Soubhik Barari
@soubhikbarari.bsky.social
Quantitative social scientist. Pronounced like “show biz”. Currently at NORC (National Opinion Research Center), ex-SurveyMonkey, Harvard. Opinions mine only.
🖥️ https://soubhikbarari.com
✍️ https://somewhatunlikely.substack.com
🖥️ https://soubhikbarari.com
✍️ https://somewhatunlikely.substack.com
Reposted by Soubhik Barari
College rankings wield enormous influence, but do they actually measure quality? NORC research methodologist @soubhikbarari.bsky.social reveals critical flaws and solutions for improvement to the college ranking system in his latest Expert View.
Find out more: go.norc.org/46GIx8l
Find out more: go.norc.org/46GIx8l
College Rankings Are Everywhere, but What Do They Really Tell You? | NORC at the University of Chicago
Today’s college rankings are diverse and influential, but they don’t always measure what they claim or what’s most important to students.
go.norc.org
September 19, 2025 at 5:10 PM
College rankings wield enormous influence, but do they actually measure quality? NORC research methodologist @soubhikbarari.bsky.social reveals critical flaws and solutions for improvement to the college ranking system in his latest Expert View.
Find out more: go.norc.org/46GIx8l
Find out more: go.norc.org/46GIx8l
Reality TV is civic education.
My review of @eunjikim.bsky.social's excellent new book “The American Mirage: How Reality TV Upholds the Myth of Meritocracy" up now.
open.substack.com/pub/somewhat...
My review of @eunjikim.bsky.social's excellent new book “The American Mirage: How Reality TV Upholds the Myth of Meritocracy" up now.
open.substack.com/pub/somewhat...
Reality TV is civic education (book review)
Eunji Kim shows how reality TV reinforces meritocracy and shapes American politics.
open.substack.com
July 22, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Reality TV is civic education.
My review of @eunjikim.bsky.social's excellent new book “The American Mirage: How Reality TV Upholds the Myth of Meritocracy" up now.
open.substack.com/pub/somewhat...
My review of @eunjikim.bsky.social's excellent new book “The American Mirage: How Reality TV Upholds the Myth of Meritocracy" up now.
open.substack.com/pub/somewhat...
Fun facts: though everyone knows Zohran is the media darling of the NYC mayor race, Lander's arrest last week skyrocketed his mentions in the national media, more than any other candidate on any day this year.
(Also Cuomo has clearly been the more consistently salient candidate in print/broadcast.)
(Also Cuomo has clearly been the more consistently salient candidate in print/broadcast.)
June 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Fun facts: though everyone knows Zohran is the media darling of the NYC mayor race, Lander's arrest last week skyrocketed his mentions in the national media, more than any other candidate on any day this year.
(Also Cuomo has clearly been the more consistently salient candidate in print/broadcast.)
(Also Cuomo has clearly been the more consistently salient candidate in print/broadcast.)
How the public feels about AI.
My latest on Substack: a short but sweet round-up of some public opinion studies over the past ~7 years on AI. Some surprising patterns, some not so surprising, and a lot we don't know. Link below 👇
My latest on Substack: a short but sweet round-up of some public opinion studies over the past ~7 years on AI. Some surprising patterns, some not so surprising, and a lot we don't know. Link below 👇
May 28, 2025 at 4:18 PM
How the public feels about AI.
My latest on Substack: a short but sweet round-up of some public opinion studies over the past ~7 years on AI. Some surprising patterns, some not so surprising, and a lot we don't know. Link below 👇
My latest on Substack: a short but sweet round-up of some public opinion studies over the past ~7 years on AI. Some surprising patterns, some not so surprising, and a lot we don't know. Link below 👇
Reposted by Soubhik Barari
This week @aapor.bsky.social, I'm excited for my @norc.org methodology colleagues to present (and debut!) some exciting work at the intersection of #ai and #surveys.
A quick round-up 🧵 ⤵️
A quick round-up 🧵 ⤵️
May 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
This week @aapor.bsky.social, I'm excited for my @norc.org methodology colleagues to present (and debut!) some exciting work at the intersection of #ai and #surveys.
A quick round-up 🧵 ⤵️
A quick round-up 🧵 ⤵️
This week @aapor.bsky.social, I'm excited for my @norc.org methodology colleagues to present (and debut!) some exciting work at the intersection of #ai and #surveys.
A quick round-up 🧵 ⤵️
A quick round-up 🧵 ⤵️
May 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
This week @aapor.bsky.social, I'm excited for my @norc.org methodology colleagues to present (and debut!) some exciting work at the intersection of #ai and #surveys.
