Research Goals and Motivations

Professor Settle’s research interests are related to political behavior broadly defined: public opinion, ideology, partisanship, political knowledge, participation, campaigns, the media (including social media), and polarization. She does most of her work in the context of American politics, though she has worked with students who are interested in comparative political behavior. If you are interested in any of these topics, or you have skills that you want to apply to real world problems, you might be a good fit for the lab.

The skills developed through the process of conducting original research—creativity, perseverance, and the ability to collect and interpret data—are fundamental for preparing students to tackle the challenges our world faces in the 21st century. Students who learn to observe the world as researchers are better prepared to serve as innovators, problem solvers, and ultimately, citizens. Just as importantly, doing research is really fun!