Rebecca Wolfe
@rebeccajaynewolfe.bsky.social
Straddling academic, humanitarian & international development worlds to reduce violence. Teaching at Harris School of Public Policy, UChicago.
Agreed. Been talking about Gaza in class all term, and no issues, even with disagreements. Yesterday had to consider the threat from those in the background (being cagey intentionally)
May 3, 2024 at 7:01 PM
Agreed. Been talking about Gaza in class all term, and no issues, even with disagreements. Yesterday had to consider the threat from those in the background (being cagey intentionally)
I've thinking similarly--Iran is playing into Bibi's hands, giving him more excuses to stay in power, and the road to a more reasonable, less egocentric government longer.
April 16, 2024 at 2:56 PM
I've thinking similarly--Iran is playing into Bibi's hands, giving him more excuses to stay in power, and the road to a more reasonable, less egocentric government longer.
You haven’t been to Mindy’s in Bucktown for awhile; and it’s worth it.
December 14, 2023 at 5:56 PM
You haven’t been to Mindy’s in Bucktown for awhile; and it’s worth it.
The same thing happened to me at Pickathon in 2018. Dinosaur Jr was the band (I was also there in 2016)
December 11, 2023 at 7:53 PM
The same thing happened to me at Pickathon in 2018. Dinosaur Jr was the band (I was also there in 2016)
I’m beginning to regret not going. I saw her years ago & she didn’t blow me away. But everyone is raving about this show.
November 27, 2023 at 2:44 AM
I’m beginning to regret not going. I saw her years ago & she didn’t blow me away. But everyone is raving about this show.
Thank you for this, as I’m spending the holiday in bed with Covid. (And 2nd year in a row I’m missing my Turkey Trot)
November 23, 2023 at 4:07 PM
Thank you for this, as I’m spending the holiday in bed with Covid. (And 2nd year in a row I’m missing my Turkey Trot)
My spark bird. Prospect Park in 2005
November 16, 2023 at 3:36 AM
My spark bird. Prospect Park in 2005
Agreed. Being able to work with others will also be a signal of your productivity. I know few social scientists who publish solo authored articles after their dissertation.
November 3, 2023 at 7:27 PM
Agreed. Being able to work with others will also be a signal of your productivity. I know few social scientists who publish solo authored articles after their dissertation.
Thank you!! I wasn't aware of this (we largely reviewed the experimental literature).
October 20, 2023 at 10:11 AM
Thank you!! I wasn't aware of this (we largely reviewed the experimental literature).
Lastly, when I would talk about this project with my PhD advisor, Herb Kelman, he'd tear up, saying how proud he was of me, doing academic research from a place of practice.
October 20, 2023 at 7:15 AM
Lastly, when I would talk about this project with my PhD advisor, Herb Kelman, he'd tear up, saying how proud he was of me, doing academic research from a place of practice.
This was also an EGAP project from start to finish. Matt Lisiecki matched us with Chris Grady, a political science PhD student at IllinoisPolSci. We received invaluable feedback at
EGAP feedback sessions both at the design & write-up stages.
EGAP feedback sessions both at the design & write-up stages.
October 20, 2023 at 7:14 AM
This was also an EGAP project from start to finish. Matt Lisiecki matched us with Chris Grady, a political science PhD student at IllinoisPolSci. We received invaluable feedback at
EGAP feedback sessions both at the design & write-up stages.
EGAP feedback sessions both at the design & write-up stages.
But then I wanted to know if it worked. It took another 7 years to identify a program that was ready for us to conduct an RCT on. Lisa Inks was a fabulous partner in thinking through how we did this. Danjuma Dawop ensured the program was implemented well.
October 20, 2023 at 7:11 AM
But then I wanted to know if it worked. It took another 7 years to identify a program that was ready for us to conduct an RCT on. Lisa Inks was a fabulous partner in thinking through how we did this. Danjuma Dawop ensured the program was implemented well.
This was a deeply personal project for me. In 2008, as I was designing my first contact theory program for Mercy Corps
in Sri Lanka, I was overcome by a feeloing of deep gratitude--after years of studying social psychology, I was finally bringing theory to practice.
in Sri Lanka, I was overcome by a feeloing of deep gratitude--after years of studying social psychology, I was finally bringing theory to practice.
October 20, 2023 at 7:10 AM
This was a deeply personal project for me. In 2008, as I was designing my first contact theory program for Mercy Corps
in Sri Lanka, I was overcome by a feeloing of deep gratitude--after years of studying social psychology, I was finally bringing theory to practice.
in Sri Lanka, I was overcome by a feeloing of deep gratitude--after years of studying social psychology, I was finally bringing theory to practice.
We also theorize that the reason we see both attitude & behavior change is the length of the contact program--18 months. It may be that behavior needs to change, and with more time, attitudes follow.
October 20, 2023 at 7:07 AM
We also theorize that the reason we see both attitude & behavior change is the length of the contact program--18 months. It may be that behavior needs to change, and with more time, attitudes follow.
We theorize that this spillover to the wider community was due to the publicness of the contact, which led to norm change. People knew the leaders were in dialogue & there was a public manifestation of the contact through joint projects (cooperation being a key Allport condition)
October 20, 2023 at 7:07 AM
We theorize that this spillover to the wider community was due to the publicness of the contact, which led to norm change. People knew the leaders were in dialogue & there was a public manifestation of the contact through joint projects (cooperation being a key Allport condition)
Additionally, we look at those who participated directly, those who resided in treatment communities but didn't participate in activities & those who had no exposure to the program, and find indicative evidence of spillover of trust and security, but not of self-reported contact.
October 20, 2023 at 7:07 AM
Additionally, we look at those who participated directly, those who resided in treatment communities but didn't participate in activities & those who had no exposure to the program, and find indicative evidence of spillover of trust and security, but not of self-reported contact.
For example, in treatment communities, herders were more likely to attend markets & trade with farmers in treatment communities than in control communities.
October 20, 2023 at 7:07 AM
For example, in treatment communities, herders were more likely to attend markets & trade with farmers in treatment communities than in control communities.
We find that the contact among community leaders led to increased 1) contact, 2) trust & 3) perceived security among members of the wider community, not just the direct particiapnts. We measure these using a combination of survey, behavioral & observational measures.
October 20, 2023 at 7:06 AM
We find that the contact among community leaders led to increased 1) contact, 2) trust & 3) perceived security among members of the wider community, not just the direct particiapnts. We measure these using a combination of survey, behavioral & observational measures.
We study this in North Central Nigeria, where Mercy Corps
was implementing a USAID_CPS
peacebuilding program between farmers and herders, whose disputes over land, water & other resources were becoming increasingly violent.
was implementing a USAID_CPS
peacebuilding program between farmers and herders, whose disputes over land, water & other resources were becoming increasingly violent.
October 20, 2023 at 7:06 AM
We study this in North Central Nigeria, where Mercy Corps
was implementing a USAID_CPS
peacebuilding program between farmers and herders, whose disputes over land, water & other resources were becoming increasingly violent.
was implementing a USAID_CPS
peacebuilding program between farmers and herders, whose disputes over land, water & other resources were becoming increasingly violent.
A major criticism of contact-theory programs, & many peacebuilding programs in general, is that the effects do not spread beyond those who directly participate. We examine whether spread from a couple of key community members to the rest of the community is possible.
October 20, 2023 at 7:05 AM
A major criticism of contact-theory programs, & many peacebuilding programs in general, is that the effects do not spread beyond those who directly participate. We examine whether spread from a couple of key community members to the rest of the community is possible.