June 21-27, 2007
Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
The Henry Institute

With the support of the Paul B. Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics, the fourth biennial week-long seminar on survey research and American religion was held at Calvin College from June 21 through 27, 2007. The seminar was led by Henry Institute Director Corwin Smidt (Calvin College) along with James Guth (Professor of Political Science from Furman University), and Lyman Kellstedt (Professor of Political Science emeritus from Wheaton College).

Participation in the workshop was dramatically expanded in 2007, and included twenty-three students selected from a large pool of applicants. The variety of fields of study represented also visibly increased, with many of the participants representing different interests related to research and American politics.

The focus of the seminar is on the relative merit and appropriateness of different measurement strategies and specific measures of religion used in national surveys. During the week, students listened to presentations, discussed readings, analyzed data, and presented findings. Existing data sets were used to assess the relative effects of different measures of religious beliefs, religious affiliation, and religious behavior on different social and political attitudes and behavior. To apply the learned skills, participants worked in teams throughout the week on research projects generally pertaining to their own areas of interest, analyzing the relationship between religion and volunteering; factors that shape differences among mainline Protestant clergy in advocating for community outreach; and how religion affects political participation levels among Latinos in the United States. Each group presented its findings at the close of the workshop.

2007 Participants

Michelle Albaugh, Education & Social Policy, Northwestern University

Christine Brickman, Theology & Religious Studies, Catholic Univ. of America

M. Joseph Burger, American Politics & Public Law, University of Maryland

Jessica Clevering, Social Psychology, Claremont University

Jonathan Ellzey, Political Science, University of Florida

Christopher Faricy, American Politics, Methodology & Public Policy, University of Northern Carolina

Lilliana Hall Mason, Political Science, Stony Brook University

Andrew P. Hogue, Political Science, Baylor University

Stephen Huss, Political Science, Texas A&M University

Laura Hunter, Sociology, University of Arizona

Dana Huyser deBernardo, Sociology of Religion, University of Massachusetts

Matthew Jacobsmeier, Political Science, University of Rochester

Bradley Koch, Philosophy of Sociology, Indiana University

Kyle Kopko, Political Science, Ohio State University

Richard Ledet, Political Science, University of Notre Dame

Andrew Lewis, Political Science; Justice, Law & Society, American University

Darin Mather, Sociology, University of Minnesota

Ian Ostrander, Political Science, University of Kansas

Edward Clay Polson, Sociology, Baylor University

Carin Larson Robinson, Government, Georgetown University

Jeffrey Smith, Sociology, University of Notre Dame

Jeremy E. Uecker, Sociology, University of Texas at Austin

Marion Wieser, Political Science, University of Innsbruck, Austria

 

See the Workshop participants from 2001 through 2007

 

For further information, contact Corwin Smidt at the above address or by phone (616.526.6233) or email (smid@calvin.edu).