Articles tagged with Social Change
The Results for Development Institute has announced the winners of its 2012 Innovative Secondary Education for Skills Enhancement (ISESE) Competition, recognizing promising models to equip youth with skills for success in today's global economy. The competition identified and explored innovative models of skills delivery at the seconda...
Public health researcher Thomas W. Valente examines how social networks impact health behavior, highlighting the importance of understanding group dynamics and clique structures. His research aims to develop more effective interventions by designing programs tailored to specific groups within a community.
A recent study found that gestational exposure to BPA leads to behavioral changes in mice for four generations, including increased anxiety and aggression. The study suggests that BPA exposure could have long-lasting impacts on human behavior if it generalizes to humans.
Researchers at Penn State found that social marketing campaigns could motivate farmers to install rollover protective structures on older-model tractors, reducing deaths in tractor-rollover accidents. Offering rebates and highlighting child safety concerns were key motivators for farmers.
A Yale University study found that female butterflies learn to favor males with four spots on their wings, a novel mechanism for evolving morphological diversity. The researchers discovered that females can change their mating preferences after short exposure to different wing patterns.
Researchers found that people can intuitively sense changes in body odor composition across the lifespan, with odors from older individuals being rated as less intense and less unpleasant. This ability is driven by specific chemical components, contrary to popular belief about old age odor.
A Cornell University study found that the perceived benefits of family meals on teen well-being may not be as strong or lasting when controlled for other aspects of the family environment. Family resources and relationships are key factors in facilitating regular family dinners.
Researchers will examine two key regions: Sub-Saharan Africa and the Circum-boreal regions, including Europe, US, and Canada. The team aims to answer questions about societal resilience and infrastructure vulnerability.
Archaeologists are utilizing information from multiple disciplines to inform and enhance their data, providing new insights into social systems, economic processes, and political dynamics. The field has expanded beyond anthropology to include perspectives from sociology and other social sciences.
Structural changes to improve access to education and employment are crucial for improving adolescent health, with studies showing completion of secondary school provides great benefits. Education also improves survival rates, reduces injury mortality, and lowers HIV prevalence among adolescents.
Researchers analyzed Twitter data to detect changes in public mood, finding a significant increase in negative emotions following government spending cuts and summer 2011 riots. The study suggests that social media can provide insights into public sentiment, but its accuracy is limited compared to human assessment.
A study of rhesus macaques found that their social status correlates with gene expression patterns across a range of genes, with lower-ranking individuals showing signs of chronic stress and altered immune function. The study estimates that gene expression can predict an individual's social status with 80% accuracy.
Researchers found that a monkey's social status affects its immune system, allowing for accurate predictions of an individual's rank. The study used microarrays to analyze gene expression levels and showed that inflammation patterns change along with social rank.
A new study found that social stress changes the expression of nearly 1,000 genes in rhesus macaques, affecting their immune response and other functions. The researchers discovered significant differences in gene expression between high-ranking and low-ranking females, suggesting a strong link between social environment and biology.
The Inclusive Wealth Indicator combines natural, human, and manufactured capital to assess a country's economic and environmental progress. The first report will feature 20 nations and aims to provide a bi-annual assessment of transition to the green economy.
A University of Oregon sociologist warns that cultural inertia is hindering efforts to address climate change. She argues that serious discussions about solutions are mired in societal resistance to change, which must be recognized and addressed at all levels.
A study by University of Alberta researcher Marianne Clark explores women's experiences of changing in public change rooms, finding that societal beauty standards and lack of privacy contribute to anxiety and self-consciousness. The research highlights the need for more inclusive and comfortable facilities for diverse body types.
A recent study published in Social Indicators Research found that small positive personality changes can lead to greater increases in happiness than earning more money, marrying, or gaining employment. Personality changes are strongly related to changes in well-being and contribute more to improvements in personal wellbeing.
Researchers at the University of Toronto Scarborough are studying how environmental factors affect gene expression in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) patients. The study aims to identify epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to immune dysfunction and stress response in CFS, which could lead to new treatment options.
The construction of roads in isolated villages disrupts traditional information flow patterns, leading to changes in economy and social life. As a result, inhabitants adapt their subsistence strategies and environmental management, resulting in significant transformations.
