Articles tagged with Society
A new study by the University of Plymouth shows that at-risk individuals are more likely to engage with loot boxes than those without, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement around these features. The research found that loot box use is driven by beliefs such as 'I'll win in a minute', echoing the psychology seen in gambling.
A new study on the role of polls in South Korea highlights the limitations of polling in a democratic society. The research finds that technology, methodology, intentions, and reporting can affect poll results, leading to a social construction of public opinion influenced by pollsters and media.
A global study of 240,000 students challenges the widespread policy conviction that bridging the academic gap hinges on improving socio-emotional skills. Despite high levels of socio-emotional skills among disadvantaged children, their relative underperformance at school remains largely unchanged.
Environmental and social factors greatly influence individual behavior, according to Professor Wilhelm Hofmann of Ruhr University Bochum. Traditional approaches focus on personal autonomy but neglect structural factors, leading to ineffective decisions.
A new study from Bayes Business School found that CEOs' surnames can significantly impact their total compensation by up to 4.9%. The research highlights organizational bias and inefficient contracting decisions based on surname attributes, which can affect talent recognition and rewards.
A study of over 12,000 people in the US compares Baby Boomer and Millennial financial outcomes. Millennials with typical middle-class life trajectories accumulated substantially more wealth than their Baby Boomer counterparts, while those with low-skilled service jobs or living with parents struggled financially.
Researchers found that dyadic bicultural competence, the ability to navigate both cultural contexts, is associated with relationship quality. Couples with higher levels of this competence tend to experience fewer relationship challenges.
A new study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that the US Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision led to an increase in public support for abortion rights, with 2.4 percentage points more respondents believing abortion should be legal for women who choose to have one.
A study analyzing 17,490 Wikipedia articles found that articles about high-income countries receive more attention than those from low-income countries. Political events and disasters are disproportionately covered on Wikipedia compared to cultural and sports events.
A new study found that workplaces implementing flexible work arrangements can reduce employees' cardiometabolic risk, equivalent to a reduction of 5-10 years in age-related changes. The intervention had no negative impact on productivity and was particularly beneficial for low- and middle-wage workers.
A study by the University of Plymouth and Nottingham Trent University found that reading and writing poetry had a substantial positive impact on participants' wellbeing during the pandemic. Poetry helped reduce feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression, as well as supporting social and cultural recovery.
Using anonymized smartphone data, researchers found that police spend more time patrolling non-white neighborhoods, with disparities linked to socioeconomic and crime-driven demand for policing. The study reveals a strong correlation between racial composition of a neighborhood and police presence.
A new study from North Carolina State University explores how racism shapes Black motherhood in the US, revealing distinct challenges and stresses faced by Black mothers. The study categorizes these effects into three areas: protective mothering, resistance mothering, and encumbered mothering.
Research reveals women are negatively impacted by gender-exclusive language in job ads, feeling excluded and disengaged from the workplace. A preregistered replication confirms previous findings on the topic.
Researchers found substantial associations between donations and policy priorities expressed in congressional speeches, marking a viable arena for studying the impact of donors on congressional behavior. Businesses donate more to legislators than labor unions, with a stronger association with issue-attention.
Researchers at George Washington University found that Facebook's core design features undermine its policies aimed at removing Covid-19 vaccine misinformation. The platform's architecture, designed to build communities around shared interests, can inadvertently facilitate the spread of misinformation.
A new study from City, University of London, found that 'stretching arguments' by politicians can have a significantly negative effect on public opinion. Researchers discovered that making invalid claims can dilute over time, but the cumulative effects could undermine democracy and democratic procedures.
A study found Europeans are more willing to assist Ukrainian asylum seekers than Syrians or Somalis, largely because of the perceived lower threat level associated with Ukrainians. The research suggests that emotional factors and prejudice play a significant role in shaping attitudes towards helping refugees.
A longitudinal study of over 8,100 women reveals seven pathways that illustrate the long-term ripple effects of major life events. The research highlights the fluidity of education in many women's lives and challenges traditional notions of adulthood.
