Private prisons: Research, data and controversies
Do private prisons save money? At what cost to inmates and society? We review the research on a host of related policy questions.
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Does pot make you dumb? Probably a tiny bit
Researchers have long disagreed about the effect marijuana may have on intelligence. A new study of adolescents suggests it is responsible for a small drop in acuity.
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Smartphones are distracting even when you’re not using them
Almost everyone has a smartphone. They can be distracting. But new research shows they may also impair our ability to think straight even when we’re not using them.
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Predict if your FOIA request will succeed
Writing a FOIA can be hard. A new tool from data.world will help you improve your chances of success.
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Do parents still model news consumption? A look at teens’ news habits
Despite major changes in media and technology over the past 20 years, a new study of children’s news habits finds that “parents are still at the core of developing news interest and patterns of consumption.”
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International students: Where they come from and what they study
Over a million international students study in the United States. China provides almost a third, according to a new government paper.
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Higher alcohol sales tax helps reduce drunk driving crashes
Raising the sales tax on alcoholic beverages leads to fewer crashes with injuries involving drivers who have been drinking. A new study suggests a higher sales tax had the biggest impact on drivers aged 15 to 20 years.
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Building codes pay for themselves in disaster-prone regions
After the devastation of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Florida adopted tough new building codes. They quickly paid for themselves, a new study finds.
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The FAFSA and gaps in college financial aid
More than 19 percent of college students are eligible for financial aid but don’t complete a FAFSA form, according to published research from an economics professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
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Men’s facial features may sway criminal sentencing
A 2017 study suggests a link between certain facial features and the severity of the punishment a judge assigns to felony crime.
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