2021 Rapid Research Reports
Early Stages of Omicron Had Only a Modest Impact on Booster Uptake
December 2021
Roy H. Perlis, Matthew A. Baum, Alauna C. Safarpour, Mauricio Santillana, and Anjuli Shere, Harvard University; Kristin Lunz Trujillo, David Lazer, Alexi Quintana, Ata Uslu, Jon Green, and Hong Qu, Northeastern University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; James Druckman (IPR/ Political Science), Caroline Pippert, and Jennifer Lin Northwestern University
A national survey finds that nearly half (47%) of previously vaccinated respondents are booster hesitant or resistant, showing only a modest change in conviction, even after the World Health Organization recently (WHO) announced the risk posed by the rapidly spreading omicron variant. While 30% of poll respondents overall indicated they had already received the COVID-19 booster shot, older adults and adults with post-secondary education, were the most likely to have received the booster shot. The poll was conducted between Nov. 3 and Dec. 3 by the COVID States Project, a research partnership between Northwestern, Northeastern, Harvard and Rutgers universities.
Read the report here.
In the Last Year, 1 in 5 Adults Voted in a Local School Board Election
December 2021
Alauna C. Safarpour, Matthew A. Baum, Roy H. Perlis, Mauricio Santillana, and Anjuli Shere, Harvard University; Kristin Lunz Trujillo, Ata Uslu, Alyssa Smith, David Lazer, Alexi Quintana, Jon Green, and Hong Qu, Northeastern University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; Jennifer Lin, James Druckman (IPR/ Political Science), and Caroline Pippert, Northwestern University
The national survey of 22,277 individuals, conducted between November 3–December 2 sheds light on who participates in school board elections and attends meetings and what issues matter to them. Top concerns when choosing a school board include school safety, COVID-19 vaccines, and mental health. The findings show respondents who voted in a school board election were more likely to be affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic party, college-educated, wealthier, and over 30 years old. Along with those surveyed who voted in a school board election, 4% of respondents say they attended a school board meeting in the last six months. The majority who attended a school board meeting were Democrats or Democratic leaning (56%), had a child under 18 (71%), and were younger than 50 (79%).
Read the report here.
Nearly One-Third of 5- to 11-Year-Olds Are Getting Vaccinated
November 2021
Kristin Lunz Trujillo, David Lazer, Matthew Simonson, Alexi Quintana, Ata Uslu, Jon Green, and Hong Qu, Northeastern; Roy H. Perlis, Matthew A. Baum, Mauricio Santillana, Alauna C. Safarpour, and Anjuli Shere, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; Caroline Pippert, James Druckman (IPR/ Political Science), and Jennifer Lin, Northwestern University
In early November, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that children ages 5 through 11 get vaccinated against COVID-19 with Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine. Following the CDC’s authorization, the researchers conducted a survey between November 3 and December 2 that examines vaccination rates by children’s ages and across different parent demographic subgroups. Additionally, they investigate parents’ likelihood of vaccinating their children against COVID-19. The results show that 27% of parents with kids ages 5 to 11 report their children received at least one vaccine dose, and that 57% of parents intend to vaccinate their children, a drop from the 64% who indicated that intention in June 2021.
Read the report here.
Students Are Happier if Their College Requires Vaccines
November 2021
Kristin Lunz Trujillo, Brennan Klein, David Lazer, Alexi Quintana, Ata Uslu, Jon Green, and Hong Qu, Northeastern; Anjuli Shere, Matthew A. Baum, Alauna C. Safarpour, Roy H. Perlis, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; James Druckman (IPR/ Political Science), Jennifer Lin, and Caroline Pippert, Northwestern University
Conducted between August 26 and September 27, the survey gauges college students’ attitudes around COVID-19 policies. It examines them by their university’s size, whether it is public or private, its COVID-19 policy, and even the attitudes of the governor in the state where the college is located. Of the nearly 4,000 colleges and universities across the U.S., more than 1,000 have a vaccine mandate. The survey finds those in colleges with mask and vaccine mandates were more likely to approve of their universities’ handling of COVID-19 than those without. But about half were confused about what their university’s policy actually said.
Read the report here.
Why Do Unvaccinated Americans Wear Masks?
