The Polarization Research Lab is a research group and resource hub dedicated to applying science to the study of polarization and democracy.
Founded on more than a decade of research by top scholars in the field at Dartmouth College, Stanford University, and the University of Pennsylvania, PRL advances the study of partisan animosity by collecting data, testing new ideas through rigorous science, and sharing the data and findings with others. Our network includes scholars across social science disciplines, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, and researchers around the world as well as our funders and practitioner partners.
Our lab focuses on addressing the following critical questions:
- What are the principal causes of affective polarization and what can be done to treat it?
- When and where does affective polarization alter behavior? Why?
- How effective and durable are approaches to reducing affective polarization?
Explore what we do
America’s Political Pulse
Visualize and analyze trends in American political animosity measured with our data. Advanced tools and free and open datasets are also available.
Apply for survey time
We are looking for innovative work on partisan animosity. Proposals will be evaluated solely on scientific merit and will be fielded on YouGov as part of our weekly tracking survey.
Visit the Library of Partisan Animosity
Learn about the research on polarization from top academics in an easy to read and explore format.
Annual meeting
We bring together established scholars, graduate students, community groups and funders for a conference designed to highlight emerging academic work and to develop a network of academics and practitioners focused on the problem of partisan animosity.
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