Research Projects
I am currently working on several projects: (1) Violent crime, victimization, and discrimination; (2) Civic engagement and collective action; (3) Emotional dynamics in megachurches; and (4) Religious commitment, identity, and group solidarity.
What individual and contextual factors predict violent crime, victimization, and discrimination?
Cross-national:
Corcoran, Katie E. and Rodney Stark. Forthcoming. “Region, Routine Activities, and Violent Victimization: A Cross-National, Multilevel Analysis of 112 Countries.” International Review of Victimology.
Corcoran, Katie E. and Rodney Stark. 2018. “Culture, Region, and Cross-National Violent Crime.” Sociological Forum 33(2): 310-333.
Corcoran, Katie E., David Pettinicchio, and Blaine Robbins. 2018. “A Double-Edged Sword: The Countervailing Effects of Religion on Cross-National Crime.” Social Science Quarterly 99(1): 377-389.
Stark, Rodney and Katie E. Corcoran. 2014. Religious Hostility: A Global Assessment of Hatred and Terror. Waco: ISR Books.
Corcoran, Katie E., David Pettinicchio, and Blaine Robbins. 2012. “Religion and the Acceptability of White-Collar Crime: A Cross-National Analysis.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 51(3): 542-567.
Religion and victimization and discrimination:
Corcoran, Katie E., Christopher P. Scheitle, and Erin B. Hudnall. “Organizational Activities and Property Crime Victimization.” Under review.
Scheitle, Christopher P. and Katie E. Corcoran. 2018. “Religious Tradition and Workplace Religious Discrimination: The Moderating Effects of Regional Context.” Social Currents 5(3): 283-300.
Cross-national:
Corcoran, Katie E. and Rodney Stark. Forthcoming. “Region, Routine Activities, and Violent Victimization: A Cross-National, Multilevel Analysis of 112 Countries.” International Review of Victimology.
Corcoran, Katie E. and Rodney Stark. 2018. “Culture, Region, and Cross-National Violent Crime.” Sociological Forum 33(2): 310-333.
Corcoran, Katie E., David Pettinicchio, and Blaine Robbins. 2018. “A Double-Edged Sword: The Countervailing Effects of Religion on Cross-National Crime.” Social Science Quarterly 99(1): 377-389.
Stark, Rodney and Katie E. Corcoran. 2014. Religious Hostility: A Global Assessment of Hatred and Terror. Waco: ISR Books.
Corcoran, Katie E., David Pettinicchio, and Blaine Robbins. 2012. “Religion and the Acceptability of White-Collar Crime: A Cross-National Analysis.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 51(3): 542-567.
Religion and victimization and discrimination:
Corcoran, Katie E., Christopher P. Scheitle, and Erin B. Hudnall. “Organizational Activities and Property Crime Victimization.” Under review.
Scheitle, Christopher P. and Katie E. Corcoran. 2018. “Religious Tradition and Workplace Religious Discrimination: The Moderating Effects of Regional Context.” Social Currents 5(3): 283-300.
What individual and contextual factors predict civic engagement and collective action?
Emotion and Volunteering, Donating Money, Neighborliness, and Political Activism:
Corcoran, Katie E. Forthcoming. “Religion, Emotion, and Civic Engagement.” Sociology of Religion.
Corcoran, Katie E. 2015. “Thinkers and Feelers: Emotion and Giving.” Social Science Research 52: 686-700.
Predictors of Political Activism and Collective Action:
Pfaff, Steven, Michael Hechter, and Katie E. Corcoran. 2016. "The Problem of Solidarity in Insurgent Collective Action: The Nore Mutiny of 1797." Social Science History 40(2): 247-270.
Corcoran, Katie E., David Pettinicchio, and Jacob T.N. Young. 2015. "Perceptions of Societal Injustice and Efficacy: Participation in Low/Moderate/High-Cost Collective Action.” Sociological Inquiry 85(3): 429-461.
Corcoran, Katie E., David Pettinicchio, and Jacob T. N. Young. 2011. “The Context of Control: A Cross-National Investigation of the Link between Political Institutions, Efficacy, and Collective Action.” British Journal of Social Psychology 50(4): 575-605.
Emotion and Volunteering, Donating Money, Neighborliness, and Political Activism:
Corcoran, Katie E. Forthcoming. “Religion, Emotion, and Civic Engagement.” Sociology of Religion.
Corcoran, Katie E. 2015. “Thinkers and Feelers: Emotion and Giving.” Social Science Research 52: 686-700.
Predictors of Political Activism and Collective Action:
Pfaff, Steven, Michael Hechter, and Katie E. Corcoran. 2016. "The Problem of Solidarity in Insurgent Collective Action: The Nore Mutiny of 1797." Social Science History 40(2): 247-270.
Corcoran, Katie E., David Pettinicchio, and Jacob T.N. Young. 2015. "Perceptions of Societal Injustice and Efficacy: Participation in Low/Moderate/High-Cost Collective Action.” Sociological Inquiry 85(3): 429-461.
Corcoran, Katie E., David Pettinicchio, and Jacob T. N. Young. 2011. “The Context of Control: A Cross-National Investigation of the Link between Political Institutions, Efficacy, and Collective Action.” British Journal of Social Psychology 50(4): 575-605.
Why are megachurches so successful? What role does emotion play in their success?