Arizona State anthropologist Michelle Hegmon's research draws on the past to inform modern climate policy, exploring how societies adapted to change and what it was like to live in those societies. Her work offers lessons on tradeoffs and the human experience in times of climate change.
A study found that national political leaders play a key role in shaping public opinion on climate change, with a peak in agreement between Democrats and Republicans in 2006-2007. However, public concern has since dropped as partisanship increased.
A recent study published in Psychological Science found that German conscripts exhibit reduced agreeableness after military service, while those who chose civilian service showed no significant changes. The study suggests that the military may shape personality traits, particularly among non-combatant soldiers.
The climatic Solar Terms have advanced by 6-15 days and delayed by 5-6 days across China due to global warming. This shift affects agricultural planning, with earlier springs and later autumns impacting phenology-related terms.
Research by Dr Emma Tompkins and Hallie Eakin finds individuals and private sectors support public adaptations to climate change, enhancing resilience. Institutional mechanisms like social contracts and modified reporting are required to scale up such activities.
A new article explores how people justify and defend corrupt systems, citing factors such as system threat, dependence, inescapability, and low personal control. The research sheds light on the conditions that make people resistant to change and open to acknowledging its necessity.
New research emphasizes the importance of considering human-environment interactions in climate change models, as growing populations contribute to extreme weather conditions. The study suggests a complex-systems approach to modeling climate change, taking into account human behavior components.
A new study published in Psychological Science finds that individuals pay attention to negative information about a system when they believe the status quo can be changed. This shift in perspective allows people to focus on finding solutions to problems, rather than reinforcing the existing system.
A new study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that focusing on someone's body can alter perceptions of agency and experience. Both men and women tend to see individuals as more sensitive but less competent when wearing revealing attire, which may have implications for work and academic settings.
A study published in American Sociological Review found that teenage drinking habits are influenced more by their date's friends than their own. The presence of prior drinking among the friend increases the odds of future binge drinking by 80%, while the date's drinking habits have a lower impact, increasing binge drinking by 32%.
This study examines how immigrant domestic workers are transforming childcare methods, moving away from intense motherhood towards shared motherhood. The research highlights the need for policymakers to adapt family and gender equality policies to accommodate diverse forms of motherhood.
Alaska Natives have reported warming temperatures, changes in vegetation patterns, and unpredictable weather conditions, affecting their traditional way of life. Thinning ice shortens winter travel seasons and hampers subsistence activities, while lower snowmelt flows strain local economies.
Researchers found that social networks and confidence in maintaining sobriety in social situations are key factors in successful recovery through AA. The study analyzed data from over 1,700 participants and showed that increased participation in AA during the first three months led to more successful recovery over the following year.
Researchers tracked female Asian elephant friendships for five seasons in Sri Lanka's Uda Walawe National Park, finding that elephants tend to congregate in groups of three adult females. Analysis revealed a larger, stable network of friends, with those having few companions being more loyal than those with many.
A new study by Diane Kholos Wysocki and Cheryl Childers found that women are more likely to engage in sexting behaviors and that older men are more likely to cheat in real life. The authors conclude that humans are social creatures who need physical, face-to-face contact in relationships.
Researchers found that exercise training significantly improved physical function scores and social function scores in patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). The study also showed that the exercise program restored upright blood circulation, improved kidney function, and dramatically improved quality of life fo...
A study by Arizona State University researchers found that shared ideas about acceptable weight or body size play a minor role in spreading obesity among friends. The team discovered that interventions targeting behaviors, such as changing eating habits, are more effective than those focused on body mass indexes or body sizes.
A group of prominent social scientists weigh in on topics such as the future of African American studies and intra-minority group relations. The authors explore how racial minorities will react to demographic shifts, with some finding that a separate line of research suggests distinct racial minority groups may react differently.
A team at UCSF has identified the right hemisphere's pregenual anterior cingulate cortex as crucial for embarrassment. The study found that people with neurological damage in this region responded less emotionally to criticism, suggesting a potential diagnostic tool for neurodegenerative diseases.
A new study found that consumers' predicted consumption time is influenced by their assessment of the experience and its representation. Breaking down pleasurable events into subactivities increases expected time spent, while unpacking unpleasant events decreases it.
