IPR in the News
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December 2011
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.
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
December 24, 2011
Doctor who invented anti-violence effort wants to bring CeaseFire to Memphis
Project CeaseFire, a community-based violence prevention effort that IPR political scientist Wesley G. Skogan has studied extensively in Chicago, will soon be tested in the city of Memphis.
December 22, 2011
Seminole school leaders blast tax-credit scholarships
IPR education researcher David Figlio conducted the most recent evaluation of Florida's tax-credit scholarship program for low-income students, which is now coming under criticism as education leaders strive to make budget cuts.
December 20, 2011
Pebbles and Diamonds
The Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey, which IPR anthropologists Christopher Kuzawa and Thomas McDade have contributed to, has tracked more than 6,000 Filipino people over the last 28 years, making intergenerational analysis possible in a variety of research areas concerned with human development.
December 19, 2011
Feminism's uneven success
In the United States, as elsewhere, feminism could be characterized as the most successful social movement of the 20th century. IPR sociologist Leslie McCall, however, warns that emphasis on changes in women’s average or median earnings relative to men often conceals growing inequality among women.
December 18, 2011
A recession in 2012? Health growth? No one has a clue
The giant range of forecasts for the U.S. economy next year, predicting anything from hearty growth to a lurch back into recession territory, lend support to IPR economist Charles F. Manski's work calling for the Congressional Budget Office to embrace the uncertainty that's inherent in economic and budget forecasts.
December 15, 2011
President Obama recognizes mentoring program led by Teresa Woodruff
Teresa Woodruff, an oncofertility specialist and IPR associate, received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring for a Northwestern Medicine program called the Women's Health Science Program for High School Girls and Beyond, which she co-founded.
Rockford Register Star, November 17, Northwestern science mentoring effort wins honor
December 13, 2011
First memories
Psychologist and IPR associate Sandra Waxman speaks about childhood memory formation and the phenomenon of "childhood amnesia" on this installment of WBEZ's Clever Apes.
December 7, 2011
Dads have less testosterone
A study co-authored by IPR anthropologists Christopher Kuzawa and Thomas McDade conclusively showing for the first time that testosterone levels drop in men once they have children made Time's list of the year's top 10 new findings in parenting.
December 2, 2011
HIV/AIDS and the 99 percent
IPR sociologist Celeste Watkins-Hayes is this month's writer-in-residence for Chicago Magazine's blog "Off the Grid." Her first weekly post discusses economic inequality's effect on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS.
December 14, Historically black colleges and universities in post-racial America
December 2, 2011
Baby name game: How a name can affect your child's future
Parents often seek to reflect their child's uniqueness by bestowing them with equally distinctive, and sometimes weird, names, but IPR education economist David Figlio’s research has shown that a child’s name can also have lasting implications on education and career paths.
The New Zealand Herald, December 5, Baby names can have negative impact
November 2011
November 30, 2011
Occupy Chicago: A 'dry run' for upcoming summits
Wesley Skogan, an IPR political scientist, speaks about the potential for Occupy Chicago protests during the G8 and NATO summits that will be held in Chicago this May.
November 30, 2011
E-mail reveals your closest friends
According to a new study co-authored by complex-systems analyst and IPR associate Brian Uzzi, details of an individual’s social network can be determined by inspecting the time it takes for them to respond to an e-mail.
The Wall Street Journal, December 1, E-mail separates friends from acquaintences
November 27, 2011
Colo. school incentive program awaits more funds
IPR labor economist Kirabo Jackson discusses the effectiveness of pay-for-performance programs, which offer monetary incentives to students and their teachers for improved academic achievement.
November 22, 2011
Why can't policy makers deal with uncertainty?
IPR economist Charles F. Manski calls for a new provision of interval scoring that would reflect the uncertainty of official government estimates, which are not necessarily accurate despite their widespread acceptance.
VoxEU, November 22, Should official forecasts express uncertainty?
November 22, 2011
Risk of disease partially set in womb, scientists say
IPR associate Ann Borders comments on the effects of stress in pregnant women and how it may impact the health of their baby, echoing the continuing research showing that a woman's health during pregnancy can have lasting consequences for the unborn child.
November 21, 2011
Grandma, grandpa spared from bulk of automatic supercommittee cuts
Slashing federal reimbursements to health care providers who care for Medicare enrollees could force already cash-strapped rural and inner-city hospitals to search for alternate forms of revenue, warns IPR associate Leemore Dafny.
November 14, 2011
Why the "glass ceiling" is a "labyrinth"
IPR psychologist Alice Eagly explains why the notion of the "glass ceiling" should be replaced by one of a "glass labyrinth" to better describe the challenges facing women as they advance in their careers.
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.
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?
November 12, 2011
Perry, Cain manage crisis with humor, defiance
IPR associate Daniel Diermeier comments on the different strategies Rick Perry and Herman Cain have chosen in their race to recover first and best from the crises that have rocked their presidential campaigns.
November 8, 2011
Rockford police department to reveal Compstat to public
Although the data-driven police management system Compstat has been successful reducing crime in several cities, IPR political scientist Wesley G. Skogan warns that in order to be effective, Compstat programs must have consequences, which can sometimes be confrontational.
November 7, 2011
Why the rich get more time with congresspeople
IPR Director Fay Lomax Cook, political scientist Benjamin Page, and graduate research assistant Rachel Moskowitz released a new study of people with a median wealth of $7.5 million, which found that nearly half of the respondents had contacted a member of Congress during the previous six months, far surpassing the percentage of non-wealthy Americans who had contacted a government official, even at the local level.
The Huffington Post, November 8, Wealthy more likely to contact congress, study says
November 1, 2011
Many parents help kids lie to get on 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.
Times Colonist, December 31, Parents break facebook age rule
Forbes, November 6, The unintended consequences of well-intentioned privacy regulation
The Los Angeles Times, November 2, Parents lie to help preteens get on Facebook
RedOrbit, November 2, Kids still finding their way on to Facebook, thanks to their parents
The Washington Post, November 1, Parents help underage kids lie to get on Facebook
United Press International, November 1, Parents lying about kids' age on Facebook
PCMag, November 1, Are parents helping underage kids sign up for Facebook?
The Huffington Post, November 1, Why parents help tweens violate Facebook's 13+ rule
October 2011
October 24, 2011
Is your world awash with germs?
Encouraging people to wash their hands after using the toilet or before handling food might seem obvious, but some researchers believe that severely limiting children’s exposure to bacteria and parasites early on in life might lead to a greater prevalence of autoimmune diseases when they are older, similar to the results found in a study co-authored by IPR anthropologists Thomas McDade and Christopher Kuzawa.
October 24, 2011
The gain from early intervention
A new working paper co-authored by IPR economist Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach examines the effect of early childhood investments on college enrollment and degree completion, concluding that early investments are no more cost effective than later investments in boosting adult educational attainment.
October 20, 2011
Label plan offered to rate food nutrition
As chair of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Study Committee on Examination of Front-of-Package Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols, communication studies researcher and IPR associate Ellen Wartella is leading a national effort to review current nutritional information labeling on food packages and suggest improvements to help consumers make healthier food choices.
The Bismark Tribune, October 24, Report: Food labels need Energy Star-like ratings
SmartPlanet, October 24, For healthier eating, and Energy Star rating on food
NBC News, October 23, Icon proposed to help food buyers choose products
Chicago Tribune, October 20, Panel urges energy star-like health ratings
The Wall Street Journal, October 20, Institute of Medicine recommends ‘Energy Star’
U.S. News & World Report, October 20, Food nutrition labels must be made simpler
CBS News, October 20, Nutrition labels need Energy Star-like ratings, panel urges
October 19, 2011
Obama taps Northwestern University professor Larry Hedges for education panel
President Obama has nominated IPR statistician Larry Hedges to serve as one of the 15 voting members on the National Board for Education Sciences, which works closely with the director of the Institute of Educational Sciences on educational policy and research priorities in the U.S.
October 18, 2011
Out of the Shadows: Factors that lead mentally ill kids into juvenile detention
An estimated 70 percent of children in the country’s juvenile justice system have some diagnosable mental illness. Linda Teplin, an IPR associate, joins other experts in exploring this connection.
