Research

Displays celebrating Durham African American History

Advancing Social Equity Research

Within the Center’s rich interdisciplinary community, our research scholars pursue projects across various fields of inquiry as well as with researchers at Duke and scholars throughout the world.

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Research Themes

The Cook Center organizes its research, programmatic, and scholarship activities into the following domains:

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01

Class, Wealth, & Social Mobility

Documenting the magnitude of racial and ethnic disparities in wealth in the United States.
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02

Health Equity

Investigating the sociocultural, economic, and structural indicators of health to eliminate health-related racial/ethnic and gender disparities.
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03

Education Equity & Policy

Exploring the complex educational challenges facing various subgroups ranging from Pre-Kindergarteners to postsecondary students.
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04

Policing Enforcement & Justice

Advancing research on the mechanisms that produce and maintain inequities within the criminal legal system and its broader consequences on society.
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05

Environmental Justice

Focusing on the behavioral, social, cultural, and technological aspects of the global climate crisis for meaningful incorporation into environmental policy and decision making.
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06

Visual Narratives of Inequality

Amplifying marginalized voices, highlighting inequitable systemic practices, and advancing social justice in North Carolina and beyond. 
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07

Artificial Intelligence & Inequality

Understanding the ethical and sociopolitical stakes of technological developments, automated systems, and artificial intelligence.

Research & Publications

Denominational and Gender Differences in Hypertension Among African American Christian Young Adults

Hypertension is a grave concern for the African American population, and given the connection between…
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Child Abuse, Sexual Assault, Community Violence and High School Graduation

Abstract Researchers from a range of disciplines have conducted studies to identify why one in…
high school student

Can Class-Based Substitute for Race-Based Student Assignment Plans? Evidence From Wake County, North Carolina

Abstract This study uses a North Carolina administrative data set to analyze racial segregation and…

Adult happiness and prior traumatic victimization in and out of the household

Abstract A large share of the American population suffers from traumatic experiences early in life….

Mere Membership in Racially Diverse Groups Reduces Conformity

Understanding conformity-the tendency for an individual to agree with a majority position-is crucial to understanding…

Low wealth and economic insecurity among middle-class blacks in Boston

This qualitative study offers insights from interviews with both African American and Caribbean-ancestry blacks, disabusing…
Doctor and patient

Let’s Talk Sex: A Pilot Study of Sexual History Elicitation by Providers of STD Services in Leon County, Florida

Abstract An estimated one million sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are reported annually in the United…

Investigating Denominational and Church Attendance Differences in Obesity and Diabetes in Black Christian Men and Women

Often, investigations of the relationships between religious denomination and diabetes and obesity do not consider…