The good and the bad of plastic bag bans: Research review
Government bans on lightweight plastic shopping bags have spread in recent years amid fears about plastic’s negative impact on the environment. But alternatives are not necessarily better.
Politics & Government
Research roundups, tip sheets, articles and explainers related to the topic of politics, elections, and local and national governments
Expert Commentary
Sex offender housing and mobility: New research
A study in the American Journal of Criminal Justice looks at where registered sex offenders live 15 years after arrest.
Expert Commentary
Most people won’t bet against favorite candidates, teams: New research
People are unlikely to bet against their own preferences in sports or politics, new research suggests, even when such “emotional hedging” may be in their interest.
Expert Commentary
Knowledgeable conservatives more likely to back conspiracy theories
Conservatives who are familiar with politics and have little trust in institutions are more likely than liberals to endorse conspiracy theories, argues a recent study.
Expert Commentary
Unclaimed bodies: Who they are and how they died. A look at Indiana.
A study in the Journal of Forensic Sciences explores the unclaimed dead, including who they are, why they aren’t claimed and how coroner offices process them.
Expert Commentary
Cash assistance programs for the poor: How families use the money. A look at Kenya.
A study in The Quarterly Journal of Economics suggests poor families in Kenya spend most of the money received from charity on such things as home improvements and livestock, not alcohol and tobacco.
Expert Commentary
Polling fundamentals and concepts: An overview for journalists
Basic polling concepts for journalists, including how polls are conducted, polling organizations, and things to watch out for when reporting on polling results.
Expert Commentary
Republican and Democratic doctors treat patients differently
A study by Yale University scholars suggests doctors’ political affiliation influences their approach to health issues such as marijuana use, abortion and firearm storage.
Expert Commentary
Food stamp use by Mexican immigrant families: Welfare reform research
Research in Social Science Research indicates poor Mexican immigrant families are far less likely than poor U.S. native families to participate in the federal food stamp program.
Expert Commentary
The role of race in voter turnout
Research in the American Journal of Political Science suggests a higher turnout among minorities in voting districts where minorities make up most of the voting-age population.
Expert Commentary