October 18, 2011
Entrepreneurial Hotbeds: A Homegrown Mix Of Science And Luck
Trying to predict which cities have a shot at becoming the next entrepreneurial hotbeds is a difficult task because there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to development anymore. According to Brian Uzzi, an IPR associate, one of the most important features people consider when choosing where to develop their careers now is the lifestyle a city fosters.
October 17, 2011
Cada escola deve ter uma meta desafiadora, mas possível
(Every school should have a goal that is challenging, but possible)
Before speaking at seminar in Rio de Janeiro sponsored by the Itaú Social Foundation, IPR education economist David Figlio discussed school accountability programs implemented in the United States in an interview with one of Brazil’s leading newspapers.
October 14, 2011
Lower-income dads more active in their kids’ health and exercise
Craig Garfield, an IPR associate, is the lead author of a new study showing that while lower-income, urban dads are involved in their children's health and encourage them to exercise and eat healthy foods, they are also likely to be uncomfortable handling emergency medical care for their children. This study is the first of its kind to examine fathers' perceptions of their participation in their children's health care and well being.
Science Codex, October 17, Lower income dads active in their kids' health and exercise
October 15, 2011
Happiness is in your DNA; and different races may have different propensities for it
Over the past two decades, the notion that human personality is a blank slate waiting to be shaped by experience, which prevailed for most of the second half of the 20th century, has been undermined. One study co-authored by neuroscientist Joan Chiao, an IPR associate. which studied the relationships between genetics, cultural values, and the prevalence of affective disorders in societies, helped contribute to this change.
October 13, 2011
Is career success a name game?
Several research studies have suggested that the name of a child can impact their future career success. For instance, David Figlio, an IPR education economist, has found that girls with feminine-sounding names like Emma or Elizabeth are less likely to study math or science after age 16.
October 12, 2011
Calling philosophers of education
In the great debate on higher-education policy, Northwestern president Morton Schapiro, an IPR fellow and higher education economist, calls into question whether the admission slots at highly-selective institutions are being allocated in a moral way after one considers the lifetime social and financial benefits students are likely to receive from these shools.
October 12, 2011
Expert warns against spread of obesity
Worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980. At Northwestern University's campus in Qatar, communications studies researcher Ellen Wartella, an IPR associate, previewed a forthcoming global study which will advocate solutions to the growing global problem of obesity.
The Peninsula Qatar, October 13, Expert calls for societal solution to child obesity
October 11, 2011
Being too intrusive vs. protecting people’s rights
The citizens of Kane County have seen an increased regulation of activities, particularly those related to nightlife culture. IPR political scientist Laurel Harbridge offered her opinion and noted that political beliefs impact people’s views on government involvement.
October 10, 2011
Slashed pay for thousands of needy After School Matters kids
After School Matters offers paid apprenticeships to disadvantaged high school students all over the city. This year’s budget, however, resulted in a 75 percent pay cut for the students. IPR social and education policy professor Barton Hirsch, who recently finished an evaluation of the program, comments on how these cuts could affect students.
October 9, 2011
Cable fees at heart of local TV lawsuit
A study by economist William Rogerson, an IPR associate, surveying the rising costs of cable networks can help explain the reasoning behind a recent civil antitrust lawsuit in Fort Wayne, Ind., as well as national decreasing cable subscription rates.
October 5, 2011
Life beyond cancer: Starting a family following treatment
At the time of her diagnosis, Scott was one of the first patients to take part in the Northwestern’s Fertility Preservation Program. The term oncofertility, which describes the intersection of oncology and reproductive medicine, coined by oncofertility expert and IPR associate Teresa Woodruff, was new, and only a small percentage of oncologists were partnering with reproductive endocrinologists to offer options such as emergency IVF prior to cancer treatment.
October 5, 2011
ACC: Coronary calcium CT may be cost-effective, but should it be routine?
The editorial, co-written by Philip Greenland, a professor of preventive medicine and an IPR associate, acknowledges the uncertainty in the area of CAC testing, and notes that testing could improve classification of risk by placing more individuals in extreme risk categories.
October 4, 2011
Why can't women just be women in politics?
So perhaps it's no surprise that a recent Northwestern University meta-analysis, co-authored by IPR social psychologist Alice Eagly, found that women are still viewed as less qualified for most leadership roles, and also derided for their presumptuous behavior when they try to adopt the masculine traits necessary for their leadership positions.
October 1, 2011
Digital natives are not necessarily equally “native”’
The term ‘digital natives’ was first popularized a decade ago to describe a new generation of tech-savvy college students. Eszter Hargittai, an IPR associate and communications researcher, highlights the limitations of this label, using her research on the social and policy implications of digital media as proof that age is not a determinant of technological skill.
September 2011
September 29, 2011
Former Northwestern provost founded school's Institute for Policy Research
On August 25, sociologist and IPR founding director Ray Mack, 84, passed away. His approach to race relations transformed the social sciences at Northwestern and the direction and design he contributed to IPR have enabled its long-lasting success.
September 29, 2011
Does fatherhood make you healthy?
Pediatrician and IPR associate Craig Garfield analyzed a 2010 study of Midwestern urbanites in a Journal of the American Medical Association article, finding that becoming a father can help men to cut down on risky behaviors. In the article, Garfield urges researchers to study men's health across the lifecourse, not "just their hearts and groins."
September 28, 2011
Violence influences peer pressure
Robert Vargas, a Northwestern doctoral student and former IPR graduate research assistant, said the research was conducted in a primarily Hispanic, poor neighborhood, looked at diverse groups of friends that included both academically high- and low-achieving kids.
September 23, 2011
Tavis Smiley Show: Law professor-author Dorothy Roberts
IPR law professor Dorothy Roberts discusses her newest book, Fatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-create Race in the 21st Century, and the implications of linking race to a biological basis.
Colorlines, September 23, The dubious, dangerous science of race lives on
The Tavis Smiley Show (Radio), July 8, Dorothy Roberts, Fatal Invention
September 21, 2011
Low-income students gaining with tax credit scholarships, study finds
"There may be positive effects on FTC Scholarship Program participants in terms of reading and mathematics test-score gains," reports IPR education economist David Figlio.
September 20, 2011
Netflix walks fine line with apology
Kellogg school of management professor Daniel Diermeier offers advice to Netflix as it attempts to reconcile with customers after splitting its subscription options into two categories and increasing the price by 60 percent.
September 20, 2011
The debate over teacher merit pay
The term “merit pay” has gained a prominent place in the debate over education reform in the last year, as more and more research has been released showing it to be ineffective. Freakonomics.com recently featured a quorum on their blog for experts to weigh in on the contentious issue, and one such expert was IPR fellow and education researcher David Figlio, who outlined several possible reasons merit pay experiments haven’t led to improvement.
September 19, 2011
Florida voucher programs fail advocates’ claims
The latest results of Florida’s school-voucher program for low-income students show modest to no gain in the test results of voucher students. IPR education researcher David Figlio suggests these results might be due to the fact that only 9 percent of new voucher students came from “failing schools.”
News Telegram
September 16, 2011
Insulin squirts may help early Alzheimer's patients
But Dr. Martha Daviglus, an IPR associate, who led a panel last year that assessed published papers on preventing and treating Alzheimer's, urged caution. In her field, cardiovascular medicine, she has seen many exciting findings in small studies that fall apart in larger or longer ones.
September 12, 2011
In study, fatherhood leads to drop in testosterone
A new Northwestern University study, co-authored by two IPR anthropologists Christopher Kuzawa and Thomas McDade, and graduate student Lee Gettler, and a colleague, provides compelling evidence that human males are biologically wired to care for their offspring, conclusively showing for the first time that fatherhood lowers a man’s testosterone levels.
