U-M expert to help Gallup review political polling methods
February 7, 2013
Michael Traugott (Photo by Jared Wadley) ANN ARBOR—University of Michigan professor Michael Traugott, a nationally recognized expert in political communication and polls, is assisting the Gallup Organization with reviewing its survey methodology used in political polling. The polling organization...
Trouble ahead: Fewer have retirement funds, more raid them
February 5, 2013
ANN ARBOR—The proportion of working Americans with pensions of any kind has steadily decreased since 2001, according to a University of Michigan analysis that suggests trouble ahead for U.S. seniors. “We expected to see a decline in the percent of employed workers with defined benefit...
Payroll tax hike narrows January gains in consumer confidence
February 1, 2013
ANN ARBOR—Consumer confidence began to improve in January following the uncertainty generated by the fiscal crisis, according to University of Michigan economist Richard Curtin, director of the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. The surveys, conducted by the U-M...
Age and Empathy: Middle-aged are most likely to feel your pain
February 1, 2013
Photo by Thinkstock. ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Looking for someone to feel your pain? Talk to a woman in her 50s. According to a new study of more than 75,000 adults, women in that age group are more empathic than men of the same age and than younger or older people. (more…)
Social networking: Gen Xers connect online as often as they socialize in person
January 31, 2013
Photo by Thinkstock. ANN ARBOR– Young adults in Generation X are as likely to connect with friends, family and co-workers online as they are in person, according to a University of Michigan study. In a typical month, adults in their late 30s report that they engaged in about 75...
Jerome Johnston directs ISR Research Center for Group Dynamics
January 24, 2013
Photo by Eva Menezes. ANN ARBOR—Jerome Johnston has been appointed director of the Research Center for Group Dynamics, part of the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research. “I am delighted to make this appointment. Jere has interesting new ideas for supporting junior faculty,...
High school jobs: Impact is different for whites and minorities
January 24, 2013
Photo by Thinkstock ANN ARBOR — African American and Hispanic students are less likely than whites to work part-time in high school, according to a University of Michigan study. But those who do hold jobs tend to work longer hours, and are less likely to suffer negative consequences. Those...
Video games intensify anti-Arab stereotypes, new study shows
January 15, 2013
ANN ARBOR – Playing violent video games about terrorism strengthens negative stereotypes about Arabs, even when Arabs are not portrayed in the games. That is one of the findings of an innovative new study in the January issue of Psychology of Violence, a peer-reviewed journal published by the...
Consumer confidence plunges in December
December 21, 2012
Click for larger view ANN ARBOR—Confidence plunged in December as consumers confronted the rising likelihood that political gridlock would push the country over the fiscal cliff. Consumers were more pessimistic about their future finances, and more pessimistic about the outlook for the...
Teen smoking continues to decline
December 18, 2012
ANN ARBOR— The 2012 national survey results from the Monitoring the Future study show a continuation of the declines in teen smoking in all three grades under study—grades 8, 10, and 12. Based on annual surveys of 45,000 to 50,000 students, the researchers found that the percentage saying...
