Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
@stephenvaisey.com
Professor at Duke University. Cultural evolution, political attitudes, social change, nerdy stuff in R. YNWA. https://vaiseys.github.io/
Pinned
Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
@stephenvaisey.com
· Dec 2
4/7/2023 How Common Is Opinion Change?
YouTube video by Purdue Video Production
www.youtube.com
Here's a recording of a talk I gave on cohort effects and cultural change in 2023.
It was my pinned post from the old site and it's a good way for those who are interested to see what I'm working on (although my beard is much more under control these days).
It was my pinned post from the old site and it's a good way for those who are interested to see what I'm working on (although my beard is much more under control these days).
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
Apply now to our next Summer School! 🤝
We are glad to host the Toulouse Summer School in Quantitative Social Sciences from 26 May to 19 June 2026 — a great opportunity for PhD students in economics, political science, and other social sciences.
Application: www.tse-fr.eu/toulouse-sum...
We are glad to host the Toulouse Summer School in Quantitative Social Sciences from 26 May to 19 June 2026 — a great opportunity for PhD students in economics, political science, and other social sciences.
Application: www.tse-fr.eu/toulouse-sum...
November 19, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Apply now to our next Summer School! 🤝
We are glad to host the Toulouse Summer School in Quantitative Social Sciences from 26 May to 19 June 2026 — a great opportunity for PhD students in economics, political science, and other social sciences.
Application: www.tse-fr.eu/toulouse-sum...
We are glad to host the Toulouse Summer School in Quantitative Social Sciences from 26 May to 19 June 2026 — a great opportunity for PhD students in economics, political science, and other social sciences.
Application: www.tse-fr.eu/toulouse-sum...
Semesters are too damn long
November 11, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Semesters are too damn long
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
Academic tip: sometimes you have to write "Importantly," to get a sentence started and then you can go back and delete it.
November 6, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Academic tip: sometimes you have to write "Importantly," to get a sentence started and then you can go back and delete it.
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
We're excited to announce that Cognitive Science at Dartmouth is recruiting PhD students to work collaboratively with me, Steven Frankland, and Fred Callaway. Come study the principles and mechanisms that enable us to understand, plan, and act in the world! Info: sites.dartmouth.edu/cogscigrad/
Cognitive Science Graduate Admissions – Information about graduate admissions from the cognitive science faculty
sites.dartmouth.edu
October 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM
We're excited to announce that Cognitive Science at Dartmouth is recruiting PhD students to work collaboratively with me, Steven Frankland, and Fred Callaway. Come study the principles and mechanisms that enable us to understand, plan, and act in the world! Info: sites.dartmouth.edu/cogscigrad/
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
Here is another way to put the paradox. If you ask, "If I had different genes, would my personality be different?" Then the answer is, "Probably, yes." If you ask, "If I had THESE genes, what would my personality be like?", the answer is, "We don't have any idea."
October 17, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Here is another way to put the paradox. If you ask, "If I had different genes, would my personality be different?" Then the answer is, "Probably, yes." If you ask, "If I had THESE genes, what would my personality be like?", the answer is, "We don't have any idea."
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
Term has started here, so I'm once again inundated with emails addressed "Sir" (used in UK secondary schools), "Mr" (same), and "heyyyyy" (??). Seems this brief blog for new students is still relevant: www.dalmaijer.org/2022/03/how-...
Feel free to use, if you find yourself in the same position!
Feel free to use, if you find yourself in the same position!
How to email your lecturer / professor – Quantitative Exploration of Development (Q.E.D.)
www.dalmaijer.org
October 1, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Term has started here, so I'm once again inundated with emails addressed "Sir" (used in UK secondary schools), "Mr" (same), and "heyyyyy" (??). Seems this brief blog for new students is still relevant: www.dalmaijer.org/2022/03/how-...
Feel free to use, if you find yourself in the same position!
Feel free to use, if you find yourself in the same position!
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
Good point. Academia's love affair with journal status, which is at the root of its reluctance to embrace open access alternatives to the for-profit journals, facilitates the spread of misinformation.
Hard for truth to get its boots on when the boots are locked behind a paywall.
Hard for truth to get its boots on when the boots are locked behind a paywall.
In general I think it's hard to combat scientific misinformation when some of the best research is locked behind an academic paywall, while lots of nonsense gets published free for everyone to read in predatory journals.
September 29, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Good point. Academia's love affair with journal status, which is at the root of its reluctance to embrace open access alternatives to the for-profit journals, facilitates the spread of misinformation.
Hard for truth to get its boots on when the boots are locked behind a paywall.
Hard for truth to get its boots on when the boots are locked behind a paywall.
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
The number of people who will respond to "Ask me for a copy" is a tiny fraction of those who would love to click on a non-paywalled link. Don't make people ask. SocArXiv is free to share, free to read, non-profit, academy-owned at a public university. Hello! Thanks for sharing.
It's great some authors will share their work if you email them for a pdf.