Science Fair, September 14, Study: Fatherhood suppresses testosterone, but that's good
WBEZ 91.5, September 13, Study: Male testosterone levels decline during fatherhood
ABC Science, September 13, Testosterone departs as baby arrives
Mirror, September 13,
Men's testosterone levels fall by 34% whenthey become dads
Chicago Tribune, September 13, Fatherhood lowers testosterone in men, study finds
USA Today, September 13,
Father's testosterone drops steeply after baby arrives
The Wall Street Journal, September 13, Men biologically wired to be nurturing fathers
The Guardian, September 12, Testosterone drops when men become fathers
BBC, September 12, Fatherhood 'lowers testosterone to keep men loyal'
Scientific American, September 12, Fatherhood lowers testosterone, keeps dads at home
USA News, September 12, Testosterone levels seem to fall with fatherhood
PBS Newshour, September 12, Testosterone plummets when men become fathers, study finds
Los Angeles Times, September 12, Fatherhood depletes testosterone, study finds
MSNBC, September 12, Testosterone takes a dip in new dads, may wire them to nurture
September 7, 2011
Debating the impact of public policy
The Royal Economic Society featured IPR economist Charles F. Manski in a recent media briefing highlighting his article published in the August 2011 issue of the Economic Journal, which urged policy analysts to improve the credibility of their studies by being upfront about the amount of uncertainty in their predictions.
Success Magazine
September 6, 2011
Business with heart
“You can’t get away with unethical behavior,” says Daniel Diermeier, author of the new book Reputation Rules, a professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and an IPR associate, who is another campus leader in social enterprise.
TopNews
September 5, 2011
Gays account for around 70% of all HIV/AIDS diagnoses, says study
Commenting on the findings, the lead study author, medical social sciences associate professor and IPR associate, Brian Mustanski, said: "Being in a serious relationship provides a number of mental and physical health benefits, but it also increases behaviours that put you at risk for HIV transmission.”
AIDSMap,
August 26, Unprotected sex eight times more common in serious relationships than casual ones, U.S. gay youth study finds
September 3, 2011
G.O.P. candidates’ stances on health care mask their records as governors
As those running for president stand firmly united in their commitment to repealing President Obama’s health care law, Texas Gov. Rick Perry boasts his consistent record of opposition to the law and the success of his measure to revamp the medical liability system by limiting noneconomic damages against physicians and hospitals to a total of $750,000 in 2003. New working papers co-authored by Northwestern law and finance professor Bernard Black, an IPR associate, however, refute Perry’s claim that tort reform slowed the growth of healthcare costs in Texas.
September 3, 2011
Pinellas to study what's working with black students
IPR education economist David Figlio will be participating in a new study conducted by the Pinellas school district in Florida to identify which teachers are seeing the biggest gains in test scores among black students and how to replicate their behaviors and strategies for success.
Miami Herald
September 1, 2011
Little change in Fla. voucher kids' test scores
The report on the Tax Credit Scholarship Program was released Wednesday. It was prepared for the state Department of Education by IPR education economist David Figlio.
September 1, 2011
Does Maggie Daley's After School Matters really matter?
Twenty years ago Maggie Daley created After School Matters as a job-training program for underprivileged teens in Chicago. The program, now operating in nearly 60 high schools, has become a pioneering model for programs in other cities, but a recently completed study by IPR psychologist Barton Hirsch and statistician Larry Hedges evaluating the program shows ambiguous results about its effectiveness.
August 2011
MediaShift, PBS.org
August 30, 2011
Teaching magazine journalism beyond the magazine
IPR media researcher Rachel Davis Mersey emphasizes digital technology and adaptability in her courses using a slightly different approach, that of being "audience first."
August 10, 2011
Glenview’s ‘failing’ schools among nation’s best
"Fail" becomes a relative term after some of Illinois’ best schools fall short of the No Child Left Behind Act’s criteria. IPR education economist, David Figlio, suggests policymakers adopt a hybrid approach that measures how much a child learns in a given year while continuing the law’s current focus on traditionally disadvantaged groups.
August 10, 2011
Online education’s net worth
Studying online may be cheaper and more convenient than attending traditional classes, but there are still many problems to be worked out. IPR education economist, David Figlio, is one expert who feels the efficacy of online education warrants further research.
August 8, 2011
Phone-hacking crisis hangs over News Corp. board
On the eve of News Corp.’s board of director’s meeting, the press and experts speculate what will become of the troubled company. “I’m not sure there will be anything dramatic at the board meeting given the governance structure at News Corp.,” said Daniel Diermeier, Kellogg School of Management professor of regulation and competitive practices and IPR faculty associate.
August 6, 2011
Meet Chicago’s Interrupters…
The work of CeaseFire, a local anti-violence initiative, is the subject of a new documentary film, which cites an evaluation of the program by IPR political scientist Wesley G. Skogan.
Chicago Sun-Times, August 11, Interrupters work to stop violence before it gets started
August 6, 2011
Sears explores move, but experts have their doubts
Should the state government offer incentives to encourage the struggling retailer stay in Illinois? Therese McGuire, IPR professor of strategy and management, feels it’s a tough call. “If a firm needs this tax incentive to stay in Illinois, then it’s not clear it’s a viable firm for Illinois,” she says.
CarmiTimes.com, August 8, Sears explores leaving state, but experts have their doubts
Pantagraph.com, August 7, Sears explores move out of Ill.; experts dubious
August 4, 2011
Forum in RI highlights racial bias in nation’s child welfare system
While African Americans make up only 13 percent of the U.S. population, black children account for a third of all children in foster care. “It’s undeniable that in the United States race matters in child welfare policy and practice,” said IPR law professor, Dorothy Roberts. “The child welfare system is filled with children of color.”
The Providence Journal, August 5, Conference at Brown University focuses on minority children, foster care
mysanantonio.com, August 4, RI forum focuses on bias in child welfare system
WBRU (Providence, RI), August 4, Conference at Brown focuses on race and foster care
Chicago Tribune, August 4, Forum in RI highlights racial bias in child welfare system
August 3, 2011
Douglas: Parents shift focus from disability to possibility
Mother of disabled child remembers hearing a talk given by IPR faculty emeritus and Asset-Based Community Development Institute co-director John McKnight 22 years ago about the value that people with disabilities bring to the world. “That speech changed my life,” she recalls.
August 2, 2011
Is your internet connection as fast as you think it is?
A new report commissioned by the FCC measures internet services across the United States. Shane Greenstein, Kellogg School of Management professor of management and strategy and IPR faculty associate, welcomes the report: “We did not have a mature electricity industry until everybody agreed on how to measure electricity. And we cannot reach a similar state in our broadband industry without a similar agreement.”
August 1, 2011
Congressional vote on national debt
IPR political scientist Victoria DeFrancesco Soto discusses the vote on the debt ceiling with MSNBC’s Rev. Al Sharpton.
July 2011
July 31, 2011
Researchers warn of school "accountability shock"
IPR education economist David Figlio comments on the unintended consequences of school accountability, including teacher resignations. “[S]chools that serve low-income kids are going to be particularly vulnerable. Any system that’s going to provide incentives for good teachers needs to be particularly focused on these most vulnerable schools," says Figlio.
July 26, 2011
Rod Blagojevich asks for third trial, saying the judge impeded his defense
The high number of complaints in the documents is not unusual in such an appeal, says law professor and IPR associate Shari Seidman Diamond.
July 25, 2011
Room for Debate: The black middle class as employees and consumers
IPR associate Mary Pattillo, a sociologist and African American studies professor, writes about how the loss of public sector jobs affects black middle-class families disproportionately.
July 22, 2011
The left-leaning tower
But Dr. Gross failed to find any support for it when he, Ethan Fosse of Harvard and IPR sociologist Jeremy Freese of Northwestern University looked through a national longitudinal study tracking more than 15,000 adolescents on issues like political orientation and education and career plans.
July 20, 2011
Marriage stable despite sense of shifting values
IPR social demographer Christine Percheski spoke about her research and current ideas of marriage in America with Chicago Public Radio’s Eight Forty-Eight.
July 20, 2011
Free enterprise: Shopping for teachers
Does increased school competition affect outcomes for students in existing schools in terms of teacher turnover? IPR labor economist Kirabo Jackson’s analysis of labor markets and charter schools in North Carolina are a starting point for a discussion of incentives for improving school outcomes.
July 19, 2011
Positive teens as healthy as young adults
A team of IPR/C2S researchers has found that teens with a positive disposition were less likely to engage in problem behaviors such as drug use, binge drinking, and smoking, as young adults. IPR graduate research assistant Lindsay Till Hoyt was lead author of the study that used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health or Add Health.
