Biographical information
I was raised in Tucson, Arizona, and did my undergraduate work political science, psychology and classics at the University of Arizona, where I also served in a variety of roles with the Daily Wildcat. I received my Master's and Doctorate from Stony Brook University, where I studied under Milton Lodge, Charles Taber and Howard Levine. After completing my PhD, I held a post-doctorate position at Princeton before coming to Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2005.
Since coming to FDU, I have worked closely with the University's polling group, and taught a variety of classes for undergraduate and graduate students. I currently reside in New Jersey. I have served as Executive Director of the FDU Poll since 2020.
Since coming to FDU, I have worked closely with the University's polling group, and taught a variety of classes for undergraduate and graduate students. I currently reside in New Jersey. I have served as Executive Director of the FDU Poll since 2020.
Where have I heard of you?
My research on Fox News achieved some notice in 2011. While my work did not support the simplified conclusions that were reported in some news outlets ("Fox News Makes you Stupid"), the actual findings - that individuals who primarily get their news from Fox demonstrate lower levels of political knowledge than demographically similar individuals who do not consume any news sources regularly - have been replicated in my research, as well as that of several others, using various methodologies.
In addition, my research on belief in conspiracy theories has been widely reported on, as have, more recently, my work (much of it with Yasemin Besen-Cassino) on how men react to threats to their gender identities.
I also appear regularly on New York and New Jersey television to discuss current events in politics, on Canadian television to discuss national American politics, and occasionally show up on national media outlets like NPR and MSNBC on topics close to my research. I'm also frequently quoted in national media outlets like The Guardian, The Washington Post and The New York Times.
In addition, my research on belief in conspiracy theories has been widely reported on, as have, more recently, my work (much of it with Yasemin Besen-Cassino) on how men react to threats to their gender identities.
I also appear regularly on New York and New Jersey television to discuss current events in politics, on Canadian television to discuss national American politics, and occasionally show up on national media outlets like NPR and MSNBC on topics close to my research. I'm also frequently quoted in national media outlets like The Guardian, The Washington Post and The New York Times.