Social Sciences

Caring for a spouse with dementia is arguably one of the most emotionally and physically demanding roles a person can take on, but new research from Rice University suggests the experience is not defined by the diagnosis alone. It is shaped by the relationship behind it. The study, published in... Read more

In an e-commerce warehouse, worker performance is influenced by the performance of those around them, despite a system that discourages interaction, according to research from Caitlin Ray, ILR assistant professor in the Human Resource Studies Department.... Read more

For people living in some parts of the United States, their accent might not just indicate where they live, but also who they think they are. In a small study in rural northwestern Ohio, researchers found that men who had a "country" identity—for example, a love of hunting and guns,... Read more

At the School of Design, interior design faculty Elif and Alp Tural teach students how empathy, accessibility, and well-being can shape the spaces designers create. After earning their degrees at Arizona State University, the Turals moved to Blacksburg, where they now help prepare the next generation of interior designers in... Read more

Two new experiments show that most people do not even consider that a personal message could be AI-generated, even when they themselves use artificial intelligence to write.... Read more

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is arguably the most celebrated child prodigy in history, composing his first pieces of music aged five, his first symphony at eight and his first opera at 11. After a study in 1993 found that listening to Mozart could improve spatial IQ—prompting headlines such as "Mozart makes... Read more

Older workers are stereotyped as less competent, less trainable, and less adaptable by their younger colleagues, influencing how they are viewed by management, a University of Queensland study has found. Associate Professor Chad Chiu from UQ's Business School said surveys conducted across workplaces in Australia and Taiwan found consistent evidence... Read more

Facial expressions are a fundamental aspect of human social interaction. While emojis are an extremely popular way for people to communicate, very little is known about the psychological response that they can generate. A new study might make people rethink every WhatsApp or email they send. Researchers at Bournemouth University... Read more

Big data, artificial intelligence and advanced pricing algorithms make it easier than ever for companies to fine-tune prices for individual products to closely reflect their unique value and cost. The conventional wisdom is straightforward: better data, better algorithms and sharper segmentation should produce better profits. But new research suggests that... Read more

Running the Boston Marathon is tough enough without having to jostle your way from Hopkinton to Copley Square.... Read more

A research team led by Lea Lorenz of the RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau and Sven Kachel of the University of Kassel conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis that examined how men react to situations in which their masculinity is called into question. To this end, the team systematically organized and analyzed 123 experiments,... Read more

From flash mobs to line-dancing to the Nutbush, experiencing rhythm and movement in a group context is known to boost mental and physical health in people of all ages. Now a University of the Sunshine Coast study published in Behavioral Sciences of more than 200 4-year-olds across South East Queensland... Read more

Can you tell if you're working with a narcissist or a psychopath? A new study suggests that people's job choices may offer some clues, especially in fields built on leadership and persuasion such as business, politics, and law, where such darker traits are more common. Those in creative fields or... Read more

Sexual misconduct—including sexual harassment, stalking, intimate partner violence and sexual assault—is a common problem on U.S. college campuses.... Read more

Whether social media connects us or leaves us feeling isolated depends on how we use it, according to new research from The University of Manchester. A major review of global evidence has found that online interactions can either reduce or increase loneliness, which challenges simple assumptions about screen time and... Read more