Researchers from the Complexity Science Hub Vienna propose that homophily, or interacting with like-minded individuals, automatically leads to social balance and stability. They demonstrate this using data from the Massive Multiplayer Online Game Pardus, where players tend to form friendships with those who share similar characteristics.
A University of Pennsylvania study found that clinician peer networks significantly reduce health care inequities and disparities. The study led by Professor Damon Centola showed that clinicians who initially exhibited significant bias could change their clinical recommendations to exhibit no bias.
A global study of nearly half a million students found that repeated grades increase the risk of bullying victimization. Girls who repeated grades faced higher risks of being bullied in various ways, including being made fun of and having possessions taken away.
Research found that women's focus on others' needs plays a significant role in their reluctance to request deadline extensions. However, organizations can create formal policies on making deadline extension requests, resulting in women asking for more time at nearly the same rate as men.
A new study suggests that COVID-19 transmission in Italy was more closely tied to the number of social contacts individuals had with people of all ages. Researchers found that Italian social networks were characterized by a higher average number of face-to-face interactions than those in Germany and the UK.
A new study found that groups lie more than individuals when facing mutual financial gain and coordinating actions to achieve a shared goal. This phenomenon occurs even when all members have previously responded honestly, suggesting that group dynamics can shift moral norms and promote dishonest behavior.
The 2011 Norway attacks highlighted the limitations of traditional emergency work, which emphasizes fixed procedures and strong leadership. Experts now argue that local decision-making power could help limit the scale of disasters.
Researchers find that internal group dynamics can lead to biased and misleading scientific findings, affecting the quality of published research. They advocate for improved collaboration practices, including clear goals and roles, to address this issue.
Researchers have created a convincing robotic fish that shoals will accept as one of their own, allowing them to study complex situations such as aggressive and cooperative behaviour. The study found that relative distance between individuals is more important than absolute distance in influencing group dynamics.
A study by University of Toronto researchers found that teams with mostly women became more egalitarian over time, while teams with mostly men continued to follow hierarchical structures. This led to better grades for the latter teams, highlighting the importance of equal participation in creative project teams.