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What really drives consumers to sign up for community-supported agriculture

Researchers identify two key factors driving consumer participation in community-supported agriculture: the socio-cultural environment and weighing of expected gains against losses. These factors shape individuals' knowledge, attitudes, and decisions, highlighting the importance of considering lifestyles and values when promoting CSA.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalAgricultural and Food Economics·TypeExperimental study·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

The atmosphere in the room can affect strategic decision-making, study finds

A new study by Bayes Business School found that different atmospheres influence people's behavior and decision-making in strategic settings. The researchers discovered that various moods led to distinct interactions and strategies, with pensive atmospheres causing caution and curious ones fostering exploration.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalAcademy of Management Journal·TypeObservational study·DateAug 13, 2024

How media impacts digital technology adoption in U.S. and Brazilian agriculture

A study found that farmers in both countries rely on interpersonal meetings, social media, and mass media for technology adoption, with social media playing a more significant role in Brazil. The researchers suggest that understanding the complex process of technology adoption can help tech companies reach potential customers.

People's moral values change with the seasons

A new UBC study reveals regular seasonal shifts in people's moral values, with stronger endorsement of group cohesion and conformity in spring and fall. This finding has potential implications for politics, law, and health, including the timing of elections and court cases, as well as public response to a health crisis.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 6, 2024

Tradition meets transformation for Maasai women

A new study reveals that Maasai women are gaining access to household decisions through livelihood diversification, education, and secure land tenure. This research contributes to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal of Gender Equality, highlighting the value of empowering decision-making for women in pastoralist communities.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalJournal of Rural Studies·DateAug 5, 2024

Balancing fairness and welfare in the face of uncertainty

A mathematical model developed by Chris Zobel and colleagues optimizes resource allocation in urban infrastructure while considering social vulnerabilities and projected sea level rise impacts. The approach prioritizes investments that enhance resilience and mitigate socio-economic disparities, enabling informed decision-making that ba...

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalProduction and Operations Management·DateAug 5, 2024

Study identifies unique treatment preference profiles in men with prostate cancer

Researchers at UCLA Health Sciences identified three distinct patient preference-based profiles among men with low-risk prostate cancer. Despite differences in preferences, physician recommendations played a crucial role in determining treatment choices. The study highlights the need for better integrating patient preferences into trea...

Deeper down the rabbit hole

This study reveals the extent and causes of technology conspiracy beliefs, finding they are widespread among the general population, with at least 20% believing in six out of ten theories. The research highlights the detrimental effects of these beliefs, including a breakdown of social collaboration and constructive political debate.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalInformation Systems Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 19, 2024

Student leadership development requires holistic approach, educators say

Leadership education should encompass both horizontal and vertical development, with skills like conflict management and wisdom being crucial for effective leaders. The authors provide a comprehensive model for training competent leaders by outlining concepts and strategies that can be embedded in coursework.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalJournal of Leadership Education·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJul 10, 2024

The time it takes a person to decide can predict their preference

A recent study published in PLOS Biology reveals that people can infer hidden social preferences by observing how fast others make social decisions. By analyzing response times and options, participants were able to predict the other person's preference even if they didn't know what choices were made.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 20, 2024

Exploring the relationship between civilians and military organizations through an experiment in Japan

A Japanese online survey experiment examines how public confidence in the military is affected by civilian control during an armed conflict. Participants showed significant loss of trust in the military when it deviated from civilian control, but not significantly when the legislature was involved.

SourceWaseda University·JournalJournal of Peace Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 20, 2024

What’s going on in our brains when we plan?

A team of scientists has uncovered how our brains simulate possible future actions using stored memories. The prefrontal cortex and hippocampus work together to enable mental simulations, allowing us to make better decisions. This research provides foundational knowledge on brain circuits enabling decision-making.

SourceNew York University·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 7, 2024

New study finds people living with dementia who had surgery for hip fractures lived longer than those treated non-surgically

A new study by Brigham and Women's Hospital found that patients with dementia who underwent surgery for hip fractures experienced lower odds of death compared to those treated non-surgically. The benefit was seen in patients with head and neck of the femur fractures, but not in other locations.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMay 30, 2024

Research to uncover the impact of water use in the Colorado River Basin

A new study by Virginia Tech researchers reveals that agricultural demand for water is significantly higher than cities, with crops used for feeding cattle being the largest consumers. The researchers also found that reservoir levels are dropping due to overuse and climate change, highlighting the need for efficient water use strategies.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 28, 2024

To combat loneliness, buy experiences, not things

A new study found that spending money on experiences, such as concerts, restaurants, or travel, increases feelings of social connection and similarity with others. In contrast, buying material goods has a lesser effect on these connections. The research suggests that this could lead to improved health and happiness.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalJournal of Behavioral Decision Making·DateMay 21, 2024

The tentacles of retracted science reach deep into social media. A simple button could change that.

