Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
False confessions cause judicial errors
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- A false confession to a crime can lead to subsequent errors in testimony and evidence both from laypeople and forensic experts, U.S. psychologists say.
'Trans-parency' in the workplace
Transsexual individuals who identify themselves as such in the workplace are more likely to have greater satisfaction and commitment to their job than transsexuals who do not, according to a...
Sex-Ed Classes Should Stress Subject Matter, Not Tests
Tests get in the way of teaching sex ed, surveys find.
Perceived racism may impact black Americans' mental health
For black American adults, perceived racism may cause mental health symptoms similar to trauma and could lead to some physical health disparities between blacks and other populations in the United...
Recognizing a cyberbully
Something is happening on playgrounds, in classrooms, in homes and in every walk of life across America. In fact, it's happening internationally.
What Steve Jobs revealed in a "lost" interview
In a candid 69-minute interview, the late tech innovator says Microsoft "has no taste," admits he's wrong often
Children are kinder when Grandma and Grandpa are involved in their lives
(PhysOrg.com) -- Grandparents love to boast about their grandkids accomplishments, and now a new study gives them credit for helping their young grandchildren be a little kinder and in...
Research reveals when and why students smoke in effort to help them quit
Discovering when and why students smoke might lead to the development of better intervention methods, according to researchers at the University of Missouri. In an article published in the journal...
A touchscreen you can really feel (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Swiss researchers have invented a new generation of tactile surfaces with relief effects users can feel actual raised keys under their fingers. This technology could have many...
Uncertainty fear and eating disorders linked
People who fear the unknown or view uncertainty as especially negative or threatening are more likely to report symptoms of eating disorders, according to new ANU research.
OPINION: Express yourself, scientists – speaking plainly isn’t beneath you
It is a scientist’s duty to communicate his research to the people who pay for it, Danny Kingsley argues.
Disasters raise asbestos fear
Australians are once again at risk of asbestos exposure as natural disasters release its fibres to the environment, researchers say.
The Science Of Precognition: Cosmic Habituation And Decline Effect
Precognition (from the Latin præ-,“before,” + cognitio, “acquiring knowledge”), is usually filed under esoteric pseudoscience. There are scientific articles on precognition, but pointing this out often results in the rare...
Online communication boosts lying and E-mail is the medium that contains the most lies: study
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study by University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers finds that communication using computers for instant messaging and e-mail increases lying compared to face-to-face conversations, and that e-mail...
Research at Janelia: Life on the farm
Research at Janelia: Life on the farmNature 479, 284 16112011 doi: 10.1038/479284aMitch WaldropFive years in, has a lofty experiment in interdisciplinary research paid off?
Alcoholics' 'injured brains' work harder to complete simple tasks: Finger tapping study shows alcoholics may recruit other brain regions
Alcoholic brains can perform a simple finger-tapping exercise as well as their sober counterparts but their brain must work a lot harder to do it, according to a new study.
Hope for more options in couples where one partner is HIV positive
In sub-Saharan Africa, couples in long-term relationships where one partner is HIV-positive and the other is HIV-negative could benefit from anti-AIDS drugs given either as treatment or as a prevention...
Watching less TV, being more active and sleeping more is linked to a healthy body weight in young children
Getting enough sleep can help children maintain a healthy weight, new research reveals. Similarly, the more time children spend in front of the TV or their computers (screen time), the...
DNA Evidence of Innocence Rejected by Some Prosecutors
DNA evidence has cleared hundreds of falsely convicted people over the last two decades, but some prosecutors say that evidence alone is not always enough.
I had an orgasm in an MRI scanner | Kayt Sukel
Kayt Sukel went to extraordinary lengths to help researchers learn more about the neuroscience of the female orgasmThe first question, invariably, is, "Excuse me? You had a what where?" It's not a surprise,...
Phys Ed: Phys Ed: The Right Reasons to Stretch
Those who stretch often assume it will prevent soreness and injury, while those who don't claim it's a waste of time. A slowly growing body of science suggests that each...
Adolescent sex linked to adult body, mood troubles, in animal study
A new study suggests that sex during adolescence can have lasting negative effects on the body and mood well into adulthood, most likely because the activity occurs when the nervous...
Focus on testing hurts students in high school health classes
High school health classes fail to help students refuse sexual advances or endorse safe sex habits when teachers focus primarily on testing knowledge, a new study reveals. But when teachers...
In praise of … Daniel Kahneman | Editorial
The work of Kahnemann and the late Amos Tversky showed that fallibility often begins at home – a lesson more economists might learnEven by the standards of his fellow academic psychologists, Danny Kahneman's...
Everybody can become a better a reader, Swedish research suggests
Students with cognitive impairments may learn to comprehend written texts much better than commonly thought, according to researchers in Sweden.
Kids' Spatial Skills Improve When Parents Use Certain Words
Talking about shapes and sizes of objects may boost young kids' spatial skills.
Why do experts seek negative feedback to get motivated?
Novices are more motivated by positive feedback than experts, who prefer a harsh critic, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.
China forges ahead in space
China forges ahead in spaceNature 479, 276 15112011 doi: 10.1038/479276aDavid CyranoskiMars-probe problems are a minor blip in a bold strategy.