Shinobu Kitayama has been named the next director of ISR’s Research Center for Group Dynamics. His influential work in cultural psychology explores how culture shapes psychological processes across societies. Read more about Shinobu Kitayama to serve as next director of RCGD: myumi.ch/G7k1y

New research from @mtfstudy.bsky.social finds most U.S. eighth graders underestimate the dangers of fentanyl use. “Raising awareness of the lethal dangers of fentanyl use among this age group is a key strategy to reduce these deaths,” says Richard Miech, PI of the study myumi.ch/Mp9qn

America’s senior housing shortage is becoming harder for families to ignore. ISR researcher @spattersearch.bsky.social is featured in a Bisnow article on America’s senior housing shortage. As demand rises and construction slows, families face long waits, limited options, and rising costs.

Consumer sentiment rose 10% in June as gas prices eased, according to the U-M Surveys of Consumers. Joanne Hsu notes that high prices still weigh on household budgets, keeping sentiment below pre-Iran conflict levels. Read more about June Consumer Sentiment: myumi.ch/pgZx

ICYMI: The call for papers for the Panel Study of Income Dynamics Annual User Conference is live! Apply by 7/15! Join us on October 1-2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Learn more about what to submit to share your work as a presentation or poster: myumi.ch/QMrDy #PSIDdata #PSID #conference

Final Summer Institute courses are coming up. Registration closes June 29 and July 6 for up-coming courses! Register to secure your spot: si.isr.umich.edu

ISR’s Next Generation Initiative helped Jeffrey Swindle pursue research on foreign aid, gender inequality, and community change in Malawi. Read more about how Next Gen funds made Jeffrey Swindle’s pursuit of big questions possible: myumi.ch/11n5m

ISR is honored to receive the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Social Sciences, alongside NORC at the University of Chicago. We are grateful to the researchers, staff, collaborators, funders, & survey participants whose contributions make social science in service of society possible.

Happy Juneteenth from ISR. Today, we honor freedom, resilience, and Black history while recognizing the continued work toward equity and justice. Social science helps us better understand the past, examine the present, and build a more informed future.

Why do combat spectacles resonate so deeply with audiences? In a new article for The Conversation, ISR researcher Scott Atran explores identity, belonging, sacrifice, and the psychology behind public displays of courage and collective purpose.

Travel awards are now open for ISR’s 2026 symposium, Complexity in the Social World: The Challenging Case of Place—with support for airfare, hotel, and travel. Join conversations on place, inequality, history, and the future of social science. * Artwork by Yen Azzaro.

Today is a beautiful day to support social science 🌞🌷

The World Mental Health surveys, spanning 35+ countries with WHO, are moving to ISR. Led by William Axinn and Stephanie Chardoul, the effort will expand access to validated data to inform mental health policy and care worldwide. @um-src.bsky.social

Consumer sentiment just fell for the third straight month, and is now hovering below the historic trough seen in June 2022. According to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers, rising gasoline prices tied to supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are weighing heavily on households.

ISR researchers are working with the Berlin Philharmonic to understand how high-performing teams work together, not just in music, but across organizations and disciplines. Building on a long-standing partnership, this work offers a fascinating look at how shared purpose shapes performance.

New paper alert! Our faculty affiliate @reeddeangelis.bsky.social was featured by @umisr.bsky.social. His paper, authored with faculty affiliate @rigbydavid.bsky.social and four other colleagues, is out in Epidemiology, finds there may be no safe level of air pollution exposure

New ISR research finds neighborhood conditions shape teen substance use differently in rural and urban communities. Read more about this rural-urban divide on teen smoking: myumi.ch/DWk74

Where leading social science research meets real world impact.

Deadline approaching for Summer Institute courses May 18 is the registration deadline for some courses. Courses are taught by experts in the field and offered via Zoom throughout the summer. View all Summer Institute courses and register below!

We're honored to receive the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Social Sciences, along with @norc.org recognizing 80+ years of measuring public opinion & social life with lasting impact.

Social science matters. Supporting the infrastructure for social science matters. That's why we've awarded the BBVA Frontiers of Knowledge Award for the first time to institutions, not individuals: @umisr.bsky.social and @norc.org Many congratulations from the award jury! shorturl.at/hu2yd

ISR at the Research Administration Conference! A big thank you to @nickprieur.bsky.social for his engaging session on proposal project management and to everyone who joined our panel discussion. We were excited to highlight how ISR supports research administrators and partners across campus!

Congratulations to ISR faculty Joanne Hsu and Robin Jacob on being recognized with University of Michigan research awards! Their contributions highlight the impact of ISR research and mentorship. Read more about faculty members recognized with research awards: myumi.ch/pVXAy

Happy Earth Day from ISR! Social science plays a key role in understanding how people interact with the environment and how we can build more sustainable communities together. 🌏

Last week, ISR hosted Coffee with Director Kate Cagney, bringing faculty and staff together for conversation, connection, and community in the James S. Jackson Atrium. Thank you to everyone who joined us to connect, share ideas, and build community over a morning coffee

An update from University of Michigan Board of Regents Chair Mark J. Bernstein about the presidential transition. youtu.be/Qod4Nczs07s

How does misinformation impact public health? Join ISR for Information Sick, featuring journalist @joannekenen.bsky.social and public health expert Joshua M. Sharfstein. They will explore how changes in journalism and the rise of misinformation are affecting health. April 16 at ISR. RSVP below!

