Disparities in education studies most read
Paul Morgan, director of the Center for Educational Disparities Research, has co-authored several studies that were the most read articles in two different publications.
Three of his team’s empirical studies were the most read articles published in Educational Researcher, one of the education field…
Security Center announces seed grant opportunities for Penn State researchers
The Center for Security Research and Education (CSRE) at Penn State is announcing its 2018-2019 Seed Grant Program to support security-related scholarship and educational programs at Penn State. University faculty and researchers are eligible to apply in the fall 2018 semester by Nov. 1, or in the…
Why Social Science? - Because It Can Challenge Conventional Wisdom
By Olugbenga Ajilore, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Economics, University of Toledo
Social science research provides evidence that helps us understand the drivers of social problems. A lot of times, this evidence is in contrast to the conventional wisdom and may on the face of it seem…
Officials raise Puerto Rico’s death toll from Hurricane Maria to nearly 3,000 people
By Aimee Cunningham
The Puerto Rican government has officially updated its tally of lives lost to Hurricane Maria to an estimated 2,975. That number, reported August 28 in a government-commissioned study by George Washington University in Washington D.C., dwarfs the island’s previous count of 64,…
"Translational Science in the Era of Big Data” to be held Sept. 6
The ability to work with and analyze large amounts of data for research is gaining in importance, especially involving the incorporation of electronic health records. Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute is planning for the future as it looks towards its renewal application for…
Morgan authors blog post for Psychology Today
Paul Morgan, director for the Center for Educational Disparities Research and professor of education and demography, authored a post for Psychology Today's blog "Children who struggle: Understanding and addressing educational disparities."
Using social media to solve social problems
Social scientist rely on data to study social problems, however data from traditional surveys can be difficult and time consuming to collect, as well as inaccurate since not all factors can be measured well. A National Science Foundation-funded Penn State project will evaluate the accuracy of using…
Self-control develops gradually in adolescent brain
Different parts of the brain mature at different times, which may help to explain impulsive behaviors in adolescence, suggest researchers from Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh.
The team discovered that the brain’s salience network, a group of regions that work together to help people…
Why Social Science? - Because It Helps Us Identify and Combat Misinformation
By Melanie C. Green, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Communication, University at Buffalo
To make good decisions, we need good information. Every day, people form opinions on health treatments, political policies, and consumer products. Social sciences help us understand how people can…
Well-being of 'left behind' children in Kyrgyzstan focus of study
Growing up can be hard no matter what a family's circumstances, but it is often more so for children living in the Kyrgyz Republic in Central Asia, one of the poorest countries in the world, known for its dry environment, high mountains, nomadic culture and animal-husbandry heritage.
Isolation,…
Death toll from Hurricane Maria estimated to be larger than previously thought
The number of people who died as a result of Hurricane Maria — which hit Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017 — may be as high as 1,139, surpassing the official death count of 64, according to researchers.
The researchers used official government records to calculate the number, which took into…
Improving the Use of Research Evidence in Policy: A Workshop for Faculty
Date: August 15th from 1:30-3:30pm
Location: 116 Biobehavioral Health Building (Zoom option is also available, see registration for details)
Please Register here
*Registration is required; Kindly register no later than Friday, August 10th
Scientists rarely receive formal training on ways to engage…
Why Social Science? - Because It Can Improve the Lives of City Residents
By David Yokum, J.D., Ph.D., Director, The Lab @ DC
There’s a movement underway to integrate scientific research into the everyday workings of government at all levels. Increasingly, research professionals are being called upon to roll up their sleeves and lend their advice, expertise, and…
Youth who age out of foster care show higher educational attainment
Children in foster care often suffer detrimental effects that can carry over into adulthood and infect future relationships. However, new Penn State research indicates youth who age out of foster care attain higher educational achievement than those who exit foster care and are reunited with their…
NIH guide notice on basic science studies involving human participants
The purpose of this notice is to describe interim policy flexibilities for a subset of NIH-funded studies whose primary purpose is the pursuit of basic science. These are studies that meet the NIH definition of a “clinical trial” and that also meet the Federal definition of basic science. These…
Frankenberg participates on national panel about school integration
Erica Frankenberg, associate professor of education (educational leadership) and director of the Center for Education and Civil Rights at Penn State, was one of four panelists who will present "School Integration 2018," a briefing on past progress, present threats and future opportunities, that…
Advance feedback offered on strategic initiative seed grant funding proposals - July 2018
Penn State community members, including faculty and staff, have been invited to submit ideas for pilot projects that are aimed at fulfilling the mission of the strategic plan to advance innovation, research, learning and engagement at the University and beyond. Proposals for the third cycle for RFP…
Penn State raises a record-setting $362.9M during 2017-18 fiscal year
Penn State has had a banner year thanks to the support and contributions of so many in the Penn State family. Our alumni, donors, and friends are central to our reputation and success, and I know you take a great deal of pride in your University. As such, I wish to share a few of the key highlights…
CTSI StudyFinder survey
CTSI is conducting a survey to improve Studyfinder, their online recruitment platform.
This summary explains information about this research. You are urged to ask questions about anything that is unclear to you.
The purpose of this research is to learn about who is currently using the Penn State…
Arthur Lupia to Lead NSF's Social Science Directorate
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced that it has selected Dr. Arthur "Skip" Lupia to serve as the next head of its Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Directorate (SBE), following the expiration of Dr. Fay Lomax Cook's term. Dr. Lupia is currently the Hal R. Varian Collegiate…
New report provides valuable insights into the ethical dilemmas in bringing prevention programs into community settings
The process of transitioning from a research study with promising results to community ownership and implementation of an effective prevention practice is fraught with ethical challenges that warrant discussion in order to ensure that we "do no harm" while simultaneously providing society with the…
'Share Your Opioid Story' website bringing awareness, buzz of opioid epidemic
Watch the WJAC-TV news coverage of the "Shair Your Opioid Story" website, featuring SSRI Director Susan McHale and Justice Center for Research's Glenn Sterner.
Four faculty join Social Science Research Institute
Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) recently announced four new co-funded faculty members who will join the institute in the 2018-19 academic year: Maithreyi Gopalan, Alexis Santos, Kenneth Shores, and Ericka Weathers.
Maithreyi Gopalan, assistant professor of education in the…
Expecting a stressful day may lower cognitive abilities throughout the day
There may be some truth to the saying “getting up on the wrong side of the bed,” according to Penn State researchers who say starting your morning by focusing on how stressful your day will be may be harmful to your mindset throughout the day.
The researchers found that when participants woke up…
Open source software valuable resource to Penn State researchers
OpenMx, a free and open source software that allows researchers to perform their analysis quickly and easily, has recently undergone several upgrades along with the addition of a new YouTube channel.
According to Tim Brick, a member of the OpenMx development team and assistant professor of human…