Flexible work arrangements, including schedule control and remote work, have the potential to help parents better coordinate their work and family responsibilities. However, it is unclear how flexible work arrangements impact gender inequality. Sociologists Laura Adler and Emma Zang will investigate the extent to which flexible work arrangements affect gender inequality at home and at work.

High-profile cases of police violence have spurred renewed attention to the issue of police use and misuse of force.  Sociologist and criminologist David Kirk will will investigate whether police officers exposed to use of force by fellow officers are more likely to use force after their exposure. He will analyze 911 call data, demographic data, work assignment data, records on use of force from the Dallas Police Department, and American Community Survey data for his study. 

Parole candidates with similar characteristics can receive different outcomes. Prior research has shown a high degree of arbitrariness in California parole-release decisions. Sociologist AJ Alvero, legal scholar and economist Ryan Sakoda, legal scholar Kristen Bell, and data scientist Jake Searcy will use machine learning tools to better understand the decision-making process during parole proceedings in California. They will analyze transcripts from California parole-release hearings from 2007 through the present for their study.