University of Wisconsin–Madison
For many low-income families, the first call for help doesn’t go to the government — it goes to a relative, a neighbor, or a community organization. A new study by IDS affiliate Denia Garcia of UW-Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs suggests that families that have access to these informal supports, or forms of …
Reading Media (NYU Press, Eds. Ann Blair, Paul Duguid, Anja-Silvia Goeing, and Anthony Grafton, 2026) Author: Lori Kido Lopez Abstract/Introduction: In this chapter, Lopez discusses the challenges facing textual analysts to come up with novel insights, especially in relation to the subject of racial representation. Lopez suggests ways we can move beyond the reproduction or subversion of existing stereotypes, …
Research Handbook on the Sociology of Consumption (ed. Jennifer Smith Maguire) (2026) Author: Max Besbris
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (2026) Authors: Stav Atir and Nicholas Epley Abstract: Conversations with strangers and weak ties tend to be positive experiences, and yet research suggests a reliable tendency to hold overly pessimistic expectations about such conversations. We examine how people update their beliefs after talking with strangers to understand how people’s miscalibrated …
A recent article at Phys.org covers a newly released study that explores how a change in the way journalism students are taught can help them to better engage communities. The study, led by IDS affiliate Sue Robinson and colleagues Magarita Orozco and Lori Shontz, analyzes the impact of a conversation facilitation training program for journalism …
Digital Trace Data Research in Information Systems (2026) Authors: Carsten Østerlund and Corey B. Jackson Abstract: Digital trace data has become increasingly attractive as a source of insight for understanding and evaluating human behavior in computer information systems. Trace data provide rich insights into organizational practices and human behaviors but pose significant methodological challenges due …
Journalism Practice (2025) Authors: Sue Robinson, Margarita Orozco, and Lori Shontz Abstract: This article analyzes the impact of a conversation facilitation training program for journalism students from six universities across the United States as a so-called “intervention” in applied research to build a new curriculum for journalism schools. We found three areas that demand careful …
Wisconsin’s many parks and natural areas offer opportunities for relaxation, recreation, and renewal—but not everyone experiences the outdoors in the same way. New research by Michelle Marji and Dr. Paula Niedenthal explores why Black Americans often report fewer benefits, greater barriers, and, at times, less belonging in outdoor spaces, even as nature engagement is known …
Political Psychology (2025) Authors: Sosuke Okada, Nicholas Buttrick Abstract: American politics is rife with messages designed to anger one’s political enemies. In this paper, we propose and test a model suggesting that such inflammatory messages are effective because they signal that the messenger is unwilling to compromise with the groups they have offended. Taking the example …
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (2024) Authors: Nicholas Buttrick, Youngjae Cha, Shigehiro Oishi Abstract: Does residential mobility change cultures, or is it merely a downstream indicator for other forces? Using large-scale surveys of citizens of 18 industrialized nations, we find that increased rates of residential mobility predict living in a more dynamic society at least 10 years …