Friedolin Merhout
A5077079991- Social Media and Politics
- Opinion Dynamics and Social Influence
- Electoral Systems and Political Participation
- Misinformation and Its Impacts
- Advanced Causal Inference Techniques
- Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Media Influence and Politics
- Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI)
- Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies
- demographic modeling and climate adaptation
- Migration and Labor Dynamics
- Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Scientific Computing and Data Management
- Forecasting Techniques and Applications
- Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Social Policy and Reform Studies
- Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations
- Meta-analysis and systematic reviews
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
- Data Analysis with R
- Religion and Society Interactions
University of Copenhagen
2019-2025
University of Leeds
2021
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
2021
University of Bremen
2021
Danish National Centre for Social Research
2020
Duke University
2018-2019
Significance Social media sites are often blamed for exacerbating political polarization by creating “echo chambers” that prevent people from being exposed to information contradicts their preexisting beliefs. We conducted a field experiment offered large group of Democrats and Republicans financial compensation follow bots retweeted messages elected officials opinion leaders with opposing views. Republican participants expressed substantially more conservative views after following liberal...
There is widespread concern that Russia and other countries have launched social-media campaigns designed to increase political divisions in the United States. Though a growing number of studies analyze strategy such campaigns, it not yet known how these efforts shaped attitudes behaviors Americans. We study this question using longitudinal data describe online 1,239 Republican Democratic Twitter users from late 2017 merged with nonpublic about Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA) Twitter....
This study explores how researchers’ analytical choices affect the reliability of scientific findings. Most discussions problems in science focus on systematic biases. We broaden lens to emphasize idiosyncrasy conscious and unconscious decisions that researchers make during data analysis. coordinated 161 73 research teams observed their as they used same independently test prominent social hypothesis: greater immigration reduces support for policies among public. In this typical case...
This study explores how researchers’ analytical choices affect the reliability of scientific findings. Most discussions problems in science focus on systematic biases. We broaden lens to include conscious and unconscious decisions that researchers make during data analysis may lead diverging results. coordinated 161 73 research teams observed their as they used same independently test prominent social hypothesis: greater immigration reduces support for policies among public. In this typical...
A longstanding theory indicates that the threat of a common enemy can mitigate conflict between members rival groups. We tested this hypothesis in pre-registered experiment where 1670 Republicans and Democrats United States were asked to complete an online social learning task with bot was labeled as member opposing party. Prior task, we exposed respondents primes about (a) (involving Iran Russia); (b) patriotic event; or (c) neutral, apolitical prime. Though observed no significant...
Internet search data reveal an association between anti-Muslim and pro-ISIS searches in U.S. counties.
There is mounting concern that social media sites contribute to political polarization by creating "echo chambers" insulate people from opposing views about current events. We surveyed a large sample of Democrats and Republicans who visit Twitter at least three times each week range policy issues. One later, we randomly assigned respondents treatment condition in which they were offered financial incentives follow bot for one month exposed them messages produced elected officials,...
There is widespread concern that social media driving political polarization. However, there also increasing evidence conversation between people with opposing views— which can enable—may decrease animus them. Do anonymous online conversations of different parties exacerbate or mitigate partisan polarization? We created a mobile chat platform to study the impact such discussions. Our recruited Republicans and Democrats in United States complete survey about their views. later randomized them...
Longstanding theory indicates the threat of a common enemy can mitigate conflict between members rival groups. We tested this hypothesis in pre-registered experiment where 1,670 Republicans and Democrats United States were asked to complete collaborative online task with an automated agent or “bot” that was labelled as member opposing party. Prior task, we exposed respondents primes about a) (involving threats from Iran, China, Russia); b) patriotic event; c) neutral, apolitical prime....
In an era of mass migration, social scientists, populist parties and movements raise concerns over the future immigration-destination societies. What impacts does this have on policy solidarity? Comparative cross-national research, relying mostly secondary data, has findings in different directions. There is a threat selective model reporting lack replicability. The heterogeneity countries obscures attempts to clearly define data-generating models. P-hacking HARKing lurk among standard...
This study explores how researchers’ analytical choices affect the reliability of scientific findings. Most discussions problems in science focus on systematic biases. We broaden lens to include conscious and unconscious decisions that researchers make during data analysis may lead diverging results. coordinated 161 73 research teams observed their as they used same independently test prominent social hypothesis: greater immigration reduces support for policies among public. In this typical...