David Doherty
Professor of Political Science


I am a professor of political science at Loyola University Chicago where I teach courses on American politics and political behavior.

My research addresses a variety of issues related to political attitudes and behavior. I am particularly interested in:
  • the intersection between political structures and public opinion;
  • attitudes about crime and other local issues;
  • lab, survey, and field experimental research methods;
  • innovative approaches to teaching political concepts and methods to undergraduate and graduate students.
My work has appeared in journals including The American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, The Journal of Politics, Public Opinion Quarterly, Political Behavior, American Politics Research, Social Science Quarterly, Political Research Quarterly, and Journal of Political Science Education. See below for a full list of my publications and working papers, including links to papers.

I am the co-PI on the annual Cook County Community Survey.



Academic Appointments

Professor, Loyola University Chicago, 2022-present.

Associate Professor, Loyola University Chicago, 2016-2022.

Assistant Professor, Loyola University Chicago, 2011-2016.

Postdoctoral Associate, Yale University, 2008-2011.


Education

PhD, Political Science: University of Colorado, 2008
Fields of Specialization: American Politics, Political Methodology
Dissertation: "Perceived Motivations in the Political Arena".
Committee: Jennifer Wolak (advisor), Ken Bickers, Vanessa Baird, John McIver, and Chick Judd


B.A., Political Science: New College, Sarasota, FL, 1999


Books

  1. Doherty, David, Conor M. Dowling, and Michael G. Miller. 2022. Small Power: How Local Parties Shape Elections. Oxford University Press. [Review, Perspectives on Politics].
  2. Greenberg, Edward S., Benjamin I. Page, David Doherty, Scott L. Minkoff, Josh M. Ryan. 2023. The Struggle for Democracy: 2022 Midterm Elections Update. Pearson Education: Hoboken, NJ.
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles

  1. Doherty, David, Michael Touchton, and Jeffrey Lyons. Forthcoming. "Partisanship and Support for Devolving Concrete Policy Decisions to the States." Political Behavior. [Replication Archive]
  2. Doherty, David, Dana Garbarski, and Sasha Shapsis. Forthcoming. "NIMBY Syndrome and Abortion Access." American Politics Research. [Replication Archive]
  3. Doherty, David, Raluca Pavel, Maddie Jackson, and Dana Garbarski. 2024. "Who is Interested in Participating in Participatory Budgeting?" State Politics & Policy Quarterly 24:121-144.
  4. Vivas Bastidas, Juanita, Maria Akchurin, Dana Garbarski, and David Doherty. 2024. "How Local Perceptions Contribute to Urban Environmental Activism: Evidence from the Chicago Metropolitan Area." The Sociological Quarterly 65:38-60.
  5. Navarrete, Keyla, Skky Martin, Dana Garbarski, and David Doherty. 2022. "Cook County Community Survey: A Study on Policing and Neighborhood Perceptions." Illinois Municipal Policy Journal 7: 93-112.
  6. Doherty, David, Conor M. Dowling, and Michael Miller. 2022. "Race, Crime, and the Public's Sentencing Preferences." Public Opinion Quarterly 86: 523-546. [Replication Archive]
  7. Doherty, David and Kate Hansen. 2022. "Partisan Identities and Interpretations of Economic Data." Politics, Groups, and Identities 10: 705-714. [Replication Archive]
  8. Doherty, David. 2022. "What Can Conjoint Experiments Tell Us about Americans' Abortion Attitudes?" American Politics Research 50: 147-156 [Replication Archive; Supplementary Materials]
  9. Sanchez, Peter, David Doherty, and Kirstie L. Dobbs. 2021. "Skin Color and System Support in Latin America." Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics 6: 352-372. [Replication Archive]
  10. Doherty, David, Conor M. Dowling, and Michael G. Miller. 2021. "The Conditional Effect of Local Party Organization Activity on Federal Election Outcomes." Journal of Elections, Public Opinion, and Parties 31: 368-387. [Replication Archive]
  11. Doherty, David, Amanda C. Bryan, Dina Hanania, and Matthew Pajor. 2020. "The Public's Foreign Aid Priorities: Evidence from a Conjoint Experiment." American Politics Research 48: 635-648. [Replication Archive]
  12. Doherty, David and Adler, E. Scott. 2020. "Campaign Mailers and Intent to Turnout: Do Similar Field and Survey Experiments Yield the Same Conclusions?" Journal of Experimental Political Science 7: 150-155. [Replication Archive]
  13. Doherty, David, Peter J. Schraeder, and Kirstie L. Dobbs. 2020. "Do Democratic Revolutions 'Activate' Participants?: The Case of Tunisia." Politics 40: 170-188. [Replication Archive and Appendix]
  14. Doherty, David and Laurel Harbridge. 2020. "The Effects of Blaming Others for Legislative Inaction on Individual and Collective Evaluations." Legislative Studies Quarterly 45: 69-99. [Replication Archive]
  15. Doherty, David, Amanda C. Bryan, Reid Willis, and Paul Witry. 2019. "Representation Imperatives in the Public Mind." Social Science Quarterly 100: 1963-1983. [Replication Archive]
  16. Doherty, David, Conor M. Dowling, Alan S. Gerber, and Gregory A. Huber. 2019. "Should I Cast an Ill-Informed Ballot? Examining the Contours of the Normative Obligation to Vote" American Politics Research 47: 1081-1099. [Replication Archive]
  17. Doherty, David, Conor M. Dowling, and Michael Miller. 2019. "Do Party Chairs Think Women and Minority Candidates Can Win? Evidence from a Conjoint Experiment." Journal of Politics 81: 1282-1297. (Popular press coverage: FiveThirtyEight) [Replication Archive]
  18. Dowling, Conor M., David Doherty, Seth J. Hill, Alan S. Gerber, and Gregory A. Huber. 2019. "The Voting Experience and Beliefs about Ballot Secrecy" PLoS ONE14: e0209765.[Replication Archive]
  19. Doherty, David and Peter Schraeder. 2018. "Social Signals and Participation in the Tunisian Revolution." Journal of Politics 80: 675-691. [Replication Archive]
  20. Doherty, David, Conor M. Dowling, Gerber, Alan S. and Gregory A. Huber. 2017. "Are Voting Norms Conditional? How Electoral Context and Peer Behavior Shape the Social Returns to Voting." Journal of Politics 79: 1095-1100. [Replication Archive]
  21. Doherty, David and James Stancliffe. 2017. "Interpreting and Tolerating Speech: The Effects of Message, Messenger, and Elite Framing." American Politics Research 45: 224-255. (Popular press coverage: London School of Economics USAPP Blog). [Replication Archive]
  22. Doherty, David, Conor M. Dowling and Michael Miller. 2016. "When Is Changing Policy Positions Costly for Politicians? Experimental Evidence." Political Behavior 38: 455-484. (Popular press coverage: The Monkey Cage) [Replication Archive]
  23. Gerber, Alan S., Gregory A. Huber, David Doherty, and Conor M. Dowling. 2016. "Why People Vote: Estimating the Social Returns to Voting." British Journal of Political Science 46: 241-264. [Replication Archive]
  24. Doherty, David. 2015. "Perceived Motives in the Political Arena." American Politics Research 43: 363-393. (Popular press coverage: London School of Economics USAPP Blog; Democracy Audit UK). [Replication Archive]; [Online Appendix].
  25. Doherty, David. 2015. "How Policy and Procedure Shape Citizens' Evaluations of Senators." Legislative Studies Quarterly 40: 241-272. [Replication Archive]; [Supplementary Analysis Document] (Popular press coverage: The Hill; Huffington Post)
  26. Doherty, David and E. Scott Adler. 2014. "The Persuasive Effects of Campaign Mailers." Political Research Quarterly 67: 562-573. [Replication Archive]; [Supplementary Analysis Document] (Popular press coverage: San Diego CityBeat; SF Chronicle; London School of Economics USAPP Blog)
  27. Doherty, David, Conor M. Dowling and Michael Miller. 2014. "Does Time Heal All Wounds? Sex Scandals, Tax Evasion, and the Passage of Time." PS: Political Science & Politics 47: 357-366. (Popular press coverage: Washington Post Wonkblog; Yahoo! News; Washington Monthly; FiveThirtyEight; Louisiana by the Numbers) [Replication Archive]