A quick round-up 🧵 ⤵️
A quick round-up 🧵 ⤵️
Reposted by Soubhik Barari
Another survey methods talk at 𝗡𝗬𝗔𝗔𝗣𝗢𝗥 coming up next week to put on your calendar:
Wed April 23 - 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 (led by @yamilrvelez.bsky.social , @joshua-lerner.bsky.social , and myself)
RSVP below 👇
Wed April 23 - 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 (led by @yamilrvelez.bsky.social , @joshua-lerner.bsky.social , and myself)
RSVP below 👇
April 15, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Another survey methods talk at 𝗡𝗬𝗔𝗔𝗣𝗢𝗥 coming up next week to put on your calendar:
Wed April 23 - 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 (led by @yamilrvelez.bsky.social , @joshua-lerner.bsky.social , and myself)
RSVP below 👇
Wed April 23 - 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 (led by @yamilrvelez.bsky.social , @joshua-lerner.bsky.social , and myself)
RSVP below 👇
Another survey methods talk at 𝗡𝗬𝗔𝗔𝗣𝗢𝗥 coming up next week to put on your calendar:
Wed April 23 - 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 (led by @yamilrvelez.bsky.social , @joshua-lerner.bsky.social , and myself)
RSVP below 👇
Wed April 23 - 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 (led by @yamilrvelez.bsky.social , @joshua-lerner.bsky.social , and myself)
RSVP below 👇
April 15, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Another survey methods talk at 𝗡𝗬𝗔𝗔𝗣𝗢𝗥 coming up next week to put on your calendar:
Wed April 23 - 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 (led by @yamilrvelez.bsky.social , @joshua-lerner.bsky.social , and myself)
RSVP below 👇
Wed April 23 - 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 (led by @yamilrvelez.bsky.social , @joshua-lerner.bsky.social , and myself)
RSVP below 👇
Reposted by Soubhik Barari
How can we redesign college ranking systems to better serve students and advisors in their college search?
Check out this upcoming webinar for insights from NORC's @susanpaddock.bsky.social and @soubhikbarari.bsky.social.
Learn more and register: go.norc.org/41S7sn5
Check out this upcoming webinar for insights from NORC's @susanpaddock.bsky.social and @soubhikbarari.bsky.social.
Learn more and register: go.norc.org/41S7sn5
A New Approach to Creating a College Ratings System
NORC has now partnered with Vanderbilt and several other institutions to develop an alternative approach to providing students and their advisors with information to help their college search...
go.norc.org
April 1, 2025 at 5:52 PM
How can we redesign college ranking systems to better serve students and advisors in their college search?
Check out this upcoming webinar for insights from NORC's @susanpaddock.bsky.social and @soubhikbarari.bsky.social.
Learn more and register: go.norc.org/41S7sn5
Check out this upcoming webinar for insights from NORC's @susanpaddock.bsky.social and @soubhikbarari.bsky.social.
Learn more and register: go.norc.org/41S7sn5
New in 𝗧𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 w/my @sdc.norc.org colleagues @kostygina.bsky.social, Chandler Carter, @andarist.bsky.social, and @sherryemery.bsky.social: on political appeals in nicotine pouch ads.
(Which, as "Torches of Freedom", reminds us, is not new).
PDF version:
soubhikbarari.com/writings/tuc...
(Which, as "Torches of Freedom", reminds us, is not new).
PDF version:
soubhikbarari.com/writings/tuc...
March 31, 2025 at 1:59 PM
New in 𝗧𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 w/my @sdc.norc.org colleagues @kostygina.bsky.social, Chandler Carter, @andarist.bsky.social, and @sherryemery.bsky.social: on political appeals in nicotine pouch ads.
(Which, as "Torches of Freedom", reminds us, is not new).
PDF version:
soubhikbarari.com/writings/tuc...
(Which, as "Torches of Freedom", reminds us, is not new).
PDF version:
soubhikbarari.com/writings/tuc...
Reposted by Soubhik Barari
Can AI-powered textbots improve survey interviews? Join PRIISM and @soubhikbarari.bsky.social to examine how they can enhance response quality and scalability, while considering challenges in bias and respondent experience.
If you're in NYC, join us in person!
steinhardt.nyu.edu/events/ai-as...
If you're in NYC, join us in person!
steinhardt.nyu.edu/events/ai-as...
PRIISM | AI-Assisted Conversational Interviewing: Effects on Data Quality and User Experience
Can AI-powered textbots improve survey interviews? Join PRIISM and Soubhik Barari to examine how they can enhance response quality and scalability, while considering challenges in bias and respondent ...
steinhardt.nyu.edu
March 3, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Can AI-powered textbots improve survey interviews? Join PRIISM and @soubhikbarari.bsky.social to examine how they can enhance response quality and scalability, while considering challenges in bias and respondent experience.
If you're in NYC, join us in person!
steinhardt.nyu.edu/events/ai-as...
