Jacob R. Tucker
PhD Candidate, Politics, Princeton University
Authoritarian Politics, Political Psychology, Artificial Intelligence in Political Methodology, Survey Methods, Experimental Design
What I Do
Research Focus
My research explores the intersection of AI, political psychology, and authoritarian regimes. From developing advanced AI tools to uncovering the psychological mechanisms behind propaganda, I aim to revolutionize how we understand public opinion and belief systems.
- Authoritarian Propaganda
Delving into how authoritarian regimes craft propaganda to shape public beliefs. Using Bayesian models and emotional interference theory, I uncover the mechanisms behind trust-building, belief reinforcement, and narrative control.
- AI in Social Science
Pioneering the integration of AI in social science. From co-developing CultureChat, an AI-interviewer that scales qualitative insights, to applying generative AI for media analysis and coding reliability, my work transforms traditional methodologies.
- Political Psychology
Examining the emotional and cognitive dynamics of belief formation. My research highlights how anxiety, hope, and emotional content in media influence public opinion and foster regime support.
Highlighted Contributions
Understanding Authoritarianism with AI and Innovative Methods
My work spans authoritarian politics, political psychology, AI applications, and qualitative and quantitative research to uncover new insights into authoritarianism, public opinion, and propaganda.
- Dissertation:
- I show that authoritarian propaganda persuades by systematically reshaping low-level perceptions into high-level political evaluations. Using longitudinal survey data and Russian propaganda content, I demonstrate that factual information, more than opinion-based narratives, drives belief updating.
- Russia Watcher Survey:
- I co-founded a daily public opinion survey in Russia funded by NSF. Tracks shifting beliefs during the war in Ukraine and provides groundbreaking insights into public responses to authoritarian propaganda.
- CultureChat:
- I co-developed an AI-interviewer that conducts deep, qualitative interviews at the speed and scale of surveys. Empowers researchers to uncover nuanced insights across diverse populations and a representative scale.
- Wartime Casualties and Public Opinion
- Used time-series survey data to estimate how wartime casualties affect public opinion in Russia. Found that losing a close relation increases support for the war due to sense-making processes following loss.
- AI-Driven Media Analysis
- Developed AI-driven methods for structured qualitative analysis of large media text corpora. Traced preparatory propaganda strategies in Russian media leading up to the Ukraine invasion.