WGAL-TV (Harrisburg/Lancaster/Lebanon/York, PA), August 8, Reference to research that found happy teens grow to be happy adults
MedIndia, July 25, Study claims surly teens make for sicker adults
Psych Central, July 21, Positive teens = healthy adults
Top News US, July 21, Positive Attitude in Teens Influences Their Later Lives
Daily Mail (UK), July 21, It's so unfair! Surly teenagers 'more likely to suffer from ill health in later life
Daily News & Analysis (India), July 21, Surly teens make for sicker adults
EmpowHer, July 20, A happy teen is a healthy adult
WFLA-AM (Tampa), July 21, Reference to research that found happy teens grow to be happy adults
Fox News Radio, July 21, Housecall for health: Teenage happiness
Fox News, July 20, Happy teens become healthy adults
The Atlantic, July 20, Is happiness as good for your health as studies suggest?
Silicon India News, July 20, Sunny outlook helps teens grow up healthier
Med India, July 20, Happier teens can look forward to healthier future
Chicago Sun-Times, July 19, Study: Positive teens more likely to lead happier lives as adults
Red Orbit, July 19, Positive teens become healthier adults
Health Behavior News Service, July 19, Teen well-being spills over into young adult health
Calorie Lab, July 19, Happy teens make for healthier adults
July 19, 2011
QR codes everywhere—even on grave markers
New uses for the technology are popping up almost daily, said Shane Greenstein, professor of strategy and management and an IPR associate, who studies IT markets.
Tucson Citizen, July 18, QR codes found even on grave markers
July 18, 2011
Are private universities the way forward?
Northwestern University President and IPR fellow Morton Schapiro, spoke to the Guardian about issues of higher education and the selectivity of private U.S. universities on a recent visit to London.
July 13, 2011
Do women have what it takes?
Stereotypes about leadership remain culturally masculine, though not as strongly as in the past, according to a meta-analysis co-authored by IPR psychologist Alice Eagly.
Pravda (Russia), August 17, Man’s world refuses to take women seriously even in 21st century
Africa, July 21, Women just don't cut it
The Washington Post, August 10, What men can learn from women about leadership in the 21st century
July 12, 2011
Dissecting the debt-ceiling debate
IPR political scientist Laurel Harbridge, who researches polarization in Congress, gives an assessment of the current options and potential routes for reaching a bipartisan agreement on the debt limit.
WTTW, August 11, Chicago Tonight – Debt super committee
WBEZ, August 3, Obama attends birthday gala in Chicago
July 8, 2011
Twitter is not a safe site: Experts
Twitter needs to commit to a thorough review of its security practices, says Daniel Diermeier, and IPR associate and Kellogg professor of managerial economics and decision sciences.
Reuters, July 8, Twitter security lags some other sites-Experts
Lakestar Media, July 8, Twitter security shortcomings exposed
Times Live, July 11, Tech bytes
Legalbrief Today, July 13, Twitter's leaky accounts
July 6, 2011
Villainy is the fate of most big companies
In his new book, Reputation Rules, Daniel Diermeier points out that corporations are more often portrayed as villains than as heroes or victims. Diermeier is an IPR associate and Kellogg professor of managerial economics and decision sciences.
Read more about Reputation Rules: Strategies for Building Your Company's Most Valuable Asset
Business Insider.com, August 15, Public relations books… and other goodies
July 5, 2011
Disconnected?
Yet I only learned of the Colbert appearance after interviewing economist Charles Manski, a lion in the world of quantitative social science, who called it the "low point" for him in the theater surrounding the flawed studies. The problem was not that Fowler was dispensing with scientific precision for a lay audience; the problem was that he was giving unfounded health advice on national television, Manski said.
July 5, 2011
Colorado hospitals hiring in-house doctors to bolster health care integration
Healthcare economist and IPR associate David Dranove comments on the trend to hire doctors as staff. "This is a stubborn effort to keep hospitals at the center of the health care system by buying up everything that might stand in their way," Dranove said.
Colorado Springs Gazette, July 5, Doctors joining Denver-area hospitals in a big way
July 2, 2011
Corporate taxes' bark often worse than their bite
IPR management and strategy professor Therese McGuire comments on a recent hike to the corporate income tax rate in Illinois. "For multistate, multinational corporations, I don't think the state corporate income tax in Illinois … could be a deciding factor" in whether to leave the state, McGuire said.
June 2011
June 30, 2011
Study tests how race affects recognition
A study on which neuroscientist and IPR associate Joan Chiao took part suggests that the “other-race effect”—the phenomenon in which people have a harder time remembering faces of members of a different race—is caused by patterns in the brain.
MSNBC, July 6, Study helps explain why 'they' all look alike
Psych Central, July 5, Distinct brain activity when recalling face of another race
Live Science, July 1, Why faces of other races look alike
Med India, July 4, Why face recognition In the 'other race' is difficult
June 29, 2011
AIDS: Local doctor looks at women and AIDS
IPR sociologist and African American studies researcher Celeste Watkins-Hayes is conducting a study called Health, Hardship & Renewal (HHR): A Research Study of the Economics Strategies of Women Living with HIV/AIDS.
June 29, 2011
The Power Panel (MSNBC TV)
IPR political scientist Victoria DeFrancesco Soto discusses constitutionality and the politics of President Obama’s health care law.
June 28, 2011
A significant term, with bigger cases ahead
Law professor and IPR associate Lee Epstein comments on several recent decisions related to First Amendment issues. “For the conservatives,’’ Esptein said, “the First Amendment continues to trump other values, especially if they can help business in the process.’
Boston Globe, June 29, Free speech, business win term’s battles on high court
June 28, 2011
5 things you need to know about graduate school
There's rarely a reason to rush into graduate school after earning a bachelor's degree, says IPR political scientist Andrew Roberts in his recently published book The Thinking Student's Guide to College: 75 Tips for Getting a Better Education.
June 28, 2011
"A mix of access, affordability, and quality vital for creating a world-class university"
Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro, an economist and IPR fellow, speaks to the Indian newspaper The Hindu about funding, access, affordability, and quality in higher education.
June 27, 2011
Obama considers Rebecca Blank to lead CEA
Rebecca Blank, now a top economist in the U.S. Department of Commerce, formerly lead the Joint Center for Policy Research at IPR and the University of Chicago.
June 25, 2011
If you wait until the end, it's just too late
Students need to take charge to get the most out of their college education, according to IPR political scientist Andrew Roberts, author of the recently published book The Thinking Student's Guide to College: 75 Tips for Getting a Better Education.
June 25, 2011
Glueing communities back together
IPR faculty emeritus John McKnight and co-author Peter Block describe what it means to build an organized neighborhood.
June 24, 2011
Lack of confidence could bankrupt prepaid tuition
Speaking to concerns over Illinois' prepaid tuition program, IPR economist Burton Weisbrod explains that the program's higher-paying, long-term investments take more time to mature, and it is difficult to access those funds in the interim.
Lincoln Courier, June 27, College Illinois on shaky ground
Peoria Journal Star, June 27, College Illinois! in trouble
June 22, 2011
Chicago to host NATO, G-8 next year
Citing the 1999 WTO protests in Seattle, IPR political scientist Wesley G. Skogan says that lack of security or planning is the "sort of thing that stains the reputation of cities and brings down the chiefs of police."
June 21, 2011
A healthy dose of loyalty
IPR associate Eli Finkel discusses his research on forgiveness and self-respect in committed relationships.
June 20, 2011
Executive pay drives increasing wage gap
Research by IPR sociologist Leslie McCall examines what Americans think about growing income inequality.
Washington Post, June 18, With executive pay, rich pull away from rest of America
June 14, 2011
The Left-Right expertise gap: Considering the data
According to new research by IPR sociologist Jeremy Freese and his colleagues, now more than ever the Democratic Party has become the party of choice for Americans with advanced degrees.
June 13, 2011
Axitinib extends progression-free survival in kidney cancer trial
Research by medical social sciences professor and IPR associate Dr. David Cella examines the effectiveness of a new kidney cancer drug.
