NASA isn't why the US doesn't have universal healthcare, or a social safety net. The US doesn't have those things because politicians with the power to provide them choose specifically not to (with varying levels of support from voters). Enthusiasm for human spaceflight doesn't drive that choice.
the front page of the paper, which can be read in: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/pops.70056
we have a new paper in the April issue of Political Psychology.
in this (admittedly quite lovely) new paper, @stephenvaisey.com, @pablobellode.bsky.social and I make a simple point: using panel data to understand belief change is very hard.
we highlight an empirical intractability in the process:
there are many out there thinking that it's beneficial to use AI tools for coding, but treat writing as a sacrosanct activity. I think this distinction is a mystification. I discuss why scholarly work is essentially a project, and it's about curating as much as it is refining:
It’s not just that there is no requirement, but ASA prohibits any requirement. This is why I am no longer an ASA member and won’t serve on ASA journal editorial boards.
Sociologists may be even more able than other academics to hold these two insecurities in their heads at once: (1) My work is brilliant and everyone wants to steal it; (2) my work is pathetic and it's only a matter of time before I am exposed. Both are excuses to not follow basic science norms.
Congratulations, Felix!
lolsob
Interesting use of open ends to show how partisan-leaning independents differ from both "pure" independents and weak and strong partisans
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
🚀 Postdoc Alert! Are you passionate about social learning & cultural evolution? @dominikdeffner.bsky.social & I have a 3-year position with freedom to develop your research and work on cutting-edge multiplayer and immersive experiments. Apply by March 30! hmc-lab.com/SocialLearni... Pls share 🙏
lots of good points have already been made on using AI Agents for cheating (e.g. the latest Canvas-bot), it degrades learning, etc.
One additional thing I'd like to point out: if you use this stuff, you're not being clever, you're just an asshole.
to explain:
Great piece from @dsquareddigest.bsky.social, which touches on one of the big theories for why English-speaking countries do especially badly at housebuilding:
Adversarial and litigious common law systems (Anglo) vs judge-led civil law systems elsewhere.
samf.substack.com/p/build-the-...
Here’s my new Substack post about the value of being curious about new fields and literatures.
open.substack.com/pub/davebrad...
The summer undergraduate internship is a paid opportunity during the summer of 2026. Interns are expected to work a minimum of 30 hours/week and are paid $18.50/hour. This internship is available to undergraduate students with an interest in public opinion, survey research, and data science. Pew Research Center is an office-based workplace, with all staff working in the Center’s Washington, D.C., office three core days weekly (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). Staff have the flexibility to work remotely up to two days per week. A modest relocation stipend is available for candidates who need it. Internship dates: June 1-Aug. 14, 2026 (with alternative dates of June 15-Aug. 28, 2026 also available) Education/Training/Experience College students who are pursuing a bachelor’s or associate degree and have completed a minimum of two years (in other words, rising juniors and seniors).
Please share - multiple summer 2026 in-person undergrad internship opportunities at @pewresearch.org!
- religion
- digital
- social trends
- data journalism
- global
- news
- internet
- AI
- admin
- race
- science
- methods
- politics
Apply soon!
pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Center...
✨ We’re excited to announce the Spring 2026 IAS Seminar Series, featuring a stellar lineup of speakers and thought-provoking talks. Open to all! #AcademicSky
Join “Multilevel & Mixed Models w/ #Stata & ChatGPT” w/ @stephenvaisey.com, Feb. 18-20 for an intensive intro to multilevel models. Learn the (real) difference between fixed & random effects, how to combine both in a single model, & how #ChatGPT can help design, estimate, and interpret your models.
Loglinear models are *definitely* AI
The LPM/logit wars can finally be put to bed. Logit wins because it's AI. Checkmate.
I don't know about an AI bubble in the stock market but there's definitely an AI bubble in academia.
The building of the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt
I got wonderful news: I was granted a position of Max Planck independent group leader at the MPI for Empirical Aesthetics ⬇️ (@ae.mpg.de) in Frankfurt, which I'll join in early 2026. It's a huge honor: being trusted with academic freedom offered by MPG. My group will study the evolution of arts. 1/3
Breaking: Francesca Gino to receive @FIFAWorldCup prize in economics
This talk by @simine.com about what other fields can learn from the crisis in psychology is excellent. I so wish sociology was listening. If 10% of sociologists knew 50% of what she says then research in sociology would be 100% better.
Scene from OFFICE SPACE with Michael Bolton replying to Samir Nagheenanajar: “No way. Why should I change? He's the one who sucks.”
when someone tells me not to use em dashes because AI uses em dashes
How do people form beliefs about complex topics?
Happy to report our Bayesian model of the psychology of Bayesian updating is out in @ispp-pops.bsky.social! (w/ Gabriel Li & Krosnick)
If you gloss over the Greek, it's a new model for how to assess the impacts of information on summary judgments.
Apply now to our next Summer School! 🤝
We are glad to host the Toulouse Summer School in Quantitative Social Sciences from 26 May to 19 June 2026 — a great opportunity for PhD students in economics, political science, and other social sciences.
Application: www.tse-fr.eu/toulouse-sum...
Semesters are too damn long
Academic tip: sometimes you have to write "Importantly," to get a sentence started and then you can go back and delete it.
