IPR in the News
For previous years' media clips, please go here.
January | February | March | April | May
MAY 2012
Contraception confusion
May 25, 2012
A new study co-authored by communication studies researcher and IPR associate Eszter Hargittai suggests that when the health center on campus is not a viable resource, many students might not know how to go about getting emergency contraception.
Public money finds back door to public schools
May 21, 2012
According to IPR economist David Figlio, who has extensively studied Florida’s program, school choice vouchers are an important alternative to public schools for some families. But programs differ from state to state, with varying tax benefits for donors and varying rules on who may receive the scholarships. In Florida, scholarships are strictly controlled to make sure they go to poor families and only corporations are eligible for the tax credits.
Is 'you' a good investment?
May 18, 2012
The hordes of users-turned-investors might view Facebook differently once they own a piece of the company, says Brian Uzzi, a management and strategy professor and IPR associate. Some of these people, many of whom may never have owned a stock before, might realize that the firm's enormous value is derived from the information about them that it resells.
Roger Clemens trial: Jurors come with questions, and get to ask them
May 14, 2012
"The old view of jurors is that they are blank slates," said Shari Seidman Diamond, who is a professor of law and IPR associate. "But they are decision-makers, trying to figure out what is going on. They are trying things out. Questions help them process. This has all kinds of benefits."
May 11, 2012
Again? Wal-Mart's rep takes another beating
Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, in recent years has tried to repair a reputation that's been damaged by decades of criticism and legal troubles. "Wal-Mart was battling one image problem after another," said professor of managerial sciences and IPR associate Daniel Diermeier, highlighting how difficult it is for a company to dig itself out of a pile of bad publicity.
May 7, 2012
When helping doesn't help
Arguing that poor people are needy victims who can overcome their disadvantages with the help of professionally led programs can be damaging in a different way. As John McKnight, a professor of education and social policy and IPR emeritus, points out, helpers can do more harm than good because those being helped are automatically defined as "needy."
May 4, 2012
Older dads have healthier kids than you think
New research co-authored by IPR anthropologist Christopher Kuzawa suggests that children of older fathers and grandfathers may inherit longer telomeres, structures at the tips of chromosomes that may protect against aging and disease.
APRIL 2012
On crime: Bulking up the thin blue line
April 28, 2012
Public safety has been a busy beat since Mayor Rahm Emanuel took over one year ago. IPR political scientist Wesley G. Skogan evaluates the effectiveness of the Chicago Police Department since the arrival of the Emanuel administration and the new chief of police, Garry McCarthy.
April 19, 2012
The paradox of college: The rising cost of going (and not going) to school
In the fight to put low-income kids on the college track, one of the simplest weapons is also one of the most controversial. It's cash. IPR labor economist Kirabo Jackson recently compared similar students before and after their schools implemented a cash bonuses program for higher AP-test scores, finding that students enrolled in the program were more likely to persist in college, earn bachelor's degrees, and to be employed, earning higher wages.
April 18, 2012
Death penalty effect research "fundamentally flawed"
Available research on the effects of the death penalty is fundamentally flawed and thus, cannot be used to determine whether it affects murder rates, said a National Research Council committee, which included IPR economist Charles F. Manski, in an April 18 report.
NPR, April 19, Death penalty research flawed, expert panel says
The Huffinton Post, April 19, Does death penalty deter murder? Experts can't tell
The Washington Post, April 18, No reliable research on whether death penalty has any effect on murder rate
The Los Angeles Times, April 18, Death penalty a deterrent to murder? Study says evidence unclear
Science, April 18, Dearth of good death penalty data
AFP, April 18, Science lacking on whether death penalty deters murder
April 17, 2012
Blood test looks promising in diagnosing depression
A new study led by professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and IPR associate Eva Redei takes a significant, though preliminary, step in reliably identifying patients with depression by demonstrating that a simple blood test can distinguish between adolescents who are depressed and those who are not.
Scientific American, April 18, Depression in teens could be diagnosed with blood test
The Daily Beast, April 18, New study suggests blood tests can identify depression
GEN, April 18, Scientists report biomarker panel for diagnosing depression
CBS, April 17, Depression blood test for teens may lead to better treatment, less stigma
Time, April 17, A blood test to diagnose depression in teens?