A new interface developed by researchers at the University of Sydney aims to reduce the spread of misinformation on social media. The tool adds a 'more information' button to posts, linking users to details about retracted science claims, which can help them make informed decisions about their health.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction·TypeSurvey·DateMay 16, 2024

More than two hearts beat as one

Researchers found that heart rate synchrony was a reliable measure for assessing and improving team dynamics. The study used fire-walking rituals as an example to demonstrate physiological synchrony, which predicted the probability of groups reaching the correct consensus.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 16, 2024

How much gossip is needed to foster social cooperation?

A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania developed a model that incorporates two forms of gossip to study indirect reciprocity. They found that there is a mathematical relationship between these forms of gossip, allowing them to understand how much gossip is required to foster cooperation and how incorrect information ...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 15, 2024

Heat’s effects on police and judges

High temperatures reduce emotional control and increase aggression in police officers, resulting in more dismissals of hot-day arrests. Judges also make harsher decisions on hotter-than-average days, issuing longer prison sentences and higher fines.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateMay 14, 2024

Study led by ORNL informs climate resilience strategies in urban, rural areas

A new study led by ORNL provides valuable insights into vegetation resilience in response to extreme heat events, informing pathways for climate mitigation. The analysis found that impervious surfaces, moisture conditions, and type of land cover affect vegetation resilience, with preservation and enhancement of vegetation contributing ...

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 8, 2024

First Nations patients leave ED without completing treatment more than comparable non–First Nations patients

A new study found that First Nations patients in Alberta are more likely to leave emergency departments without completing treatment, with 6.8% of visits ending in incomplete care compared to 3.7% for non-First Nations patients. Racism and stereotyping, as well as communication issues, transportation barriers, and wait times, were iden...

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·TypeObservational study·DateApr 22, 2024

Text nudges can increase uptake of COVID-19 boosters– if they play up a sense of ownership of the vaccine

Researchers found that adding a note to play up psychological sense of ownership was more effective at convincing people to get the booster. This approach outperformed lab findings and expert insights, highlighting the importance of reproducibility in behavioral science.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 18, 2024

First-in-humans discovery reveals brain chemicals at work influencing social behavior

Researchers have discovered a previously unknown neurochemical mechanism behind human tendency to make decisions based on social context. The study reveals the dynamic interactions of dopamine and serotonin in the brain's substantia nigra area, which contribute to our brain's overall assessment of value during social interactions.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 26, 2024

Doctors have more difficulty diagnosing disease when looking at images of darker skin

A new study from MIT researchers found that doctors are less accurate in diagnosing skin diseases based on images of patients with darker skin. The researchers also discovered that an artificial intelligence algorithm can assist doctors in improving their diagnosis, although the improvements were more pronounced for lighter skin tones.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Medicine·DateFeb 6, 2024

“Not everyone has the same number of friends” – Overhaul epidemic modelling to include social networks, says new research

A new study from the University of Birmingham suggests that epidemic modeling can significantly overestimate infection numbers due to ignoring network structures. The researchers found that heterogeneous networks can lead to smaller epidemic waves and fewer infections, contradicting standard 'random mixing' models.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalJournal of Physics Complexity·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 9, 2024

Alaskan allies: Communities unite to protect the areas they love

The University of Illinois initiative brings Denali neighbors together in an online discussion forum to share views on protected area conservation and land management. The study finds that engaging diverse stakeholders leads to collaborative dialogue and thoughtful discussions, despite differing priorities.

Social media influencers may affect more than voter opinions

Researchers found that social media influencers with distorted messages cause political parties to moderate their policies to win over independent voters. However, this leads to traditional media outlets becoming more extreme in their editorial positions, and citizens swayed by influencers growing more polarized.

SourcePenn State·JournalMIS Quarterly·DateDec 1, 2023

Fish brains may provide insight into the molecular basis of decision-making

Researchers found that male sticklebacks have a unique molecular response when faced with conflicting demands, including genes related to dopamine and neurogenesis. The study provides insights into the underlying mechanisms of animal behavior, suggesting that complex decision-making processes are ancient and widespread among animals.

The economic damage of a pandemic is inevitable, but targeted interventions can save more lives and lessen its social impact

Research published in Nature Human Behaviour suggests that lockdowns and voluntary behaviour change lead to similar economic damage, with lockdowns saving more lives. The study's model simulates the balance between health and economic impact, predicting health-economic outcomes of political and health measures during a pandemic.

SourceUniversidad Carlos III de Madrid·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 17, 2023

Ethical, environmental and political concerns about climate change affect reproductive choices

A systematic review found that climate change-related concerns are linked to less positive attitudes towards reproduction and a desire for fewer children or none at all. The study identified four key factors: uncertainty about the future of an unborn child, environmentalist views on overpopulation and overconsumption, meeting family su...

SourceUniversity College London·JournalPLOS Climate·TypeSystematic review·DateNov 9, 2023