Tag: Psychological Science

  • Nation & World

    Graphic images speak to consumers of sugary drinks

    In Harvard studies, one of which tracked more than 20,000 beverage sales, graphic warning labels were linked to reduced sugary drink purchases.

    3 minutes
  • Nation & World

    When wandering minds are just fine

    While most of the psychological literature calls mind wandering a detrimental “failure of executive control” or a “dysfunctional cognitive state,” a new study led by Paul Seli, a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow working in the lab of Dan Schacter, suggests that in some cases there’s no harm in it.

    7 minutes
  • Nation & World

    Study that undercut psych research got it wrong

    A study last year claiming that more than half of all psychology studies cannot be replicated turns out to be wrong. Harvard researchers have discovered that the study contains several statistical and methodological mistakes, and that when these are corrected, the study actually shows that the replication rate in psychology is quite high.

    11 minutes
  • Nation & World

    Making sense of memory

    It happens to all of us: We think we learned of the Sept. 11 attacks from a radio report, when, in fact, the news came from a co-worker; we’re sure the robber running from the bank was tall, when actually he was short; we remember waking up at 7 yesterday, when 8 is closer to…

    3 minutes
  • Nation & World

    In the genes, but which ones?

    A team of researchers, led Harvard Professor David I. Laibson and Christopher F. Chabris of Union College, has found that virtually all claims that intelligence is associated with specific genes are wrong.

    4 minutes
  • Nation & World

    Reinforcement Theory

    Mahzarin R. Banaji Richard Clarke Cabot Professor of Social Ethics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences

    2 minutes