Herbert L. Smith

" "

Professor Emeritus of Sociology

Ph.D., Sociology, University of Michigan, 1982

Herbert L. Smith is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Population Studies Center (2005-09, 2011-14) at the University of Pennsylvania, and (2009-13) Président, Commission d’Évaluation, Institut National d’Études Démographiques (France). Formerly he was Associate Dean for the Social Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences. He is an elected member (1991) of the Sociological Research Association and in 2002 received the Clifford C. Clogg Award from the Population Association of America for early career achievement. Current research involves the use of “double sampling” to reduce bias due to non-response in survey research and the correspondence between econometric models for stochastic time series and demographic cohort projection models, with applications to the forecasting of school enrollments. Other research interests include the design of social and demographic studies, the experimental model, causation, representation, measurement, and matching. Previous work by Professor Smith involved social stratification, including the demography of educational attainment and race differences in non-marital childbearing; the family planning system in four counties of North China; and the relationship between the status of women and fertility in five South and Southeast Asian nations (Pakistan, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines). He is or has been a Principal Investigator on two NICHD R01 awards, a T32 award, and an R24 award; as well as on grants from the Rockefeller, Hewlett, Mellon, and Compton foundations.