Scott Clifford
@scottclifford.bsky.social
Professor of Political Science.
http://scottaclifford.com/
http://scottaclifford.com/
Reposted by Scott Clifford
A thread on our recent paper (w/Raihan Alam @raihanalam) in PNAS on why punishment often fails and what it means for crime, cooperation, democracy, and the rule of law. I’m super excited for it, it’s the lab’s most extensive experimental work to date. Check it out! 1/
www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....
www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
November 19, 2025 at 11:40 PM
A thread on our recent paper (w/Raihan Alam @raihanalam) in PNAS on why punishment often fails and what it means for crime, cooperation, democracy, and the rule of law. I’m super excited for it, it’s the lab’s most extensive experimental work to date. Check it out! 1/
www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....
www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Scott Clifford
Do any meta-analyses or other reflection pieces exist that catalog the sorts of mechanisms specifically, and outcomes generally, studied as consequences of providing white Americans information on their declining population share?
November 19, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Do any meta-analyses or other reflection pieces exist that catalog the sorts of mechanisms specifically, and outcomes generally, studied as consequences of providing white Americans information on their declining population share?
Reposted by Scott Clifford
(1/10) 🚨Preprint alert!🚨
In this article, I challenge claims of a generational rise of conservative men. In the media and recent academic publications, the so-called ‘youth gender gap’ has been interpreted as a generational phenomenon.
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
In this article, I challenge claims of a generational rise of conservative men. In the media and recent academic publications, the so-called ‘youth gender gap’ has been interpreted as a generational phenomenon.
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
OSF
doi.org
November 16, 2025 at 2:24 PM
(1/10) 🚨Preprint alert!🚨
In this article, I challenge claims of a generational rise of conservative men. In the media and recent academic publications, the so-called ‘youth gender gap’ has been interpreted as a generational phenomenon.
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
In this article, I challenge claims of a generational rise of conservative men. In the media and recent academic publications, the so-called ‘youth gender gap’ has been interpreted as a generational phenomenon.
doi.org/10.31234/osf...
Reposted by Scott Clifford
✨New preprint! Why do people express outrage online? In 4 studies we develop a taxonomy of online outrage motives, test what motives people report, what they infer for in- vs. out-partisans, and how motive inferences shape downstream intergroup consequences. Led by @felix-chenwei.bsky.social 🧵👇
November 11, 2025 at 4:34 PM
✨New preprint! Why do people express outrage online? In 4 studies we develop a taxonomy of online outrage motives, test what motives people report, what they infer for in- vs. out-partisans, and how motive inferences shape downstream intergroup consequences. Led by @felix-chenwei.bsky.social 🧵👇
Reposted by Scott Clifford
New WP on political violence in democracies with the fantastic @dianebolet.bsky.social and @bjarneck.bsky.social. Sadly very topical, but with some positive results
osf.io/preprints/so...
1/
osf.io/preprints/so...
1/
November 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM
New WP on political violence in democracies with the fantastic @dianebolet.bsky.social and @bjarneck.bsky.social. Sadly very topical, but with some positive results
osf.io/preprints/so...
1/
osf.io/preprints/so...
1/
Reposted by Scott Clifford
Very few Americans support actual political violence.
Many more support intimidation.
Almost no one thinks it’s appropriate to kill your political opponents, but many more would dox them.
Read the latest: goodauthority.org/news/very-fe...
Many more support intimidation.
Almost no one thinks it’s appropriate to kill your political opponents, but many more would dox them.
Read the latest: goodauthority.org/news/very-fe...
Very few Americans support actual political violence. Many more support intimidation.
Almost no one thinks it’s appropriate to kill your political opponents, but many more would dox them.
goodauthority.org
October 31, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Very few Americans support actual political violence.
Many more support intimidation.
Almost no one thinks it’s appropriate to kill your political opponents, but many more would dox them.
Read the latest: goodauthority.org/news/very-fe...
Many more support intimidation.
Almost no one thinks it’s appropriate to kill your political opponents, but many more would dox them.
Read the latest: goodauthority.org/news/very-fe...
Reposted by Scott Clifford
After a huge post-election flip in economic perceptions, I thought Democrats and Republicans might be lying to pollsters to send a partisan message — but I was wrong!
