This grant is co-funded with the JPB Foundation.

As COVID-19 spread, there was a marked increase in racially motivated incidents against Asian Americans. At the same time, political figures scapegoated Asian countries for the origin and spread of the virus. Social psychologist Michael W. Kraus will examine how pandemic-related anti-Asian bias affects Asian Americans’ beliefs about their position in society’s racial hierarchy and their willingness to engage in anti-racism efforts. He will conduct surveys and analyze data from the Pew Research Center for his study.

In a society that is becoming increasingly diverse, it is important to understand how people approach racial difference. Social psychologists Alexandra Garr-Schultz and Lydia Emery will examine how different ideologies on racial diversity (e.g., colorblindness vs. multiculturalism) affect relationship dynamics, individual wellbeing, and conversations with children about race. They will conduct a survey, a daily diary study, and participant observation for their project.

Among documented Latinx in the U.S., 40 percent report having a friend or family member who is undocumented. Yet, few studies have considered the impact the risk of deportation for these close others has on Latinx individuals’ political engagement and integration. Social psychologists Shaun Wiley and Yasin Koc will examine how having close relationships with undocumented immigrants impacts immigration activism among Mexican and Central Americans. They will conduct an experiment for their study.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) relies heavily on voluntary compliance with the tax code, but it is unable to collect about $1 trillion per year in taxes owed, $37 billion of which is due to individuals’ not filing returns. Economists Elliott Isaac and James Alm, economic psychologist Matthias Kasper, psychologist Erich Kirchler, and IRS management and program analyst Anne Herlache will examine whether behavioral nudges in IRS outreach can increase federal income filing among non-filers. They will conduct a nationwide field experiment for their study.

Almost four billion people use social media platforms, making it increasingly important to understand how social media impacts intergroup conflict and affective polarization, that is, disdain for out-group members. Psychologist Jay Van Bavel will examine which social media platforms are associated with polarization and will test interventions to decrease polarization. His work will advance debates about the ways in which social media contributes to polarization and will offer practical solutions to reduce polarization online.

The increased visibility of the use of force by police officers is due, in part, to individuals recording interactions with police on cellphones. While previous research has shown how police perception of citizens influences police behavior, few studies have focused on citizens’ perceptions of police, particularly on the extent to which citizens view police officers as threatening.