October 2021
Anjuli Shere, Roy H. Perlis, Matthew A. Baum, Alauna C. Safarpour, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; Kristin Lunz Trujillo, Alexi Quintana, David Lazer, Ata Uslu, Jon Green, and Hong Qu, Northeastern; James Druckman (IPR/ Political Science), and Jennifer Lin, Caroline Pippert, Northwestern University
Between Aug. 26 and Sept. 27, researchers from Northwestern, Northeastern, Harvard, and Rutgers polled more than 21,000 individuals from all 50 states about their vaccination status and mask-wearing behavior. While 29% of Americans are still unvaccinated, nearly two-thirds of this group (19%) are concerned enough about the spread of COVID-19 to regularly wear a mask—and the No. 1 reason for a large majority of them is concern about family members contracting COVID-19. The poll also found unvaccinated Americans who choose to wear masks are more likely to be politically Independent (47%) than the entire sample (36%); significantly younger, with 63% under the age of 45 versus 47% for all Americans under the age of 45; and disproportionately from the South (45%) and less likely to be from the Northeast (14%).
Read the report here.
A COVID-19 Vaccine for Younger Kids Is Likely Coming Soon, But a New Survey Shows Parents’ Concerns About the Vaccines Grew
October 2021
Matthew A. Baum, Roy H. Perlis, Mauricio Santillana, Alauna C. Safarpour, and Anjuli Shere, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; Kristin Lunz Trujillo, David Lazer, Alexi Quintana, Ata Uslu, Jon Green, and Hong Qu, Northeastern; Matthew Simonson, University of Pennsylvania; Caroline Pippert, James Druckman (IPR/ Political Science), and Jennifer Lin, Northwestern University
Between Aug. 26 and Sept. 27, the researchers surveyed over 21,000 Americans. They asked parents in the sample about the top five concerns identified in the consortium’s survey in June: how new the vaccine is, whether the vaccine has been tested enough, if the vaccine works, immediate side effects, and long-term side effects. The survey reveals parents’ concerns about COVID-19 vaccines for children grew from June to September 2021 across all demographic groups. Additionally, parents are most concerned about the possible long-term effects of the COVID-19 vaccines and if the vaccines underwent enough testing. Parents’ concerns about the long-term effects spiked from 50% in June to 65% in September, while concerns about testing grew from 51% to 63%.
Read the report here.
Support for Vaccine Mandates Remains High, While Approval Drops for the President’s Handling of the Pandemic
October 2021
Matthew A. Baum, Anjuli Shere, Roy H. Perlis, Mauricio Santillana, and Alauna C. Safarpour, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; Ata Uslu, David Lazer, Kristin Lunz Trujillo, Jon Green, Alexi Quintana, and Hong Qu, Northeastern; James Druckman (IPR/ Political Science), Jennifer Lin, and Caroline Pippert, Northwestern University
The survey from a consortium of universities shows a majority would also support narrower vaccine mandates for students attending school or college and for travelers flying commercially. Six out of 10 Americans also support requiring large companies to either vaccinate or regularly tested their employees for COVID-19. Despite President Biden’s actions to curb the spread of COVID-19 through vaccine mandates, another survey conducted at the same time finds that approval of his handling of the pandemic dropped from 57% in June to 49% by September. His approval ratings also declined across political parties, dropping by -5% among Democrats, -7% among Republicans, and -8% among Independents.
Read the reports here and here.
Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) Preliminary Individual Results
September 2021
N3 and IPR Researchers, Northwestern University
This report by the Northwestern Neighborhood & Network Initiative (N3) looks at the impact of Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P), a Chicago collaboration of outreach and victim services organizations. Formed in 2017, CP4P’s goals are to reduce gun violence among individuals who are most likely to be involved in gun violence, neighborhood disputes, and group conflicts through outreach workers and the provision of employment, education, legal, and behavioral health services. N3 finds that CP4P has served about 3,600 people since July 2017. N3 concludes, preliminarily, that CP4P successfully locates those people at highest risk of being victims of gun violence, potentially increases positive outcomes such as more education and employment, and potentially reduces the risk of involvement in gun violence.
Read the report.
Child Care in the Time of COVID: How Illinois Resourced Programs to Support (Re)opening
September 2021
Terri Sabol (IPR/Human Development and Social Policy), Tímea Virágh, Olivia Healy, and Anika Nerella, Northwestern University
This report examines the distribution throughout Illinois of three key resources meant to support continued child care program operation during the COVID-19 pandemic: (1) Emergency Daycare Licenses to reopen programs during mandated closures for children of essential workers, (2) federal Paycheck Protection Program loans to qualified child care businesses, and (3) Illinois Child Care Restoration Grants, which were funded with federal money under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020. The researchers find good results for Illinois. These resources were accessed equitably among neighborhoods across the state, with few differences between the characteristics of neighborhoods with child care programs that received supports compared to those that did not. The one exception is that urban programs were more likely to receive resources compared to rural ones.
