Research Spotlights

Research Spotlight: Prenatal Substance Use Policies and Infant Maltreatment Reports

Danielle Atkins, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Administration at Florida State University, co-authored an article in the journal Health Affairs titled “Prenatal Substance Use Policies and Infant Maltreatment Reports” with Johanna Catherine Maclean, Ph.D., Allison Witman, Ph.D., Christine Piette Durrance, Ph.D., and Angelica Meinhofer, Ph.D. Below is a summary of the article written by doctoral student Martin Gandur (Ph.D. Political Science ’25).

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences honors COSSPP sociology department researchers’ study linking lead exposure to IQ loss

The editorial board of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal is honoring a pair of COSSPP researchers for their 2022 study which found that childhood exposure to lead has robbed Americans an average of 2.6 IQ points per person

Research Spotlight: Motivations for Maintaining Virginity Among US Adolescents 

FSU Sociology Professors Karin Brewster, Ph.D., and Kathryn Karker Tillman, Ph.D., co-authored the article “Motivations for Maintaining Virginity Among US Adolescents” with Giuseppina Valle Holway, Ph.D. Below is a summary of the article written by doctoral student Martin Gandur (Political Science ’25).  

Research Spotlight: Creating Communities of Wellness for DRC Refugees: Lessons Learned from the Field

Lauren Metcalf is an alum of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy at Florida State University (B.A. International Affairs & Religion ’21). Lindsey Anderson (B.A. Editing, Writing, and Media ’23) authored this summary of Lauren’s honors thesis titled, “Creating Communities of Wellness for DRC Refugees: Lessons Learned from the Field.”

Dissertation Spotlight: Acquiescence Over Activism: How NGOs Manage Authoritarian Demands

Jordan Holsinger, Ph.D., is a graduate of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy at Florida State University (Ph.D. Political Science ’21). Below is a summary of Dr. Holsinger’s dissertation titled, “Acquiescence over Activism: How NGOs Manage Authoritarian Demands” authored by FSU student Katie Kelsey (Editing, Writing, and Media ‘24).