David Broockman | Research UC Berkeley

Research Expertise and Interest

political representation, elections, public impact research/scholarship, community-engaged research / scholarship, research practice partnership, community-based research partnerships

In the News

an image of the US Capitol in a stormy night

Political Scientists Launch the Berkeley Center for American Democracy

The Berkeley Center for American Democracy has been launched to provide a home base for political scientists seeking practical solutions to these challenges.

UC Berkeley Political Science Professor David Broockman Awarded 2024 Carnegie Fellowship

His research challenges common beliefs about political polarization and offers strategies for political campaigns to persuade voter.

A television cameraman in silhouette against a U.S. flag suggests the deep importance of television advertising in political campaigns

Deep Data — and Big Money — Are Driving a New Era in Political Advertising

TV ads shaped by social science-based testing can have a powerful impact on voter attitudes, new research finds. But that comes with challenges for U.S. democracy.

headshots in black and white of MSNBC's Rachel Maddow (left), CNN's Don Lemon, and Tucker Carlson of Fox News, surrounded by concentric circles in deep blue, light blue and red, to represent partisan media bubbles

Love Fox? MSNBC? You May Be Locked in a ‘Partisan Echo Chamber,’ Study Finds

In a time of growing concern about divisive media and rising polarization, the new study found that one in five registered Republicans watches at least eight hours of right-wing Fox News per month. Some 15% of Democrats watch a similar amount of coverage on networks MSNBC and CNN.

two women outside the U.S. Supreme Court argue about abortion rights, one of the most divisive issues in contemporary politics

In Today’s Political Conflicts, a Heart-to-Heart Talk Goes Only so Far

The premise is simple, and it seems like common sense: If Republicans and Democrats could come together for good faith dialogue, the conversations would reduce tensions and ease the corrosive polarization that threatens U.S. democracy. But a new study co-authored by UC Berkeley political scientist David Broockman found that brief, cross-partisan conversations about sensitive political topics have scant power to narrow divisions. Conversation about neutral topics can create some goodwill, the authors found, but even there, the effect doesn’t last.

When Fox News Viewers Flip to CNN, Their Opinions Shift Too, Study Finds

Staunchly conservative Fox News viewers who spent a month tuning in to CNN instead reported a broad shift in their political opinions — until they returned to watching Fox, according to new research co-authored at UC Berkeley.

Want to Persuade an Opponent? Try Listening, Berkeley Scholar Says

The nation is locked in a state of polarization unprecedented in the past half-century, with deep, volatile divisions around issues of politics, race, religion and the environment. These issues can split families, break friendships and create enormous stress in communities — and yet, having a constructive discussion about the disagreements often seems impossible.

Featured in the Media

Please note: The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or positions of UC Berkeley.

August 16, 2024

The Four Biggest Myths About Political Persuasion

The Ringer

FullStory

February 15, 2024

Do political ads work? Study says yes, but nobody knows why

Politico

FullStory

April 5, 2022

The unique, damaging role Fox News plays in American media

The Washington Post

FullStory (*requires registration)

March 3, 2020

Bernie Sanders Can't Count on New Voters

New York Times

FullStory (*requires registration)

Teaching

Courses taught during the three most recent semesters

2026 Spring

Emerging Research in American Political Behavior Research Workshop [POLSCI 290PB - 001]
Supervised Research: Social Sciences [UGIS 192B - 018]

2025 Fall

Political Behavior [POLSCI 261 - 001]
Emerging Research in American Political Behavior Research Workshop [POLSCI 290PB - 001]
Introduction to Empirical Analysis and Quantitative Methods [POLSCI 3 - 001]
Supervised Research: Social Sciences [UGIS 192B - 015]

For additional information, please consult the UC Berkeley course schedule.