Department of Sociology

Hollie Nyseth Nzitatira: Forecasting, Preventing, and Recovering From Genocide

by

Hollie Nyseth Nzitatira, Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Sociology, discusses her board range of work in the field of genocide studies. She explains the concept and legal definition of genocide, rooted in the 1948 UN Genocide Convention, and shares insights into her research on forecasting and preventing future genocides. Nzitatira has worked with both the US and UK governments to predict regions at risk, and has explored the challenges of midstream interventions during ongoing genocides and the complexities of post-genocide recovery, particularly in Rwanda. Additionally, she highlights her ongoing projects, which include a study abroad program in Rwanda, a forthcoming book on rescue during genocide, and the development of a forecasting initiative centered here at The Ohio State University.

VoE – Hollie NzitatiraDownload

Eric Schoon: How Do Social Scientists Produce Knowledge?

by

Eric Schoon, Associate Professor of Sociology at The Ohio State University, discusses his research interests, such as how social scientists produce knowledge and what makes something have legitimacy. He touches upon his work on linear regression in the book Regression Inside Out, co-authored with David Melamed and Ronald Breiger, and shares insights from interviewing ethnographers about their fieldwork in Turkey. Additionally, he reflects on his own journey to sociology from a background in viola performance and philosophy.

VoE – Eric Schoon 02.13.2025_transcriptDownload

Randolph Roth: “When You’re a Historian, You See the Civil War Everywhere”

by

Randolph Roth, Distinguished Professor of history and sociology at The Ohio State University, discusses the use of quantitative methods in historical research, patterns of adult homicide and child mortality, and the impact of political instability and social hierarchy on violence in America. Roth also talks on the role of women’s empowerment and gender equality in reducing child mortality and highlights the importance of historical insight in addressing current societal challenges.

Randolph-Roth_-22When-Youre-a-Historian-You-See-the-Civil-War-Everywhere22_otter_aiDownload

Chris Knoester Discusses Research on Impact of Sports in Daily Life

by

Chris Knoester, Professor of Sociology and Chair of Research of the Sports and Society Initiative at Ohio State, discusses the emerging field of sports sociology and the ways in which politics, economics, patriotism and other influential forces impact the world of sports and the ways in which people perceive and enjoy them. 

Chris-Knoester-Discusses-Research-on-Impact-of-Sports-in-Daily-Life_otter_aiDownload

Unions, Social Media, and Social Movements: The Research of Andrew Martin

by

Andrew Martin, Professor of Sociology and Interim Associate Executive Dean for Undergraduate Education, studies working class mobilization and unions, particularly their use of social movement strategies. He’s also researched the ways in which groups collaborate to curb the growth of corporate power in America.

Kristi Williams Discusses How 60% of U.S. Adults Experience Trauma Before 18

by

Kristi Williams, a Professor in the Department of Sociology, researches the influence of family and other personal relationships on mental and physical health, with a particular focus on gender and life course variations in those patterns. She is particularly interested in exploring how the more trauma people experience, the worse their health is and how that can be treated.

Elizabeth Cooksey and the Survey That Launched 10,000 Articles

by

Professor of Sociology Elizabeth Cooksey studies social demography, life course transitions, and the development of youth and children. She also serves as the Director of the Center for Human Resource Research, which started the first national longitudinal survey 55 years ago. The data from the study has been used in thousands of articles.

United States Nearly as Politically Polarized as Post-Civil War Mozambique: Paul Beck

by

Paul Beck, Professor Emeritus of Political Science in the College of the Arts and Sciences, co-coordinates the Comparative National Election Project, which surveys voters in dozens of countries to compare their views. He talks with David Staley about what the project reveals about democracies, including the United States, on this week’s Voices of Excellence.

United-States-Nearly-as-Politically-Polarized-as-Post-Civil-War-Mozambique_-Paul-Beck_otter_aiDownload

Claudia Buchmann Looks At Gender Reversal In Higher Education

by

Over the past 50 years, the percentage of women attaining degrees in higher education has risen to 56% of all college degrees. Professor Buchmann discusses the history and impact of this change with David Staley on Voices of Excellence from the College of Arts and Sciences.

Claudia Buchmann Looks At Gender Reversal In Higher Education_otter_aiDownload