On the afternoon of September 11, 2001, a group of social scientists at the Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan gathered to consider the appropriate academic response to that day’s crisis. The group, including economists, political scientists, psychologists, sociologists, and survey methodologists, knew that media polls would provide quick snapshots of people’s reactions to the terrorist attacks, but that scientific monitoring of public opinion was necessary.
Supplemental Appropriation: February 2003, $5432
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a number of surveys were mounted to measure public reactions and responses in New York City and the nation as a whole. Many of the surveys continue to document trends such as patriotism and confidence in leaders, the trade-off between security and civil liberties, and the psychological impact of September 11.
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 generated a feeling of collective fear and vulnerability among Americans. This fear has been harvested for increased civilian vigilance, but also to manufacture support for public initiatives that curb civil liberties, raise suspicion of Arab-Americans and often have little to do with combating terrorism. Does this kind of fear make citizens more active and engaged or more intimidated and obedient? What steps can we take to reduce fear or channel it into positive action?
Supplemental Appropriation: December 2001, $5000
A cross-national survey to explore whether there is systematic bias in the standard survey question used to measure generalized trust.
Supplemental appropriation: $10,590 June 2002
A series of empirical studies about how taxi drivers assess trustworthiness of prospective passengers. Published as a Russell Sage Volume, Streetwise: How Taxi Drivers Establish Customers' Trustworthiness.
As the Internet becomes a more important component of our daily lives, more and more people are meeting each other on-line. Internet dating services have become tremendously popular, and many couples are acknowledging that they found one another in cyberspace. Yet on-line relationships pose unique challenges; false identities are easy to create and difficult to verify.
Kidnapping a person for ransom or taking a hostage for political reasons is not a new practice. Between the 12th and 16th centuries, Muslims and Christians living in the Mediterranean region frequently captured each other during religious conflicts. Because so many people were held captive, administrative procedures and laws were instituted to govern captive exchanges, and a network of agents was formed to negotiate for the release of captives.