U.S. News & World Report, April 17, Researchers develop blood test for depression
Chicago Sun-Times, April 17, Blood test could detect depression in teens
CNN, April 17, Blood test for early-onset depression promising
New Scientist, April 17, Blood test could diagnose teen depresssion
LiveScience, April 17, Blood test may remove stigma of depression
ABC, April 17, Using a blood test, researchers ID depression in teens
Daily Mail, April 17, Blood test is first to diagnose depression in teenagers
The Huffington Post, April 17, Depression researchers may have developed the first blood test for teens
WebMD, April 17, Blood test for teen depression under study
MSN, April 17, A blood test for depression? New research points the way
Fox News, April 17, Scientists develop first blood test to diagnose teen depression
April 16, 2012
Sen. Kirk's health
Three months after his stroke, information about Senator Mark Kirk's condition remains closely guarded. IPR political scientist Laurel Harbridge discusses whether voters should know more about the senator's progress and when he might return to the office.
April 12, 2012
Black studies: 'Swaggering into the future'
"They are not trying to capture the black experience but are accounting for black people's multiple identities in the work they do," said IPR sociologist and African American studies researcher Celeste Watkins-Hayes, commenting on the current generation of black-studies PhD students. "Everyone has that complexity. But previous scholarship has suggested that blacks do not."
April 12, 2012
Few states effectively track tax breaks
Public finance economist and IPR associate Therese McGuire said that with the right information, lawmakers should be able to create focused tax incentives that at least increase the odds of a return on a state's investments, or to choose to provide nothing at all.
April 6, 2012
Paying students for AP scores increases educational attainment
In a new working paper, IPR labor economist Kirabo Jackson examines the Advanced Placement Incentive Program (APIP), a college preparatory program for disadvantaged students, finding that students enrolled in APIP were more likely to persist in college, earn bachelor's degrees, be employed, and earn higher wages.
April 6, 2012
Women and the economy
The "glass ceiling" refers to the barriers women face when it comes to succeeding in their professional lives, but according to IPR psychologist Alice Eagly, the term "labyrinth" is more accurate. "Using the glass ceiling as a metaphor is misleading," said Eagly. "It suggests that the barriers to women's advancement are only at the top."
April 4, 2012
Building on the values of No Child Left Behind
Research co-authored by IPR social psychologist Tom Cook found that the No Child Left Behind Act, which recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary, did indeed improve fourth- and eighth-grade performance in math on standardized tests.
April 1, 2012
Apple's chief puts stamp on labor issues
Daniel Diermeier, a professor of managerial economics and IPR associate, says he believes the more aggressive stance by Apple toward factory conditions is the result of greater scrutiny of the company by media and advocacy groups, but he also believes Mr. Cook’s leadership has played a role in the changes.
MARCH 2012
March 31, 2012
How a small town mismanaged a crisis
"Police departments are not well prepared to handle these situations. In a fast moving media environment you must have effective crisis management that maintains trust with your audiences," explained Daniel Diermeier, a professor of managerial economics and decision sciences and IPR associate, commenting on the city of Sanford's reaction to the Trayvon Martin shooting.
March 26, 2012
In Florida, vouchers bring modest improvement to public education
"Once I found that there was this positive competitive effect, and once I found that it sure didn't look like there was any evidence that the public schools were hurting, at least at the level of vouchers that we were talking about, that all reassured me," said IPR education economist David Figlio, who has extensively studied the school voucher program in Florida that Louisiana used in part as a model for its own pending program.
March 24, 2012
The science behind political thinking
IPR social psychologist Jennifer Richeson discusses the science behind how the brain weighs decisions and forms political beliefs, citing her research on motivational and contextual variables that influence how racial cues are used in categorizing other people.
March 23, 2012
The mathematics of jury size
IPR statistician Bruce Spencer analyzed surveys completed by judges just before juries delivered their verdict and compared what the judges thought to the juries' decisions, finding that the verdicts agreed about 80 percent of the time. He found that in about one in every five trials in his study sample, the judge and the jury came to different conclusions.
March 19, 2012
U.S. ADHD diagnoses rocket upward
In the last decade, the number of U.S. children and teens diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has increased by 66 percent, jumping from 6.2 million people in 2000 to 10.4 million in 2010, according to a new study led by pediatrician and IPR associate Craig Garfield.
The Huffington Post, March 21, ADHD diagnoses in children up 66 percent
Slate, March 20, ADHD diagnoses increase in an age of distraction
PsychCentral, March 20, ADHD diagnoses up 66 percent since 2000
Northwestern NewsCenter, March 19, Diagnosis of ADHD on the rise
March 19, 2012
How the Mark Daisey fiasco is affecting Apple
While the Nightline broadcast and the Daisey controversy may have cast a favorable spotlight on Apple, Daniel Diermeier, a professor of managerial economics and decision sciences and IPR associate, says that each development keeps the supply chain worker issue in the news, and underlines the need for Apple to address it.
