McGann is interested in the sociology of culture, and her research is often situated theoretically in the social construction of reality. Her early work examined the media’s coverage of Hurricane Katrina, including the construction of race and lawlessness in New Orleans after the storm and the differences in media content across platforms.

McGann has completed an 11-years longitudinal study of feeling rules associated with romantic love using a content analysis of anniversary and Valentine’s Day greeting cards. Most recently she has begun exploring the ways that technology—Facebook, MySpace, texting, e-mail—change the nature of social interaction. Her recent presentations include “The Social Construction of Lawlessness: Media Coverage of Hurricane Katrina,” “How Do I Love Thee: Feeling Rules in Romantic Relationships,” and “Outing the Elephant: The Role of Race and Gender in Classroom Dynamics.”