Senior Sociologist, RAND; Professor of Policy Analysis, RAND School of Public Policy
Michael S. Pollard is a senior sociologist at RAND and a professor of policy analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy. His primary research areas include social networks and health (physical, mental, and health behaviors), demography, and public perceptions. His recent work has focused on the health implications of different types of friendship and romantic relationships, including an ongoing project tracking adult social networks, isolation, and loneliness, and their links to alcohol and cannabis use over eight years, using nationally representative data. He has conducted work on demographics and well-being, particularly in the context of migration or population projection. He also studies public attitudes and beliefs, including voter beliefs and behaviors; he led the RAND 2016 Presidential Election Panel Survey project, tracking voter beliefs and intentions for a year leading up to the election, as well as leading 2014 and 2018 midterm election studies. His work has been published in numerous academic journals and peer-reviewed RAND reports. Pollard received his Ph.D. in sociology from Duke University.
Ph.D. and M.A. in sociology, Duke University; M.A. and B.A. in sociology, University of Victoria