New in the Journal of Experimental Political Science (open access): doi.org/10.1017/XPS....
New in the Journal of Experimental Political Science (open access): doi.org/10.1017/XPS....
October 27, 2025 at 4:24 PM
After a huge post-election flip in economic perceptions, I thought Democrats and Republicans might be lying to pollsters to send a partisan message — but I was wrong!
New in the Journal of Experimental Political Science (open access): doi.org/10.1017/XPS....
New in the Journal of Experimental Political Science (open access): doi.org/10.1017/XPS....
Reposted by Scott Clifford
#OpenAccess from August 2025 -
Cleaning up Politics: Anti-Corruption Appeals in Electoral Campaigns - cup.org/4msGB8X
"Surprisingly, a clean disciplinary record does not substantively enhance a candidate’s anticorruption appeal..."
- Sofia Vera
Cleaning up Politics: Anti-Corruption Appeals in Electoral Campaigns - cup.org/4msGB8X
"Surprisingly, a clean disciplinary record does not substantively enhance a candidate’s anticorruption appeal..."
- Sofia Vera
October 14, 2025 at 2:00 AM
#OpenAccess from August 2025 -
Cleaning up Politics: Anti-Corruption Appeals in Electoral Campaigns - cup.org/4msGB8X
"Surprisingly, a clean disciplinary record does not substantively enhance a candidate’s anticorruption appeal..."
- Sofia Vera
Cleaning up Politics: Anti-Corruption Appeals in Electoral Campaigns - cup.org/4msGB8X
"Surprisingly, a clean disciplinary record does not substantively enhance a candidate’s anticorruption appeal..."
- Sofia Vera
Reposted by Scott Clifford
A cautiously optimistic result on AI and disinformation.
A week before 2024 UK elections 13% of all voters used AI to ask about political topics. A randomized trial found this may be good: using AI led to similar gains in true knowledge as doing web research, regardless of model & prompt used.
A week before 2024 UK elections 13% of all voters used AI to ask about political topics. A randomized trial found this may be good: using AI led to similar gains in true knowledge as doing web research, regardless of model & prompt used.
September 18, 2025 at 8:15 PM
A cautiously optimistic result on AI and disinformation.
A week before 2024 UK elections 13% of all voters used AI to ask about political topics. A randomized trial found this may be good: using AI led to similar gains in true knowledge as doing web research, regardless of model & prompt used.
A week before 2024 UK elections 13% of all voters used AI to ask about political topics. A randomized trial found this may be good: using AI led to similar gains in true knowledge as doing web research, regardless of model & prompt used.
Reposted by Scott Clifford
📣 MORAL APPEALS IN POLITICAL COMMUNICATION 📣
New version of @twidmann.bsky.social and my working paper answering:
* Have moral appeals increased over time?
* Is the tendency to moralize ideologically patterned?
* Are some topics consistently more moralized than others?
osf.io/preprints/os...
New version of @twidmann.bsky.social and my working paper answering:
* Have moral appeals increased over time?
* Is the tendency to moralize ideologically patterned?
* Are some topics consistently more moralized than others?
osf.io/preprints/os...
OSF
osf.io
September 15, 2025 at 7:46 AM
📣 MORAL APPEALS IN POLITICAL COMMUNICATION 📣
New version of @twidmann.bsky.social and my working paper answering:
* Have moral appeals increased over time?
* Is the tendency to moralize ideologically patterned?
* Are some topics consistently more moralized than others?
osf.io/preprints/os...
New version of @twidmann.bsky.social and my working paper answering:
* Have moral appeals increased over time?
* Is the tendency to moralize ideologically patterned?
* Are some topics consistently more moralized than others?
osf.io/preprints/os...