Research at the University of Gothenburg reveals that most lottery winners maintain their normal lives with prudent consumption. Winners value work and leisure equally, and only a minority use their prize money to devote less time to work. Despite cautious spending, they experience increased happiness, security, and freedom.
A new study suggests that improved Social Security benefits lead to lower mortality rates and increased life expectancy among people over 65. The researchers found that this demographic benefited most from the changes, with a 50% increase in decline rates following the introduction of Social Security in 1940.
A new research project investigates the evolution of public interest in climate change from 1992 to 2010, examining communication strategies, public figures, and cultural dimensions. The study will uncover patterns and reveal changes in social dynamics, accelerated by the internet's impact.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a new approach to analyzing social networking interactions, considering time and space factors. This enables better understanding of leadership emergence, trust changes over time, and migration within communities online.
The Lancet Editorial warns that the UK government's Health and Social Care Bill will fundamentally change the National Health Service (NHS), shifting from a national to individualized care model. The proposed reforms have sparked fears about patient outcomes, access to healthcare, and the overall future of the NHS.
A study by Penn State researchers found that loyal brand fans react negatively to logo changes, decreasing their attitude towards the brand. Conversely, casual customers view redesigns as a positive development, with their attitudes increasing after seeing new logos.
A study found that deaths from cirrhosis shifted from higher to lower social classes between the early and late 20th centuries. The authors suggest lifestyle changes, including dietary habits and drinking patterns, may have played a role in this shift.
Researchers analyzed wine drinking cups used in ancient Athens, finding that changes in cup forms marked significant social and political shifts. The study reveals how the democratization of symposia led to equal consumption and loss of inhibitions among attendees.
A team of scientists reconstructed colonial US hydrology by integrating modern data with historical records, highlighting human activities' role in shaping watersheds. The study provides new insights into past water residence times and biogeochemistry, shedding light on diseases transmission.
A new study reconstructs America's colonial hydrology, revealing the integral role of water resources in shaping human settlement patterns. By integrating modern scientific data with historical records, researchers have gained insights into the evolution of watersheds and ecosystems.
The new book examines how nanotechnology can exacerbate social problems while addressing pressing issues. It includes topics such as gender equity, ableism and abilities governance, and practical advice for policymakers and researchers.
The International Council for Science has identified five Grand Challenges in Earth system science to address global sustainability. These challenges focus on improving forecasting, observing, confining, responding, and innovating to achieve global sustainability.
A new study from North Carolina State University reveals that anti-immigrant practices fuel increased political action from immigrant communities. The research found that metropolitan areas with high levels of anti-immigrant activity saw more protests from the immigrant community.
The Disability and Health Journal examines the Americans with Disabilities Act's impact on health care access and outcomes for people with disabilities. Despite progress in acknowledging physical barriers and staff training, ongoing challenges persist, including recurrent health care barriers and discrimination.
A new study by MIT researcher Damon Centola found that people are more likely to adopt new health practices in networks with dense clusters of connections, rather than those with long ties. In the study, individuals in clustered networks were four times more likely to register for a health forum and participate regularly.
Archaeologists discovered remains of tortoises and cattle cooked for human consumption at a burial site dating back to around 12,000 years ago. The findings suggest that early humans practiced communal feasting as a social behavior unique to the species.
A new study by researchers David Kirk and Derek S. Hyra found that foreclosures do not independently lead to increased crime rates in communities. The study suggests that both foreclosures and crime are products of similar community-level factors, including poverty, segregation, and political clout.
A new study finds that hazardous alcohol consumption is linked to increased HIV infection rates in Southern and Eastern Africa. Venue-based interventions have been shown to be effective in changing individual behavior and social norms, but more research is needed to address the gender gap in these programs.
A new study suggests that declining Social Security benefits are a leading cause of older men staying in the workforce. The study found that between 25 and 50 percent of the increase in labor force participation among men aged 55-69 can be explained by declining benefits.
A new study suggests that older Americans delaying retirement will continue and accelerate, alleviating pressure on Social Security and Medicare. The trend is driven by increased education, longer life expectancy, and more women in the workforce, leading to a shift in work patterns.