June 13, 2011
After School Matters
This after-school, apprentice-style program serving 17,000 Chicago public high school students was found to reduce problem behavior among its participants, according to a recent study by education researchers Barton Hirsch, an IPR associate, and Larry Hedges, an IPR fellow. Former IPR postdoctoral fellow JulieAnn Stawicki, now at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, also collaborated on the project.
TribLocal, June 13, After School Matters
June 8, 2011
Stark differences in media use between minority, white youth
Minority youth aged 8 to 18 consume and average of 13 hours of media content per day, about four hours more than white youth, according to a new study by IPR associate Ellen Wartella, who heads the Center on Media and Human Development at Northwestern.
Tri-State Defender, August 26,
Saturday morning cartoons not meant for babies
National Public Radio, June 29, Closing digital divide, expanding digital literacy
Christian Post, June 16, Minority children use 13 hours of media daily
The Root, June 15, Are kids of color on media overload?
Color Lines, June 15, Media overload? A look at exactly how much youth of color consume
BET, June 14, Is television making us unhealthy?
WBTV, June 14, Minority kids spend more time 'plugged in'
Daily Beast, June 13, Minority kids crippling TV addiction
Psych Central, June 11, Minority youth consume more media than white counterparts
New America Media, June 10, Stark differences in media use between ethnic, white youth
WBEZ, June 8, Minority youths consume more media than their counterparts
CBS Money Watch, June 7, Minority youth have big media appetite
Poynter, June 8, Minority youth spend more than half their day consuming media
Businessweek, June 8, Minority youth have big media appetite
AP (Chicago Sun-Times), June 8, Minority kids use media more, Northwestern study finds
U.S. News & World Report, June 8, Greater media use found among minority kids
USA Today, June 8, Minority kids spend most of their waking hours plugged in
UPI.com, June 8, Minorities bigger media consumers
blackvoicenews.com, June 8, Study shows black children consuming more media, mobile tech contributes
San Francisco Chronicle, June 9, Most of minority kids' day spent using gadgets
News One, June 9, Black children consume more media than any other race
LiveScience, June 9, Minority youth outpace white youth in media page
June 3, 2011
Fertility in cancer patients on new app, website
The Oncofertility Consortium at Northwestern, run by IPR associate Teresa Woodruff, has developed a new quick reference guide for physicians on how to preserve the fertility of cancer patients.
Northwestern NewsCenter, June 2, New iPhone app tells doctors how to save cancer patients' fertility
Boston Herald, June 3, Fertility in cancer patients on new app, website
June 2, 2011
Study: Brand influences trust in ads
A new study co-authored by psychologist and IPR associate Eli Finkel warns advertisers about "pulling a fast one" by adding speedy disclaimers to the end of radio and television ads, which actually reduces consumer trust if the brand is unknown or distrusted already.
Northwestern NewsCenter, June 2, Pulling a fast one
Tech Journal South, June 2, Don't try to "pull a fast one" with ad disclaimers
TruthDive, June 3, How fast advertisement disclaimers affect consumers' choice of purchase
May 2011
May 31, 2011
ACA asks FCC to end retrans "price fixing"
Economic analysis by IPR associate William Rogerson, former chief of the Federal Communications Commission, shows that half the cost of retransmission fees paid by cable operators get passed onto consumers.
May 26, 2011
Annual portrait of education documents swift rise of for-profit colleges
Results from a recent report by the U.S. Department of Education add support to the findings of IPR education researcher James Rosenbaum, whose research has shown that public community colleges could increase their graduation rates by imitating certain policies of for-profit, two-year colleges.
May 26, 2011
Southland will be part of health study
IPR associate Jane Holl is principal investigator of the National Children's Study, which is recruiting participants from the greater Chicago area to study how environmental factors affect health, starting in the womb through young adulthood.
Chicago Journal, June 15, New study wants to look at West Loop kids' health from birth to age 21
May 23, 2011
Institute for Policy Research Briefing
The Institute for Policy Research held a policy research briefing on the effects of early environments on behavior, achievement, and health with experts Lauren Wakschlag, Jonathan Guryan, and Michael Greenstone in Chicago.
May 23, 2011
Online dating tips, as revealed by math majors
Social psychologist and IPR associate Eli Finkel gives his compliments to the OkCupid bloggers, who post regular columns on trends in online dating based on data from the website's millions of users.
Daily News & Analysis, May 23, Now secret online dating tips revealed by Harvard math majors
May 23, 2011
On first day of European trip, Obama touches Irish roots
Visiting a country of origin has special symbolism to many American descendants of European immigrants, says IPR political scientist Victoria DeFrancesco Soto.
May 23, 2011
Schools of Hard Knocks: Legislation aims to expand school choice for low-, middle-income families
Research by IPR education economist David Figlio reveals that when some students use school vouchers to change schools, the students left behind in the neighborhood school tend to fare better, not worse, than before.
May 17, 2011
Who tweets?
Communication studies researcher and IPR associate Eszter Hargittai is lead author of a new study showing that Internet savvy and interest in celebrity and entertainment news all factor into use of Twitter among young adults, with African American students in the study using Twitter more due to such interests.
Northwestern NewsCenter, May 17, Why more African Americans turn to Twitter
UPI.com, May 17, Black students more likely to use Twitter
International Business Times, May 17, African Americans more into Twitter than whites
Voice Online, May 18, Love of pop culture drives black students to Twitter
The Exception Magazine, May 24, Black students use Twitter more than whites
May 13, 2011
Made-up minds
A recent study by IPR sociologist Monica Prasad shows that facts often fail to persuade people in an argument, sometimes even prompting them to hold on stronger to false views. Prasad and her colleagues conducted an experiment with people who believed that Saddam Hussein was somehow connected to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and found that even a statement from President Bush himself denying the connection failed to change people's minds.
May 13, 2011
The road to plutocracy
Political scientist and IPR associate Benjamin Page explains why it's important to understand the policy preferences of America's wealthiest citizens.
May 12, 2011
Obama campaign shows off new headquarters
IPR politicial scientist Victoria DeFrancesco Soto comments on the opening of Obama's re-election headquarters in Chicago, which will establish a base closer to key states like Wisconsin and Indiana.
May 5, 2011
Revisiting the vast wasteland
Craig LaMay, associate professor of journalism and an IPR associate, moderated a panel discussion at Northwestern with Newton Minow, the former chair of the Federal Communications Commission who lambasted the state of television programming in a famous 1961 speech. Minow and LaMay are co-authors of Abandoned in the Wasteland: Children, Television, & the First Amendment (Hill and Wang, 1995) and a recent book on the role of televised presidential debates in the United States, Inside the Presidential Debates: Their Improbable Past and Promising Future (University of Chicago Press, 2008).
Chicago Public Radio, May 9, Fifty years after Newton Minow's famous address, is TV still a vast wasteland?
May 5, 2011
Spray of zinc marks fertilization
Research by oncofertility expert and IPR associate Teresa Woodruff shows that elements such as zinc can play a vital role in fetal development.
May 4, 2011
Study of race in America
The new issue of Daedalus (the journal of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences) is organized around the theme of race in the new age and includes two articles co-authored by IPR faculty: one on racial minorities and intergroup dynamics, by IPR social psychologist Jennifer Richeson, and another on what is changing in the American racial order after the election of President Obama, by political scientist and IPR associate Traci Burch.
Medical News Today, May 5, Scholars examine race, inequality, and culture in a 21st-century landscape
May 3, 2011
Haymarket Riot
"Chicago Tonight" interviews IPR associate Carl Smith, an English professor and historian, about the famous 1886 labor riot in Chicago.
Chicago Tribune, May 1, 1886 Chicago tragedy is mostly observed far from Chicago
April 2011
April 30, 2011
Say thank you to counterfeiters
Research by IPR associate Yi Qian, assistant professor of marketing, shows that counterfeiting can actual help improve the sale of authentic designer products by acting as free advertising for the brands.
April 29, 2011
Evanston debates healthier school lunches
IPR economist Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, who has studied school lunches and child obesity, participated in a panel discussion at Northwestern on how to improve school lunch quality.
April 28, 2011
College via smartphone: The University of Phoenix unveils new app
Technology does not necessarily improve learning outcomes, says communication studies researcher and IPR associate Eszter Hargittai.
