RESEARCH & TEACHING
Research
My research focuses on American politics and examines political behavior, participation, and decision-making, including media influence, policy activity, youth politics, social movements, and the impact of technology. I am especially interested in how salient policy issues like gun control, abortion, and climate change interact with current trends of polarization.
I employ quantitative and qualitative methods, including large-scale surveys, structured interviews, experimental design, text analysis techniques, and machine learning. These approaches allow me to analyze both the general impact of media on political behavior and the specific effects of communication strategies on outcomes like policy, public opinion, and democratic participation.
Selected Publications:
(Forthcoming in Summer 2025) Boydstun, Amber E., Jill R. Laufer, Dallas Card, and Noah Smith. Catching Fire: The Necessary Conditions for Media Storms. Cambridge Elements Book
Boydstun, Amber E., Dallas Card, Jill R. Laufer, and Noah Smith. “Correcting the myth of homogenous aggregate media effects: A uniform test of the effects of news coverage on aggregate public opinion across four policy issues, 1995–2014.” (under review at Political Communication)Selected Publications:
(Forthcoming in Summer 2025) Boydstun, Amber E., Jill R. Laufer, Dallas Card, and Noah Smith. Catching Fire: The Necessary Conditions for Media Storms. Cambridge Elements Book
Links to public-facing scholarship:
Media Frames Tableau Data Visualizations
SSRC/Media Well - Measuring Media Accuracy - Frames as Information
Policy Paper:
Simon, Amy, John Whaley, Yule Kim, Nicole Fossier, and Jill R. Laufer. 12/2023. “CalAIM Experiences: Implementer Views After 18 Months of Reforms.” California Health Care Foundation.
Simon, Amy, John Whaley, Yule Kim, Nicole Fossier, and Jill R. Laufer. 12/2023. “CalAIM Experiences: Implementer Views After 18 Months of Reforms.” California Health Care Foundation.
Teaching
I use a variety of teaching methods that work with diverse learning styles and promote active engagement. Whether teaching in person or online, I aim to encourage participation, critical analysis, and collaboration. My use of discussion-based teaching, interactive assignments, and technology-enabled learning platforms allows students to engage with course material in ways that are most effective for them individually. My experiences as a non-traditional, mixed-race graduate student of Hispanic descent inform my understanding of underserved students' unique challenges. I strive to create a learning space where all students feel valued, respected, and capable of succeeding.
I use a variety of teaching methods that work with diverse learning styles and promote active engagement. Whether teaching in person or online, I aim to encourage participation, critical analysis, and collaboration. My use of discussion-based teaching, interactive assignments, and technology-enabled learning platforms allows students to engage with course material in ways that are most effective for them individually. My experiences as a non-traditional, mixed-race graduate student of Hispanic descent inform my understanding of underserved students' unique challenges. I strive to create a learning space where all students feel valued, respected, and capable of succeeding.
UC Davis: Section Instructor and Lead Teaching Assistant
2024-25 Intro to American Government, America Decides, Media & Politics
2023 Intro to American Government,
2021-22 Media & Politics, Constitutional Politics
2024-25 Intro to American Government, America Decides, Media & Politics
2023 Intro to American Government,
2021-22 Media & Politics, Constitutional Politics
San Francisco State University: Teaching Assistant
2019- 20 Introduction to American Politics
2019- 20 Introduction to American Politics
