Books and Reports
Warping Time shows how narratives of the past influence what people believe about the present and future state of the world. Using simple experiments, in which the authors measured the impact of different stories their subjects heard about the past, these “history lessons” moved contemporary policy preferences by an average of 16 percentage points; forecasts of the future moved contemporary policy preferences by an average of 12 percentage points; the two together moved preferences an average of 21 percentage points. That the past, present, and future are subject to human manipulation suggests that history is not simply the product of impersonal forces, material conditions, or past choices. Humans are the architects of history, not its captives. Political reality is tenuous. Changes in our understanding of the past or future can substantially alter perceptions of and action in the present. Finally, the manipulation of time, especially the relationship between past and future, is a powerful political tool.
This timely and important new work takes a critical look at government in the American states and illustrates the disconnect between state government institutions and their constituents. The text illuminates three basic political problems of state governments: weak constitutional and institutional foundations; a lack of civic engagement; and long histories of unchecked public corruption. In addition, the book explains why some states did and others did not respond promptly to the COVID-19 pandemic and examines America’s long-standing problem of police and prosecutorial misconduct–providing a context for understanding the demonstrations and protests that rocked American cities in the summer of 2020. For students and citizens of state politics, the book concludes with a proposal aimed at civic literacy and action.
Optimizing Analytics for Policymaking and Governance
In this report, Jennifer Bachner has derived conclusions regarding agency progress based on a systematic review of these efforts. This review draws on a survey of professionals working in and with federal agencies to develop a more comprehensive understanding of how the government uses analytics, the outcomes of these efforts, and the challenges agencies face in their work to further develop analytical capabilities.
Each year unelected federal administrators write thousands of regulations possessing the force of law. What do these civil servants know about the American people whom they ostensibly serve? Not much, according to this enlightening and disturbing study. The authors surveyed federal agency officials, congressional and White House staffers, and employees of various policy-making organizations about their attitudes toward and knowledge of the public. They found a significant chasm between what official Washington assumes they know about average Americans and the actual opinions and attitudes of American citizens. As a result, bureaucrats tend to follow their own preferences without much reference to the opinions of the public. The authors conclude with recommendations to narrow the gap between official perceptions of the American public and the actual facts. These include shorter terms, rotation from the Washington beltway to local offices, compulsory training in the responsibilities of public office, and better civic education for ordinary citizens in the realities of government and politics.
Analytics, Policy and Governance
This first textbook on the increasingly important field of government analytics provides invaluable knowledge and training for students of government in the synthesis, interpretation, and communication of “big data,” which is now an integral part of governance and policy making. Integrating all the major components of this rapidly growing field, this invaluable text explores the intricate relationship of data analytics to governance while providing innovative strategies for the retrieval and management of information.
Predictive Policing: Preventing Crime with Data and Analytics
This report examines the theory, methods, and practice of predictive policing, it begins with a brief overview of the origins of crime analysis and then places predictive policing within the broader framework of crime prevention. Although quantitative crime analysis has existed for centuries, the use of data and analytics to predict crime has only recently emerged as a distinct discipline and widely used practice. Today, predictive policing is viewed as one pillar of intelligence-led policing, a philosophy in which data drive operations.
Articles and Chapters
Bachner, Jennifer, 2019. Studying Public Opinion Using Survey Experiments. SAGE Publications Ltd.
Bachner, Jennifer, and Margaret Commins. “Teaching Research Methods: Trends and Recommendations.” PS: Political Science and Politics 45, no. 3 (2012): 539-540.
Popular Writing
Jennifer Bachner's Website 