March 11, 2012
Why the British are free-thinking and the Chinese love conformity
“We demonstrate for the first time a robust association between cultural values of individualism–collectivism and the serotonin transporter gene,” said neuroscientist and IPR associate Joan Chiao, who co-authored the study. The researchers found that common traits like British individualism and Chinese conformity could be attributed to genetic differences between races.
March 9, 2012
Experimenting with politics
IPR political scientist James Druckman and his colleague discuss the increased use of experiments in political science research that began in the 1980s, when scholars started to integrate the accumulated knowledge of traditional political science with the theoretical approaches of psychology and economics.
March 7, 2012
Why the new iPad features don't really matter
By upgrading the iPad, Apple improves upon its successful iPad 2 and appeases the company's loyal fan base, which expects periodic updates, explains Kellogg management and strategy professor and IPR associate Shane Greenstein. In addition, the new iPad tightens Apple's grip on the tablet market by drawing in the large population of people who do not yet own a tablet.
March 2, 2012
Professional help: Tips for parents of LGBT kids on preventing suicide
Based on the findings of a recent study he co-authored, psychologist and IPR associate Brian Mustanski shares five ways parents can show that they care, and shield their gay children from suicide in the process.
FEBRUARY 2012
February 27, 2012
Minority students benefit from incentive-based college-prep programs
Incentive-based college-preparatory programs for minority and low-income students improve their college-going, graduation, and employment rates, says a news study by IPR economist Kirabo Jackson.
Business Insider, February 28, Incentive-based college-prep programs are a
game-changer for inner-city kids
February 27, 2012
Researchers discover egg-producing stem cells in human ovaries
Oncofertility specialist and IPR associate Teresa Woodruff’s lab freezes pieces of girls’ ovaries before they undergo fertility-destroying chemotherapy or radiation. They’re studying how to coax the immature eggs inside to mature so they could be used for in vitro fertilization years later when the girls are grown.
Chicago Sun-Times, February 28, Women have rare egg-producing stem cells
The Washington Post, February 27, Study says women's ovaries harbor rare
egg-producing stem cells
February 22, 2012
Candidate's chances are overrated
A new study co-authored by IPR economist Charles F. Manski found that no matter what the polls show, voters think their preferred candidate will win. Said Manski, "People thought their preferred candidate had a higher chance of winning, in every election, no matter in which state they live, no matter who was running, no matter which political party."
Fox News, February 22, Voters think their candidate will win, no matter what polls say
February 22, 2012
Post-natal remorse: 54 percent of parents go on to regret the name they chose
IPR economist David Figlio has investigated the long-lasting impact names have on individuals. "There is a reason why baby name books are extremely popular," he said. "We're always trying to think about the first bit of a child's identity, and so if we as a society pay a lot of attention to names, it makes a lot of sense that people's names might influence how they think about themselves."
February 17, 2012
Delivering warmth for Afghan babies
Thanks to Northwestern Medicine pediatrician and IPR associate Craig Garfield, 14,000 silver mylar blankets—the kind typically handed out to runners after a marathon—are headed to Afghanistan to help children in danger of freezing to death this winter in scarcely heated refugee camps. More than 20 Afghan children have already died from the cold in the past month.
February 17, 2012
Aspen Institute taps Chase-Lansdale as Ascend Fellow
IPR developmental psychologist P. Lindsay Chase-Lansdale was named one of 20 inaugural Ascend Fellows by the Aspen Institute. An expert on the interface between research and social policy for children and families, she joins a select group of leaders and researchers from around the nation who are pioneering dual-generation approaches to move families out of poverty.
MarketWatch, February 17, New Fellowship Program Promotes "Two-Generation" Strategy
The Sacramento Bee, February 17, Aspen Institute announces "two-generation" approach to move families beyond poverty
January 18, 2012
Study finds single-sex schools benefit some—but not all
IPR labor economist Kirabo Jackson has conducted one of the first studies to credibly link the effects of single-sex education to student achievement. While a select few benefit from attending single-sex schools, he finds little to no difference in achievement for most students in the sample.
Education Week, February 17, Why science doesn't support single-sex classes
February 16, 2012
Covering automated surveys in 2012
As Peter Miller, an IPR associate who recently served as AAPOR president, describes: Automated polls “rely too much on assumptions to make estimates based on data from an increasingly unrepresentative part of the population. Heroic assumptions will lead to big, unpredictable errors.”
