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Focus on state as ‘problem parent’ rather than care-experienced mothers – new research

Mothers with a criminal record and care experience face negative judgements and excessive scrutiny due to their 'known' status. The study emphasizes the need for supportive dialogue across disciplinary boundaries to break cycles of stigma and social care involvement, focusing on safe spaces and trust-building for care-experienced mothers.

SourceLancaster University·JournalThe British Journal of Criminology·TypeCase study·DateJul 10, 2023

How good or evil are you when gaming?

A study by Macquarie University researchers explores how players respond to morality meters in games, showing that most ignore clear moral choices but use them when ambiguous. The research provides insights into the impact of morality meters on player behavior and has implications for moral education and awareness.

SourceMacquarie University·JournalComputers in Human Behavior·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 20, 2023

U.S. consumers judge morality of armed self-protection on case-by-case basis, OSU research shows

Research from Oregon State University shows that Americans judge the morality of armed self-protection on a case-by-case basis, considering factors like perceived threat and background of the person carrying the gun. The study highlights the complexity of consumer views on gun rights and Second Amendment rights.

SourceOregon State University·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·TypeObservational study·DateJun 12, 2023

Robots and Rights: Confucianism Offers Alternative

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University argue against granting rights to robots, instead suggesting a Confucian approach of assigning roles to promote teamwork and harmony. This alternative perspective recognizes the moral status of robots as entities capable of participating in rites and contributing to society.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalCommunications of the ACM·DateMay 25, 2023

What makes someone likely to be a first-gen college grad? Money

A new study reveals that first-generation college graduates often originate from more affluent families with greater resources. This challenges the notion of a meritocracy, where success is solely based on individual effort. The research highlights the significant advantage these students have due to their family's socioeconomic status.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalSociological Quarterly·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 21, 2023

Strengthening ecology and conservation in the Global South

An international research team from the Global South emphasizes the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in tropical ecology and conservation. They suggest ten actions for researchers living in the Global South to improve their inclusivity and participation in international research collaborations.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalPerspectives in Ecology and Conservation·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateFeb 15, 2023

"I'll pay later!" – People promise the stars and moon to charities, but donations remain unsent

A new study from the University of Copenhagen found that at least 60 percent of Danes who promised to donate never followed through on their commitments. Digital payment solutions made it easier for people to delay donations, but also led to larger average cash contributions. Social pressure was identified as a key driver of charity gi...

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalJournal of Economic Behavior & Organization·DateNov 8, 2022

In organizations, group dynamics influence individuals’ likelihood of blowing the whistle on wrongdoing

A new study at Carnegie Mellon University found that group cohesion reduces whistleblowing tendencies within an organization but increases them outside of the group. This challenges prevailing views on whistleblowing and highlights the importance of considering relational dynamics in organizational interventions.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalOrganization Science·DateNov 3, 2022

Can robots have morals? Robots’ decisions on forced medication evoke doubts

A study at the University of Helsinki found that people accept human nurses overruling patient autonomy but reject similar decisions made by robots. The researchers suggest that human empathy is required to consider robot-made solutions equally acceptable as those made by humans. The findings imply that machines cannot comprehensively ...

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalEuropean Journal of Social Psychology·DateSep 24, 2022

Pamplin professor explores psychology of welfare politics

A recent study by Virginia Tech's Shreyans Goenka explores the psychology behind conservative reluctance to accept federal welfare programs. The research shows that conservatives are less likely than liberals to enroll in welfare programs without a work requirement policy, but can be encouraged through targeted marketing messaging.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalJournal of the Association for Consumer Research·DateMar 17, 2022

Machine learning can be fair and accurate

A recent study published in Nature Machine Intelligence challenges the long-held assumption that accuracy and fairness are mutually exclusive in machine learning. Researchers found that optimizing models for accuracy does not necessarily compromise fairness, particularly when adjustments are made to data, labels, and scoring systems.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·DateOct 20, 2021

Using Disney movies to help with child development

Researchers found that Disney films combine entertainment with life lessons about love, friendship, and social values. The study suggests using Disney movies as tools for parents to improve communication with children about difficult topics, such as death, loss, and acceptance of differences.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalChild and Adolescent Social Work Journal·TypeObservational study·DateOct 14, 2021

As more US adults intend to have covid vaccine, national study also finds more people feel it’s not needed

A national study of 75,000 US adults found a near 18 percentage point increase in those willing to get vaccinated, but also a rise in skepticism among certain groups. Disparities persist in vaccine confidence, particularly among younger adults, non-Hispanic Black or multiple races, and lower socioeconomic status.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalAnnals of Medicine·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 6, 2021

A group’s moral values may help determine the likelihood of hate-motivated harmful acts

A study published in Nature Communications suggests that a county's moral values, particularly binding values, can predict the prevalence of hate groups and extreme behavioral expressions of prejudice. The research used geospatial modeling and psychological experimentation to analyze data from over 3,100 US counties.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 28, 2021

Using social values for profit cheapens them, a new study cautions

A new study from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management finds that using social values primarily for self-interested purposes like profit or reputation can diminish their special status. The research cautions that even subtle normalization of such uses can lead to erosion of people's commitment to these values.

SourceUniversity of Toronto, Rotman School of Management·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateMay 3, 2021

Hot-button words trigger conservatives and liberals differently

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that liberals and conservatives exhibit distinct brain responses when exposed to the same political content, particularly when it involves words related to morality, emotions, and threat. The researchers discovered that neural polarization is driven by highe...

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 20, 2020

The impossibility of immorality

A new study by Harvard University researchers suggests that people tend to view immoral actions as impossible, leading them to make more moral decisions. When given time for reflection, participants rate one-quarter of immoral actions as impossible, but with less time, they call half of them impossible.

SourceHarvard University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 17, 2017

Knowledge increases awareness of biodiversity despite firsthand experiences

A University of Illinois study found that visitors to Channel Islands National Park in California were more likely to assign value to areas with charismatic wildlife encounters, rather than actually biodiverse regions. The research suggests that knowledge plays a crucial role in shaping people's perceptions of biodiversity.