If you're in NYC, join us in person!
steinhardt.nyu.edu/events/ai-as...
Reposted by Soubhik Barari
When gauging public reactions to the latest controversy, it's important not to conduct or share misleading polls. Our new paper in Public Opinion Quarterly is a template for how to (and how not to) poll about the effect of political developments.
Gift link: academic.oup.com/poq/advance-...
Gift link: academic.oup.com/poq/advance-...
February 24, 2025 at 7:48 PM
When gauging public reactions to the latest controversy, it's important not to conduct or share misleading polls. Our new paper in Public Opinion Quarterly is a template for how to (and how not to) poll about the effect of political developments.
Gift link: academic.oup.com/poq/advance-...
Gift link: academic.oup.com/poq/advance-...
Reposted by Soubhik Barari
🚨 Upcoming Webinar Alert 🚨 Check out this webinar from NORC's @soubhikbarari.bsky.social and @joshua-lerner.bsky.social on using NLP and generative AI in survey research! RSVP for the webinar on February 26! wapor.org/resources/wa...
February 18, 2025 at 3:59 PM
🚨 Upcoming Webinar Alert 🚨 Check out this webinar from NORC's @soubhikbarari.bsky.social and @joshua-lerner.bsky.social on using NLP and generative AI in survey research! RSVP for the webinar on February 26! wapor.org/resources/wa...
Reposted by Soubhik Barari
Some folks asked me how to build a data science career as a social scientist. I published an article on this with other computational social scientists last year: cambridge.org/core/journal...
Training Computational Social Science PhD Students for Academic and Non-Academic Careers | PS: Political Science & Politics | Cambridge Core
Training Computational Social Science PhD Students for Academic and Non-Academic Careers - Volume 57 Issue 1
cambridge.org
December 22, 2024 at 9:15 PM
Some folks asked me how to build a data science career as a social scientist. I published an article on this with other computational social scientists last year: cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Soubhik Barari
Coverage of some results from a population segmentation study we conducted ahead of the election that revealed pervasive cynicism across almost all groups of Americans. Always a joy to collaborate with @trosenstiel.bsky.social, @soubhikbarari.bsky.social, and colleagues.
How deep seated is American political cynicism? A comprehensive study by researchers at NORC, Louisiana State University, and the University of Maryland revealed a deep sense of cynicism that crosses political divisions.
Opinion | Does Anyone Trust the Government?
Cynicism is rampant across the political spectrum.
go.norc.org
December 6, 2024 at 3:19 AM
Coverage of some results from a population segmentation study we conducted ahead of the election that revealed pervasive cynicism across almost all groups of Americans. Always a joy to collaborate with @trosenstiel.bsky.social, @soubhikbarari.bsky.social, and colleagues.
Reposted by Soubhik Barari
Can AI-powered survey interviews boost response quality? Our study shows conversational LLMs elicit richer, more detailed responses vs standard formats.
Read the full brief from NORC staff on enhancing survey methodology with GenAI: go.norc.org/3V2G81D
Read the full brief from NORC staff on enhancing survey methodology with GenAI: go.norc.org/3V2G81D
November 22, 2024 at 6:41 PM
Can AI-powered survey interviews boost response quality? Our study shows conversational LLMs elicit richer, more detailed responses vs standard formats.
Read the full brief from NORC staff on enhancing survey methodology with GenAI: go.norc.org/3V2G81D
Read the full brief from NORC staff on enhancing survey methodology with GenAI: go.norc.org/3V2G81D
Reposted by Soubhik Barari
this AP-NORC poll on Thanksgiving foods is from last year, but I simply cannot stress enough how much I continue to enjoy the phrase "Casserole unspecified/other"
apnorc.org/projects/tur... via apnews.com/article/ap-p...
apnorc.org/projects/tur... via apnews.com/article/ap-p...
November 25, 2024 at 8:42 PM
this AP-NORC poll on Thanksgiving foods is from last year, but I simply cannot stress enough how much I continue to enjoy the phrase "Casserole unspecified/other"
apnorc.org/projects/tur... via apnews.com/article/ap-p...
apnorc.org/projects/tur... via apnews.com/article/ap-p...
Reposted by Soubhik Barari
Thanks @mirya.bsky.social! See descriptives on when / where nationally salient partisan language appears in local politics (“climate change,” “gun control,” etc.). Identifiably partisan language is (1) common, (2) especially in larger cities, and (3) local D / R “slant” correlates with pres. vote.
November 25, 2024 at 9:57 PM
Thanks @mirya.bsky.social! See descriptives on when / where nationally salient partisan language appears in local politics (“climate change,” “gun control,” etc.). Identifiably partisan language is (1) common, (2) especially in larger cities, and (3) local D / R “slant” correlates with pres. vote.
