Wearing masks is associated with lower rates of COVID-19 symptoms.Photo: Syda Productions/Shutterstock Here is an article that amplifies Chapter 8 concepts. Using U.S. states as the unit of analysis, it depicts the correlation between mask-wearing and rates of knowing a person with COVID. Please scroll to the middle of this article from the Washington Post …
Continue reading State scatterplot: Mask mandates and COVID cases
The more privilege people have, the less empathy they have for people lower in status. But that can change with increased perspective-taking. Photo credit: Clay Banks/Unsplash The spring of 2020 has seen sustained, worldwide, democratic protests, led by Black Lives Matter and demanding social justice and police reform in the U.S. After this spring, American support …
Dr. Santos provides evidence-based ways to enhance well-being during this pandemic. Credit: Yale University How can people enhance their wellbeing during the Coronovirus pandemic? Dr. Laurie Santos (pictured) has been meeting with several news outlets, sharing evidence-based tips from her psychology of well-being class at Yale University. A version of the course is also offered …
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Does the study's method support the claim that attending arts events makes you live longer? Photo credit: agefotostock/Alamy We'll never run out of material in the "correlation is not causation" department. This time, a New York Times journalist led with the headline, "Another benefit of going to museums? You may live longer." Let's check out the …
Continue reading Claim: “Going to museums and concerts helps you live longer”
The College of William and Mary has phased out its Indian-themed mascot over the years. In 2010, the College replaced its former mascot with "Griffin", above. Photo: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images Since 2005, the NCAA has required colleges and universities to reflect upon, and if necessary, change sports team mascots that feature depictions of Native-Americans. Now …
The fidget spinner IV was manipulated as independent groups in the first study and as within groups in the second. Photo: Marcel Jancovic/Shutterstock Fidget spinners were extremely popular a couple of years ago. When people promoted them, they often suggested that the toys could help people with ADHD focus and learn more. At the time, …
Continue reading Fidget spinners seem to cause worse memory and attention
One of the proposed mediators of the effect was that teachers report better relationships with attractive students.Photo credit: FatCamera/Getty Images File this one under: Depressing, but we suspected it all along. The Washington Post ran a summary of research that looked at the link between school achievement and physical appearance. A new study finds that good looking …
The study found an association between dog ownership and longevity. Which third variables were controlled for? Which third variables might still be responsible for the relationship? Photo: Shutterstock I can't resist blogging about research on dogs. Here's a story on NPR that summarized several studies that have tested the correlation between longevity and dog ownership. …
Participants and newspapers were more likely to blame video games when a school shooter was white than when he was black. Photo: Richard Levine / Alamy Stock Photo What causes mass shootings? Of course, we have no experimental evidence on this question. Correlational evidence (both within the U.S. and evidence that compares the U.S. to …
Continue reading Racial stereotypes behind how we explain school shootings
The study showed that moms with larger social support networks had kids with higher cognitive test scores. Photo: Noriko Cooper / Alamy Stock Photo The Washington Post headline reads, "Mothers' friendships may be good for babies' brains." The story is about an empirical study on mothers' social networks. Although it says "babies' brains", the study …
Continue reading Claim: Mothers’ friendships are good for babies’ brains