Reposted by Scott Clifford
We often hear from reviewers: "what about demand effects?" So we developed a method to eliminate them. Something weird happened during testing: We couldn’t detect demand effects in the first place! (1/8)
September 15, 2025 at 5:19 PM
We often hear from reviewers: "what about demand effects?" So we developed a method to eliminate them. Something weird happened during testing: We couldn’t detect demand effects in the first place! (1/8)
Reposted by Scott Clifford
New preregistered report @jepsjournal.bsky.social
"Thin" populism treatments manipulate perceptions of people-centrism + anti-elitism
But: some treatments (e.g., "American people") affect perceptions of host ideology, complicating causal analyses of impact of populist rhetoric
cup.org/4n3DvZm
"Thin" populism treatments manipulate perceptions of people-centrism + anti-elitism
But: some treatments (e.g., "American people") affect perceptions of host ideology, complicating causal analyses of impact of populist rhetoric
cup.org/4n3DvZm
September 11, 2025 at 2:32 PM
New preregistered report @jepsjournal.bsky.social
"Thin" populism treatments manipulate perceptions of people-centrism + anti-elitism
But: some treatments (e.g., "American people") affect perceptions of host ideology, complicating causal analyses of impact of populist rhetoric
cup.org/4n3DvZm
"Thin" populism treatments manipulate perceptions of people-centrism + anti-elitism
But: some treatments (e.g., "American people") affect perceptions of host ideology, complicating causal analyses of impact of populist rhetoric
cup.org/4n3DvZm
Reposted by Scott Clifford
colleagues in political science. the formal update to the Garand and Giles journal ranking survey is now live. many of you will receive an email momentarily inviting you to participate. in the event you do NOT receive an invitation, please see this website to self-enroll. thanks! sharing = caring!
Participating
The Evaluation of Publication in Political Research study is open to serious producers and consumers of political research, including faculty in institutions of higher education, doctoral students,…
eppr.study
September 14, 2025 at 7:30 PM
colleagues in political science. the formal update to the Garand and Giles journal ranking survey is now live. many of you will receive an email momentarily inviting you to participate. in the event you do NOT receive an invitation, please see this website to self-enroll. thanks! sharing = caring!
Reposted by Scott Clifford
Now Out on First View: "Can (Thin) Populism be Manipulated without Manipulating Host Ideology? Evidence from a Conjoint Validation Approach"
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Can (Thin) Populism be Manipulated without Manipulating Host Ideology? Evidence from a Conjoint Validation Approach | Journal of Experimental Political Science | Cambridge Core
Can (Thin) Populism be Manipulated without Manipulating Host Ideology? Evidence from a Conjoint Validation Approach
www.cambridge.org
September 12, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Now Out on First View: "Can (Thin) Populism be Manipulated without Manipulating Host Ideology? Evidence from a Conjoint Validation Approach"
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Scott Clifford
New JEPS: Debunking NIMBY Myths Increases Support for Affordable Housing, Especially Near Respondents' Homes www.cambridge.org/core/service...
-correcting stereotypes/misperceptions re: affordable housing increases support for building it
-Effects often *larger* for housing near people's homes
-correcting stereotypes/misperceptions re: affordable housing increases support for building it
-Effects often *larger* for housing near people's homes
September 10, 2025 at 1:31 PM
New JEPS: Debunking NIMBY Myths Increases Support for Affordable Housing, Especially Near Respondents' Homes www.cambridge.org/core/service...
-correcting stereotypes/misperceptions re: affordable housing increases support for building it
-Effects often *larger* for housing near people's homes
-correcting stereotypes/misperceptions re: affordable housing increases support for building it
-Effects often *larger* for housing near people's homes
Reposted by Scott Clifford
Reposted by Scott Clifford
Reposted by Scott Clifford
As the U.S. celebrates Labor Day, what do voters think about the working poor?
In POQ, Benjamin Newman shows that most blame structural problems for poverty among workers – but that race and personal experience shape views too.
Read now: doi.org/10.1093/poq/...
In POQ, Benjamin Newman shows that most blame structural problems for poverty among workers – but that race and personal experience shape views too.
Read now: doi.org/10.1093/poq/...
September 1, 2025 at 3:01 PM
As the U.S. celebrates Labor Day, what do voters think about the working poor?
In POQ, Benjamin Newman shows that most blame structural problems for poverty among workers – but that race and personal experience shape views too.
Read now: doi.org/10.1093/poq/...
In POQ, Benjamin Newman shows that most blame structural problems for poverty among workers – but that race and personal experience shape views too.
Read now: doi.org/10.1093/poq/...
