In the Classroom - Polisci - Rutgers, School of Arts and Sciences

Welcome to the Department of Political Science

Richard Lau
Distinguished Professor
Subfield: American Politics, Methods
Office: Hickman Hall - 409
Phone: 848-932-6685
Click for CV
Specialties:
Political Psychology, Public Opinion, Political Persuasion, Political Cognition, Decision Making, Decision Quality, Emotions, Media Effects
Graduate Content:
Program in American Politics
Bio:
Richard Lau earned his B.A. from Stanford University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from UCLA. He taught at Carnegie Mellon University before coming to Rutgers in 1990. His chief research interests include political cognition and political decision-making; correct voting in national and subnational elections; media effects in political campaigns; institutional means for improving democratic representation; health beliefs and behaviors; and the role of self-interest in political attitudes and behavior. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Health, and the Ford Foundation.
Teaching:
- Psychology of Political Behavior, 01:790:348
- Elections and Participation, 16:790:610
- Public Opinion, 16:790:611
- Psychology of Political Behavior, 16:790:612
- Multivariate Techniques, 16:790:670
Publications:
Selected Articles Include:
- Funck, Amy S., and Richard R. Lau. 2024. “A Meta-Analytic Assessment of the Effects of Emotions on Political Information Search and Decision Making.” American Journal of Political Science.68 (July): 891 - 906. Published online first August 23, 2023.
- Lau, Richard R., and David P. Redlawsk. 2023. “Political Decision Making.” In Leonie Huddy, David O. Sears, Jack Levy, and Jennifer Jerrit (Eds.) Oxford Handbook of Political Psychology, third edition. New York: Oxford University Press.
- Strawbridge, Michael J., and Richard R. Lau. 2022. “House Republican Decision-Making Following the Capitol Riot.” PS: Political Science & Politics, 55 (February): 484 - 489.
- Kleinberg, Mona S., and Richard R. Lau. 2021. “Googling Politics: How Offloading Affects Voting and Political Knowledge.” Political Psychology, 42(February): 93 - 110.
- Lau, Richard R., Kathleen M. Rodgers, and Jamel Love. 2021. “Media Effects in the Viewer’s Choice Era: Testing Revised Agenda-Setting and Priming Hypotheses.” Political Communication, 28(3): 199 - 221.
Research:
Replication Data for 2024 Meta-Analytic Assessment of Emotions and Information Search

Data file for Correct Voting estimates in ANES surveys

Data file for Correct Voting estimates in CCES surveys