February 16, 2012
Door shutting on residents of last unrenovated Cabrini-Green row houses
Sociologist and IPR associate Mary Pattillo said that the Chicago Housing Authority has failed to keep its word to the residents of Cabrini-Green and has an ongoing history of broken promises. The CHA announced last September that it would move out the remaining families in the unimproved portion of the complex by the end of February and would no longer rehabilitate the remaining units.
February 14, 2012
Family ties cut suicide rate for LGBT youth
New research by medical social scientist and IPR faculty associate Brian Mustanski is the first to show what happens over time to LGBT teens who are bullied and victimized, finding that being bullied and experiencing low levels of support from others boost the risk that they will become suicidal or try to harm themselves.
BusinessGhana, February 16, Family support critical for gay youth
Hispanically Speaking News, February 16, Bullying a strong risk factor for suicide
The Huffington Post, February 15, Family support helps prevent suicide among gay youth
NPR, February 14, Family acceptance key in preventing gay youth from considering suicide
CNN, February 14, Family support a major weapon against suicide among gay youth
HealthDay, February 14, Bullying a strong risk factor for suicide in gay youth
Northwestern NewsCenter, February 14, What shields gay youth from suicide?
February 6, 2012
Online dating isn't the likely route to Mr. or Mrs. right
The typical online dating site where individuals view profiles of those to whom they are matched based on certain characteristics or values doesn’t improve one’s chance of meeting a compatible mate, according to a new study led by social psychologist and IPR associate Eli Finkel.
WBEZ 91.5, February 14, Does online dating work, or does the math fall short?
Fox News Radio, February 14, Valentine's day: Where do couples meet?
BBC News, February 13, Cupid's algorithm: Do dating sites know love's formula?
Smithsonian, February 13, What's science got to do with it?
TechCentral, February 13, The supermarket of love
The Huffington Post, February 12, Experts say online dating has lost its stigma
The New York Times, February 11, The dubious science of online dating
The Economist, February 11, The modern matchmakers
The Ottawa Citizen, February 11, Online dating vs. strangers in a bar: take your pick
MSNBC, February 10, Looking for love? Formula isn't online, reports says
Chicago Tribune, February 8, Online dating's promise--and pitfalls
Athens Banner-Herald, February 8, It's not you, it's your online dating service
KSTP-TV, February 8, Online dating or meeting at a bar: What's better?
International Business Times, February 8, Online dating no better than meeting in a bar
Discovery, February 8, Does online dating work? Yes and no
Digital Trendds, February 7, The truth about dating sites selling you the science of love
CBS News, February 7, Online dating services don't work, scientists say
AARP, February 7, Dating websites don't deliver on 'scientific' matchmaking
Psych Central, February 7, Online dating can be improved
Medical News Today, February 7, Online dating falls short, but offers some benefits
The Washington Post, February 6, Online dating has its pros and cons
CNN, February 6, Psychologists highlight pitfalls of online dating
Northwestern NewsCenter, February 6, Does online dating really work?
February 12, 2012
This is your brain on a hot streak
IPR economist Charles Manski has analyzed how people form expectations of what the stock market will do next. Based on nationwide surveys of households conducted from 1999 through 2004, he has identified three main types of amateur forecasters.
January 12, 2012
Female leadership raises aspirations and educational attainment for girls: A policy experiment in India
A new study, co-authored by IPR economist Lori Beaman, examines the impact of an affirmative action law in India that reserves leadership positions for women in village councils. The research shows that such laws can increase girls' career aspirations and erase the gender gap in adolescent educational attainment.
The Times of India, February 11, Women politicos inspire girls to achieve
The Globe and Mail, January 26, In India, good things happen when women are in charge
Mint, January 14, Women's reservation raises aspiration levels among girls
Newstrack India, January 13, Women leadership reservation boosts aspirations of girls
Medical Daily, January 12, Girl power surges in India after affirmative action law
Northwestern NewsCenter, January 11, Girl power surges in India
February 10, 2012
Illinois voters sense economic recovery—but remain cautious
According to IPR political scientist Laurel Harbridge, people tend to come out of an unstable economy feeling tentative, even when they think things are improving.
February 9, 2012
Facebook is using you
In the 1970s, IPR faculty emeritus John McKnight popularized the term “redlining,” which came from the practice of bank officials who drew a red line on a map around inner city neighborhoods to indicate where they wouldn’t invest. Increased online tracking by companies like Facebook and Google has now made it possible to redline individuals based on a map of their activity across the Web as well.