Reposted by Scott Clifford
#OpenAccess from @jepsjournal.bsky.social -
Do Immigrants’ Partisan Preferences Influence Americans’ Support for Immigration? - cup.org/4p2Xskp
- @danielmcdowell.bsky.social & David A. Steinberg
#FirstView
Do Immigrants’ Partisan Preferences Influence Americans’ Support for Immigration? - cup.org/4p2Xskp
- @danielmcdowell.bsky.social & David A. Steinberg
#FirstView
September 1, 2025 at 1:30 PM
#OpenAccess from @jepsjournal.bsky.social -
Do Immigrants’ Partisan Preferences Influence Americans’ Support for Immigration? - cup.org/4p2Xskp
- @danielmcdowell.bsky.social & David A. Steinberg
#FirstView
Do Immigrants’ Partisan Preferences Influence Americans’ Support for Immigration? - cup.org/4p2Xskp
- @danielmcdowell.bsky.social & David A. Steinberg
#FirstView
Reposted by Scott Clifford
On Prolific, "we estimate that about 34% of online study participants use LLMs to answer open-ended questions atleast some of the time..."
Seems like a very timely paper for behavioural scientists using online samples: osf.io/preprints/so... ;
We really need more papers on this issue
Seems like a very timely paper for behavioural scientists using online samples: osf.io/preprints/so... ;
We really need more papers on this issue
August 29, 2025 at 9:46 AM
On Prolific, "we estimate that about 34% of online study participants use LLMs to answer open-ended questions atleast some of the time..."
Seems like a very timely paper for behavioural scientists using online samples: osf.io/preprints/so... ;
We really need more papers on this issue
Seems like a very timely paper for behavioural scientists using online samples: osf.io/preprints/so... ;
We really need more papers on this issue
Reposted by Scott Clifford
Some people find politics interesting. Others do not. In a new paper, I show that appealing to MEANING increases political interest. In 6 experiments, connecting what people find meaningful in their lives to politics increases political interest. Link: osf.io/preprints/so...
August 29, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Some people find politics interesting. Others do not. In a new paper, I show that appealing to MEANING increases political interest. In 6 experiments, connecting what people find meaningful in their lives to politics increases political interest. Link: osf.io/preprints/so...
Reposted by Scott Clifford
Peterson & Jeong find that local media strengthens issue accountability. By reducing uncertainty about legislators’ policy positions, news makes voters more likely to evaluate politicians on issues, not just party lines. #MediaAndPolitics
Read more:
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Read more:
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Making Issues Matter: Local Media and Policy-Based Evaluations of Politicians - Political Behavior
Does the media enhance issue accountability? Many argue it does by covering where politicians stand on policy. However, evidence of this process is limited and fails to address two alternatives. First...
link.springer.com
August 29, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Peterson & Jeong find that local media strengthens issue accountability. By reducing uncertainty about legislators’ policy positions, news makes voters more likely to evaluate politicians on issues, not just party lines. #MediaAndPolitics
Read more:
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Read more:
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Scott Clifford
There's a new issue of the section newsletter out! This one's on sample considerations in experiments: professional survey-takers, LLM usage, rural contexts, and more!
connect.apsanet.org/s42/newslett...
connect.apsanet.org/s42/newslett...
August 26, 2025 at 3:08 PM
There's a new issue of the section newsletter out! This one's on sample considerations in experiments: professional survey-takers, LLM usage, rural contexts, and more!
connect.apsanet.org/s42/newslett...
connect.apsanet.org/s42/newslett...
Reposted by Scott Clifford
New job ad: Assistant Professor of Quantitative Social Science, Dartmouth College apply.interfolio.com/172357
Please share with your networks. I am the search chair and happy to answer questions!
Please share with your networks. I am the search chair and happy to answer questions!
August 21, 2025 at 6:50 PM
New job ad: Assistant Professor of Quantitative Social Science, Dartmouth College apply.interfolio.com/172357
Please share with your networks. I am the search chair and happy to answer questions!
Please share with your networks. I am the search chair and happy to answer questions!
Reposted by Scott Clifford
Anyone have favorite options for printing SEM output in R like semTable that work for v4.5.1? My Googling has turned up little.
August 21, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Anyone have favorite options for printing SEM output in R like semTable that work for v4.5.1? My Googling has turned up little.