Research

Liu, X., Lu, Y., Peng, Q., Qian, S., Peng, Y., & Shen, C. (2026). Seeing the Surreal: Mapping Surrealism in Photorealistic AI-Generated Images Using Large Language Models. Computational Communication Research, 8(2), 1. (DOI)

Peng, Q., Lu, Y., Peng, Y., Qian, S., Liu, X., & Shen, C. (2025). Crafting Synthetic Realities: Examining Visual Realism and Misinformation Potential of Photorealistic AI-Generated Images. Proceedings of the Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI EA ’25, 1–12. (DOI)

Liu, X., Lin, C., & Lu, Y. Computational Visual Analysis in Communication Research: A Critical Examination of Methods, Challenges, and Opportunities. [under review]

Liu, X., Peng, Y., & Lu, Y. Mitigating Confounder Bias in Observational Studies of Visual Media Effects. [under review]

Lu, Y., Liu, X., & Zhou, C. Recommending the State: How Social Media Algorithms Curate State-Created Content in China. [under review]

Liu, X., Lu, Y., Peng, Q., Qian, S., Peng, Y., & Shen, C. (2026, July). Seeing the Surreal: Mapping Surrealism in Photorealistic AI-Generated Images Using Large Language Models. Scheduled at 12th International Conference on Computational Social Science (IC2S2), Burlington, USA.

Liu, X., Peng, Y., & Lu, Y. (2026, July). Mitigating Confounder Bias in Observational Studies of Visual Media Effects. Scheduled at 12th International Conference on Computational Social Science (IC2S2), Burlington, USA.

Liu, X., Peng, Y., & Lu, Y. (2026, July). Mitigating Confounder Bias in Observational Studies of Visual Media Effects. Scheduled at 2026 Annual Meeting of the Society for Political Methodology, Lansing, USA.

Liu, X., Lu, Y., Peng, Q., Qian, S., Peng, Y., & Shen, C. (2026, June). Seeing the Surreal: Mapping Surrealism in Photorealistic AI-Generated Images Using Large Language Models. Scheduled at 76th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA), Cape Town, South Africa.

Lu, Y., Liu, X., & Zhou, C. (2026, June). Recommending the State: How Social Media Algorithms Curate State Content in China. Scheduled at 76th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA), Cape Town, South Africa.

Liu, X., Lu, Y., Peng, Q., Qian, S., Peng, Y., & Shen, C. (2026, May). Seeing the Surreal: Mapping Surrealism in Photorealistic AI-Generated Images Using Large Language Models. Scheduled at Comm Horizons @UCD 2026, Sacramento, USA.

Lu, Y., Liu, X., & Zhou, C. (2025, September). Recommending the State: How Social Media Algorithms Curate State Content in China. Presented at 2025 American Political Science Association (APSA) Annual Meeting & Exhibition, Vancouver, Canada.

Lu, Y., Liu, X., & Zhou, C. (2025, July). Recommending the State: How Social Media Algorithms Curate State Content in China. Presented at 11th International Conference on Computational Social Science (IC2S2), Norrköping, Sweden. [Best Lightning Talk Award]

Liu, X., & Ho, S. S. (2024, June). Human, AI, vs. Synergy Agency: How Agency Framing Affects Perceived Uncertainty, Controllability, and Trust in AI in Autonomous Vehicles. 74th Annual International Communication Association (ICA) Conference.

Liu, X., Xiao, Q., Liang, D., & Pan, Y. (2023, August). Agency and Modality Interaction: Exploring the Impact of Multimodal AI-Generated Content on News Credibility. 2023 Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Annual Conference.

Liu, X., Liang, D., Tong-Laurence, G., Lin, S., & Kang, H. (2023, May). A False Sense of Reality: Effects of Augmented Reality (AR) Filters on Communication Willingness. 73rd Annual International Communication Association (ICA) Conference.

Liu, X., Nisbet, E. C., & Lu, Y. The Politics of Large Language Models: A Comparative Framework for Understanding Global LLMs. (Work in Progress).

Liu, X., Shao, E., Lu, Y., Peng, Y., & Dashun Wang. Understanding Visuals in Science. (Work in Progress).