  28. Doherty, David and Josh Ryan. 2014. "Redistricting in the Classroom: A Module for Inductive Learning." PS: Political Science & Politics 47: 490-496. [Excel File with Module Maps]
  29. Gerber, Alan S., Eric M. Patashnik, David Doherty, and Conor M. Dowling. 2014. "Doctor Knows Best: Physician Endorsements, Public Opinion, and the Politics of Comparative Effectiveness Research." Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law 39: 171-208. [Replication Archive]
  30. Gerber, Alan S., Gregory A. Huber, David Doherty, Conor M. Dowling, and Seth Hill. 2013. "Do Perceptions of Ballot Secrecy Influence Turnout? Results from a Field Experiment." American Journal of Political Science 57: 537-551. [Replication Archive]
  31. Gerber, Alan S., Gregory A. Huber, David Doherty, Conor M. Dowling, and Seth Hill. 2013. "Who Wants to Discuss Vote Choices with Others?: Polarization in Preferences for Deliberation." Public Opinion Quarterly 77: 474-496. [Replication Archive]
  32. Doherty, David. 2013. "To Whom Do People Think Representatives Should Respond: Their District or the Country?" Public Opinion Quarterly 77: 237-255. [Replication Archive]; [Online Appendix].(Popular press coverage: Charles Blow NY Times Op-Ed; Pew Research FactTank; Cook Political Report)
  33. Adler, E. Scott, Michael Berry, and David Doherty. 2013. "Pushing 'Reset': The Conditional Effects of Coaching Replacements on College Football Performance." Social Science Quarterly 94: 1-28. (Popular press coverage: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Economist (blog), Freakonomics Blog, WGN Radio Interview, Pittsburgh Post Gazette; Kansas City Star; Washington Post). [Replication Archive]
  34. Gerber, Alan S., Gregory A. Huber, David Doherty, and Conor M. Dowling. 2013. "Is There a Secret Ballot? Ballot Secrecy Perceptions and Their Implications for Voting Behaviour." British Journal of Political Science 43: 77-102. [Replication Archive]
  35. Gerber, Alan S., Gregory A. Huber, David Doherty, Conor M. Dowling, and Costas Panagopoulos. 2013. "Big Five Personality Traits and Responses to Persuasive Appeals: Results from Voter Turnout Experiments." Political Behavior 35: 687-728. [Replication Archive]
  36. Gerber, Alan S., Gregory A. Huber, David Doherty, and Conor M. Dowling. 2013. "Assessing the Stability of Psychological and Political Survey Measures." American Politics Research 41: 54-75. [Replication Archive]
  37. Gerber, Alan S., Gregory A. Huber, David Doherty, and Conor M. Dowling. 2012. "Disagreement and the Avoidance of Political Discussion: Aggregate Relationships and Differences across Personality Traits." American Journal of Political Science 56: 849-874. [Replication Archive]; [Online Apendix]
  38. Doherty, David and Jennifer Wolak. 2012. "When Do the Ends Justify the Means? Evaluating Procedural Fairness." Political Behavior 34: 301-323. [Replication Archive]
  39. Gerber, Alan S., Gregory A. Huber, David Doherty, and Conor M. Dowling. 2012. "Personality and the Strength and Direction of Partisan Identification." Political Behavior 34: 653-688. [Replication Archive]
  40. Doherty, David, Conor M. Dowling, and Michael Miller. 2011. "Are Financial or Moral Scandals Worse? It Depends." PS: Political Science & Politics 44: 749-757. (Popular press coverage: NPR; The Monkey Cage; Pacific Standard; The Atlantic; FiveThirtyEight; Louisiana by the Numbers; San Diego Union Tribune) [Replication Archive]
  41. Gerber, Alan S., Gregory A. Huber, David Doherty, and Conor M. Dowling. 2011. "Citizens' Policy Confidence and Electoral Punishment: A Neglected Dimension of Electoral Accountability" Journal of Politics 73: 1206-1224. [Replication Archive]
  42. Gerber, Alan S., Gregory A. Huber, David Doherty, Conor M. Dowling, Conor Raso, and Shang Ha. 2011. "Personality Traits and Participation in Political Processes." Journal of Politics 73: 692-706. [Replication Archive]; [Online Appendix]
  43. Doherty, David. 2011. "Teaching Experimental Methods: A Framework for Hands-On Modules." Journal of Political Science Education 7: 163-172.
  44. Gerber, Alan S., Gregory A. Huber, David Doherty, and Conor M. Dowling. 2011. "Big Five Personality Traits in the Political Arena." Annual Review of Political Science 14: 265-287. [Replication Archive]
  45. Gerber, Alan S., Gregory A. Huber, David Doherty, and Conor M. Dowling. 2011. "Personality Traits and the Consumption of Political Information." American Politics Research 39: 32-84. [Replication Archive]
  46. Gerber, Alan S., Eric Patashnik, David Doherty, and Conor M. Dowling. 2010. "The Public Wants Information, Not Mandates, From Comparative Effectiveness Research." Health Affairs 29: 1872-1881. (Popular press coverage: The Monkey Cage) [Replication Archive]
  47. Gerber, Alan S., Eric Patashnik, David Doherty, and Conor M. Dowling. 2010. "A National Survey Reveals Public Skepticism About Research-Based Treatment Guidelines." Health Affairs 29: 1882-1884. (Popular press coverage: The Monkey Cage) [Replication Archive]
  48. Gerber, Alan S., Neil Malhotra, Conor M. Dowling, and David Doherty. 2010. "Publication Bias in Political Science: An Investigation of Two Literatures." American Politics Research 38: 591-613. [Replication Archive]
  49. Gerber, Alan S., Gregory A. Huber, David Doherty, Conor M. Dowling, and Shang Ha. 2010. "Personality and Political Attitudes: Relationships Across Issue Domains and Political Contexts." American Political Science Review 104: 111-133. [Replication Archive]
  50. Doherty, David. 2008. "Presidential Rhetoric, Candidate Evaluations, and Party Identification: Can Parties 'Own' Values?" Political Research Quarterly 61: 419-433.

