معرفی
David P. Baker is a Professor in both Education Policy Studies and Sociology and Criminology at Penn State University's College of Education. His office is located in the 647 Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building, and he can be reached at dpb4@psu.edu or 814-863-0955. Dr. Baker leads the Population Research Institute and maintains an active research program examining education's global impact on societal development.
His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Sociology from The John Hopkins University (1982), an M.S. in Communication Research from Boston University (1975), and a B.A. in Psychology from Albion College (1974). These diverse academic foundations inform his interdisciplinary approach to studying education's societal impacts.
Baker's research spans the sociology of education, science productivity, world health, demographic change, and the formation of social institutions. His work examines how education transforms cognitive skills in populations, reshapes occupations, influences health behaviors globally (including HIV/AIDS in Africa, smoking patterns, and obesity), and drives technological adaptation across 63 nations. He conducts innovative research through randomized clinical trials and historical analyses of universities' role in knowledge production.
His publications reveal consistent focus on education's transformative power across multiple domains. Recent work examines nicotine reduction policies, cognitive transformations in the labor market, and the global testing culture. His book The Schooled Society represents a major contribution to understanding how education has reshaped modern society.
- Outstanding Book of the Year by the American Education Research Association
- Silver Medal in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPYs)
- Best poster award at Population Association of America conference
Professor Baker actively mentors students and colleagues, with numerous collaborative projects including the Population Education Transition Curve research. His laboratory work includes experimental studies on education and health messaging, with funding from the Spencer Foundation and Penn State's Population Research Institute. Current projects examine how education shapes perceptions of low-nicotine cigarette messaging and the cognitive transformation of social opportunity.
