Why journalists should look at question order when covering survey and poll results
We explain how question order bias can affect how people answer questions. We also offer five tips to help journalists spot the problem.
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US presidential debates: 4 studies journalists need to read
We gathered research to help journalists explain how presidential debates influence voters’ decisions. These papers look at aggressive behavior on stage, the likelihood candidates’ performance will change voters’ minds and other topics.
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Bad weather dampens Election Day turnout. Studies suggest mail ballots and other alternative voting methods can help.
Rain, snow and other types of bad weather can discourage in-person voting. Recent research shows how expanding mail voting and early and absentee voting can reduce the impact.
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6 tips for covering school vaccination requirements, vaccine exemptions and undervaccination
We asked health and communication researchers for advice to help journalists cover school vaccination requirements in the U.S. amid a rise in measles cases and a push by some lawmakers to let more unvaccinated students enroll.
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Routine childhood vaccinations and changing school requirements: A primer and research roundup
We examine research to help journalists report on strategies to increase childhood vaccinations as the political divide in Americans’ attitudes toward vaccines widens.
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Four-day school week: Research suggests impacts of a condensed schedule vary by student group, school type
To help recruit teachers, many U.S. schools have moved to a four-day schedule. We look at research on its effect on students and schools.
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What’s a nationally representative sample? 5 things you need to know to report accurately on research
Knowing what a nationally representative sample is — and isn’t — will help you avoid errors in covering clinical trials, opinion polls and other research.
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School board elections in the US: What research shows
To help journalists contextualize coverage of school board elections, we spotlight research on who votes in these elections, the role of teachers unions and how new board members can influence school segregation, funding and test scores.
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Journalists should report on lax oversight of research data, says data sleuth
Uri Simonsohn, a behavioral scientist who coauthors the Data Colada blog, urges reporters to ask researchers about preregistration and expose opportunities for fraud.
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7 things journalists need to know about guns
We’ve updated this popular tip sheet, which briefs journalists on basic gun facts and terminology. We created it to help newsrooms avoid some of the most common errors in news stories about firearms, especially AR-15-style rifles.
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