University of Michigan Institute for Social Research (ISR)

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U-M piano students are using virtual reality to practice performing in spaces like Hill Auditorium while researchers stu...
09/04/2026

U-M piano students are using virtual reality to practice performing in spaces like Hill Auditorium while researchers study how their bodies respond to performance anxiety.

ISR researcher Rich Gonzalez and the Biosocial Methods Collaborative helped design the Piano Lab Pro pilot using physiological sensors and surveys. Alicia Carmichael and Natalie Leonard of ISR also contributed to the research, helping connect students’ reported anxiety with measurable physical responses.

Explore how this collaboration with University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, is combining immersive technology, music education and biosocial research to help students better understand performance anxiety.

*Photo credit: Robert Coelius

Friends and neighbors can play an important, but often overlooked, role in supporting older adults who need help with da...
09/02/2026

Friends and neighbors can play an important, but often overlooked, role in supporting older adults who need help with daily life.

New research led by Crystal Ng, with colleagues Vicki Freedman, Kira Birditt, and Amanda Leggett examined caregiving among more than 2,600 older adults with health limitations. About 14% identified a friend or neighbor as a caregiver, representing an estimated 2.4 million friend caregivers nationwide.

The study found that friends typically provide fewer hours of care than family members, but often contribute in distinct ways, including transportation, shopping, helping older adults get outside and accompanying them to medical appointments.

The New York Times recently highlighted the findings and the growing importance of looking beyond traditional family relationships when understanding who provides care to older adults. Read more below.

09/01/2026

C. Cybele Raver was confirmed as the University of Michigan’s 17th president today at a special meeting of the Board of Regents. Please join us in welcoming President-Elect Raver! myumi.ch/9JJEP

CSCAR@ISR is now open and ready to support the U-M research community.The new CSCAR@ISR model brings together expertise ...
08/31/2026

CSCAR@ISR is now open and ready to support the U-M research community.

The new CSCAR@ISR model brings together expertise from the Institute for Social Research, Department of Statistics and Department of Biostatistics to provide high-quality statistical consulting for U-M faculty, staff and graduate students.

Researchers can schedule consultations, explore workshops, ask quick statistical questions and connect with CSCAR@ISR staff for support on funded projects. Specialized expertise, including survey design through ISR, is also available.

Explore CSCAR@ISR and learn how the team can support your research: https://cscar.isr.umich.edu/

Brady West

Consumer sentiment declined in August as concerns about inflation and purchasing power continued to weigh on Americans’ ...
08/28/2026

Consumer sentiment declined in August as concerns about inflation and purchasing power continued to weigh on Americans’ views of the economy.

Joanne Hsu, director of the Surveys of Consumers, says more consumers expect inflation to outpace their income gains in the year ahead. Just 10% expect their purchasing power to increase, while a growing share report that high prices are hurting their personal finances.

Explore the latest August findings from the Surveys of Consumers.

A quarter century later, the National Survey of American Life is reconnecting with participants to answer critical quest...
08/27/2026

A quarter century later, the National Survey of American Life is reconnecting with participants to answer critical questions about health, aging and dementia risk among Black Americans.

Led by Principal Investigator Briana Mezuk and Courtney Thomas Tobin, as well as by ISR researchers, Deborah Robinson, and Toni Antonucci, the 25-year follow-up to the landmark NSAL will create a rare longitudinal dataset tracking how health, communities and life experiences have changed over time. The study builds on the legacy of the late James Jackson, whose groundbreaking work transformed understanding of Black Americans’ health and well-being.

Researchers will begin contacting original participants this fall, helping generate new insights that can inform policies, programs and interventions aimed at improving health outcomes nationwide.

In a project that aims to promote public awareness and understanding of food hardship, University of Michigan researcher...
08/26/2026

In a project that aims to promote public awareness and understanding of food hardship, University of Michigan researchers Helen Levy and Natasha Pilkauskas will lead the collection of monthly data on food insufficiency from a national sample of U.S. households. The project will release quarterly issue briefs tracking food insufficiency rates overall and among key groups, including households with children and older adults.

The underlying microdata will be made publicly available at no cost, providing researchers, policymakers, and the public with an up-to-date picture of how vulnerable families are faring.

Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy University of Michigan

Join us Aug. 27 for the premiere of Piano Lab Pro, a new Apple Vision Pro app designed to help musicians understand and ...
08/25/2026

Join us Aug. 27 for the premiere of Piano Lab Pro, a new Apple Vision Pro app designed to help musicians understand and manage performance anxiety through immersive extended reality.

Developed through a collaboration between University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, Michigan Online, and the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, the app combines biofeedback research with emerging technology and is now being integrated into U-M's class piano curriculum.

The event will feature a live demonstration, insights into the research behind the project, and remarks from SMTD Dean David Gier, ISR Director Kate Cagney, and Center for Academic Innovation CTO Jeremy Nelson.

Two recently released election polls were revealed to be fabricated as part of what their creators called a “social expe...
08/21/2026

Two recently released election polls were revealed to be fabricated as part of what their creators called a “social experiment,” raising questions about how easily false polling information can spread.

ISR researcher Josh Pasek explains that the growing number of pollsters and low barriers to distributing results can make it harder for the public to distinguish high-quality polling from unreliable data. He also notes that even small amounts of manipulated information can have an outsized influence on prediction and betting markets.

Read more about what the incident reveals about polling quality and the way political information spreads.

IMAGE CREDIT: Jamie Kelter Davis for The New York Times

08/20/2026

Piano Lab Pro: The Science of Stage Presence Immersive tools that help musicians understand and manage performance anxiety – now entering the University of Michigan class piano curriculum. Piano Lab Pro is a new Apple Vision Pro app that lets pianists face the pressure of performing before it ever...

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