April 26, 2011
Jeb Bush leads broad push for education change with 'Florida formula'
IPR education economist David Figlio explains that some improvements in early literacy and math skills in Florida's schools are owed to the state's more nuanced accountability system.
April 26, 2011
School voucher bill is discussed at town hall in Darby (Penn.)
IPR education economist David Figlio says that voucher programs often improve the educational environment at public schools.
April 25, 2011
Cary Clack: Community involvement essential to better world
IPR faculty emeritus John McKnight and co-author Peter Block argue in their recent book that consumerism has taken over American society in a harmful way.
April 24, 2011
Getting help on black student achievement
The Pinellas County School Board is asking IPR education researcher David Figlio for help in understanding why black students in the district lag behind black students elsewhere in Florida.
April 24, 2011
IPR political scientist Victoria DeFrancesco Soto discusses African American and Latino voting demographics and coalitions.
Click here to download transcript
April 23, 2011
Genes make you stressed, depressed
A new study co-authored by IPR associate Eva Redei, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, shows that genetically determined levels of a certain brain protein could affect stress response and risk for depression.
April 22, 2011
Travelers balk at $4 gas, and it's not yet summer
By creating the Oil and Gas Price Fraud Working Group, President Obama has shown his concern over the high gas prices without getting more directly involved, says IPR political scientist Laurel Harbridge.
April 20, 2011
Tech jobs boom like it's 1999
Technology jobs related to wireless, computing, and energy can affect a substantial part of the economy, from inventory management to hybrid cars, says management and strategy professor and IPR associate Shane Greenstein.
April 20, 2011
Coin toss decides election in two suburban trustee races
One vote really would have made a difference, says IPR political scientist Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, commenting on voter apathy in trustee elections in Island Lake and Green Oaks.
April 19, 2011
Billboards that highlight black abortion disparity spark debate
IPR law professor Dorothy Roberts, an expert on issues of race and reproductive rights, says that abortion rates among white women might be under-counted, while rates among black women, who often turn to clinics and hospitals for the procedure, tend to be under more surveillance. Roberts is author of the widely accalimed 1997 book Killing the Black Body: Race Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty.
April 18, 2011
How to get an online degree higher education
Students who struggle with time management might be more at ease with online college programs, says IPR education economist David Figlio.
April 15, 2011
Wellness plans make economic sense
Less than 12 percent of U.S. companies offer comprehensive wellness programs for employees, despite their potential to save money on healthcare, according to research by Mercedes Carnethon, an IPR associate and associate professor of preventive medicine.
April 14, 2011
Economy predicted to be a major issue in the 2012 election
Political scientist and IPR associate Benjamin Page speaks to Chicago Public Radio’s Eight Forty-Eight about the economy's role in the 2012 elections. “Deficits are the major obsession in Washington right now,” Page says. “But the average voter is much less concerned about them than about jobs, about medical care, about retirement security, and so forth,” Page says
April 12, 2011
Every disaster is an opportunity you must seize
Leaders of companies should recognize that large-scale crises, such as the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, often thrust their actions into the policy spotlight, says IPR associate Daniel Diermeier, professor of managerial economics and decision sciences in Kellogg.
April 11, 2011
Chicago school bans some lunches brought from home
IPR economist Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach comments on the high price of mandatory school-bought lunches.
April 11, 2011
What's in a Name
IPR education economist David Figlio says that names can have long-lasting effects on children's experiences and sense of identity.
April 8, 2011
The Real Solution to the Health Care Debate? Connectedness
IPR faculty emeritus John McKnight and co-author Peter Block explain why "building a social fabric" is key to improving the nation's health.
April 7, 2011
Workers protest as gov't shutdown looms
IPR political scientist Victoria DeFrancesco Soto says that the shutdown could end up hurting Republicans and helping the president.
ABC 7 News, April 6, Federal shutdown would have local repercussions
April 6, 2011
Budget negotiations: A study of game theory
Daniel Diermeier, a professor of managerial economics and decision sciences and IPR associate, talks about the "bargaining game" between the president and Congress for a segment on NPR's "All Things Considered."
April 6, 2011
Looking through the eyes of others
A new study co-authored by IPR social psychologist Jennifer Richeson shows how the act of contemplating another's psychological experience improves interracial interactions.
April 5, 2011
When a woman should act like a man
IPR social psychologist Alice Eagly says the "glass ceiling" is an outdated metaphor for understanding gender and power relationships in the workplace.
Huffington Post, July 28, Praising "The Feminine" is Discriminating
AllAfrica.com, July 29, Nigeria: Why Women Are Considered Less Competent Than Men
Business News Daily, July 15, People Don’t Think Women Are Natural Leaders
April 4, 2011
From Brenda Starr to Wikileaks to Robot Reporter
Journalism professor and IPR associate Loren Ghiglione has developed a new exhibit for the Northwestern University Library that asks: "Who is the journalist?"
Poynter, April 5, Ex-Medill dean curates 'Who is the journalist?' exhibit
Northwestern Library, March 29, Who is the journalist?
April 3, 2011
Some towns bring in business without incentives
IPR public finance economist Therese McGuire says the evidence on whether tax incentives are influential for attracting businesses is mixed.
MARCH 2011
March 29, 2011
The 10 most segregated urban areas in America
Chicago, which ranks no. 3 in the list, has been segregated since even before significant black migration to the city, which started in about 1915, says IPR sociologist Lincoln Quillian.
March 24, 2011
A disaster can improve your reputation
Walmart used disaster relief after Hurricane Katrina to improve its public image, says IPR associate Daniel Diermeier, Kellogg professor of managerial economics and decision sciences.
March 23, 2011
Why some kids are harmed by mother's alcohol, but others aren't
Gene variation helps to explain why exposure to alcohol in the womb affects fetuses differently, according to a study led by psychiatry professor and IPR associate Eva Redei.
March 23, 2011
Some CPS parents object to mandatory classroom breakfasts
IPR economist Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach expresses concern that the measures would strip away time for instruction.
Kansas City Star, March 29, Some objecting to mandatory classroom breakfasts
Chicago Tribune, June 16, Why is CPS paying for my middle class kids to eat sweets for breakfast?
March 23, 2011
Rising Wealth Inequality: Should We Care?
In her essay “Americans Aren't Naive” for the New York Times’ Room for Debate, IPR sociologist Leslie McCall points out that Americans are not just naive believers in the American Dream; they get that income inequality exists, even though they might underestimate how much of it there is. “What we are missing,” she continues, “is an understanding of why Americans desire less inequality.”
March 22, 2011
Sex and exercise can trigger heart attacks in couch potatoes, analysis of research finds
"Engaging in regular physical activity is a requirement for maintaining a long, safe, healthy sex life,” says IPR associate Mercedes Carnethon, a heart disease researcher in the Feinberg School of Medicine.
Arab Times, March 23, Sex can trigger heart attacks
Chicago Sun-Times, March 25, Sex can trigger heart attack for older couch potatoes
Fort Frances Times (Ontario, Canada), March 23, Sex, exercise can trigger heart attacks in inactive people
Beloit Daily News, March 28, Sex can trigger heart attacks
March 22, 2011
After mother nature
IPR faculty emeritus John McKnight and co-author Peter Block discuss how the principles of their recent book, The Abundant Community: Awakening the Power of Families and Neighborhoods (Berrett-Koehler, 2010) apply to the recent crises in Japan.
March 21, 2011
Op Ed: U.S. Senate does right by not limiting patent damages
IPR associate Michael Mazzeo, a Kellogg associate professor of management and strategy, discusses the results of his recent study, showing that extremely large patent damages are rare when compared to patent awards overall.
investors.com, March 23, Huge patent-case awards the exception, not rule
March 21, 2011
Experiment tricked graduate-program officials in fruitless search for political bias
IPR sociologist Jeremy Freese co-authored a study showing that liberal youth were more likely to express interest in academic careers and pursue graduate degrees.
March 19, 2011
Uncertainty fuels debate over teacher merit pay
IPR education economist David Figlio explains why his study with Larry Kenny of the University of Florida showed a greater correlation between financial incentives in schools and student performance.
