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Erika Franklin Fowler

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Erika Franklin Fowler is an American political scientist. She is a Professor of Government at Wesleyan University, having previously served… more

H-index: 33
Communication & Media Studies 40%
Political science 24%
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by Erika Franklin Fowler

efranklinfowler.bsky.social
Relevant for #wesgov372 #wesgov366 and #wesgov380
ophastings.bsky.social
Pat Hastings @ophastings.bsky.social · 5d
The GSS asked the same people about their childhood income rank three different times. 56% changed their answer, even though what was trying to be measured couldn’t change! We dig into this in a new article at @socialindicators.bsky.social. 



doi.org/10.1007/s112...

🧵👇 (1/5)
Growing up Different(ly than Last Time We Asked): Social Status and Changing Reports of Childhood Income Rank - Social Indicators Research
How we remember our past can be shaped by the realities of our present. This study examines how changes to present circumstances influence retrospective reports of family income rank at age 16. While retrospective survey data can be used to assess the long-term effects of childhood conditions, present-day circumstances may “anchor” memories, causing shifts in how individuals recall and report past experiences. Using panel data from the 2006–2014 General Social Surveys (8,602 observations from 2,883 individuals in the United States), we analyze how changes in objective and subjective indicators of current social status—income, financial satisfaction, and perceived income relative to others—are associated with changes in reports of childhood income rank, and how this varies by sex and race/ethnicity. Fixed-effects models reveal no significant association between changes in income and in childhood income rank. However, changes in subjective measures of social status show contrasting effects, as increases in current financial satisfaction are associated with decreases in childhood income rank, but increases in current perceived relative income are associated with increases in childhood income rank. We argue these opposing effects follow from theories of anchoring in recall bias. We further find these effects are stronger among males but are consistent across racial/ethnic groups. This demographic heterogeneity suggests that recall bias is not evenly distributed across the population and has important implications for how different groups perceive their own pasts. Our findings further highlight the malleability of retrospective perceptions and their sensitivity to current social conditions, offering methodological insights into survey reliability and recall bias.
doi.org
2

Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Joshua S. Weitz, Scott L. Greer , and 7 more

lenasun.bsky.social
NEW: @CDCgov hit hard by massive firings that several staff describe to me as a “bloodbath.”
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4
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Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Nicholas A. Christakis, Dave O’Brien , and 3 more

ophastings.bsky.social
The GSS asked the same people about their childhood income rank three different times. 56% changed their answer, even though what was trying to be measured couldn’t change! We dig into this in a new article at @socialindicators.bsky.social. 



doi.org/10.1007/s112...

🧵👇 (1/5)
Growing up Different(ly than Last Time We Asked): Social Status and Changing Reports of Childhood Income Rank - Social Indicators Research
How we remember our past can be shaped by the realities of our present. This study examines how changes to present circumstances influence retrospective reports of family income rank at age 16. While retrospective survey data can be used to assess the long-term effects of childhood conditions, present-day circumstances may “anchor” memories, causing shifts in how individuals recall and report past experiences. Using panel data from the 2006–2014 General Social Surveys (8,602 observations from 2,883 individuals in the United States), we analyze how changes in objective and subjective indicators of current social status—income, financial satisfaction, and perceived income relative to others—are associated with changes in reports of childhood income rank, and how this varies by sex and race/ethnicity. Fixed-effects models reveal no significant association between changes in income and in childhood income rank. However, changes in subjective measures of social status show contrasting effects, as increases in current financial satisfaction are associated with decreases in childhood income rank, but increases in current perceived relative income are associated with increases in childhood income rank. We argue these opposing effects follow from theories of anchoring in recall bias. We further find these effects are stronger among males but are consistent across racial/ethnic groups. This demographic heterogeneity suggests that recall bias is not evenly distributed across the population and has important implications for how different groups perceive their own pasts. Our findings further highlight the malleability of retrospective perceptions and their sensitivity to current social conditions, offering methodological insights into survey reliability and recall bias.
doi.org
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Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Andrew Chadwick

claesdevreese.bsky.social
The new EU rules on political advertising online take effect October 10.

