Betsy Levy Paluck


Academy Scholar
Weatherhead Center for International Affairs  
Harvard University

CV

Ph.D. 2007, Yale University (Social Psychology)

email: epaluck (at) wcfia (dot) harvard (dot) edu
(617) 495 5414		 Congo demobilized soldiers

What I Research

Prejudice and conflict reduction: the role of media, community dialogue, and education. Media, citizen discussion, and democratic attitudes and behaviors. Poverty and conflict prevention.

I use field experiments and I collect quantitative and qualitative evidence, in settings from Central Africa to U.S. high schools.

Some recent questions: 
  • Can we use the media (radio) to reduce prejudice and conflict?  (Rwanda)
  • Radio talk shows, ethnic tolerance, and democracy (Democratic Republic of Congo)
  • Anti-prejudice education and peer influence (U.S.)
  • "What works" for reducing prejudice and conflict?
Research Methods
  • Field experiments
  • Surveys, focus groups, participant observation
Work in progress
  • Media and face-to-face discussion for building peace and democracy (Southern Sudan)
  • Cross-group cooperation in economic projects
  • Book project: Media and conflict reduction in the Great Lakes of Africa
  • Qualitative research within field experiments
Dissertation: 

Published papers

Paluck, E.L. (in press). Reducing intergroup prejudice and conflict using the media: A field experiment in Rwanda. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 

Paluck, E.L., & Green, D.P. (in press). Prejudice Reduction: What do we know? A critical look at evidence from the field and the laboratory. Annual Review of Psychology.
                    Additional materials

Paluck, E.L. (in press). Crossing the border, changing tactics: A comparative look at fieldwork in two “post-conflict” zones, east DR Congo and Rwanda, 2005-2007. Chapter for Doing Research In Difficult Situations, ed. C. Sriram et al.

Farrar, C., Fishkin, J., Green, D.P., List, C., Luskin, R., & Paluck, E.L. (in press). Disaggregating deliberation’s effects:  An experiment within a Deliberative Poll. British Journal of Political Science.

Paluck, E.L. (2006). Diversity training and intergroup contact: A call to action research.
Journal of Social Issues, 62(3), 439-451.

Nagda, B., Paluck, E.L., Tropp, L.T., Eds. (2006). Reducing Prejudice and Promoting Social Inclusion: Integrating Research, Theory, and Practice on Intergroup Relations. Journal of Social Issues Special Issue.

Uhlmann, E., Brescoll, V.L., & Paluck, E.L. (2006). Are members of low status groups
perceived as bad, or badly off? Egalitarian negative associations and automatic prejudice. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 42(4), 491-499.

LaFrance, M., Paluck, E. L., & Brescoll, V. (2004).  Sex changes: A current perspective
on the psychology of gender. In Beall, A., Sternberg, R.J., & Eagly, A., (Eds.) The Psychology of Gender. New York: Guilford Press.

LaFrance, M., Hecht, M., & Paluck, E. L. (2003). The contingent smile: A meta-analysis
of sex differences in smiling. Psychological Bulletin, 129(2), 305-334.

Other publications

Paluck, E.L. (in press). Book Review of The Media and the Rwanda Genocide. Ed. Allan Thompson. African Studies Review.

Paluck, E.L. (2007). Book Review of Intimate Enemy, Voices and Images of the Rwandan Genocide. Scott Straus and Robert Lyons. International Journal of African Historical Studies.

Green, D.P., & Paluck, E. L. (2004). Double blind procedures. In Lewis-Beck, M. (Ed.),
Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods. Sage Press.
Working papers

Paluck, E.L. & Green, D.P. (under review). Deference, dissent, and dispute resolution: An experimental intervention using mass media to change norms and behavior in Rwanda. UPDATED JUNE 2008

Paluck, E.L. (2007). Is it better not to talk? A field experiment on talk radio and ethnic relations in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Working paper, Harvard University.

Paluck, E.L. (2007). Peer pressure against prejudice: A field experimental test of a national high school prejudice reduction program.

Williams, M., Paluck, E.L., Rodgers, J., (under review.) The price of being female: Some consequences of automatic mental associations between men and wealth.

Work in the Great Lakes?
I can recommend researchers who have worked with me in Democratic Republic of Congo or in Rwanda. 

Please email me for specific recommendations.
epaluck (at) wcfia (dot) harvard (dot) edu		 nord kivu
yr1rwanda
 sud kivu