His research is on political coalitions, political parties and ideology, with a focus on the United States. He is the author of Political Ideologies and Political Parties in America (2013) and a co-author of The Party Decides: Presidential Nominations Before and After Reform (2008). He is interested in the way that a focus on competing policy demands helps explain political parties, coalition building and coordination. Noel blogs on political parties and related issues at Mischiefs of Faction, and occasionally at The Monkey Cage. Noel teaches on parties, elections, political history and political methodology, and he has lectured around the world on the American political system.