Jenn Larson

Associate Professor at Vanderbilt University

Jennifer M. Larson is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Vanderbilt University. She earned her Ph.D. in political science from Harvard University in 2012, following a dual Bachelor’s degree in mathematics and political science from Creighton University in 2006.2 3

Research Focus

Larson's research primarily investigates the impact of social networks on political behavior, exploring how these networks influence outcomes such as protests, civil conflicts, and informal governance. Her work employs both theoretical frameworks, including game theory and agent-based models, and empirical methods to analyze data from various contexts, including rural Uganda and urban France.2 3

Notable Publications

Some of her significant publications include:

"Rumors, Kinship Networks, and Rebel Group Formation," International Organization (2018)
"Why the West Became Wild: Informal Governance with Incomplete Networks," World Politics (2017)
"Testing Social Science Network Theories with Online Network Data: An Evaluation of External Validity," American Political Science Review (2017).1 2

Academic Contributions

Larson has contributed extensively to the field of political science, with over 898 citations for her work. Her research emphasizes the role of gossip and peer pressure in fostering cooperation within groups, furthering our understanding of social dynamics in political contexts.1 4

For more detailed insights into her work, you can find her professional profile on LinkedIn under the username jenn-larson-42878665.5