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One out of every four employees of commercial organizations has withheld inventions from their employer

A new study by Tel Aviv University reveals that 27% of respondents withhold inventions due to reasons such as emotional attachment, fear of credit, or lack of trust in management. The study aims to shed light on this phenomenon and develop effective management tools to increase employees' willingness to disclose their inventions.

SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalAcademy of Management Perspectives·DateSep 29, 2024

Older people are more swayed by the impulsive actions of others when making financial decisions – new study reveals

A new study published in Communications Psychology found that older adults (60+ years) are more susceptible to social influence when making impulsive financial decisions. In contrast, younger adults tend to stick to their original preference even after seeing others opt for the impulsive option.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalCommunications Psychology·TypeObservational study·DateSep 23, 2024

A new tack for slack: motivate workers

A new study by the University of Texas at Austin found that acknowledging employees' efforts, rather than their abilities, boosts overall productivity in companies with remote workers. Praising effort-focused messages, especially those that are personally identifiable, can have a significant impact on employee motivation and performance.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalMIS Quarterly·DateSep 12, 2024

Can technology turn exercise pain into pleasure?

Researchers at the University of Bath have developed sensors that track physical changes experienced by exercisers while using VR headsets, allowing game designers to create immersive programs that adapt to a person's abilities and mood. This technology aims to increase user engagement and adherence to exercise.

SourceUniversity of Bath·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 3, 2024

Positive effects of rhythm and music in brain disorder

A scoping review from the University of Gothenburg found that music-based movement therapy, known as the Ronnie Gardiner Method, can improve rehabilitation outcomes in individuals with brain disorders. The method has been shown to be challenging, motivating, and enjoyable for participants, leading to improved recovery and quality of life.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalDisability and Rehabilitation·TypeLiterature review·DateAug 21, 2024

Support at work does not make ‘stuck’ employees less likely to retaliate – study

A new study by The Pennsylvania State University and the University of Birmingham found that organizational support policies do not reduce retaliation intentions among 'stuck' employees. Stuck employees, who want to leave their jobs but cannot due to barriers, are more likely to retaliate against perceived organizational injustice.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalJournal of Business and Psychology·TypeObservational study·DateAug 19, 2024

Nudges fail to motivate vaccination

A recent study found that behavioral nudges in social media ads had limited ability to encourage COVID-19 vaccination across countries. Nudge ads with messages appealing to norms and family/ community protection performed better than placebo ads, but only in certain contexts.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateAug 6, 2024

Communities can increase the prosocial tendencies of their authorities, study finds

Researchers found that witnessing community members engage in prosocial behaviors increases policymakers' willingness to support pro-social policies, such as syringe service programs. The study suggests that communities can exert a positive influence on authorities and contribute to the greater good.

SourceAnnenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateAug 1, 2024

New technology to control the brain using magnetic fields developed

Researchers have developed Nano-MIND technology, which uses magnetism to selectively activate specific deep brain neural circuits, modulating complex brain functions such as cognition and emotion. The technology has been successfully tested in animals, demonstrating its potential to regulate feeding behaviors and maternal instincts.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Nanotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 17, 2024

New guidance for healthcare professionals to address muscle-building supplement use

The University of Toronto has introduced comprehensive guidelines for healthcare professionals to address muscle-building supplement use among adolescents and young adults. These guidelines focus on assessment and harm reduction strategies to better support young individuals engaged in the use of these supplements. Healthcare professio...

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·DateJul 10, 2024

Smoking behavior is linked to personality traits

Researchers found that smokers are more extraverted but less conscientious and agreeable than non-smokers. Cigar smokers tend to exhibit lower neuroticism and higher openness compared to other types of smokers.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateJul 3, 2024

Study explores what motivates people to watch footage of disasters and extreme weather

Researchers analyzed live-streams of hurricanes and storms, finding that people in affected areas used streams to discuss official risk advice and show support to impacted regions. The study highlights the importance of understanding how new technologies influence hazard risk perception and community engagement.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalEnvironmental Hazards·TypeObservational study·DateJul 2, 2024

Harvard researchers find that gratitude is a useful emotional tool in reducing desire to smoke

Researchers found that evoking feelings of gratitude in smokers decreases their craving for cigarettes and increases their likelihood of enrolling in a smoking cessation program. The study suggests that public health campaigns should consider inducing gratitude instead of negative emotions to promote effective smoking cessation.

SourceShorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 1, 2024

Optimism wards off procrastination

A study published in Scientific Reports found that people with an optimistic outlook on the future are less likely to be severe procrastinators. The researchers surveyed nearly 300 young people and discovered that those who believed their stress levels would decrease in the future were more likely to overcome procrastination.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScientific Reports·TypeSurvey·DateJun 10, 2024

Benefits of failure are overrated

A study by the American Psychological Association found that failure does not necessarily lead to success, with participants overestimating licensing exam pass rates for prospective nurses, lawyers, and teachers. The research highlights the importance of correcting misguided beliefs about failure, potentially shifting taxpayer dollars ...

