Assistant Professor of Sociology, Louisiana State University, Shreveport
E-mail: Edward.Polson@lsus.edu

Education

Ph.D., Baylor University
M.A., Baylor University
M.S.W., Baylor University
M.Div., Baylor University
B.A., Mississippi College
Full Curriculum Vita

Selected Publications

• Finke, Roger, Edward C. Polson, and Christopher D. Bader. Measurement Matters.
• Dougherty, Kevin D., Christopher D. Bader, Paul Froese, Edward C. Polson, and Buster G. Smith. (2009). "Religious Diversity in a Conservative Baptist Congregation." Review of Religious Research 50(3):321-334.
• Polson, Edward C. (2008). "The Inter-Organizational Ties That Bind: Exploring the Contributions of Agency – Congregation Relationships." Sociology of Religion 69(1):45-65.
• Dougherty, Kevin D., Byron R. Johnson, and Edward C. Polson. (2007). "Recovering the Lost: Remeasuring U.S. Religious Affiliation." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 46(4):483-499.
• Finke, Roger, Christopher D. Bader, and Edward C. Polson. (2007). "A Growing Web of Resources: The Association of Religion Data Archives." Review of Religious Research 49(1):21-34.

Research Interests

• Civic Life
• Religion
• Organizations
• Community
• Family
• Research Methods
• Social Problems
• Medical Sociology

Biography

Edward C. Polson received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Mississippi College in 2000. He earned a Master of Arts in Sociology in 2006 and received his Ph.D. in Sociology in 2009 from Baylor University in Waco, TX. His major areas of study are the sociology of religion and political and civic engagement. In addition, Dr. Polson also earned a Master of Social Work and a Master of Divinity from Baylor University in 2003 and is a licensed social worker in the state of Texas.

Dr. Polson's scholarly research has focused primarily on the intersection of religion and civic life in the United States and on the collaboration of religious and nonprofit social service organizations. His work has appeared in such publications as the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Sociology of Religion, the Review of Religious Research, and Growth and Change. Since 2006, he has served as a research associate with the Association of Religion Data Archives (www.theARDA.com) and has recently been engaged in applied and evaluative research with local religious organizations and nonprofit social service organizations in Texas, Tennessee, and Louisiana.