A study published in Science Advances found that exposure to harmful content on YouTube is driven by a small group of users subscribing to these channels, not algorithmic recommendations. Most viewers of these channels are also subscribers to the channel in question or similar ones, indicating a pattern of seeking out content.
A new study of 500,000 pupils in England found that attending a grammar school actually lowers the chances of getting top GCSE grades compared to comprehensive schools. Despite expectations, there is no evidence that selective systems improve academic outcomes for high-achieving students.
Researchers found that childhood adversity can reshape an individual's moral development, leading to a 'deformative experience' that pulls them away from their true nature. This asymmetric sensitivity to life history information affects judgments of praise and blame.
A recent review paper highlights the need for an interdisciplinary approach to designing and implementing renewable energy systems. Local communities' values and concerns must be considered to ensure public backing for the essential energy transition. The study emphasizes the risks of ignoring socio-technical grand challenges in wind e...
A new study found that exposure to groups with dual social identities improves intergroup attitudes, especially when individuals identify strongly with both parts of their identity. This suggests that embracing both identities can be beneficial for minorities in terms of intergroup relations.
Burn injury survivors face unique challenges, including infection, disfigurement, and disability, which can hinder their reentry into society. Researchers are using geospatial mapping techniques to identify barriers and hotspots for targeted support.
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.
Children do better at maths when music is integrated into lessons, with integrated lessons having the biggest effect on improving scores. Music helps more with learning arithmetic and has a bigger impact on younger pupils.
A new UK survey study led by Lancaster University found that 6.6% of the population aged 16 and over changed their reported sexual identity over a six-year period. The research challenges the assumption that sexual identity mobility declines with age, revealing that it is as prevalent among over-65s as young people.
Researchers found that after learning about a couple's break-up, participants perceived the relationship as more obvious and negative. They also reported reinterpreting positive qualities as signs of an impending break-up.
A nationwide VR research project is working to create diverse groups of participants to reflect real-world social dynamics. The Virtual Experience Research Accelerator (VERA) aims to provide researchers with access to large, reliable, and diverse groups for various VR research projects.
A study found that siblings who share similar 'Big Five' personality traits are more likely to leave home together. Introverted siblings were particularly likely to follow in the footsteps of their similarly introverted sibling, highlighting the role of personality similarity in this transition.
A new University of Ottawa study found that educated Black individuals in Canada were hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine due to distrust in the healthcare network. The survey revealed that health literacy and racial discrimination played a significant role in this mistrust.
A recent LMU study found that the Covid-19 pandemic had a predominantly negative impact on families' emotional well-being, despite temporary recoveries. Parental stress was a major factor in this decline. Conversely, a strong parent-child relationship acted as a resilience factor to mitigate these effects.
A new study found that job candidates who are exposed to social impact framing tend to refrain from negotiating for higher salaries due to feelings of discomfort. The researchers suggest that managers should be aware of this phenomenon and create greater transparency about company norms and values regarding compensation.
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.
A new study led by University of Nebraska-Lincoln researcher Kevin Smith explores the impact of polarized politics on mental and physical health. The research found that Americans' political anxiety increased before a major election, but decreased after, with specific groups experiencing lower levels of anxiety.
A new study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee found that diversifying US police departments has no significant impact on clearing aggravated assaults against minorities. The study analyzed data from over 350 agencies and nearly 44,000 incidents, but found no association between diversity measures and clearance rates.
A recent study found that conservatives are not easily persuaded by traditional pro-environmental messages, even when framed in terms of their own moral values. Instead, messages emphasizing loyalty, authority, or purity were equally effective in promoting pro-environmental behavior among conservatives.
A study of 7,500 Irish children found that harsh discipline increases the risk of developing lasting mental health problems. Children exposed to 'hostile' parenting at age three were 1.5 times likelier to have high-risk mental health symptoms by age nine.
The early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic led to reduced opportunities for sex, with fewer reported unplanned pregnancies and abortions, but higher levels of sexual dissatisfaction and distress. The National Survey found that people were more likely to have multiple partners, but less likely to use condoms with new partners.