Reaching and Connecting: Preliminary Results from Chicago CRED’s Impact on Gun Violence Involvement
August 2021
N3 and IPR Researchers, Northwestern University
The current study by the Northwestern Neighborhood & Network Initiative (N3) examines 234 men who entered the CRED program in 2019 from Roseland and West Pullman. Early results suggest that CRED (a) successfully locates high-risk populations, (b) successfully connects participants to intensive programming, and (c) potentially reduces the risk of involvement of gun violence of its participants in the short term.
Healthcare Workers Are More Vaccine Enthusiastic, But 27% Are Not Vaccinated
August 2021
Roy H. Perlis, Matthew Baum, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; David Lazer, Hong Qu, Ata Uslu, Jon Green, and Matthew Simonson, Northeastern University; James Druckman (IPR/Political Science), Jennifer Lin, Evan Simon Myers, and Uday Tandon, Northwestern University
As healthcare institutions face decisions regarding vaccination mandates, an ongoing national survey examines healthcare workers’ attitudes and vaccination rates. Healthcare workers appear to be more vaccine enthusiastic than the general population. However, survey results show that 27% of healthcare workers are unvaccinated, and 15% are vaccine resistant. The data suggest that without vaccine mandates, unvaccinated healthcare workers may remain unvaccinated.
Survey Investigates Top Parental Concerns About COVID-19 Vaccine
August 2021
Roy H. Perlis, Matthew Baum, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; David Lazer and Matthew Simonson, Northeastern University; Caroline Pippert, Jennifer Lin, James Druckman (IPR/Political Science), and Uday Tandon, Northwestern University
An August 2021 survey explores parents’ concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine for their kids. The researchers find the top concerns among parents are whether the vaccine has been tested enough (51%), the potential for lasting health effects (50%), and how new the vaccine is (46%). Additionally, the data show moms are more likely than dads to express concerns about COVID-19 vaccinations for their children. Their top concern is whether the vaccine has been tested enough (58%).
Survey Explores Misinformation Beliefs Among Americans
August 2021
Matthew Baum, Roy H. Perlis, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; David Lazer, Jon Green, Matthew Simonson, and Ata Uslu, Northeastern University; James Druckman (IPR/Political Science) and Jennifer Lin, Northwestern University
Twenty percent of Americans believe at least one COVID-19 vaccine misinformation statement is true, according to an August 2021 survey from a research consortium that includes Northwestern University. Additionally, the researchers find more than half (51%) of the respondents report they are not sure whether to believe at least one false statement. The groups most likely to hold vaccine misperceptions include people aged 25–44, those with high socioeconomic status, and Republicans. Over 25% in each group said at least one false statement was true.
What Do Americans Think About People Who Are Not Vaccinated?
August 2021
Matthew Baum, Roy H. Perlis, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; David Lazer, Hong Qu, Jon Green, and Matthew Simonson. Northeastern University; Jennifer Lin, Caroline Pippert, James Druckman (IPR/Political Science), Kirsten Huh, and Maryarita Kobotis, Northwestern University
According to the latest results from a national survey, Americans have more favorable feelings toward people who are vaccinated against COVID-19. Between June 9 and July 7, the researchers surveyed 20,669 people across the United States and explored people's thoughts about people who are not vaccinated. Using a thermometer scale from 0 to 100 degrees, the researchers find the average feeling toward vaccinated people is 78 degrees compared to 45 degrees for those who are not vaccinated.
Survey Finds 64% of Americans Support Government Vaccine Mandates
July 2021
Matthew Baum, Roy H. Perlis, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; David Lazer, Jon Green, Matthew Simonson, and Ata Uslu, Northeastern University; and Anna Wang, Jennifer Lin, and James Druckman (IPR/Political Science), Northwestern University
As Delta variant infections grow, support for vaccine mandates is rising, too. Survey results show support for vaccine mandates increased from 58% in April to 64% in June. Additionally, the researchers find strong support for government vaccine mandates in most states, with the highest in Massachusetts (81.1%) and lowest in Wyoming (45.7%).