Google and Meta (FB, Insta) will stop political ads on their platforms 🛑

But when??? FB is now very explicit about when it takes effect: October 6

www.facebook.com/business/hel...
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Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Richard Price, American Library Association , and 8 more

anthonyclark.bsky.social
If you've done in-person research at any of the following presidential libraries in the last 8 months, can you please follow me/contact me—soon—for a story I'm working on (can be off the record)?

Hoover
FDR
Truman
Eisenhower
JFK
LBJ
Ford
Carter

And either way, can you please share this request? 🙏
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Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler

larrylevitt.bsky.social
New, and a big deal: Based on updated data and changes made by the Trump administration, we now estimate that ACA enrollees would see their out-of-pocket premiums increase by 114% if enhanced premium tax credits are allowed to expire.
www.kff.org/affordable-c...
ACA Marketplace Premium Payments Would More than Double on Average Next Year if Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire | KFF
KFF estimates that, if Congress allows the enhanced premium tax credits to expire at the end of this year, ACA Marketplace enrollees on average would see their premium payments more than double next y...
www.kff.org
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Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Lisa W. Fazio, Nancy Kanwisher , and 15 more

dangaristo.bsky.social
New: After a long wait, the GRFP solicitation is live! Deadlines have been extended to early November, so applicants have a bit over a month to submit. www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
www.nsf.gov
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Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Barrett

epidnique.bsky.social
In news that the HHS should be shouting from the rooftops:

Availability of the RSV vaccine for pregnant people and RSV shots for infants lead to a 50% reduction in RSV-associated hospitalization of newborns during the last year! 🥳

Spread the good word, folks!
#Episky
Interim Evaluation of Respiratory Syncytial ...
This report describes RSV-associated hospitalization rates among infants and young children during the 2024–25 respiratory virus season.
www.cdc.gov
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by Ryan Enos — Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler

ryanenos.bsky.social
This is hopeful.
scottlgreer.bsky.social
Scott L Greer @scottlgreer.bsky.social · 25d
“52% of all autocratization episodes become U-Turns, which increases to 73% when focusing on the last 30 years. The vast majority of U-Turns (90%) lead to restored or even improved levels of democracy”

V-Dem data
When autocratization is reversed: episodes of U-Turns since 1900
The world is in a “wave of autocratization.” Yet, recent events in Brazil, the Maldives, and Zambia demonstrate that autocratization can be halted and reversed. This article introduces “U-Turn” as ...
www.tandfonline.com
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by Brendan Nyhan — Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Andrew Kydd, David Darmofal

brendannyhan.bsky.social
These estimates of public support for violence (from www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/o...) are inflated - *much* higher than what we and others have found using question wording that reduces acquiescence bias: brightlinewatch.org/accelerated-... The vast majority of Americans reject political violence.
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by Erika Franklin Fowler

efranklinfowler.bsky.social
Pertinent to #wesgov214 #wesgov372
conradhackett.bsky.social
Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · Sep 14
How do Americans typically react when they hit a paywall on a news site?
1% pay
11% try to get the article for free
32% give up
53% look for info elsewhere
A Pew Research Center survey also asked anyone who said they ever come across paywalls what they typically do first when that happens. Just 1% say they pay for access when they come across an article that requires payment. The most common reaction is that people seek the information somewhere else (53%). About a third (32%) say they typically give up on accessing the information.
3

Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Rosemary A. Joyce

conradhackett.bsky.social
How do Americans typically react when they hit a paywall on a news site?
1% pay
11% try to get the article for free
32% give up
53% look for info elsewhere
A Pew Research Center survey also asked anyone who said they ever come across paywalls what they typically do first when that happens. Just 1% say they pay for access when they come across an article that requires payment. The most common reaction is that people seek the information somewhere else (53%). About a third (32%) say they typically give up on accessing the information.
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Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Christian Baden

thieled.bsky.social
Are you an R-user looking for a ✨reproducible and free✨ solution to use #machine-translation in your #text-as-data project? Try out my new #rstats package #easieRnmt that wraps around the EasyNMT py-library for local machine tranlsation: github.com/thieled/easi...
GitHub - thieled/easieRnmt: R wrapper around the EasyNMT python library, providing "Easy to use, state-of-the-art Neural Machine Translation for 100+ languages" locally.
R wrapper around the EasyNMT python library, providing "Easy to use, state-of-the-art Neural Machine Translation for 100+ languages" locally. - thieled/easieRnmt
github.com
4 3 16

Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Sarah E. Gollust

commhsp.bsky.social
What can the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine PSAs teach us about public health communication? In our newest COMM blog post, first author Margaret Tait breaks down her recently published research on the critical messaging missteps in federally-sponsored PSAs.
1 2 2

by Erika Franklin Fowler

efranklinfowler.bsky.social
Some evidence pertinent to our #wesgov372 discussion today.
carolyneholmes.bsky.social
Carolyn E Holmes @carolyneholmes.bsky.social · Sep 11
Hi, yes, this is a very good question.

Does anyone have an answer?
titonka.bsky.social
Danielle Kurtzleben @titonka.bsky.social · Sep 11
A stat I wonder about a lot: what % of Americans have been present for a shooting?

I mean I have. All those college kids in Utah have now. Everyone in Butler was. All the kids who have been there for school shootings.

So: how many?
1

Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler

carolyneholmes.bsky.social
Hi, yes, this is a very good question.

Does anyone have an answer?
titonka.bsky.social
Danielle Kurtzleben @titonka.bsky.social · Sep 11
A stat I wonder about a lot: what % of Americans have been present for a shooting?

I mean I have. All those college kids in Utah have now. Everyone in Butler was. All the kids who have been there for school shootings.

So: how many?
2 2 9

Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Jon Green, Efrén O. Pérez , and 2 more

jonmladd.bsky.social
Research: Believing that the mass public in the opposing party supports undemocratic tactics leads people to be more supportive of undemocratic tactics themselves. Being assured that a majority of your opponents oppose such radical tactics increases support for democratic norms osf.io/my987/download
osf.io
4 31 79

Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler

garyschw.bsky.social
If you didn't see Marion Nestle analyze the MAHA children's health strategy report on PBS NewsHour last night, I urge you to watch at this link: open.substack.com/pub/garyschw...
1

Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Will Jennings, Lisa Dellmuth , and 1 more

jayvanbavel.bsky.social
Social media undercuts public health and institutional trust

A new study finds causal evidence that morally charged attacks generate anger and social media engagement which exacerbates the political polarization of public health
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
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by Erika Franklin Fowler

efranklinfowler.bsky.social
Awesome—can’t wait to read it, and congrats!!
1

Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Brendan Nyhan, Jon Green , and 4 more

alexanderfurnas.com
Excited to see my new paper "Conflating Lobbying and PACs: The Surprisingly Low Overlap in Organizational Lobbying and Campaign Expenditures" with @timlapira.bsky.social and @clarebrock.bsky.social out at @pspolisci.bsky.social!
Conflating Lobbying and PACs: The Surprisingly Low Overlap in Organizational Lobbying and Campaign Expenditures Alexander C. Furnas, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, USA Timothy M. LaPira, James Madison University, USA Clare Brock, Colorado State University, USA ABSTRACT This article investigates whether campaign contributions and lobbying are com- plementary, substitutive, or distinct forms of organizational political engagement. Our study reveals minimal overlap between organizations that engage in lobbying and those that make campaign contributions despite the perception that these activities are interchangeable forms of “money in politics.” Using comprehensive contribution and lobbying report data from 1998 to 2018, we find that most politically active organizations focus exclusively on either lobbying or making campaign contributions. Only a small percentage of organizations engage in both activities. This finding challenges the assumption that these forms of political activity are inherently linked. The majority of organizations engaged in political activity do so exclusively through lobbying. However, the top lobbying groups spend the most money and almost always have affiliated political action committees (PACs). Most lobbying money is spent by a small number of big spenders—organizations that also have affiliated PACs. Organizations that both lobby and make campaign contributions tend to be well resourced and rare.
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Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Julie Novkov

