Department of Political Science

Research

American Politics

Faculty

Faculty Scott Althaus Jake Bowers William Brustein Ira Carmen Wendy Cho Brian Gaines Michael Krassa James Kuklinski

Faculty Kris Miler Jeffery Mondak, Area Chair Peter Nardulli Thomas Rudolph Gisela Sin Tracy Sulkin David Tewksbury Cara Wong

American politics faculty currently study public opinion and political psychology, racial and ethnic politics, national political institutions, campaigns and elections, and political communication.  Much of this research focuses on the linkages between ordinary citizens and politicians.  The study of political communication, broadly conceived, has become a particular strength that draws on students and faculty from the political science and speech communication departments.

The area emphasizes rigorous analysis.  Most members of the American faculty use quantitative analysis and systemic qualitative analysis in their research.  Several members regularly teach the department's methodology courses.  To assist those who conduct experiments, the department has established a subject pool. 

As a group, the American politics faculty and graduate students have been highly productive in recent years, as evidenced by the number of top-tier journal articles and university press books.  Members of the faculty take great pride in working closely with graduate students on research projects.  Joint faculty-graduate student articles have appeared in the Political Psychology, Journal of Politics, Political Behavior, Cognitive Brain Research, Electoral Studies, Public Opinion Quarterly, Political Research Quarterly, Political Science Quarterly, American Journal of Political Science, Legislative Studies Quarterly and the Journal of Theoretical Politics.  Increasingly, students publish their own work as well.

The lively and cohesive American politics group emphasizes learning outside the classroom.  Every two or three weeks, it meets in the evening to discuss methodological developments in the field.  In addition, it meets every three or four weeks to discuss substantive research in the general areas of political communication and citizen decision-making.  Both forums offer students and faculty members opportunities to present their own works-in-progress and to listen to scholars from other institutions.