Is Facebook ‘Killing Us’? A New Survey Investigates
July 2021
Matthew Baum, Roy H. Perlis, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; David Lazer, Jon Green, Matthew Simonson, and Ata Uslu, Northeastern University; and Jennifer Lin and James Druckman (IPR/Political Science), Northwestern University
Following the Surgeon General’s July 15 advisory on health misinformation and social media, President Joe Biden remarked that Facebook and other social media platforms are “killing people.” Though Biden quickly backpedaled on his remark, Facebook rebutted it, citing instead its own study that showed increasing “vaccine acceptance” by U.S. Facebook users. So, does Facebook play a role in COVID-19 misinformation? New survey results from researchers at Northwestern, Harvard, Northeastern, and Rutgers universities suggest that it does. The researchers find that those who relied on Facebook for COVID-19 news had substantially lower vaccination rates than the overall U.S. population. Those who received most of their news from Facebook also displayed lower levels of institutional trust and greater acceptance of misinformation.
Survey Shows Growing Support for Vaccinating Children and School Vaccine Mandates
July 2021
Matthew A. Baum, Roy H. Perlis, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; Matthew Simonson, David Lazer, Hong Qu, Ata Uslu, and Jon Green, Northeastern University; James Druckman (IPR/Political Science) and Jennifer Lin, Northwestern University
New survey results reveal Americans have grown more supportive of vaccinating children now than when compared to surveys taken earlier this year. Still, uneven trends emerge based on the respondents’ age and gender. Young mothers and mothers of young children remain the most resistant to vaccinating their children. Mothers tend to be the primary decision makers when it comes to their children’s health. Their resistance to vaccinating children may delay progress on getting more Americans vaccinated if younger children become eligible for COVID-19 vaccines.
Social Isolation Is Down Overall, But Some Americans Remain Isolated
July 2021
Roy H. Perlis, Matthew A. Baum, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; Alexi Quintana, David Lazer, Hanyu Chwe, Jon Green, Matthew Simonson, and Ata Uslu, Northeastern University; Kirsten Hu, James Druckman (IPR/Political Science) and Jennifer Lin, Northwestern University
As states reopen and lift COVID-19 safety measures, a July 2021 survey of more than 185,000 people from all 50 states shows another sign of improvement—levels of social isolation are falling. Researchers from Northwestern, Harvard, Northeastern, and Rutgers looked at 15 months of data, finding that the percentage of socially isolated respondents fell most among people with high incomes and education. But those who are unemployed and poor remain more isolated than other segments of the population.
The Economy and Pandemic Are Improving, Mental Health Is Not
May 2021
With vaccination rates increasing and states reopening, many are hopeful that the pandemic is finally nearing its end. Despite the optimism around the pandemic’s progress, a May 2021 national survey finds that depression and other mental health issues have not improved since the winter. Over a fourth (28%) meet moderate levels of depression that would result in evaluation and treatment. While the numbers have slightly decreased from 30% in December 2020, depression rates are three times the levels before the pandemic.
Read the report.
New Community Policing Program Shows Some Positive Progress, But Requires More Work
May 2021
N3 and IPR Researchers, Northwestern University
In January 2019, the Chicago Police Department (CPD), in collaboration with the Policing Project at New York University School of Law, launched the Chicago Neighborhood Policing Initiative (CNPI). The Northwestern Neighborhood & Network Initiative (N3), under the leadership of IPR sociologist Andrew Papachristos and executive director Soledad McGrath, evaluated the two-year-old program and found that the police and community participants show some positive changes. For example, their report shows greater police visibility, more police attention to community concerns, and, most importantly, more meaningful interpersonal interactions between residents and police officers. However, several factors might have set back those interactions, like the pandemic, Chicago’s high rates of shootings and gun deaths, George Floyd’s murder and the subsequent protests, all of which strained police-community relations.
More Americans Oppose Vaccine Passports Than Support Them
May 2021
Matthew A. Baum, Roy H. Perlis, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; Alexi Quintana, Matthew Simonson, and David Lazer, Hanyu Chwe, Jon Green, and Ata A. Uslu, Northeastern University; and James Druckman (IPR/Political Science) and Jennifer Lin, Northwestern University
As more Americans receive the COVID-19 vaccine and communities begin re-opening, many remain divided about whether proof of vaccination, or “vaccine passports,” should be required to shop in person or travel. Between April 1 and May 3, 2021, the researchers surveyed over 21,000 individuals, randomly assigning them to questions asking about various scenarios under which businesses might require or ask for proof of vaccinations. Only 27% of respondents on average support vaccine passports, while 50% oppose them.
