Former President Donald Trump spoke via video to attendees of the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition Spring Kick-Off on April 22. Data suggests Trump is weaker among college-educated white evangelical voters than he was in his 2016 campaign. SCOTT OLSON / GETTY IMAGES

Some Evangelical Voters Aren’t Sold On Trump. Will That Help DeSantis?

FiveThirtyEight

Daniel A. Cox, Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux May 18, 2023

White Evangelical Protestants comprise Trump’s base, but cracks are forming along educational and generational lines. What does this mean for 2024?

President John F. Kennedy delivers his famous “We Choose to Go to the Moon” speech at Rice University on September 12, 1962. (Source: NASA)

American Politics Needs a New National Purpose

Daniel A. Cox April 11, 2023

The United States seems to have lost its way as a country. Americans have generally low regard for our political leaders, little faith in our institutions, and even less in each other. Our politics are defined by acrimony and division. We’ve witnessed a decades-long deterioration in civic life and social solidarity. The erosion of traditional

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 24: People sit and have a picnic in Washington Square Park during a heat wave on July 24, 2022 in New York City. The five boroughs of New York City are under a heat advisory until 8 PM on July 24th according to the US National Weather Service. Much of the East Coast is experiencing higher than usual temperatures as a heat wave moves through the area forcing residents into parks, pools and beaches to escape the heat. (Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

Why Americans are Spending Less Time with Friends — And What to do About it

WBUR On Point

Daniel A. Cox December 20, 2022

A full work week. Hours on housework, yard work, time spent with your kids or partner. Then there’s all the time we spend online. Where is the time for friends? Today, On Point: Declining time with friends, increasing loneliness. We hear what to do about Americans’ lost connections.

Four cartoon black hanging lamps on a blue background, one light bulb is not working.

Women are More Likely to Make Friends at Work than Men. Here’s Why that Matters

Deseret News

Daniel A. Cox, Brent Orrell December 16, 2022

Research shows that the more friends we have, the less likely we are to be depressed or anxious, and work friendships boost productivity and worker retention

At Orange Bowl Stadium, immigrants demonstrate their patriotism during what could be the largest naturalization ceremony in American history. c. 1984 (GettyImages).

How Hispanic Americans Think About Work and Identity

The Bulwark

Brent Orrell November 18, 2022

If we want to understand the evolving role of Hispanic Americans in American culture and politics, one useful on-ramp is studying Hispanics in the workplace.

A cartoon of three miniature persons sitting on another person's hands that has shrubbery on them.

The New Workplace Gender Imbalance: Social Capital and Job Satisfaction

The Bulwark

Daniel A. Cox, Brent Orrell, Jessie Wall October 31, 2022

New data suggests gender and education are the difference between liking and loving your job. But there’s a price to be paid.

Gen Z at a Roe vs. Wade protest

There’s A New Age Gap On Abortion Rights

FiveThirtyEight

Daniel A. Cox June 1, 2022

Americans’ views on abortion have been relatively consistent for years despite massive demographic changes, social upheaval and shifting perspectives on sexuality. But that may be about to change.

Photo of a women's protest in front of the capitol building

Will Abortion Redefine the 2022 Elections?

Smerconish

Daniel A. Cox May 12, 2022

Democratic losses in November seem predestined. For many political observers, the only question left is how bad will it get?

A young woman with curly blond hair stands alone on a red and green athletic court.

Gen Z is the Loneliest Generation — and It’s Their Parents Fault

Insider

Daniel A. Cox April 11, 2022

Gen Z is the most accomplished generation, but new data show they missed out on fun and family, leaving them more adrift than previous generations.

An African American teenager male attending church.

Stop Blaming Young People for Leaving Religion

National Review

Daniel A. Cox April 10, 2022

Much of the decline in current religious commitments can be traced back to the way young adults have been raised.

Survey Reports

Cartoon rendering of a series of different online dating app prospects, on phone screens

Daniel A. Cox
February 9, 2023

From Swiping to Sexting: The Enduring Gender Divide in American Dating and Relationships

The January 2023 American Perspectives Survey sheds some light on dating preferences, experiences, and perspectives. The national survey of more than 5,000 adults age 18 and older, including nearly 800 single adults, finds that Americans have strong dating preferences when it comes to living at home, being unemployed, and smoking.

Red leather-bound Qur'an on a wooden table with prayer beads and a light blue surgical mask draped over top.

Lindsey Witt-Swanson, Jennifer Benz, Daniel A. Cox
January 5, 2023

Faith After the Pandemic: How COVID-19 Changed American Religion

The Survey Center on American Life at AEI teamed up with researchers at NORC at the University of Chicago to measure religious affiliation and attendance both before the pandemic (2018 to March 2020) and again in spring 2022, revealing who remained at the pews, who returned to the pews, and who left.

A cartoon showing a vibrant office from the ceiling view.

Brent Orrell, Daniel A. Cox, Jessie Wall
October 25, 2022

The Social Workplace: Social Capital, Human Dignity, and Work in America

Over the past two decades, American social and civic life has been on an undeniable downward trajectory. New research finds that the workplace remains an increasingly important generator of social capital in the wake of this civic contraction.

Photograph of pro-choice protestors holding signs

Karlyn Bowman, Daniel A. Cox
October 4, 2022

Gender, Generation and Abortion: Shifting Politics and Perspectives After Roe

In the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, the issue of abortion continues to garner widespread public attention. Young women are following the debate over abortion rights closely and more intensely than other Americans. How will it affect their vote in the upcoming election and their approach to politics?