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Experimental Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 10, 2024

Lighting up the brain: What happens when our ‘serotonin center’ is triggered?

Researchers at OIST used a novel technique to study how activating the brain's serotonin center affects awake animals. They found that serotonin from the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) activates brain areas influencing behavior and motivation, including the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 31, 2024

Emotional context in decision-making: Challenging Lewin's motivational conflicts theory

A recent study reviewed and challenged Kurt Lewin's long-standing motivational conflicts theory, finding that avoidance-avoidance conflicts are more challenging in positive and neutral contexts. The results expand our understanding of decision-making conflicts, highlighting the importance of emotional context in resolving these challen...

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalEmotion·TypeObservational study·DateMay 29, 2024

Revolutionizing depression treatment online

A new study at Hebrew University found that guided internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy significantly improves depression and insomnia symptoms over time. The study emphasizes the importance of the therapeutic alliance and attachment styles in predicting treatment outcomes.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalPsychotherapy Research·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 20, 2024

Study: Large language models can’t effectively recognize users’ motivation, but can support behavior change for those ready to act

Researchers found that large language model-based chatbots fail to recognize users' motivational states when they are hesitant about making healthy behavior changes. However, the chatbots can provide relevant information and support users who have established goals and a commitment to take action. The study highlights the limitations o...

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of the American Medical Informatics Association·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 16, 2024

More than half of Americans give to charity at checkout, survey shows

A survey conducted by Binghamton University found that 53% of Americans give impulsively to charities at checkout, with women, Black respondents, and middle-class individuals under 50 being top-giving demographics. The total raised from checkout campaigns has increased yearly since 2012, but the frequency of donation requests may lead ...

SourceBinghamton University·JournalJournal of Public and Nonprofit Affairs·TypeSurvey·DateMay 13, 2024

Friends with health benefits: How the buddy system pays off when pursuing goals

A field experiment found that exercising with a friend increases visits by 35% and boosts overall gym attendance. Social incentives also foster stronger social bonds and create greater accountability, making goals more attainable. This study suggests using joint-incentive programs can boost employee engagement and motivation.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley Haas School of Business·JournalManagement Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 1, 2024

New study shows LLMs respond differently based on user’s motivation

A new study published in JAMIA found that large language models (LLMs) respond variably to users' motivations, with better results for committed individuals. LLMs struggle to provide relevant information and support for those hesitant to change behavior, highlighting a major gap in their capabilities.

SourceUniversity of Illinois School of Information Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Medical Informatics Association·TypeContent analysis·DateApr 3, 2024

Why don't we stick to home physiotherapy exercises?

Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev identified six barriers to consistent home physiotherapy exercises in vestibular rehabilitation, including motivation, increased symptoms, and psychosocial factors. The study offers actionable recommendations for clinicians to overcome these barriers and improve treatment outcomes.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalJournal of Neurologic Physical Therapy·TypeSurvey·DateApr 2, 2024

To keep volunteers, connect them

A new study from the University of Texas at Austin suggests that fostering social connections among volunteers can help organizations recruit and retain scarce volunteers. Researchers analyzed data from a Chinese crowdsourcing platform and found that social connections were a powerful predictor of volunteer behavior, with findings appl...

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalInformation Systems Research·TypeObservational study·DateMar 28, 2024

The serious side of kid and canine play

A new study aims to understand how family dogs influence children's physical activity levels, with researchers exploring ways to promote healthy habits in young people. The study found that about 20% of daily physical activity comes from time spent with the dog.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalJournal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour·TypeObservational study·DateMar 27, 2024

How the brain translates motivation into goal-oriented behavior, according to new study

The study reveals that two neural pathways in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus participate in dynamic regulation of goal pursuits, with PVT+ neurons encoding execution and termination of actions, respectively. Activity in these neurons mirrors motivation parameters such as vigor and satiety.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 15, 2024

When a team is less than the sum of its parts: tensions between individual and team wellbeing

A study of 69 people across 12 teams found that prioritizing individual needs over team wellbeing can lead to burnout, while prioritizing team needs at the expense of individual wellbeing increases risk of burnout. Effective communication and reflection are key to striking a balance between individual and team wellbeing.

SourceAalto University·JournalJournal of Organizational Behavior·DateMar 12, 2024

What drives students to take up teaching? New study explores aspirations and challenges faced by prospective teachers in Japan

A new study in Japan explores the motivations of undergraduate students pursuing a teaching career, finding that positive school experiences and intrinsic value are major drivers. The research also highlights the challenges faced by aspiring teachers, including demanding skills and social pressures.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalInternational Journal of Educational Research Open·TypeSurvey·DateMar 7, 2024