Research

Greater Houston is Becoming Increasingly Democratic, and Other Highlights From Our 2016 Survey

Harris County is increasingly Democrat, secular, and tolerant. Read the highlights of this year's Kinder Houston Area Survey.

In Houston, the Land of Megachurches, Religious Service Attendance Declines

The percentage of residents who regularly attend religious services is declining, mirroring national trends.

Houston Policymakers -- and Residents -- Giving Criminal Justice Reform a Boost

Support for change grows as officials look to reduce jail population and address racial disparities.

Oil Prices Are Low. So Why Are Houstonians Optimistic About the Economy?

Despite cheap oil, Houstonians aren't too worried about jobs.

Most Houstonians Support an Equal Rights Ordinance, Survey Finds. So Why'd They Vote Against It?

Months after HERO failed, support for an equal rights ordinance still strong.

As Inequality Rises, So Does Support for Government Action

More and more Houstonians say the government should play an outsized role in reducing inequality.

Houstonians Want to Live in Walkable Communities. Often, That Doesn't Happen.

The findings suggest huge numbers of Houstonians want to live in a different type of community but have been unable to do so.

Researchers Studied Data on 9,000 Students. Here’s What They Learned About Dropouts.

One factor, more than any other, is a major predictor of whether a student will drop out of high school.

Turnout in Local Elections is Terrible. There's an Easy Fix.

L.A.'s mayor won the election with fewer votes than any of its elected mayors since the 1930s -- when it was half its size. To raise the bar, officials just have to look at a calendar.

We Could All Learn a Lesson About Safety From This Pink Sign

Addressed to an unidentified biker from an unidentified driver, it had the ring of a Craigslist missed connection post.

How the Kinder Institute Plans to Change the Way Houston Studies Itself

By developing a unique database, the Kinder Institute hopes to help researchers find answers to difficult questions.

Houston Endowment Awards $7 Million Grant to Kinder Institute

It marks the largest contribution the Kinder Institute has received since 2010, when Rich and Nancy Kinder provided a permanent endowment gift of $15 million.

9 Things We Learned About Cities in 2015

With 2015 in the books, we revisit the most intriguing findings from Kinder Institute researchers this year.

How One Chart Explains the "Crisis" of Latino Voting in Houston

Houston is 44 percent Latino, but it could have just one Latino elected official depending on how Saturday's election shakes out.

In Houston, a filmmaker tries to understand the city's mélange of refugees

Kinder Institute Scholar Yehuda Sharim explains his efforts to better understand the international fabric of Houston, which takes in more refugees than any other city in the U.S.