Researchers found that federal-local immigration enforcement policies significantly increase violent victimization risk among Latinos, contradicting their purpose of enhancing public safety. The study analyzed NCVS data from 2005-2014 and confirmed individual-level factors as major sources of variation in violent victimizations.
A new study by the University of East Anglia reveals the struggles faced by trans and non-binary employees in the workplace, including stigma, harassment, and lack of inclusivity. The research emphasizes the need to challenge binary gender norms to create a more welcoming environment.
A new study found that military veterans are at higher risk of developing human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers due to low vaccination rates. The study suggests that 'catch-up' HPV vaccination campaigns are needed to boost vaccination rates among veterans and reduce deaths from these largely preventable cancers.
A new study by Dartmouth College researchers finds that sanctions on wealth managers would be more effective than asset seizure in crippling Russia's oligarchs. The research uses network science to map the connections between wealthy individuals and their financial experts, revealing a vulnerable network that can be disrupted with targ...
Research from Lancaster University found that new caregivers during COVID-19 experienced a sharp decline in their own mental health, with the most significant impact occurring during national lockdowns. Existing carers also saw a decline in mental well-being, particularly during the third lockdown.
Researchers argue that polders are an important part of China's water heritage, reflecting the country's long history of water management. Over 2,500 years, polders have evolved in response to changing societal needs, adapting to agricultural modernisation and urban encroachment.
A recent study found that Black bots were perceived as more competent and human than their White and Asian counterparts in digital interactions. This challenges past research on human-to-human interactions and highlights the importance of understanding how racial stereotypes interact with artificial intelligence.
A new study reveals that parents play a crucial role in supporting their adult children through employment transitions, particularly when pursuing education. However, this support is often conditional on social norms and can reinforce existing inequalities.
A new study finds that women and young people are more influential than older men in influencing others to implement sustainable practices. Women's recommendations often led to real action, despite being less likely to be identified as opinion leaders.
A new study reveals that online hate speech is frequently conveyed through subtle and modified wording, allowing it to evade detection. Covert methods of expression are being used by haters to avoid detection, highlighting the need for increased attention to implied ways of expressing hate.
A recent study from the University of Zurich shows that men selectively leave occupations increasingly taken by women. This could explain shifts in occupation sex composition and specializations. The study's findings suggest that men are less likely to remain in jobs when a higher proportion of women enter.
Analysis of surveys since 1974 shows US college attendance influences students' political orientation, particularly among females who tend to become more liberal. The study used a propensity score weighting approach to examine the effect of college on political orientation over four decades.
A recent study suggests that taking pride in one's identity can help protect mental health from online hate, with Asian Americans showing increased resilience. The research found that those who affirmed their identities were more likely to experience better psychological and physical health, as well as stronger personal relationships.
A national study found that Americans are moving to regions with the greatest risk of wildfires and significant summer heat, despite climate change projections. The top migration destinations were cities in the Pacific Northwest, parts of the Southwest, Texas, Florida, and the Southeast, which already face significant wildfire risks.
A new study reveals that conservative Democrats are uniquely intolerant towards marginalized groups, while liberal Democrats are the most politically tolerant. Independents are also more tolerant than partisans. The research suggests that improving political tolerance is crucial for democracy.
Professor Jan Grabowski's research on the Holocaust reveals untold stories of average citizens' roles in persecution. His work shows that rural counties contributed to terror, and non-Jews took initiative against Jewish communities.
The study found that identity cues accounted for up to 61% of the variation in voting, causing viewers to evaluate content faster. Positive feedback enhanced reputations, while negative cues led to down-votes. Reputations influenced how viewers perceived and engaged with online content.
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...
Researchers found that current methods for estimating plastic pollution in rivers are flawed, underestimating plastic waste by up to 90 percent. The study suggests new approaches be developed to better model the transport of plastic particles in rivers, taking into account both surface and sub-surface conditions.
The Global Jukebox, an online tool for exploring music and performing arts from around the world, has made its dataset and data available to the public. The database includes 5,776 recordings representing 1,026 societies, with detailed musical style categorization data and additional features such as breath management and instrumentation.