March 15
Jumping on the bandwagon brings rewards
Day-traders who are more "in sync" with their peers make more money at the end of the day than those who are slightly early or late on the trends, according to a recent study led by IPR associate Brian Uzzi. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), has broad implications for understanding the benefits of synchronization, whether in finance, social networks, or nature, says Uzzi. He is professor of management and organizations in Kellogg and co-director of the Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems.
ComputerWorld, April 8, Following the herd: Why traders check IMs
Business Day, March 30, Instant messaging helps traders buy and sell at the right time
Boston Globe, March 27, Learning to push that drink away
Northwestern NewsCenter, March 16, Traders who 'sync up' make more money
Read the article in PNAS: "Synchronicity, instant messaging, and performance among financial traders"
Ars Technica, March 15, Successful day-traders stay in the black by syncing up via IM
Bloomberg, March 14, Cicada-like traders moving in sync have greater gains
March 14, 2011
Postpartum depression affects dads too
A new study by pediatrician and IPR associate Craig Garfield exposes the risk for postpartum depression among new fathers and how it can affect their parenting. For example, depressed fathers in the study were more likely to use physical punishment against their young children.
See Garfields editorial in the journal Pediatrics:
The Jackson Sun, March 27, Many depressed dads spank 1-year-olds
Southeast Missourian, March 22, Spanking 1-year-olds common among depressed dads
New York Times, March 17, Time to focus on sad dads
WFAA, March 17, Parental stress may affect child's health
Daily Mail, March 15, Do new fathers get post-natal depression?
AOL Health, March 14, Dads' postpartum depression ups odds of spankings
Los Angeles Times, March 14, Sad dads: depressed fathers spank more, read less
U.S. News & World Report, March 14, Depressed dads more likely to spank, shortchange kids
The Washington Post, March 14, Sad new dads prone to spanking kids
Chicago Sun-Times, March 14, Study suggests new dads can suffer postpartum depression
Chicago Tribune, March 13, Spanking 1-year-old is common in depressed dads
March 14, 2011
Minorities struggle to regain lenders' support
People of color were the target of high-cost, subprime loans before the housing market crash, says IPR associate Mary Pattillo, professor of sociology and African American studies.
March 14, 2011
Playing chicken with the federal budget
In this post for The Hill's Congress Blog, IPR political scientist Laurel Harbridge explains the role of partisanship in federal budget negotiations.
March 14, 2011
The Internet and inequality: More complicated than we thought?
A recent study co-authored by management and strategy professor and IPR associate Shane Greenstein shows that higher wages and productivity do not necessarily follow the spread of broadband.
March 11, 2011
The Internet and innovation
IPR associate Shane Greenstein, a professor of management and strategy, testified as an expert witness at the congressional hearing on net neutrality, speaking about the benefits of preserving existing regulation.
Watch C-SPAN coverage of the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee Hearing on Net Neutrality
The New American, March 10, House subcommittee votes to invalidate FCC's net neutrality
Broadband Census News, March 9, House subcommittee votes to nullify open Internet order
The Hill, March 7, AT&T, Free Press to testify at net neutrality hearing
March 11, 2011
Think you have a perfect partner? That's a good sign
In a segment for Fox28 in South Bend, social psychologist and IPR associate Eli Finkel comments on new research showing that rose-colored glasses could actually help sustain romantic relationships.
March 10, 2011
Northwestern's David N. Figlio addresses Phi Beta Kappa convocation
As the principal speaker at the Phi Beta Kappa honor society convocation at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va., IPR education economist David Figlio advised students to "take the time to find that everything you observe connects to things you never even dreamed of."
March 7, 2011
Long way up to highest court of the land
IPR associate Lee Epstein, a leading expert on judicial politics, moderated the law school's panel discussion with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
March 7, 2011
Supreme Court opens way for prisoners to attempt to gain access to DNA evidence
In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Texas should consider the claims of death row inmate Hank Skinner, whose case has been supported by the Medill Innocence Project and its director, journalism professor and IPR associate David Protess.
Birmingham News, March 15, Illinois ended capital punshiment
Dallas Morning News, March 15, Editorial: Spring-breakers join an anti-death-penalty crusade
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, March 14, Justice is about getting it right
Progress Illinois, March 12, Week in Review
USA Today, March 10, Illinois abolishes death penalty, clears death row
Women's Day, March 10, Illinois abolishes death penaltyThe Washington Post
Huffington Post, March 9, Is the Supreme Court going "soft on crime"?
Daily Northwestern, March 8, U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of Hank Skinner, Medill Innocence Project
Los Angeles Times, March 8, Justices rule for death row inmate who wants DNA testing
Politics Daily, March 7, Supreme Court clears path toward post-conviction DNA testing
February 14, Supreme Court confronts conflicting laws on post-conviction DNA testing
March 7, 2011
Doctors aim to save fertility of kids with cancer
IPR associate Teresa Woodruff is an expert in the emerging field of oncofertility.
Chicago Sun-Times, April 11, Slim chance at pregnancy worth it for woman fighting breast cancer
Detroit Free Press, April 9, Fertility options move way beyond traditional sperm and embryo banks
Babble.com, March 22, Doctors aim to save fertility of kids with cancer
Connecticut Post, March 15, Doctors aim to save fertility of kids with cancer
Abilene Reporter News, March 14, Methods aim to preserve future fertility
Philadelphia Star, March 11, Doctors aim to save fertility of kids with cancer
The Hamilton Spectator, March 8, Parents look at banking reproductive tissue to save their child’s fertility
Daily Herald, April 1, New procedures try to preserve fertility of ill children
March 6, 2011
So far rivals can't beat iPad's price
Apple's direct selling of the iPad avoids the markup from retailers like Best Buy, says IPR associate Shane Greenstein, professor of management and strategy.
March 6, 2011
Asian population booming in suburbs
The Asian population of Chicago's suburbs is rising, matching national trends, says IPR sociologist Christine Percheski.
March 2, 2011
Kankakee father shaped George Ryan's death row decision
Journalism professor and IPR associate David Protess, who directs the Medill Innocence Project, discusses the former governor's 2003 decision to commute all death sentences in Illinois to life terms.
FEBRUARY 2011
February 25, 2011
'American politics increasingly resembles a kind of total war'
Law professor and IPR associate Lee Epstein discusses the spread of partisan polarization into lower levels of the court system.
The Economist, February 28, A vague thought on global polarisation
February 25, 2011
Childcare Network of Evanston moves to new home
IPR research scientist Teresa Eckrich Sommer will speak at the new CNE center in March about her research exploring the importance of dual-generation initiatives that address the educational needs of low-income parents and children in the same family.
February 24, 2011
Devil wears Prada: How knockoffs boost brand sales
Though designers often worry about damage to their brand from counterfeit goods, knockoffs can also have positive advertising potential, according to research by marketing professor and IPR associate Yi Qian.
February 22, 2011
HP expected to post strong quarterly earnings
In taking on Apple, HP hopes that having its own hardware and software will be an advantage, says Shane Greenstein, a Kellogg professor of management and strategy and IPR associate.
February 21, 2011
Fed study: Taxing soda could hit low-income households hardest
More cash-strapped states are considering a tax on sugary sodas, but the tax would most likely hit the less educated and low-income households the hardest, according to a new study by IPR economist Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach and Leslie McGranahan of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
Chicago Fed Letter (pdf), March 2011, Who would be affected by soda taxes?
February 17, 2011
Survey of online access finds digital divide
IPR associate Shane Greenstein discusses some of the challenges in designing effective broadband policy and how a first-of-its-kind federal survey could help future development plans. Greenstein is a professor of management and strategy in Kellogg and an expert on the geography of Internet infrastructure.
February 16, 2011
"Neither politicians nor journalists know how to evaluate a government"
In this interview with the Spanish daily newspaper La Vanguardia, IPR social psychologist Thomas D. Cook discusses his scientific approach to evaluating U.S. public policy and how it contrasts with that of many politicians and journalists.
February 16, 2011
A loving partner is not always helpful
A new study co-authored by social psychologist and IPR associate Eli Finkel shows that people sometimes "outsource" self-regulatory behavior to their loved ones, for example, replacing self-motivation with a partner or family member's support in pursuit of academic, health, or fitness goals.
