Daniel J. Myers
Encyclopedia
Daniel J. Myers is a professor of sociology
at the University of Notre Dame
. He is best known for his research on the urban unrest of the 1960s and the media coverage of those riots, specializing in identifying the patterns of unrest diffusion. He has written several books and articles, and is co-author of the best selling sociological social psychology
text book, Social Psychology.
in Columbus, Ohio
in 1988 with a B.A. in political science
and in 1991 with a M.A. in higher education and student affairs
. In 1995, Myers graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison with a M.S. in sociology
, followed by a Ph.D. in sociology
in 1997 and wrote his dissertation
on 'Diffusion Models for Riots and Other Collective Violence'.
and stochastic
models of diffusion for collective violence
, mathematical models of collective action
, media
coverage of protest
s, demonstrations
, and riot
s, and game theoretic
analyses of small group
negotiation
.
, a position he has held since 2003. In addition, he holds the following positions at the university:
Myers serves as a Senior Fellow for the Phelps-Stokes Fund in Washington, D.C. (since 2001). He also serves on the Board of the Good Shepherd Montessori School (South Bend, Indiana).
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. He is best known for his research on the urban unrest of the 1960s and the media coverage of those riots, specializing in identifying the patterns of unrest diffusion. He has written several books and articles, and is co-author of the best selling sociological social psychology
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
text book, Social Psychology.
Education
Dan Myers graduated from The Ohio State UniversityOhio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
in 1988 with a B.A. in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and in 1991 with a M.A. in higher education and student affairs
Student Affairs
Student affairs staff provide services and support for students at institutions of higher education to enhance student growth and development in the United States and abroad....
. In 1995, Myers graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison with a M.S. in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, followed by a Ph.D. in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
in 1997 and wrote his dissertation
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
on 'Diffusion Models for Riots and Other Collective Violence'.
Research areas
Myers' principle research interests are collective behavior and social movements. His current work focuses on racial rioting in the 1960s and 1970s, deterministicSocial determinism
Social determinism is the hypothesis that social interactions and constructs alone determine individual behavior ....
and stochastic
Stochastic
Stochastic refers to systems whose behaviour is intrinsically non-deterministic. A stochastic process is one whose behavior is non-deterministic, in that a system's subsequent state is determined both by the process's predictable actions and by a random element. However, according to M. Kac and E...
models of diffusion for collective violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
, mathematical models of collective action
Collective action
Collective action is the pursuit of a goal or set of goals by more than one person. It is a term which has formulations and theories in many areas of the social sciences.-In sociology:...
, media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
coverage of protest
Protest
A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...
s, demonstrations
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
, and riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
s, and game theoretic
Game theory
Game theory is a mathematical method for analyzing calculated circumstances, such as in games, where a person’s success is based upon the choices of others...
analyses of small group
Small-group communication
Communication in small groups is interpersonal communication within groups of between 3 and 20 individuals. This generally takes place in a context that mixes interpersonal interactions with social clustering.- Group communication :...
negotiation
Negotiation
Negotiation is a dialogue between two or more people or parties, intended to reach an understanding, resolve point of difference, or gain advantage in outcome of dialogue, to produce an agreement upon courses of action, to bargain for individual or collective advantage, to craft outcomes to satisfy...
.
Current positions
Myers serves as the chairperson of the Department of Sociology at the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, a position he has held since 2003. In addition, he holds the following positions at the university:
- Director, Center for the Study of Social Movements and Social Change (since 2006)
- Editor, Mobilization: The International Quarterly Review of Social Movement ResearchMobilization: The International Quarterly Review of Social Movement ResearchMobilization is an academic journal that publishes original research and academic reviews of books concerned mainly with sociological research on protests, social movements, and collective behavior....
ISSN 1086-671X - Senior Executive Fellow, College of Arts and Letters (since 2006)
- Faculty Fellow, Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies (since 2000)
- Faculty Affiliate, Gender Studies (since 2003)
Myers serves as a Senior Fellow for the Phelps-Stokes Fund in Washington, D.C. (since 2001). He also serves on the Board of the Good Shepherd Montessori School (South Bend, Indiana).
Honors and awards
Dr. Myers has received the following honors and awards:- Best Published Article from the American Sociological AssociationAmerican Sociological AssociationThe American Sociological Association , founded in 1905 as the American Sociological Society , is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the discipline and profession of sociology by serving sociologists in their work and promoting their contributions to serve society.The ASA holds its...
Section on Collective Behavior and Social Movements in 2005, co-authored with Beth Schaefer Caniglia. - Elected to Alpha Kappa DeltaAlpha Kappa DeltaAlpha Kappa Delta is an international sociology honor society.Founded in 1920 by Emory S. Bogardus, of the University of Southern California sociology department, the name is derived from the Greek anthrôpos meaning mankind, katamanthanô, meaning to examine closely or acquire knowledge, and...
in 2004. - Kaneb Teaching Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching from the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in 2002. - Katherine DuPre Lumpkin Dissertation Award for Outstanding Dissertation in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1998.
- Genevieve Gorst Herfurth Award for the best paper written by a graduate student in the social sciences from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1996.
- Runner-up for the Graduate Student Paper Competition from the American Sociological AssociationAmerican Sociological AssociationThe American Sociological Association , founded in 1905 as the American Sociological Society , is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the discipline and profession of sociology by serving sociologists in their work and promoting their contributions to serve society.The ASA holds its...
Section on Collective Behavior and Social Movements in 1995. - Teaching Leadership Award from The Pew Charitable TrustsThe Pew Charitable TrustsThe Pew Charitable Trusts is an independent non-profit, non-governmental organization , founded in 1948. With over US$5 billion in assets, its current mission is to serve the public interest by "improving public policy, informing the public, and stimulating civic life."-History:The Trusts, a single...
in 1993.