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A world without brick-and-mortar stores? Even avid online shoppers say, 'no, thanks'

The study surveyed nearly 400 consumers about their shopping habits and perceptions, finding that most agreed that physical stores are part of the social fabric of society. Respondents preferred online shopping for convenience and accessibility but prioritized tactile experiences in-store, while favoring social interaction with family ...

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalJournal of Retailing and Consumer Services·DateNov 14, 2018

Study: Having an online social forum for class networking gives physics students a boost

A new study by Indiana University found that online social forums for class networking improve physics students' success in calculus-based physics courses. The study analyzed data from a course where students participated in an online forum and found that those who were most central in the network achieved higher final grades.

SourceIndiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis School of Science·JournalPhysical Review Physics Education Research·DateOct 1, 2018

Community satisfaction demands interaction

A University at Buffalo sociologist's new study shows that neighboring interactions can positively affect residents' attitudes and behaviors, even in highly disadvantaged communities. The research reveals that community matters in the 21st century, with consistent interactions snowballing into neighborhood investment.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalCity and Community·DateOct 1, 2018

Pathology and social interactions: Safety in numbers

Researchers found that social isolation accelerates tumor growth in sick flies, while healthy flies avoid sick individuals with advanced tumors. This study suggests that social interactions play a substantial role in cancer development and progression.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 3, 2018

Can social media networks reduce political polarization on climate change?

A study by University of Pennsylvania researchers found that exposure to anonymous, bipartisan social networks can lead liberals and conservatives to improve their forecasting of global-climate trends. In the study, 88% of Republicans and 86% of Democrats correctly analyzed climate data after interacting in social media networks.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 3, 2018

Macaws may communicate visually with blushing, ruffled feathers

A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that macaws use facial displays such as blushing and ruffling their head feathers to convey positive emotions during social interactions. The researchers observed that these behaviors were more common when the birds were interacting with humans, suggesting a form of visual communication.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 22, 2018

Dealing with digital distraction

Studies find that even minor phone use during meals can make diners feel distracted, reducing enjoyment. Compassionate people spend less time on social media than those with narcissistic tendencies. Digital distractions undermine face-to-face interactions, causing decreased bonding and emotional intelligence.

Black + white = Not white

A new study by University of Utah professor Jacqueline M. Chen found that observers categorize black-white multiracial individuals as non-white, influenced by a powerful minority bias. This phenomenon has significant implications for multiracial individuals' social experiences and race relations in the US.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalJournal of Experimental Social Psychology·DateJun 14, 2018

Caribou drone study finds 'enormous variation' within herd

A new study using drones to track caribou movement found significant variation in sociality within herds, challenging the classic assumption of uniform behavior among group members. The research also showed that caribou follow isotropic interaction rules, with individuals influenced more by those in front of them than beside them.

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateMar 26, 2018

Researchers develop the first model to capture crosstalk in social dilemmas

Researchers developed a new framework to analyze the effects of crosstalk on cooperation dynamics in groups. The model shows that crosstalk hinders the evolution of cooperation and requires strategies with the correct level of forgiveness. This has significant implications for understanding human behavior in social dilemmas.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 7, 2018

Reach out and feed someone: Automated system finds rapid honey bee communication networks

Researchers developed an automated system to monitor honey bee interactions, revealing a network structure that facilitates fast information spread. The study found that the bees' social network exhibited a 'bursty' pattern similar to human networks, but with rapid information spreading.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 29, 2018

Unlike people, bonobos don't 'look for the helpers'

A study on bonobos reveals they consistently prefer hinderers over helpers, unlike human infants who naturally favor helpers. This finding suggests that the motivation to cooperate may be uniquely human and could have evolved after our species diverged from other apes.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJan 4, 2018

Study: Non-fearful social withdrawal linked positively to creativity

A new study by University at Buffalo psychologist Julie Bowker suggests that unsociability, a form of non-fearful social withdrawal, is linked positively to creativity. The research findings indicate that individuals who enjoy spending time alone and engaging in solo activities may have the potential for enhanced creative thinking and ...

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalPersonality and Individual Differences·DateNov 20, 2017

Social mobile gaming boosts rehabilitation for physically impaired patients

Researchers at Imperial College London designed a video game called Balloon Buddies to enable physically impaired patients to engage in rehabilitation through collaboration with healthy volunteers. The study found that this type of engagement boosts performance and increases motivation, leading to better physical outcomes.

SourceImperial College London·JournalJournal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation·DateNov 19, 2017

Modeling social interactions to improve collective decision-making

Researchers analyzed social interactions in France and Japan, identifying five behaviors that influence group decisions. They developed a mathematical model that reproduces the results and predicts group performance based on information exchange, which can lead to improved cooperation and collaboration.

SourceCNRS·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 7, 2017

Pumas found to exhibit behaviors like social animals

A new Panthera study reveals complex social strategies in solitary carnivores, challenging long-held assumptions about puma behavior. Pumas were found to share food, recall past interactions, and form networks of individuals with whom they co-fed, indicating a level of tolerance and cooperation.

SourcePanthera·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 11, 2017

The 'reality' of accent change

A recent study on reality TV contestants found that accents change in a complex manner, with large daily fluctuations but rare longer-term changes. The research suggests that the degree of accent change is influenced by individual differences and sound characteristics, rather than social interactions.

SourceLinguistic Society of America·JournalLanguage·DateSep 1, 2017