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How company leaders talk about creativity can hurt investor confidence

Researchers found that discussing creativity and innovation negatively affects investors' confidence in a company's market performance. However, firms with leaders who discuss creativity positively tend to have higher earnings, suggesting the importance of tone in mitigating this effect.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 8, 2022

Too impatient to get vaccinated?

A survey of hospital staff in two Swiss hospitals found that those who were hesitant or refused vaccination displayed higher impatience and lower expectations for public vaccination rates. This has implications for future health campaigns, as medical staff serve as role models for the general public.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateMay 30, 2022

Underestimating people’s COVID concerns undermines cooperation

A Cornell-led study found that underestimating people's COVID concerns can have severe consequences, including undermining cooperation and trust. The researchers analyzed over 1 million responses from mid-2020 and discovered significant disparities in concern levels between different racial and ethnic groups. Hispanic, Black, and Asian...

SourceCornell University·JournalThe Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science·DateMay 11, 2022

Clinicians grapple with decisions in crisis-care simulation

A simulated crisis-care event revealed the moral distress experienced by triage team members who had to prioritize patients for scarce resources. The study aimed to operationalize a process for making life-and-death patient decisions, but triage-team members struggled with balancing individual patient needs with fair resource allocation.

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeSurvey·DateApr 18, 2022

Oregonians perceive greater risk than benefit from natural gas export in state, OSU study finds

A recent study from Oregon State University found that Oregonians are more likely to perceive environmental and public health risks than potential financial gains from natural gas export. The study surveyed 500 adults and found that those with higher education, younger adults, women, people of color, and liberal or moderate political v...

SourceOregon State University·JournalLocal Environment·TypeSurvey·DateApr 7, 2022

It’s personal: Stanford-led research reveals how people’s experience with climate-related disasters affects their willingness to take and accept protective actions

Two studies on hurricane and wildfire survivors found that negative personal experiences drive adaptation behaviors, while considering vulnerabilities is crucial for effective communication and policy. These findings inform public communications and policy to empower vulnerable communities.

SourceStanford University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMar 1, 2022

A nudge to resume economic activity

A field experiment in China found that people tend to increase activity when informed that others are themselves increasing activity, suggesting a low-cost intervention for promoting economic activity during the pandemic. The study suggests that social cues can be a useful signal for evaluating risks and making decisions about activities.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 27, 2022

The influence collective risks have on the acceptance of social norms is being analysed

A study by UC3M researchers found that higher collective risks lead to stronger social norms and increased punishment for non-compliance. However, as perceived risk decreases, compliance with these norms also drops. The study, published in Nature Communications, provides evidence on how collective risks impact social behavior.

SourceUniversidad Carlos III de Madrid·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 2, 2021

Antibiotics for appendicitis: CODA study findings finalized

The Comparing Outcomes of antibiotic Drugs and Appendectomy (CODA) trial found that nearly 7 in 10 patients with antibiotics avoided an appendectomy within three months. By four years, just under 50% had the surgery, suggesting both treatments are safe and valuable to patients differently based on unique symptoms and circumstances.

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 25, 2021

Could computer games encourage people to adhere to COVID-19 measures?

A study from Lancaster University found that a serious game, 'Point of Contact', increased players' awareness of Covid-19 transmission risk and favorability towards health over livelihood. The game's impact was significant, with 87% of participants saying they would be more careful in following Covid-19 preventative guidance.

SourceLancaster University·JournalProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 18, 2021

New journal article examines vaccination misinformation on social media

A new study examines vaccination misinformation on social media, revealing that fear-provoking messaging fuels its spread. The research team developed predictive models to identify true and false information on Twitter, categorizing messages as positive or negative cause-effect statements.

SourceUniversity of Illinois School of Information Sciences·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 14, 2021

Naloxone access doesn’t make heroin seem less risky

A new study suggests that increased access to naloxone has not changed people's perception of the risks associated with heroin use. Researchers found that individuals who used heroin and those living in areas with easy or restricted access to naloxone both perceived heroin as a high-risk substance.

SourceOhio State University·JournalAddiction·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 7, 2021

Why salespeople avoid big-whale sales opportunities

Research reveals that salespeople conduct rational benefit–cost analyses when deciding which opportunity to pursue. They also use a calibration decision-making strategy for solution selling, which can lead to serious under- or overestimation of conversion rates. The findings highlight the importance of managing salespeople's avoidance ...

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateSep 16, 2021

Panic buying is driven by fear, perceived lack of supplies and social pressure, finds NTU Singapore study

A recent NTU Singapore study reveals that individuals experiencing fear, social pressure, and perceived scarcity are more likely to engage in panic buying. The study's findings highlight the importance of addressing the psychological and social components of panic buying to mitigate its detrimental impact on societies.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalInternational Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 6, 2021

Study shows strong association between perceived risk, availability and past-year cannabis use

A recent study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that combined perceptions of the risk and availability of cannabis influence the risk of cannabis use more than perceived risk and perceived availability alone. Individuals who perceived cannabis as both low-risk and available were 22 times more likely to have ...

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalDrug and Alcohol Dependence·DateJul 15, 2021

'Lady luck' - Does anthropomorphized luck drive risky financial behavior?

A new study published in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research posits that increased accessibility to anthropomorphized luck can lead consumers to pursue higher-risk financial behavior. The authors suggest that preferences for riskier options are driven by shared risk perceptions that may engender feelings of security.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of the Association for Consumer Research·DateJun 23, 2021

Insights into behavior during chimney tops 2 fire could improve evacuation planning

Research at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) found that people's sense of danger lowers when exposed to smoke, leading to a false sense of security. The most critical factor for evacuation decisions is perceived risk, with increasing perceptions leading to increased likelihood of evacuation.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalInternational Journal of Wildland Fire·DateSep 2, 2020

Study reveals rapid increases in cannabis use among individuals with depression

Research suggests a significant increase in cannabis use among individuals with depression over the past decade. The prevalence of cannabis use was approximately twice as common among those with depression compared to those without it. Daily cannabis use was also more common among those with depression, particularly young adults.

Perceptions on Zika

A study found that women with a bachelor's degree and men who knew someone at high risk for the virus were more likely to have knowledge or concerns about Zika. Targeted prevention interventions by gender and education level can effectively educate the public.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases·DateJun 28, 2018