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Alexander G. Theodoridis
Associate Professor of Political Science
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Co-Director, UMass Poll
About
Welcome to my academic website. I am an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Co-Director of the UMass Poll. My research focuses on American electoral politics, political behavior and psychology, polarization, political violence, democracy, and survey methodology.
Education
- Ph.D. Political Science, University of California, Berkeley
- Master’s Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School
- B.A. English and Politics, University of Virginia
Research Interests
My research spans several interconnected areas:
- American Electoral Politics: Understanding voter behavior, candidate strategy, and electoral outcomes
- Political Behavior & Psychology: How psychological factors influence political attitudes and behaviors
- Polarization: The causes and consequences of political polarization in American society
- Political Violence: Research on the conditions that lead to political violence and extremism
- Democracy: Democratic institutions, norms, and their erosion or strengthening
- Survey Methodology: Developing and refining methods for political surveys and experiments
- Experimental Methods: Using experimental approaches to understand causal relationships
- Causal Inference: Statistical methods for identifying causal effects in observational data
Methodological Expertise
I specialize in:
- Survey experimental methods
- Implicit measures of political attitudes
- Intersection of formal theory and empirical analysis
Recognition
My work has been recognized with several awards including the John Sullivan Award, the Elections Public Opinion and Voting Behavior Best Paper Award, and the Warren Miller Prize.
Media Coverage
My research has been featured in major media outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post, Scientific American, Time, and CNN.
Last updated: October 2025