Zachary Neal
BIOGRAPHY
PhD, Sociology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2009
MA, Sociology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2005
BS, Philosophy & Classics, University of Arizona, 2001
LINKS
https://www.zacharyneal.com/RESEARCH
In the past, my research has examined urban networks, political polarization, and program implementation. However, my current research is focused primarily on two topics: network backbones and childfree individuals.
In some cases, networks are so dense or complex that their underlying structure is hidden. A network backbone is a simplified version that retains only the most important or statistically significant connections, and can make the network easier to visualize and analyze. My research on network backbones involves developing methods for identifying these important connections, and implementing these methods in software, like the R Backbone package.
Childfree individuals are people who do not have children, and who do not want to have children in the future. They are different from people who are undecided about having children, or from childless people who could not have children but wanted to. My research on childfree individuals has examined methods of identifying them in large-scale demographic data, tracking their prevalence in the US and globally, and understanding the stereotypes and stigmas they encounter. You can support this research with a tax-deductible donation to the MSU Childfree Research Fund.