February 3, 2012
School choice advocates pitch tax credit scholarship program
According to IPR economist David Figlio, the tax-credit voucher program really does make private school possible for low-income families in Florida, but this probably won’t be the case in New Hampshire, where many proposals encouraging educational choice are pending.
February 1, 2012
Married with children
The median age for first marriages in 2010 was nearly 29 for grooms and 26 1/2 for brides, up from 26 for grooms and 24 for brides in 1990. According to IPR sociologist Christine Percheski, the American Dream—historically defined as marriage, mortgage and munchkins—hasn't changed, but the amount of time it takes to attain it has.
JANUARY 2012
January 26, 2012
Warnings of unintended consequences
According to IPR economist Burton Weisbrod, Barack Obama's warning to colleges about rising tuition costs may result in unintended consequences, like new or increased student fees for library access or other expenses previously considered part of tuition.
The Daily Northwestern, January 30, Obama addresses rising college costs
January 29, 2012
Wealth can be a political burden
In response to the recent negative attention aimed at Mitt Romney and his income, IPR sociologist Leslie McCall explains that Americans’ attitudes toward the rich wax and wane, with resentment against the wealthy surging especially when the rich are doing well at a time when the average family is struggling.
January 24, 2012
Who exactly are the 1%?
What are the political attitudes of the wealthy? A new study led by IPR associate and political scientist Benjamin Page, and colleagues including IPR director and social policy professor Fay Lomax Cook, sheds light on how the wealthiest 1 percent think about social and economic issues and engage in politics.
View previous headlines about this study here.
January 22, 2012
Welfare issue makes political comeback
As the welfare issue returns to the political forefront, critics say it has also resurrected stereotypical images of the black "welfare mother" having out-of-wedlock babies and living large off the taxpayers. IPR sociologist Celeste Watkins-Hayes comments on politicians' tendency to rely on these kinds of misconceptions, assuming that voters won't question their validity.
November 14, 2011
Do you really know what you want in a partner?
Although many people think they know what characteristics they want in a romantic partner, new research co-authored by IPR psychologist Alice Eagly and Eli Finkel, an IPR associate, shows that there is a disconnect between what people say they want in a partner and the qualities that they actually find attractive.
WGN Radio, January 14, Choosing hotness in partners...does it matter?
Fox News, January 9, Unconsciously, everyone wants to date a hottie
eMaxHealth News, January 7, Most people want a sexy partner, despite what they say
News-Medical, January 6, Mate preferences hover just outside of conscious awareness
The Star Online, November 19, Scoring a mate
Hindustan Times, November 16, Can you find 'the one' through online dating?
PsychCentral, November 15, Looking for ideal traits may not land the right mate
The Times of India, November 15, Can online dating help you find 'the one'
Cosmopolitan, November 14, Could online dating be keeping you from meeting the one?
January 11, 2012
Digitizing the fight against HIV
WBEZ’s Eight Forty-Eight interviewed IPR associate and medical social sciences researcher Brian Mustanski about Keep It Up, a community health screening and behavioral prevention program for young black men. Mustanski is founding director of IMPACT, which conducts translational research on LGBT health and development issues.
January 10, 2012
Presidential politics
IPR political scientist Laurel Harbridge appeared on Chicago Tonight to discuss the fundraising and re-election efforts of President Obama, as well as recent developments among G.O.P candidates battling for the Republican presidential nomination.
December 14, 2011
The politics of the top 1 percent
What are the political attitudes of the wealthy? This question is now particularly relevant due to a combination of growing inequality, a weak economy, and Occupy Wall Street’s ability to focus political debate on inequality. A new study led by IPR associate and political scientist Benjamin Page, and colleagues including IPR director and social policy professor Fay Lomax Cook, sheds light on how the wealthiest 1 percent think about social and economic issues and engage in politics.
Chicago Tonight, January 4, Chicago's richest 1 percent
The Chicago Tribune, December 29, How the 1 percent live, and give
The Chicago Tribune, December 29, A foot in two worlds
The Atlantic, December 27, Why the wealth gap between Congress and voters matters
January 4, 2011
Parents break age rule to help kids join Facebook
As the number of users on Facebook grows, an estimated 7.5 million are under the minimum user age of 13. A new study co-authored by IPR associate and communications researcher Eszter Hargittai shows that not only do many parents knowingly allow their children to lie about their age, but often help them to do so, in order to gain access to age-restricted sites.
To read previous headlines about this study, go here.
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