But this isn't a good use of your time, or theirs.
I do think academics have more important things to do than a system where they reply one by one to every potential reader who wants to read beyond the abstract.
But this isn't a good use of your time, or theirs.
I do think academics have more important things to do than a system where they reply one by one to every potential reader who wants to read beyond the abstract.
September 29, 2025 at 11:32 PM
The number of people who will respond to "Ask me for a copy" is a tiny fraction of those who would love to click on a non-paywalled link. Don't make people ask. SocArXiv is free to share, free to read, non-profit, academy-owned at a public university. Hello! Thanks for sharing.
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
September 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
@sociologicalsci.bsky.social is an awesome journal. Nothing less. #sociology
September 18, 2025 at 6:12 PM
@sociologicalsci.bsky.social is an awesome journal. Nothing less. #sociology
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
Religiosity & gender attitudes go hand-in-hand. But which influences which?
New study by McElroy et al. shows earlier gender views tend to predict religious trajectories more than the reverse (except for young women).
Once again:
Cultural/political conflicts --> Religion
doi.org/10.1177/2378...
New study by McElroy et al. shows earlier gender views tend to predict religious trajectories more than the reverse (except for young women).
Once again:
Cultural/political conflicts --> Religion
doi.org/10.1177/2378...
September 15, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Religiosity & gender attitudes go hand-in-hand. But which influences which?
New study by McElroy et al. shows earlier gender views tend to predict religious trajectories more than the reverse (except for young women).
Once again:
Cultural/political conflicts --> Religion
doi.org/10.1177/2378...
New study by McElroy et al. shows earlier gender views tend to predict religious trajectories more than the reverse (except for young women).
Once again:
Cultural/political conflicts --> Religion
doi.org/10.1177/2378...
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
Friends don't let friends give preregistration a bad name. Exploratory findings are fine; you just have to label them!
Love it when you 1) do a proper preregistration, 2) find an unexpected finding in the course of examining your preregistered hypotheses, 3) present the unexpected finding as exploratory, and 4) a reviewer HAMMERS you for "undermining the integrity of the preregistration process?" 🫠
September 12, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Friends don't let friends give preregistration a bad name. Exploratory findings are fine; you just have to label them!
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
We're hiring in wonderful Copenhagen 🇩🇰
Two or more open rank sociology professorships (tt assistant, associate with tenure, or full prof with tenure).
You'll join a leading sociology department in Europe with many core fields represented!
#sociology
More 👇
jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabeli...
Two or more open rank sociology professorships (tt assistant, associate with tenure, or full prof with tenure).
You'll join a leading sociology department in Europe with many core fields represented!
#sociology
More 👇
jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabeli...
Call for two or more open-rank academic positions in Sociology
jobportal.ku.dk
September 11, 2025 at 4:46 PM
We're hiring in wonderful Copenhagen 🇩🇰
Two or more open rank sociology professorships (tt assistant, associate with tenure, or full prof with tenure).
You'll join a leading sociology department in Europe with many core fields represented!
#sociology
More 👇
jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabeli...
Two or more open rank sociology professorships (tt assistant, associate with tenure, or full prof with tenure).
You'll join a leading sociology department in Europe with many core fields represented!
#sociology
More 👇
jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabeli...
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
This is a paper I really care about. I feel the core message is very important for social scientists in general, and political scientists in particular.
"Quantitative Research in Political Science is Greatly Underpowered."
(with A+ co-authors)
"Quantitative Research in Political Science is Greatly Underpowered."
(with A+ co-authors)
September 11, 2025 at 2:29 AM
This is a paper I really care about. I feel the core message is very important for social scientists in general, and political scientists in particular.
"Quantitative Research in Political Science is Greatly Underpowered."
(with A+ co-authors)
"Quantitative Research in Political Science is Greatly Underpowered."
(with A+ co-authors)
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
JOB ALERT FOR #SOCIOLOGIST: Come work with me. We have FOUR Assistant Professor positions in the Sociology Department at the University of Calgary.
careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/1672106...
careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/1672106...
Assistant Professors - Sociology, Faculty of Arts in
Calgary,
AB,
...
Assistant Professors - Sociology, Faculty of Arts in
Calgary,
AB,
...
careers.ucalgary.ca
September 10, 2025 at 12:35 AM
JOB ALERT FOR #SOCIOLOGIST: Come work with me. We have FOUR Assistant Professor positions in the Sociology Department at the University of Calgary.
careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/1672106...
careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/1672106...
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
Come work with us at USC! We're hiring an NSF-funded Postdoc for the Everyday Respect Project. 🤖
You'll work directly with me, Ben Graham, and Shri Narayanan, using cutting-edge AI to analyze police body-worn camera footage to improve police-community relations.
You'll work directly with me, Ben Graham, and Shri Narayanan, using cutting-edge AI to analyze police body-worn camera footage to improve police-community relations.