Support for School Vaccination Requirements Rises from 54% to 58%, But Some Resistance Remains
May 2021
Matthew Baum and Roy H. Perlis, Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; Matthew Simonson, Hanyu Chwe, David Lazer, Jon Green, Ata A. Uslu, Adina Gitomer, and Alexi Quintana, Northeastern University; James Druckman (IPR/Political Science), and Jennifer Lin, Northwestern University
Between April 1 and May 3, 2021, researchers surveyed 21,733 individuals across the country about their attitudes on childhood vaccinations. The results indicate cities and Democratic-leaning states will be more likely to implement vaccination requirements: 76% of Democrats support them versus only 38% of Republicans and those in cities (66%) are more likely to be in favor of them than those in suburban (56%) and rural areas (49%). Meanwhile, parents’ attitudes toward vaccinating children have widened in terms of their educational backgrounds, incomes, and political affiliations. Parents who have become more resistant to vaccinating their children earn less than $25,000 per year, identify as Republican, and do not have a college degree.
Americans Shift Toward "Pro-Vaccine" Direction After J&J Vaccine Pause
April 2021
Matthew Baum, Roy H. Perlis, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; David Lazer, Jon Green, Adina Gitomer, Matthew Simonson, Ata A. Uslu, and Alexi Quintana, Northeastern University; James Druckman (IPR/Political Science) and Jennifer Lin, Northwestern University
On April 13, 2021 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended pausing the use of the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine. A new survey by a consortium of four universities that includes Northwestern suggests the pause did not have negative effects on vaccination attitudes. Nearly 74% of respondents were aware of the pause, but vaccine hesitancy and resistance did not increase after the pause. However, respondents did show a vaccine preference after the pause. People preferred Pfizer over Moderna and they preferred Moderna over J&J.
Which Networks Are Most Effective at Improving Student Achievement?
April 2021
Michelle Shumate (Communication/IPR), Joshua Miles, Anne-Marie Boyer, and Zachary Gibson, Northwestern University; Rong Wang, University of Kentucky; Katherine R. Cooper, DePaul University; Jack L. Harris, SUNY at New Paltz; Shaun Doughtery and Hannah Kistler, Vanderbilt University; and Miranda Richardson, University of Connecticut
A Northwestern study shows city and nonprofit leaders can achieve social impact by using a variety of frameworks that are just as, if not more, effective than the commonly used "collective impact" framework. The Network for Nonprofit and Social Impact (NNSI) conducted the three-year study that evaluated the effectiveness of 26 education networks’ “collective impact” in improving education outcomes in their communities. The study points to several key takeaways that could change the way organizations work together to improve student achievement. Most notably, the researchers find that greater adherence to the five initial conditions of collective impact does not result in a more significant social impact.
Community-Based Research Shows More People Exposed to COVID-19 Virus Than Previously Known
April 2021
Thomas McDade (IPR/Anthropology), Alexis Demonbreun, Richard D’Aquila, Nanette Benbow, Brian Mustanski (Medical Social Sciences/IPR); Elizabeth McNally, and the SCAN Study Research Team, Northwestern University
As the U.S. rushes to vaccinate Americans to prevent a wider outbreak of COVID-19, the FDA has currently authorized three vaccines for emergency use, two of which use a two-dose regime. Northwestern University researchers are conducting an ongoing community-based study that shows that mild or asymptomatic infections—which comprise the vast majority of infections in the general population—do not generate high levels of protective immunity. The April 2021 study also shows that a single dose of current two-dose mRNA vaccines does not provide adequate protection for most people who had mild or asymptomatic cases of COVID-19.
