Last fall, some social scientists published a study using data from one of my favorite national surveys--the American Time Use Survey. (I'm a nosy psychologist who is fascinated by how people spend their days.). They concluded that doing almost any daily activity is more enjoyable when we do it with friends. Here's how the research …
Continue reading Doing almost anything is better with friends
The study correlated cuddling style with stress and attachment. Photo: LightField Studios/Shutterstock If you share a bed with your sweetheart, you might be interested in this example of correlational research summarized by PsyPost. Their headline reads, "Study finds couples who cuddle at bedtime feel more secure and less stressed." Here are some introductory statements: Study …
The study found that people who use their smartphone on the toilet are more likely to have hemorrhoids. How strong is their evidence? Photo: Svitlana Hulko/Shutterstock Is there any relationship between using your smartphone on the toilet and your hemorrhoid risk? Let's get into it. A study on this topic did find an association. …
Continue reading Claim: Using smartphones on the toilet increases hemorrhoid risk
Were all the variables in this study measured? Were any manipulated? Photo: Caftor/Shutterstock Psychology Today columnist Sebastian Ocklenburg summarized a recent study under the headline, The Dark Side of Emojis: A Surprising Link to Narcissism. Let's take a look. It's a recent correlational study that tested the link between various personality traits and emoji use. …
Given the study's results, predict which of these chimps is most likely to pee after another one does. Photo: Dirk M. de Boer/Shutterstock The radio program Short Wave (on NPR) highlights 3 science-related news stories every week. In this episode, one story is about a study showing that peeing is contagious in chimpanzees. The study …
Loneliness is associated with poorer health. Photo: JCVStock/Shutterstock Loneliness has been called an "epidemic" by the U.S. Surgeon General. People who report feeling lonely are also likely to suffer from poor physical health. In a recent international study on adults, researchers detected a curvilinear relationship between age and loneliness. The study was summarized by the …
Continue reading Loneliness and age: A curvilinear relationship
The study measured reading for pleasure and a variety of cognitive, behavioral, and biological variables at multiple points throughout childhood. Photo: Samuel Borges Photography/Shutterstock An article for the general public led with this headline: "Reading for pleasure helps kids' brain development". The story in this post comes from coverage in The Conversation and Scientific …
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The study investigated two types of behaviors and two types of liking. Photo credit: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock Can psychological science make you more popular? That's what a journalist from Forbes claims in an article, "A science-backed way to up your popularity and friendship." Let's see what the journalist is claiming and see if we buy the evidence. …
Continue reading What behaviors make you popular? What behaviors make you likable?
The study found a correlation between gendered racism and symptoms of depression among Black college women. Photo: Deposit Photos This post is about a study on intersectionality--a combination of race and gender--in the lives of Black women in college. The empirical study appeared in the Journal of American College Health, and a journalist from PsyPost …
Continue reading Gendered racism (intersectionality) and psychological distress
A friendly reminder that when all the variables are measured, causal claims aren't supportable. Photo credit: Sleeping: MicrostockAsia/Deposit Photos CNN's headline was "sleep this way to add 5 years to your life." This headline should immediately kick in your "correlation is not causation" spidey-sense. a) What makes this headline causal? b) What are the two …
Continue reading Really? “Sleep this way to add 5 years to your life”