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How do we make moral decisions?

A recent study published in Nature Communications challenges prior research on moral decision-making by showing that people's moral behavior can shift depending on the context. The researchers identified four moral strategies: inequity aversion, guilt aversion, greed, and moral opportunism, which involves switching between these strate...

SourceDartmouth College·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 18, 2019

Women who wear Muslim garments in court are viewed as more credible witnesses

A study by Lancaster University and Memorial University found that women who wear the hijab or niqab while testifying in court are perceived as more credible than uncovered women. The researchers suggest several possible explanations for this bias, including the idea that religious garments signal honesty and dispel common rape myths.

SourceLancaster University·JournalCanadian Journal of Behavioural Science/Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement·DateFeb 1, 2019

Supportive colleagues could be the key to health and fairness at work

A new study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found a clear link between a person's health and their perceptions of fairness at work over time. Colleague support was identified as the most significant factor in this link, suggesting that organisations should foster a supportive culture among colleagues to ensur...

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalJournal of Occupational Health Psychology·DateMar 6, 2018

Infants' expectation of ingroup support and fairness

In a series of experiments, researchers found that infants prioritize ingroup support over fairness when resources are limited. The study involved 72 participants aged 18-20 months and 48 participants aged 25-33 months, who observed resource-allocation events involving a puppet distributor and two potential recipients.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 26, 2018

Sharing the wealth

Support for economic redistribution is linked to compassion, self-interest and envy, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers found that individuals who feel more compassionate are more likely to support redistribution, while those with high levels of envy tend to oppose it.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 17, 2017

Psychological effect against pushing and shoving

The study reveals that participants in a corridor setup exhibited lower crowd density than in a semicircle setup. Psychological aspects, including social norms and fairness, are believed to play a role in shaping the behavior of crowds. The findings suggest that purely physical models are insufficient for understanding crowd dynamics.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 6, 2017

Moral values influence level of climate change action

A new study by Cornell University researchers reveals that moral values like compassion, fairness, and purity influence individuals' willingness to take climate change action. The findings suggest that both liberals and conservatives value these moral principles, with compassion and fairness being the strongest predictors of action.

SourceCornell University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 16, 2016

A focus on fairness

A new study from Harvard University found that children globally quickly reject unequal distributions of rewards, but in three countries (U.S., Canada, and Uganda), they also accept deals that favor themselves. This suggests that fairness behaviors may vary across cultures.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·DateNov 18, 2015

IU Kelley School of Business research uncovers recipe for producing and managing star performers

Research by Herman Aguinis and Kyle Bradley suggests that performance follows a power law distribution, leading to more common star performers. The study recommends transparency, fairness in policies, structuring work, training development interventions, employment decisions, and compensation to effectively manage and produce star perf...

SourceIndiana University·JournalOrganizational Dynamics·DateNov 2, 2015

Making the air fair

A new method for dealing with flight delays, proposed by MIT researchers, distributes delays among airlines more evenly while keeping system-wide delays virtually constant. The approach allows airlines to swap schedule slots with each other, resulting in a fairer distribution of delays.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalTransportation Science·DateAug 26, 2015

Fairness is in the brain

Researchers found that the brain's reward centre activates more for fair income distribution, regardless of individual contributions. The study challenges previous findings on inequality and fairness, providing new insights into human behavior.

SourceThe University of Bergen·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 20, 2014

Evolution of responses to (un)fairness

A review article examines how humans and non-human species respond to unfairness, revealing that reactions are driven by cooperation and social reciprocity. The study suggests that fairness is not the primary motivator, but rather maintaining good relations through reward division.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalScience·DateSep 18, 2014

Fighting unfairness

A new study by Harvard University researchers found that children as young as six exhibit in-group favoritism when reacting to unfair behavior, but by eight years old, they are more likely to intervene regardless of group affiliation. The study suggests that fairness norms may be universal and not specific to Western culture.

SourceHarvard University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 18, 2014

Small business owners not always worried about being treated fairly, researcher finds

A study by University of Missouri researchers found that small retailers are less concerned about being treated fairly by suppliers than other factors like cash flow and company survival. The research team surveyed businesses in 10 culturally diverse countries, revealing a significant variation in the importance placed on fairness.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalJournal of International Marketing·DateApr 24, 2014

Fair bosses pay a price

A new study by Michigan State University found that fair bosses can be emotionally draining due to the need to monitor fairness in workplace decisions. This 'procedural justice' requires managers to suppress personal biases and maintain consistency, leading to mental fatigue.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·DateMar 24, 2014

Brain stimulation affects compliance with social norms

A new study found that brain stimulation can directly influence compliance with social norms, particularly in the right lateral prefrontal cortex. Participants who received increased neural activity followed fairness norms more strongly under threat of sanctions, but showed decreased voluntary norm compliance without punishments.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalScience·DateOct 3, 2013

Diversity programs give illusion of corporate fairness, study shows

A new study reveals that diversity training programs can create an illusion of corporate fairness, leading people to believe work environments are equitable despite hiring, promotion, or salary inequities. The researchers recommend that companies examine their records to determine the effectiveness of diversity and mentoring programs.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateApr 3, 2013

Study reveals human drive for fair play

A new study funded by the Wellcome Trust found that humans tend to reject unfair offers of water, even when severely thirsty. The researchers used an ultimatum game to test whether humans would accept an unequal offer of water, and found that they did so only if they subjectively felt a strong need for water.

SourceWellcome Trust·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 23, 2012

Judging the role of religion in law

A University of Alberta researcher says that when it comes to deciding on issues from human rights to balancing conflicting rights, cooler, secular heads should prevail. The emergence of Western democratic states gave rise to a separation of church and state, which guarantees freedom of religion and conscience for all.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalConstitutional Forum / Forum constitutionnel·DateAug 2, 2012

Not all brand-consumer relationships are created equal, says University of Toronto study

A University of Toronto study found that the type of relationship consumers form with brands influences their assessment of fairness. In exchange relationships, respectful treatment is more crucial in fair outcomes, while in communal relationships, it has less effect. Marketers must understand these dynamics to correct unfair outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Toronto, Rotman School of Management·JournalJournal of Consumer Psychology·DateJul 10, 2012

Babies know what's fair

Infants exhibit longer looking times when one giraffe gets both toys or the slacker gets a reward in both experiments, indicating an expectation of fairness. The study suggests that children are born with innate expectations about fairness, shaped by culture and environment.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateFeb 17, 2012

New theory on fairness in economics targets CEO pay

A new theory proposes a method to determine fair CEO compensation using information theory and statistical thermodynamics. The ratio of CEO pay to the lowest employee salary has increased significantly in recent years, with US CEOs averaging around 344-to-1, raising questions about market efficiency.

SourcePurdue University·JournalEntropy·DateNov 3, 2009

What next for the NHS?

The NHS must address issues of fairness, where doctors are scarce in areas with greatest need; responsiveness, including evening/Saturday opening of general practices; and safety, particularly concerning healthcare-associated infections. The organization also needs to improve effectiveness by adopting new techniques and approaches.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateOct 18, 2007