Vaccination Rates for Healthcare Workers Have Doubled
March 2021
Matthew A. Baum, Roy H. Perlis, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; David Lazer, Jon Green, Adina Gitomer, Matthew Simonson, Ata A. Uslu, and Alexi Quintana, Northeastern University; and James Druckman (IPR/Political Science) and Jennifer Lin, Northwestern University
Since January 2021, more U.S. healthcare workers have said they are ready to get vaccinated, with rates of vaccine hesitancy dropping from 37% to 29%, according to a March 2021 survey from a research consortium that includes Northwestern University. The same survey finds a similar drop in the hesitancy rate for workers outside of healthcare, falling from 41% to 31%. The survey also shows the rate of vaccination has doubled among healthcare workers, and those with a graduate degree have been vaccinated at four times the rate of those with a high school degree or less (43% versus 13%). The researchers discovered that levels of vaccine hesitancy decreased when they looked at a respondent's gender, education level, income, and political identification. However, the decline is less correlated to one's race/ethnicity, age, or where one lives.
Survey Shows 53% of Americans Support Biden’s Handling of COVID-19
March 2021
Matthew A. Baum, Roy H. Perlis, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; David Lazer, Ata A. Uslu, Alexi Quintana, Jon Green, Adina Gitomer, and Matthew Simonson, Northeastern University; and James Druckman (IPR/Political Science) and Jennifer Lin, Northwestern University
How much Americans approve—or disapprove—of their governors and the president’s handling of COVID-19 in their state appears divided by party lines, according to the latest results from an ongoing national survey of more than 170,000 Americans between April 2020 and February 2021. Conducted by a consortium of four universities that includes Northwestern, Harvard, Northeastern, and Rutgers, the survey finds that Republicans are generally more disapproving of their governors—even more so when their governor is a Democrat. Meanwhile, Democrats have increased their ratings for all governors on average, especially Republican ones.
Survey Shows Parents Are More Hesitant to Get Vaccines for Their Kids
March 2021
Matthew A. Baum, Roy H. Perlis, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University); Matthew Simonson, David Lazer, Adina Gitomer, Ata A. Uslu, John Green, and Alexi Quintana, Northeastern University; and James Druckman (IPR/Political Science) and Jennifer Lin, Northwestern University
While coronavirus vaccines are yet to be approved for children, public health officials worry that the increasing numbers of parents skeptical of vaccinating their children for any disease could affect overall vaccination rates for the coronavirus. A March 2021 survey aims to understand how prevalent this attitude is among parents and adults without children. The survey results show parents are more hesitant about getting the coronavirus vaccine for themselves and their children than those without children across different socioeconomic and demographic groups, with young mothers driving the gap. Mothers between the ages of 18 and 35 are a third less likely to get the vaccine as soon as it becomes available and nearly a third more likely to refuse it altogether.
New Survey Shows Wide Gaps in Who Is Getting Vaccinated
March 2021
Matthew A. Baum, Roy H. Perlis, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; David Lazer, Jon Green, Adina Gitomer, Matthew Simonson, Alexi Quintana, and Ata A. Uslu, Northeastern University; and James Druckman (IPR/Political Science) and Jennifer Lin, Northwestern University
In his March 11, 2021 primetime address, President Biden pledged that all adults over the age of 18 would have access to a COVID vaccine by May 1. Despite the progress in vaccinating more than 64 million Americans to date, a March 2021 national survey of more than 21,000 Americans underscores that wide disparities still exist in terms of who has been able to get a vaccine so far. It also pinpoints how a complex system of vaccine distribution cuts off the people best placed to convince more vulnerable Americans to get one. The researchers from Northwestern, Harvard, Northeastern, and Rutgers conducted the survey between February 5 and March 1, 2021. They find that education was the biggest predictor of who had already been vaccinated: 29% of respondents with graduate degrees had already received their COVID shots versus just 9% of those with a high school diploma or less, and the figures were similar for vaccine hesitancy (8% vs. 30%).
National Survey Shows 13% of Healthcare Workers Are Vaccinated
February 2021
Roy H. Perlis, Matthew A. Baum, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; David Lazer, Matthew Simonson, Jon Green, Adina Gitomer, and Alexi Quintana, Northeastern University; and James Druckman (IPR/Political Science) and Jennifer Lin Northwestern University
According to a February 2021 nationally representative survey, a 50-year-old White male doctor in the Northeast, earning more than $200,000, is more than seven times likely to be vaccinated than a 45-year-old Black female nursing assistant in the South, earning less than $50,000. While healthcare workers held similar attitudes to most Americans on their hesitancy in, and resistance to, getting vaccinated, they were more likely to be vaccinated overall (13%) than Americans generally (2%) since they are on the COVID frontlines as essential workers. The survey finds that education, income, gender, and race/ethnicity are strong predictors of vaccination rates, as well as of vaccine hesitancy and resistance among those at the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19.
