Latest science news in Psychology & Sociology
For people with depression, support groups have built-in benefits
People who get together for support with depression may find their symptoms decrease, a new systematic review suggests.
US public's knowledge of science: Getting better but a long way to go, study finds
Amid concerns about the lagging math and science performance of American children, American adults are actually scoring higher than they did 20 years ago on a widely used index of...
China's water crisis needs more than words
A new water strategy from the Chinese government is a step in the right direction, says Chaoqing Yu. But it will be difficult to put into practice.
Students protest as university ponders where cuts will fall
A number of popular courses at Glasgow university, including nursing, social work and anthropology, could be axed or mergedHundreds of students have held a rally at Glasgow University to protest at proposed cuts,...
Female topics encourage girls to study science, study finds
Girls are more interested in studying science if topics are presented in a female friendly way, according to new research.
When is it acceptable to discriminate against evolution sceptics? | James Hannam
A scientist's doubts about evolution don't curtail his ability as an astronomer – to act otherwise plays into creationist handsIn 2007, Dr Martin Gaskell applied for the position of director at the new...
Gamers may not be desensitized by violent video games: study
(PhysOrg.com) -- Violent video games such as Grand Theft Auto may not desensitize players to negative situations or events, suggest psychology researchers from Ryerson University.
Virtual Behavior Labs Discover What Gamers Want
Human behavior scientists would love to have data collected by video games.
Why do we laugh when someone falls over?
(PhysOrg.com) -- Why is it funny when people fall over? What are jokes for? A session for teenagers at Cambridge University today will come up with some answers.
China rice laced with heavy metals: report
Up to 10 percent of rice grown in China is contaminated with harmful heavy metals but little has been done to highlight the possible public health risks, a report said.
Explaining evolution by showing 500 people tracing a line
This nifty project (retracing a straight line) provides a visual example for how random errors and mutations accumulate over timeDid you ever participate in the childhood game, "telephone" (or "Chinese whispers"), where schoolkids...
Why problem drinking during adolescence is never a 'phase'
The Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI) is widely used to assess adolescent drinking-related problems. Researchers used adolescent RAPI scores to(examine diagnoses of alcohol dependence during young adulthood. More drinking-related problems...
Alcohol's disruptive effects on sleep may be more pronounced among women
Researchers have known for decades that alcohol can initially deepen sleep during the early part of the night but then disrupt sleep during the latter part of the night; this...
Survey Says: War Is the Irrational Choice
New study suggests that we don't weigh costs and benefits when we choose violent action
Letters galore about NFL labor negotiations
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Both sides in the NFL's labor talks are trying to spread the word by putting their positions in writing, and everyone's getting in...
Senate: Punish misusers of body scanner images
(AP) -- Misusing body scanner images would become a federal crime punishable by up to a year in prison under a proposal approved Tuesday by the Senate, an attempt...
UK court mulls sterilizing mentally disabled woman
LONDON (AP) -- A British judge ruled Tuesday that more evidence is needed before deciding whether to grant a mother's wish to have her mentally disabled...
Top 10 Spooky Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders that seem more at home in horror films than in your bedroom.
Payoffs of long-term investment in education research
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Leading scholars and private foundation presidents shared the Capitol Hill stage to highlight the payoffs of long-term investment in education research at a Capitol Hill briefing...
The truth about bonuses
Bankers may well love them by the billion, but new research has claimed bonuses don't actually make us work any harder.
The constitutionality of health care reform
President Obamas health care reform legislation has been the subject of lively political and legal debate. Many lawsuits have been filed to prevent the implementation of the legislation. ...
Construal level theory: Opening consumer behavior research with a new approach
That the consumer behavior of these people carries systematic rules, and is not completely impulsive, has been made clear in a field called behavioral economics, an interdisciplinary area in economics...
Laptops in school classes improve scores
The use of laptops in elementary and high school classrooms fosters academic success according to a study conducted in the Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB) by Thierry Karsenti of the...
Change in Chinese mating preferences sparked by expanding economy
As China's economy continues to grow, more young adults desire potential mates with good financial prospects, according to new psychology research from The University of Texas at Austin.
Grad Student to Serve Six Months for Freeing Ferrets
Scott DeMuth, a sociology graduate student at the University of Minnesota, was sentenced yesterday...
Souls With The Lure Of The Overseas
The lure of the far-off land, the thrill of crossing the seven seas, the dream of studying in a foreign university is still the most sought after by many Indian...
Prince Harry's Best Man Speech Survival Kit
LONDON, February 15, 2011 -- In England, royal wedding fever is rife and the folks at Great Speech Writing have it bad. Because they are focused on speeches. They spend...
'Mashup' technologies: Better contact with public authorities
Mashup technologies and mobile applications will help to close the communication gap between government bodies and the general public. They can be used, for example, to send messages to local...