipient, May 1999

Graduate Assistantship at William Paterson College, 1995-1997

NYC Big Apple Award--part of the account team for the 1994 SEW AMERICA program

Silver Anvil Award--part of the account team for the 1994 SEW AMERICA program