Campus Western Culture Study

Faculty, professors, administrators - Please reach out to participate, learn more about, or discuss this work. The cutoff date for students to participate is May 11, 2026. 

This study has been made possible through grant support from the Centre for Heterodox Social Science at the University of Buckingham, a research center led by political scientist Eric Kaufmann. 

This research protocol has been reviewed by the BRANY SBER Institutional Review Board and formally determined to qualify for exempt status under federal regulations governing human subjects research (45 C.F.R. §46.104(d)(2)), Protocol #26-056-2480.

The psychFORM Research Lab is currently conducting a multi-site study examining how university environments shape student perceptions, expression, and self-censorship regarding Western culture.

The survey instrument has been intentionally constructed to maintain balance and reduce bias, with paired items that assess perspectives in opposing directions (e.g., positive and negative views, perceived consequences and lack thereof). This design allows for internal comparison across responses and helps ensure that findings reflect participant experience rather than leading or one-sided questioning.

Participants in this study are drawn from several major universities in the Chicago area, including Northwestern University, Loyola University Chicago, DePaul University, the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), and the University of Chicago.

Procedure: The Principal Investigator or a trained research assistant will distribute the survey to individuals who elect to participate voluntarily. Students will be provided with a brief explanation of the study, including its purpose, voluntary nature, and confidentiality protections, prior to beginning the survey. Completion of the instrument requires approximately 10 minutes or less.

Importantly, while participants are affiliated with these academic institutions, this research is conducted independently through psychFORM, LLC and is not sponsored, funded, or administered by any of the universities listed above.

Building on prior work examining perceived ideological pressure in academic settings, this study seeks to better understand how students navigate discussions involving culture, identity, and intellectual disagreement within contemporary higher education.