Awards and Grants

2023Sujack Family Award for Excellence in Faculty Research (Loyola University Chicago)
2021LUC Summer Research Stipend: "The Public as Judges: Examining the Role of Convicts' Race in the Public's Sentencing Preferences."
2020Office of Research Services, Cook County Community Survey: A Pilot Study (Loyola University Chicago)
2019Sujack Master Teacher Award (Loyola University Chicago)
2018Alice B. Hayes Advising and Mentoring Award (Loyola University Chicago)
2018LUC Summer Research Stipend: "Local Party Chairs and the Electoral Process."
2016Best Paper Award (APSA Experimental Methods Section): "The Effects of Candidate Race and Gender on Party Chairs' Assessments of Electoral Viability."
2016LUC Summer Research Stipend: "The Effectiveness and Extent of Passing the Buck in Congress."
2015LUC Summer Research Stipend: "The Public's Concept of Representation."
2014Bonjean Award (Southwestern Social Sciences Association): "Pushing 'Reset': The Conditional Effects of Coaching Replacements on College Football Performance."
2013LUC Summer Research Stipend: "Public Responses to Negative Political Information."
2012LUC Summer Research Stipend: "Public Preferences about the Representation Relationship."
2010National Science Foundation Grant: "Social and Psychological Dimensions of Ballot Secrecy" (PIs: Alan Gerber and Gregory A. Huber)
2009Time-sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences (TESS) grant: "Who Do People Think Representatives Should Respond To: Their Constituents or the Country?"
2007Center to Advance Research and Teaching in the Social Sciences (CARTSS) Scholars grant: "Deciding What is Fair" (Co-PI: Jennifer Wolak)
2006Alumni Teaching Fellowship, New College (Sarasota, FL)

Invited Talks

  • Yale University, Center for the Study of American Politics Summer Workshop. June 10, 2019
  • Northwestern University, American Politics Workshop. May 17, 2019
  • University of Wisconsin--Madison, American Politics Workshop. April 29, 2019
  • Blalock Lecture (ICPSR Summer Program). July 7, 2016.
  • University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana. April 1, 2015.
  • University of Illinois Chicago. April 1, 2015.
  • North Carolina State University. March 16-18, 2015.
  • University of Chicago (Harris School). May 16, 2014.


Email: ddoherty@luc.edu