This Week in Social Science (TWISS) was created by Chris Grady and Levi Adelman as an adaptation of a USAID research newsletter. The aim of the newsletter is to simply and succinctly summarize the most recent academic research on a specific topic. Check out the latest edition and subscribe: https://twissweekly.substack.com/.
Below is a summary of past editions. Have a topic to suggest? Drop a comment in the Substack.
Humans in an AI World (TWISS #1). AI and the future of work. This edition explores recent research about how the rise of AI is affecting the work of humans.
Online News, Social Media, and Happiness (TWISS #2). Well-being in the internet age. This edition explores recent research about how our consumption of online news and social media impact our happiness and well-being.
Tariffs Past and Present (TWISS #3). How tariffs impact domestic economies and politics. This edition examines the economic and political consequences of tariffs, from the industrial boom of the 19th century to recent protectionist policies.
Religion, Science, and Well-being (TWISS #4). Religion and Science. Are they good for us? This edition examines how science and religion can affect our well-being, starting with a new psychological concept called Spirituality of Science, and looking at how religious activity changes how much we interact with other people. As a bonus, this edition includes a brief review of a paper on predicting the outcomes of Papal conclaves.
The Global Youth Mental Health Crisis (TWISS #5). What’s behind the rise in youth anxiety, depression, and despair? This edition explores research about the decline in youth mental health and the search for its causes.
Support for Social Welfare (TWISS #6). How anxiety and corruption affect support for the welfare state. This edition reviews some recent research on some surprising sources of support for social welfare and the welfare state.
Constructing Reality (TWISS #7). We explore the historical development of race and money. This edition explores the historical origins of race and money, tracing how and why these concepts emerged over time.
Who feels lonely? (TWISS #8). Feeling lonely, being alone, and how we think about solitude. This edition explores the experience of loneliness; who feels it more; and the differences between feeling lonely, being alone, and solitude.
Democracy, Authoritarian-Style (TWISS #9). How Authoritarians Control Elected Legislatures. Authoritarian regimes often maintain elected legislatures to boost legitimacy—even Augustus Caesar kept the Roman Senate around—but how do they keep that legislature in check? This edition investigates the tools used by autocrats to co-opt and control elected legislatures.
The complete list of posts is online.
Photo by Maxim Berg on Unsplash.