poqjournal.bsky.social
POQ's 2025 special issue underlines the importance of qualitative research in the social sciences.

Roller & Smith outline different methodological approaches to qualitative research and its critical role in social and behavioral sciences.

Read now: doi.org/10.1093/poq/...
6 9

Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Jan W. Mueller, Scott L. Greer , and 1 more

conradhackett.bsky.social
Most people in Mexico and Canada say the United States is their country's greatest threat.
www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/...
When asked which country is the most important ally to their own, many people around the world name the United States. This is the most common response in 12 of the 24 non-U.S. countries included in a new Pew Research Center survey. It is tied for the top response in three additional countries. But others say the U.S. is their nation’s greatest threat. This is the most common response in six countries and tied for top in two others. In neighboring Canada and Mexico, as well as in Argentina, Brazil and Kenya, the U.S. is the top response on both the ally and threat questions.
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Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Philip N. Cohen, Timothy D. McBride

dwillis.bsky.social
Here's a scenario that someone should ask RFK Jr. about: an under-65 person with no major health conditions who is providing some in-person support for an older family member undergoing treatments that weaken the immune system. Can that person get a COVID shot?

It's me, and I can't.
280 1.2K 4.7K

Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Mark J. Brandt, Efrén O. Pérez , and 1 more

dadakim.bsky.social
Great job at the Pew Research Center for a Computational Social Science Assistant: pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Center...
Computational Social Science Assistant, Data Labs
Position Summary The Computational Social Science Assistant works with other staff at Data Labs to produce original research that expands on the work of the Pew Research Center using new methods, data...
pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
10 9

Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Anna O. Law, Mark J. Brandt , and 8 more

iepolisci.bsky.social
🚨🚨 We’re hiring! 🚨🚨

We have 3 lines open in CP, IR and IPE — all tenure-track.

We offer competitive salaries, a 2:1 teaching load, in a friendly (and fully in English) environment, at one of Europe’s most sought-after cities.
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Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Megan L. Ranney, Seth Masket

cnn.com
BREAKING: US job growth slowed to a crawl in August, adding only 22,000 positions. It's another indication the US labor market is stagnating.

Follow live updates: https://cnn.it/4nlRiu9
America’s job market flashes yet another warning sign about the economy | CNN Business
The US economy added just 22,000 jobs in August and the unemployment rate rose to 4.3%, the highest since 2021.
cnn.it
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by Stuart J. Turnbull‐Dugarte — Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler, Jonathan Portes, Simon Hix , and 60 more

turnbulldugarte.com
Radical right accommodation really does not work.

New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk

doi.org/10.31235/osf...
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Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler

kevinbaron.bsky.social
Oooooh…look what was waiting for me when I got home. I’ve been hearing/reading about this from @juliaazari.bsky.social for some time, and after reading part of the first chapter, I gotta say I think this book hits at the absolute right moment. Thanks Julia!
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Reposted by Erika Franklin Fowler

reuters.com
Medical groups call on US Health Secretary Kennedy to step down reut.rs/4neBOrN
Medical groups call on US Health Secretary Kennedy to step down
Multiple health groups and medical associations called on U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to step down in a joint statement on Wednesday, saying he was disregarding decades of lifesaving science and reversing medical progress.
reut.rs
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