Parents Voice Concern About Students’ Learning Losses
February 2021
Matthew A. Baum, Roy H. Perlis, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; Jon Green, David Lazer, Alexi Quintana, Matthew Simonson, Adina Gitomer, and Ata A. Uslu, Northeastern University; and James Druckman (IPR/Political Science) and Jennifer Lin Northwestern University
Two-thirds of respondents (67%), whether students or parents, say they are concerned about the quality of K–12 learning during the pandemic, according to a February 2021 national survey of more than 25,000 people. The finding holds across respondents from different racial backgrounds, incomes, and political affiliations. Conducted between December 16, 2020 and January 11, 2021, the study shows that slight majorities of parents had concerns about learning losses for their children when compared to school prior to the pandemic. Concerns were highest among parents of middle schoolers (55%), followed by those of high schoolers (52%), and then kindergarten and elementary students (49%). But majorities also came out against a return to in-person learning.Guns Sales Spike in 2020
February 2021
Roy H. Perlis, Matthew A. Baum, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; Matthew Simonson, David Lazer, Jon Green, Adina Gitomer, Alexi Quintana, and Ata A. Uslu; Northeastern University; and James Druckman (IPR/Political Science), Uday Tandon, and Jennifer Lin Northwestern University
Amid the protests and turbulence of 2020, Americans set a new record for gun purchases, with the FBI tallying a new high of 21 million background checks over the year. That was an increase of 26% over the 2016 record of 15.7 million. In a February 2021 national survey that took place between December 16, 2020 and January 11, 2021, nearly 9,000 of 25,000 Americans said they bought guns in 2020. Protesters were approximately between 2 and 4 times more likely to buy a gun than those who did not protest. For those who attended a protest against police violence or racism, 13% bought a gun. But that increased to 23% for those attending a rally to support former President Trump or to protest election fairness or COVID-19 restrictions.
National Survey Finds Most Americans Favor Vaccination
January 2021
Matthew A. Baum, Roy H. Perlis, and Mauricio Santillana, Harvard University; Katherine Ognyanova, Rutgers University; David Lazer, Adina Gitomer, Matthew Simonson, Alexi Quintana, and Ata A. Uslu Northeastern University; and James Druckman (IPR/Political Science) and Jennifer Lin, Northwestern University
As President Joe Biden promises to vaccinate more than 100 million Americans by the end of his first 100 days in office (April 29), new research offers several critical insights for those in charge of managing such a massive national public health effort. The researchers, who hail from four major U.S. universities including Northwestern, surveyed approximately 25,000 individuals from around the nation between December 16 and January 10. Their findings show that Americans generally favor getting a vaccination themselves (75%) and do not typically believe COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, though certain groups are more likely to believe false information about vaccines. They are also more likely to be swayed to get vaccinated by messages from their doctors and scientists than those from famous political figures, athletes, or actors, and generally agree with current policies prioritizing which groups should get vaccinated first, such as frontline medical personnel and first responders.
Read the reports here and here.
Why Individuals at the Highest Risk of Gun Violence Choose Chicago CRED
January 2021
Dallas Wright (IPR/N3); Lester Kern, Durrell Washington, and Briana Payton, University of Chicago; and Kevin Barry, Soledad McGrath (IPR/N3), and Andrew Papachristos (IPR/N3/Sociology), Northwestern University
This report from the Northwestern Neighborhood and Network Initiative (N3) identifies how a street outreach program run by Chicago CRED (Creating Real Economic Destiny) not only identifies but also engages such individuals. It details the experiences of participants in the program, highlighting how they perceive the violence that surrounds them, as well as why they joined and choose to stay in CRED.
A Network Analysis of Three Weekends of Shootings in Chicago, June 18–July 5
January 2021
Nicolas Villar, George Wood, Jess Robinson, and Soledad McGrath (IPR/N3); and Andrew Papachristos (IPR/N3/Sociology), Northwestern University
This report from the Northwestern Neighborhood and Network Initiative (N3) examines the shootings and homicides that occurred during one of the most severe upticks of gun violence in 2020—the two-week period between Father’s Day and the Fourth of July Weekend, June 18 to July 5, 2020. By delving more deeply into this period, the report aims to illustrate how understanding the networks in which gun violence occurred during an especially deadly outbreak of violence might inform policy and practice.