🚨New paper out in 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐮𝐬🚨 This one was a labor of love with @simko.bsky.social synthesizing many of our thoughts (and work) on the intersection of computational social science and local political economy over the past few years. Thanks @mirya.bsky.social for the bump!
November 25, 2024 at 8:37 PM
🚨New paper out in 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐮𝐬🚨 This one was a labor of love with @simko.bsky.social synthesizing many of our thoughts (and work) on the intersection of computational social science and local political economy over the past few years. Thanks @mirya.bsky.social for the bump!
Excited to share a first look at our AI-in-survey research from this summer! @norc.org
Can AI-powered survey interviews boost response quality? Our study shows conversational LLMs elicit richer, more detailed responses vs standard formats.
Read the full brief from NORC staff on enhancing survey methodology with GenAI: go.norc.org/3V2G81D
Read the full brief from NORC staff on enhancing survey methodology with GenAI: go.norc.org/3V2G81D
November 22, 2024 at 6:59 PM
Excited to share a first look at our AI-in-survey research from this summer! @norc.org
Reposted by Soubhik Barari
Still digging into the election? Tune in to NY@aapor.bsky.social's roundtable on Nov 21. We have a great lineup from the networks (@kabirkhanna.bsky.social /CBS, Arnon Mishkin/Fox, @trussler.bsky.social/NBC), polling (@pollsterpatrick.bsky.social), and academia (@michaelsb.bsky.social). RSVP↓
November 13, 2024 at 3:52 PM
Still digging into the election? Tune in to NY@aapor.bsky.social's roundtable on Nov 21. We have a great lineup from the networks (@kabirkhanna.bsky.social /CBS, Arnon Mishkin/Fox, @trussler.bsky.social/NBC), polling (@pollsterpatrick.bsky.social), and academia (@michaelsb.bsky.social). RSVP↓
Still digging into the election? Tune in to NY@aapor.bsky.social's roundtable on Nov 21. We have a great lineup from the networks (@kabirkhanna.bsky.social /CBS, Arnon Mishkin/Fox, @trussler.bsky.social/NBC), polling (@pollsterpatrick.bsky.social), and academia (@michaelsb.bsky.social). RSVP↓
November 13, 2024 at 3:52 PM
Still digging into the election? Tune in to NY@aapor.bsky.social's roundtable on Nov 21. We have a great lineup from the networks (@kabirkhanna.bsky.social /CBS, Arnon Mishkin/Fox, @trussler.bsky.social/NBC), polling (@pollsterpatrick.bsky.social), and academia (@michaelsb.bsky.social). RSVP↓
Reposted by Soubhik Barari
This is exactly @eunjikim.bsky.social's research area.
Reality TV shapes views about the American Dream: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Police procedurals likely influence attitudes about the carceral state (work in progress)
Entertainment TV has under-appreciated effects.
Reality TV shapes views about the American Dream: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Police procedurals likely influence attitudes about the carceral state (work in progress)
Entertainment TV has under-appreciated effects.
if you really want to reshape popular opinion, seize control of the writers rooms of the NCIS writers rooms along with all the other procedural shows
November 13, 2024 at 3:27 PM
This is exactly @eunjikim.bsky.social's research area.
Reality TV shapes views about the American Dream: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Police procedurals likely influence attitudes about the carceral state (work in progress)
Entertainment TV has under-appreciated effects.
Reality TV shapes views about the American Dream: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Police procedurals likely influence attitudes about the carceral state (work in progress)
Entertainment TV has under-appreciated effects.
Reposted by Soubhik Barari
Vanderbilt University asked NORC to examine college ranking systems and their methodologies. Find out what we learned and get the details on our work with Cosmic Explorer in the latest NORC Now.
NORC Conducts Comprehensive Methodological Review of College Ranking Systems
Stories of Insight & Impact
go.norc.org
October 28, 2024 at 5:24 PM
Vanderbilt University asked NORC to examine college ranking systems and their methodologies. Find out what we learned and get the details on our work with Cosmic Explorer in the latest NORC Now.
I'm excited to be hosting (NY)@aapor.bsky.social's virtal 🗳️pre-election🗳️ roundtable on October 28th. We're joined by an illustrious group of experts: @ryanenos.bsky.social, @nataliej.bsky.social, @karthick.com, and Ruth Igielnik. Don't miss out! (RSVP 👇)
October 18, 2024 at 1:02 PM
I'm excited to be hosting (NY)@aapor.bsky.social's virtal 🗳️pre-election🗳️ roundtable on October 28th. We're joined by an illustrious group of experts: @ryanenos.bsky.social, @nataliej.bsky.social, @karthick.com, and Ruth Igielnik. Don't miss out! (RSVP 👇)