HealthCanal.com, February 15, Got a goal? A helpful partner isn't always helpful
February 15, 2011
All free speech systems are works in progress
This Q&A with journalism professor and IPR associate Craig LaMay covers free speech in the United States and the European Union, as well as questions of how traditional media are holding up in an age of new Internet and media technologies.
February 14, 2011
School-voucher research less emphatic than debate
As debate heats up in Pennsylvania over whether to adopt a statewide school voucher program for low-income students, IPR education economist David Figlio warns that school vouchers are “no magical pill” for fundamentally changing how public schools operate.
NJ Spotlight, February 23, Op Ed: The facts are these, OSA makes sense
Daily Times, February 28, Multiple choice question: School voucher plan garnering praise and criticism in Pa. Senate
The Times and Democrat, April 4, Being honest about school choice
February 13, 2011
How class affects your brain
At top universities, psychological pressure to perform could be especially taxing for students from lower-class backgrounds, according to new study by social psychologists Jennifer Richeson, an IPR fellow, and Eli Finkel, an IPR associate, and their colleague.
February 13, 2011
The art of attraction
"Being romantically isolated with no prospects is desolating for people," says social psychologist and IPR associate Eli Finkel, commenting on a dating "workshop" for men.
February 11, 2011
Crime rates have plummeted over the last 20 years. Why aren't we less scared?
IPR social policy professor Dan Lewis explains why fear of crime hasn't dropped more alongside actual crime rates.
ScienceBlogs, February 21, Crime and fear of crime in America
February 10, 2011
CeaseFire: Success beyond Chicago
IPR political scientist Wesley G. Skogan conducted the long-term evaluation of CeaseFire, a violence-prevention program that started in Chicago's West Garfield neighborhood in 2000.
February 10, 2011
Wikipedia's editing process is still a mystery to students
IPR associate Eszter Hargittai discusses results from her recent study of how college students perceive Wikipedia as an information resource. The study revealed that most students do not have a solid grasp of how content is added and edited on this public, open-access encyclopedia.
February 8, 2011
IU researcher studies foreclosures' impact on kids
IPR education economist David Figlio is one of the lead investigators on a new study to examine how housing instability affects children's school performance.
February 8, 2011
Seven tips for selecting college classes
In his new book, "The Thinking Student's Guide to College" (University of Chicago Press 2010), IPR political scientist Andrew Roberts gives 75 tips for freshmen on how to make the most of their college experience.
February 5, 2011
Doing the judicial math on health care
The Supreme Court justices have little reason to worry over their image in deciding the fate of health care reform, says law professor and IPR associate Lee Epstein.
February 4, 2011
Making the grade: Nature and nurture can both help or hurt
Some "very stress reactive" students who struggle in high-stress classrooms could thrive in more nurturing learning environments, says IPR psychobiologist Emma Adam.
Winter 2011
Does competition improve schools? New evidence from the Florida tax-credit scholarship program
IPR education economist David Figlio and graduate research assistant Cassandra Hart present their latest evidence on vouchers and school improvement.
February 3, 2011
Martin Luther King: Remembering what we forgot
Nonviolence is a key, though oft-forgotten, piece of King's legacy, write IPR faculty emeritus John McKnight and his colleague Peter Block in this editorial.
JANUARY 2011
January 31, 2011
On deaf ears
Healthcare economist and IPR associate David Dranove comments on Republican attempts to repeal Obama's healthcare reform legislation and the Democrats' response.
January 28, 2011
Obama will use state of US economy to build 2012 White House bid
If the economy improves, Obama will be "riding that wave hard and fast" into the 2012 presidential election, predicts IPR political scientist Victoria DeFrancesco Soto.
January 24, 2011
Online Engagement: What Causes Variation in Contributing to Participatory Web Sites?
IPR associate Eszter Hargittai presents her research on differences in Internet skills and use among the public and what they might mean for the democratizing potential of new tools and services.
January 26, 2011
Inmigración y el Informe Presidencial: ¿Serias intenciones?
IPR political scientist Victoria DeFrancesco Soto discusses President Barack Obama's intentions for immigration reform following his State of the Union address (article in Spanish).
January 20, 2011
NU Professor: Don't be afraid of China
Political scientist and IPR associate Benjamin Page discusses his new recently published book, Living with the Dragon: How the American Public Views the Rise of China.
January 19, 2011
Martinez may have national GOP's ear
IPR political scientist Victoria DeFrancesco Soto predicts a more active national role for Susana Martinez, the Republican governor of New Mexico.
January 2011
Breakthroughs in women's health
IPR associate and oncofertility expert Teresa Woodruff, founder of the Institute for Women's Health Research at Northwestern, explains how biological differences between men and women can have a powerful effect on medical research.
January 19, 2011
Community, not technology, is what people with dementia need
John McKnight, IPR faculty emeritus and director of Northwestern's Asset-Based Community Development Institute, defines community as "a place where people prevail."
January 19, 2011
Consumer 11.0: Comcast-NBCU merger to change communications, entertainment landscape
Consumers will likely see a spike in cable prices following Comcast's merger with NBC Universal, according to economic analysis by IPR associate William Rogerson.
January 16, 2011
In a tough economy, new focus on job-oriented certificates
Because many high school students with mediocre grades are not prepared to take college-level courses, earning a vocational certificate is often a more realistic goal, explains IPR education researcher James Rosenbaum.
See also in The Sacramento Bee, January 17
January 13, 2011
The legendary lawyer who will defend Loughner: Judy Clarke
Judy Clark, assigned to defend 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner in the case of the Tuscon, Ariz., shootings, is well-known for keeping her clients off death row, says journalism professor David Protess, an IPR associate and director of the Medill Innocence Project.
January 12, 2011
Incentivizing peer reviewers
Freakonomics Blogger Daniel Hamermesh seconds the suggestion of IPR economist David Figlio that scholarly journals assign papers to be peer-reviewed based in part on the author's own speed at reviewing others' papers.
January 12, 2011
Potential dangers of political rhetoric
Chicago Public Radio's "Eight Forty-Eight" talks with IPR political scientist Victoria DeFrancesco Soto about political discourse and its consequences. DeFrancesco Soto studies public opinion and vote choice and is also from the district of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was recently shot at a public rally Tuscon.
January 11, 2011
Illinois Senate may abolish death penalty Tuesday
Journalism professor David Protess, an IPR associate and director of the Medill Innocence Project, praises the work of former students who helped to free the wrongfully convicted from death row and were a "driving force" in the debate over a possible death penalty ban in Illinois.
Daily Northwestern, January 11, Northwestern group cheers death penalty ban it helped bring about
Illinois Times, January 20, From death row to hero
January 11, 2011
WTTW's "Chicago Tonight" - Children's Health Study
Dr. Jane Holl, IPR associate and principal investigator of the National Children's Study, explains how the study will help researchers understand the factors behind childhood diseases such as asthma and autism.
January 10, 2011
'Psycho-killer'? The Jared Lee Loughner case brings out the usual abuse
Mentally ill people are much more likely to be the victims of violent crime than the perpetrators, according to research by psychiatry professor and IPR associate Linda Teplin and her colleagues.
The Wichita Eagle, January 16, Mental health dialogue needs to be more open
January 8, 2011
Community policing is caught in a cross-fire
Chicago's community policing program, a landmark initiative under Mayor Daley, could be cut under new police leadership, despite falling crime and positive feedback from residents in neighborhoods with high participation, says IPR political scientist Wesley G. Skogan, who has been studying the program since its beginnings in the 1990s.
January 6, 2011
Finger on the political pulse of Latinos
IPR political scientist Victoria De Francesco is gaining widespread attention for her work on ethnic group identity and U.S. politics.
January 1, 2011
Chicago murder rate reaches 45-year low, police data show
Although smarter policing tactics and higher incarceration rates in the 1990s have helped to bring down both total crime and violence in Chicago, many African American neighborhoods have not seen the same decline in crime as the city's white and Hispanic neighborhoods, says IPR political scientist Wesley G. Skogan.
UPI.com, January 2, Murder rate falls in Chicago
The Crime Report, January 2, 'Astonishing' low 435 homicide total in Chicago for 2010
CLTV, January 1, Chicago murder rate reaches 45-year low, police data show
Chicago Top 100, January 1, Chicago murder rate the lowest since 1965
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