Study Overview Poor air quality days are now a regular part of life across the United States. Scientists are learning about the causes and consequences of poor air quality, but there is more to learn about how regular people actually experience bad air quality and manage its impacts on their daily routines and personal health. And as extreme heat days become more common, there is more to learn about how heat and air quality together impact our quality of life.
This study will address this gap in our understanding through interviews and focus groups to learn more about people’s perspectives on indoor and outdoor air quality, along with their experiences of extreme heat. This study is led by Dr. Norah MacKendrick in the Department of Sociology at Rutgers University. Funding for this study comes from an internal Rutgers research grant.
We are currently recruiting interview participants. Interviews can take place over the phone, Zoom or in-person (for those in the NJ/NY region). As a thank-you for volunteering, participants will receive a $25 gift certificate. If you are interested in participating or want to learn more about the study, click here, or send an email to the study staff at aqstudy@sociology.rutgers.edu.
This project has been reviewed and approved by the Rutgers Institutional Review Board (IRB), Pro2023001268. Click here for an information sheet that outlines what to expect as a research participant.