Blaine Robbins

Blaine Robbins is an Assistant Professor of Social Research and Public Policy at New York University Abu Dhabi. Prior to joining NYUAD, he was a Data Science Postdoctoral Scholar and Lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley. He earned his PhD in sociology from the University of Washington.

Robbins' work, which resides at the intersection of sociology, political science, and economics, is concerned with the situational causes and consequences of beliefs, emotions, and moral motivations, as well as the social psychological underpinnings of institutions and organizations. A central pillar of his research program details in clear and precise ways the causal mechanisms through which social order is brought about. Because no single research design is able to observe and measure all relevant social processes, Robbins uses a battery of methods and techniques - such as online surveys, conjoint experiments, laboratory experiments, network analysis, and ethnographic methods - to triangulate and dissect the interactive and multi-level nature of social life. He explores these dynamics and implements this research program through the study of trust and trustworthiness, social norms, collective action, and concealment.

His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation and can be found in the American Sociological Review, Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, International Political Science Review, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, PLoS ONE, Rationality & Society, Social Indicators Research, Social Psychology Quarterly, Social Science Quarterly, Social Science Research, Sociological Methods & Research, Social Networks, Sociological Spectrum, Socius, and Sociology Compass.

Education:

• Ph.D. Sociology, University of Washington 2014
• M.A. Sociology, University of Washington 2008
• B.A. Sociology and B.S. Psychology, Pacific Lutheran University 2000

Research Areas:

Social Psychology; Political Sociology; Social Networks; Research Methods

Courses Taught

• SOCSC-UH 1010Q Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences
• SOCSC-UH 2211 Survey Research
• SRPP-UH 3214 Social Networks

Positions

• Assistant Professor of Social Research and Public Policy 2016– New York University Abu Dhabi

Faculty Affiliate

• Department of Sociology, New York University 2016–
• Center for Behavioral Institutional Design (C-BID), New York University Abu Dhabi 2022–
• Social Science Experimental Laboratory (SSEL), New York University Abu Dhabi 2022–

Positions Held

• Data Science Postdoctoral Scholar and Lecturer, School of Information 2014–2016 University of California, Berkeley