Postdoctoral Scholar - Research Associate at USC
Learn more about applying for Postdoctoral Scholar - Research Associate at USC
usccareers.usc.edu
September 8, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Come work with us at USC! We're hiring an NSF-funded Postdoc for the Everyday Respect Project. 🤖
You'll work directly with me, Ben Graham, and Shri Narayanan, using cutting-edge AI to analyze police body-worn camera footage to improve police-community relations.
You'll work directly with me, Ben Graham, and Shri Narayanan, using cutting-edge AI to analyze police body-worn camera footage to improve police-community relations.
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
TWO new Assistant Professor positions in Sociology at USC! Seeking candidates with expertise in the following: 1) Institutions & Inequalities and 2) Socially Informed AI and/or Data Science (links to job ads below👇). Happy to talk about what it's like to work/live here! #sociology (1/3)
September 8, 2025 at 2:39 PM
TWO new Assistant Professor positions in Sociology at USC! Seeking candidates with expertise in the following: 1) Institutions & Inequalities and 2) Socially Informed AI and/or Data Science (links to job ads below👇). Happy to talk about what it's like to work/live here! #sociology (1/3)
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
Our #Sociology department is looking for an #AssistantProfessor in the field of Social Inequality (with the possibility for a permanent contract).
www.academictransfer.com/en/jobs/3546...
@sociologytiu.bsky.social @tilburg-university.bsky.social @academic-chatter.bsky.social #academicjobs
www.academictransfer.com/en/jobs/3546...
@sociologytiu.bsky.social @tilburg-university.bsky.social @academic-chatter.bsky.social #academicjobs
Universitair Docent in de Sociologie van Sociale Ongelijkheid
Tilburg University | Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences is op zoek naar een Universitair Docent in de Sociologie van Sociale Ongelijkheid, Departement Sociologie, locatie Tilburg.
www.academictransfer.com
September 8, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Our #Sociology department is looking for an #AssistantProfessor in the field of Social Inequality (with the possibility for a permanent contract).
www.academictransfer.com/en/jobs/3546...
@sociologytiu.bsky.social @tilburg-university.bsky.social @academic-chatter.bsky.social #academicjobs
www.academictransfer.com/en/jobs/3546...
@sociologytiu.bsky.social @tilburg-university.bsky.social @academic-chatter.bsky.social #academicjobs
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
Join "Multilevel and Mixed Models Using R" with @stephenvaisey.com on Oct. 8-10 for an intensive intro to multilevel models. Learn the (real) difference between fixed & random effects and how to combine the strengths of both into a single model using #Rstats.
Multilevel & Mixed Models R | Online Seminar | Statistical Horizons
This online course taught by Stephen Vaisey, Ph.D., will provide an intensive introduction to multilevel models (MLM) using R.
statisticalhorizons.com
August 25, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Join "Multilevel and Mixed Models Using R" with @stephenvaisey.com on Oct. 8-10 for an intensive intro to multilevel models. Learn the (real) difference between fixed & random effects and how to combine the strengths of both into a single model using #Rstats.
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
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 Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
A terrorist targeted federal workers last week. There wasn’t much reporting on it. But I’m not finished thinking about it! 🧵
An anti-vaxxer fired more than 500 gunshots into CDC Atlanta, shattering 150 “blast-proof” windows on 6 buildings. Employees were pinned down in terror.
An anti-vaxxer fired more than 500 gunshots into CDC Atlanta, shattering 150 “blast-proof” windows on 6 buildings. Employees were pinned down in terror.
August 17, 2025 at 1:35 AM
A terrorist targeted federal workers last week. There wasn’t much reporting on it. But I’m not finished thinking about it! 🧵
An anti-vaxxer fired more than 500 gunshots into CDC Atlanta, shattering 150 “blast-proof” windows on 6 buildings. Employees were pinned down in terror.
An anti-vaxxer fired more than 500 gunshots into CDC Atlanta, shattering 150 “blast-proof” windows on 6 buildings. Employees were pinned down in terror.
This is an incredible data source!
Musician and data whizz Chris Dalla Riva has painstakingly compiled over 100 datapoints for every US Billboard Hot 100 Number One song since August 4th 1958, and it's now freely available here:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Billboard Hot 100 Number Ones Database
docs.google.com
August 17, 2025 at 2:34 PM
This is an incredible data source!
Reposted by Stephen Vaisey 🇺🇦
Worth saying that most of my papers have been collaborations with folks from my grad program. Of course, I am extraordinarily lucky to have been surrounded by them. But this ability to foster collaboration is, above all else, the mark of a successful grad program.
NEW Andrés Castro Araújo, Nicolás Restrepo Ochoa, "How to Make a Functionalist Argument." sociologicalscience.com/articles-v12...
August 16, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Worth saying that most of my papers have been collaborations with folks from my grad program. Of course, I am extraordinarily lucky to have been surrounded by them. But this ability to foster collaboration is, above all else, the mark of a successful grad program.