Research
Research

Our globally-connected, interdisciplinary educators produce meaningful, engaging research on a range of topics from racism to social media because we value creativity, risk-taking, and innovation.

Curiosity moves us to answer questions such as:

  • What do people in “red” states think about important social and political issues, including businesses refusing service to same-sex couples? The death penalty? Evolution? Affordable Health Care?
  • Over time, are more educated people more or less likely to be religious?
  • How do women in rural communities find help for domestic violence, and does the answer change for those with more or fewer friends?
  • How do people in rural and urban areas differ in the factors associated with opioid addiction, opportunities for informal science education, or treatment of sexual minorities?
  • How does the media's representation of crime affect people's attitudes about crime and safety?
  • Why do some people follow instructions for taking a survey and others do not?
  • What leads to disparities in mental health outcomes across demographic groups?
  • How are schools putting urban youth and teachers at risk?
  • Why do social movements start in some troubled regions but not others?
  • Why do some homeless youth use drugs and others do not?
  • How do some new low income parents have lower distress while others have higher distress?
  • How do kids come to think of themselves as science oriented? Does this differ for boys and girls?
  • Do images of superheroes change as a reflection of the political environment?
  • As the United States becomes more diverse, do more people marry people of other races, or stay with people of the same race?
  • Does military service provide a pathway into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations?