ISR Research in the Media
This year, ISR’s research was cited more than 2,000 times by major outlets like BBC, Forbes, and The New York Times. Our expanded media presence reflects our commitment to disseminating knowledge that informs public policy, academic discourse, and societal progress.
Since 1949, the Institute for Social Research has been a vehicle for research that transcends divisions in academic disciplines as well as social, economic, and political issue
areas. ISR’s structure and funding support flexibility, giving our researchers a unique opportunity to respond to continually changing problems in our society
In the 2024 fiscal year, ISR’s researchers dedicated themselves to meaningful work on a wide range of topics. Among many other subjects, our researchers published papers on aging and family structure, the mechanics of survey research, the U.S. criminal justice system, and the health effects of hypertension, racism, and the built environment. As a result, ISR faculty are frequently cited as experts in the media.
The excellence of our many research teams was rewarded through new funding. Most notably, the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) in the Survey Research Center (SRC) was renewed through 2029 via a $195 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, the largest research award in the history of the University of Michigan. The grant will allow HRS to expand its research into new areas, especially those related to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
ISR also continued to expand its research footprint on the University of Michigan campus. Through a continuing interdisciplinary partnership with the College of Engineering, ISR researchers are working to explore and find solutions to the challenges specific to rural communities in the United States and around the world. Through these and other efforts, ISR continues to be a leader in social science research.
The year 2024 marks ISR’s 75th anniversary. Since its founding in 1949, ISR has been at the forefront of social research, thanks to the vision of pioneers like Angus Campbell (left) and Rensis Likert. Their groundbreaking work in survey research and social science has set the standard for excellence in the field.
As we commemorate this significant milestone, we reflect on the legacy of these trailblazers and their profound influence on ISR’s ongoing mission. Their foundational work continues to drive our research and informs our commitment to advancing knowledge and addressing contemporary social challenges.
research spotlight:
HomeLab
The Institute for Social Research HomeLab is one of our most distinctive research environments. Simulating a fully functional apartment and other settings, HomeLab lets researchers facilitate human-centered research in a way that would be impossible otherwise.
Within HomeLab, research participants give our research teams key data on many different interpersonal reactions, allowing researchers to control key aspects of experiments on things like medical care and physical rehabilitation within the home, the impact of technology on day-to-day life, and more.
ISR researchers can quickly and easily convert HomeLab to adapt to many different research needs, from studying families and young children to medical treatment in a clinical setting. With numerous state-of-the-art tools available on-site, including a biospecimen lab, HomeLab is a cutting-edge part of social research
Donna Walter is the Participant Engagement Specialist at the University of Michigan’s HomeLab, bringing 25 years of experience to ISR.
As part of the BioSocial Methods Collaborative, Donna manages recruitment and welcomes diverse participants into the lab’s functional apartment.