Registration is open for the Summer Institute in Survey Research Techniques at ISR! Learn from leading experts, build flexible online coursework, and strengthen your survey research skills this summer. Register now and view the class catalog below.

New ISR research from @deanyang.bsky.social at ISR and the Ford School shows migration strengthens home economies over time, with most gains coming from domestic growth, not remittances.

Our graphic designer is out today so this is our official visual strategy now, please advise if this improves data clarity and follow ISR to support social science research 📊✏️ #AprilFools #OrIsIt?

Consumer sentiment fell 6% in March to its lowest since December 2025. ISR economist Joanne Hsu highlights rising gas prices and economic uncertainty as key drivers, with short-term concerns outweighing longer-term expectations.

ISR is launching a new phase of statistical consulting modeled on CSCAR @ the University of Michigan, expanding access to data analysis and research support across campus. Led by ISR researchers @bradytwest.bsky.social and @sungheelee.bsky.social, the program supports innovation across disciplines

Young adults who heavily use substances may report significantly poorer memory decades later, a new @umisr.bsky.social study suggests. “Substance use has both acute and long-term effects on health and well-being,” said research professor Megan Patrick. 🔗: https://myumi.ch/79W2Q

Join ISR’s @umichstonecid.bsky.social for a talk by Doron Shiffer-Sebba on how elite families manage wealth and shape inequality. Join us March 24, at ISR and RSVP to save your seat!

This Giving Blueday, support ISR’s Next Generation Initiative. Celebrating 25 years, the program has supported 700+ scholars with $300K+ annually. Explore more ISR causes and give today: myumi.ch/xwb8x

ISR is accepting applications for a Social Science and Journalism Visiting Scholar for the 26-27 academic year. This opportunity connects research and journalism through collaboration with @umwallacehouse.bsky.social. Apply by April 15, 2026!

Tomorrow! We're thrilled to welcome @shayobrien.bsky.social, Postdoc @mitshapingwork.bsky.social , to CID as she presents, "Kinship Interlocks: How the Intimate Exchange of Wealth, Status, and Power Generates Upper-Class Persistence.” Learn more and RSVP: myumi.ch/3RWWp

ISR Next Generation Initiative invests in future social science leaders. This year marks Next Gen’s 25th anniversary, celebrating 25 years of supporting scholars. Since 2001, donor funded awards have supported 700+ graduate students, postdocs and early career faculty at the University of Michigan.

ISR researcher @jeremylevine.bsky.social studies why victim compensation laws often fail survivors. His new project evaluates a New York policy change removing the police report requirement to see if it improves access for victims and informs reforms nationwide.

This Women’s History Month, we recognize the women leading ISR, the major centers and initiatives at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research. Their leadership drives research that informs policy and strengthens communities worldwide!

What can Kenya teach us about aging and global health? Join us for the ISR Insights Speaker Series as Josh Ehrlich introduces LOSHAK, a new longitudinal study of health and aging in sub-Saharan Africa. Watch the preview video from Josh and learn more this ISR Insight Speaker event: myumi.ch/JPjP7

Cooling inflation does not mean lower prices. On the newest Michigan Minds podcast, ISR economist Joanne Hsu explains why consumers remain frustrated with high prices, how labor market concerns are shaping spending decisions, and why consumer sentiment still matters for the broader economy.

In the latest ISR Insights talk, Robert Manduca examines how property tax base fragmentation drives inequality across U.S. metro areas. His research shows how jurisdictional boundaries shape tax burdens and public services in neighboring communities.

Consumer sentiment was largely unchanged in February at 56.6, per the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. ISR economist Joanne Hsu highlights persistent frustration over high prices and sharp divides by wealth and income in how Americans see the economy.

A new health tracking index built from Health and Retirement Study data is helping researchers understand aging in the U.S. ISR research scientist Amanda Sonnega helped develop the 10 item IAM+ index with partners at Florida State, Tufts, University of Washington, and the Urban Institute.

Michigan signed a new K–12 classroom cell phone policy into law. U-M’s Brian Jacob says research links phone and social media use to lower academic engagement and poorer youth mental health. He calls the law a step forward, but stresses that strong implementation will determine its impact.

Candy (and research) you can trust 💙💚🧡💛💜

Not all self-employment offers the same security. New U-M research using PSID data on about 10,000 U.S. families finds informal gig and odd-job work is tied to lower earnings, poorer health, and more instability. ISR researcher Joelle Abramowitz explains why these distinctions matter.

Denmark shows how policy can reduce the motherhood earnings penalty. ISR researcher @sashakillewald.bsky.social finds paid leave, child allowances, and subsidized child care offset about 80% of mothers’ earnings losses.

"What if addiction could bind us together instead of tearing us apart?" TOMORROW at @literatibookstore.bsky.social: RCGD medical anthropologist Liz Roberts joins @ulabeast.bsky.social for a talk on her book, In Praise of Addiction. literatibookstore.com/event/2026-0...