Wellman, James K. Jr., Katie E. Corcoran, and Kate Stockly. High on God: How the Megachurch Conquered America. New York: Oxford University Press, Under contract, expected publication in Fall 2020.
Corcoran, Katie E. and James K. Wellman Jr. 2016. “‘People Forget He’s Human’: Charismatic Leadership in Institutionalized Religion.” Sociology of Religion 77(4): 309-333.
Wellman, James K. Jr., Katie E. Corcoran, and Kate Stockly-Meyerdirk. 2014. “‘God is like a Drug..’: Explaining Interaction Rituals in American Megachurches.” Sociological Forum 29(3): 650-672.
Wellman, James K. Jr., Katie E. Corcoran, and Kate Stockly. High on God: How the Megachurch Conquered America. New York: Oxford University Press, Under contract, expected publication in Fall 2020.
Corcoran, Katie E. and James K. Wellman Jr. 2016. “‘People Forget He’s Human’: Charismatic Leadership in Institutionalized Religion.” Sociology of Religion 77(4): 309-333.
Wellman, James K. Jr., Katie E. Corcoran, and Kate Stockly-Meyerdirk. 2014. “‘God is like a Drug..’: Explaining Interaction Rituals in American Megachurches.” Sociological Forum 29(3): 650-672.
What factors affect religious commitment, identity, and group solidarity?
Corcoran, Katie E. 2019. “Religious Capital Specificity: Predicting Member Retention.” Interdisciplinary Journal for Research on Religion Volume 15, Article 1.
Hudnall, Erin B., Katie E. Corcoran, and Christopher P. Scheitle. 2019. “Is West Virginia a Religious Void? An Investigation.” Review of Religious Research 61(2): 109-118.
Scheitle, Christopher P., Katie E. Corcoran, and Caitlin Halligan. 2018. “The Rise of the Nones and the Changing Relationships between Identity, Belief, and Behavior.” Journal of Contemporary Religion 33(3): 567-579.
Scheitle, Christopher P, Katie E. Corcoran, and Erin Hudnall. 2019.“Adopting a Stigmatized Label: Social Determinants of Identifying as an Atheist beyond Disbelief.” Social Forces 97(4): 1731-1756.
Wurpts, Bernd, Katie E. Corcoran, and Steven Pfaff. 2018. “The Hanseatic League and the Coming of the Reformation: Urban Networks, Social Diffusion and the Adoption of Protestantism.” Social Science History 42(2): 213-244.
Corcoran, Katie E. 2015. “Thinkers and Feelers: Emotion and Giving.” Social Science Research 52: 686-700.
Wellman, James K. Jr. and Katie E. Corcoran. 2013. “Religion and Regional Culture: Embedding Religious Commitment within Place.” Sociology of Religion 74(4): 496-520.
Corcoran, Katie E. 2013. "Divine Exchanges: Applying Social Exchange Theory to Religious Behavior." Rationality and Society 25(3): 335-369.
Pfaff, Steven and Katie E. Corcoran. 2012. “Piety, Power, and the Purse: The Political Religious Economies Theory and Urban Reform in the Holy Roman Empire.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 51(4): 757-776.
Corcoran, Katie E. 2012. “Religious Human Capital Revisited: Testing the Effect of Religious Human Capital on Religious Participation.” Rationality and Society 24(3): 343-379.
Winner of the 2011 Rationality and Society Student Paper Award.
Corcoran, Katie E. 2019. “Religious Capital Specificity: Predicting Member Retention.” Interdisciplinary Journal for Research on Religion Volume 15, Article 1.
Hudnall, Erin B., Katie E. Corcoran, and Christopher P. Scheitle. 2019. “Is West Virginia a Religious Void? An Investigation.” Review of Religious Research 61(2): 109-118.
Scheitle, Christopher P., Katie E. Corcoran, and Caitlin Halligan. 2018. “The Rise of the Nones and the Changing Relationships between Identity, Belief, and Behavior.” Journal of Contemporary Religion 33(3): 567-579.
Scheitle, Christopher P, Katie E. Corcoran, and Erin Hudnall. 2019.“Adopting a Stigmatized Label: Social Determinants of Identifying as an Atheist beyond Disbelief.” Social Forces 97(4): 1731-1756.
Wurpts, Bernd, Katie E. Corcoran, and Steven Pfaff. 2018. “The Hanseatic League and the Coming of the Reformation: Urban Networks, Social Diffusion and the Adoption of Protestantism.” Social Science History 42(2): 213-244.
Corcoran, Katie E. 2015. “Thinkers and Feelers: Emotion and Giving.” Social Science Research 52: 686-700.
Wellman, James K. Jr. and Katie E. Corcoran. 2013. “Religion and Regional Culture: Embedding Religious Commitment within Place.” Sociology of Religion 74(4): 496-520.
Corcoran, Katie E. 2013. "Divine Exchanges: Applying Social Exchange Theory to Religious Behavior." Rationality and Society 25(3): 335-369.
Pfaff, Steven and Katie E. Corcoran. 2012. “Piety, Power, and the Purse: The Political Religious Economies Theory and Urban Reform in the Holy Roman Empire.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 51(4): 757-776.
Corcoran, Katie E. 2012. “Religious Human Capital Revisited: Testing the Effect of Religious Human Capital on Religious Participation.” Rationality and Society 24(3): 343-379.
Winner of the 2011 Rationality and Society Student Paper Award.
