Professor Dan Cable and comedian Akin Omobitan unearth social science’s hidden gems by “funpacking” peer-reviewed articles and sharing their choice findings!
Is it possible that by personally customising your products (think running shoes, golf clubs, pens and more), you can improve your performance with them? Dan and Akin squeeze a research study looking into this and similar questions.
- Research Paper: 'The Self-Expressive Customization of a Product Can Improve Performance' by Ulrike Kaiser, Martin Schreier and Chris Janiszewski
Fake news travels fast. If you've ever wondered why people share news stories with headlines so clearly fake, we have some answers for you! If you've never wondered this, well, you might be part of the problem!
- Research Paper: 'Misinformation and Morality: Encountering Fake-News Headlines Makes Them Seem Less Unethical to Publish and Share' by Daniel A. Effron and Medha Raj
Can three studies in one research paper provide solutions for getting more women into senior executive roles? Dan and Akin squeeze findings that leave them humbled and surprised.
- Research Paper: 'Leaning Out: How Negative Recruitment Experiences Shape Women's Decisions to Compete for Executive Roles' by Raina A. Brands and Isabel Fernandez-Mateo
When the aim's cooperation, the good you do cascades, as does the bad. Dan and Akin squeeze the research!
- Research Paper: 'Cooperative Behavior Cascades in Human Social Networks' by James H. Fowler and Nicholas A. Christakis
The days of renting physical copies of films are now a thing of the past, however, plenty lessons remain from when this was the norm. Dan and Akin squeeze a study of DVD rentals to unravel why decisions we make for the future aren't so certain when it’s time to act.
- Research Paper: ‘Highbrow Films Gather Dust: Time-Inconsistent Preferences and Online DVD Rentals’ by Katherine L. Milkman, Todd Rogers and Max H. Bazerman
Is the grass greener on the other side for the self-employed? Yes and no. Dan and Akin squeeze a research paper exploring the unpredictable sense of anxiety and fulfilment for those not bound to confines, or privy to the benefits, of a 9 to 5.
- Research Paper: 'Agony and Ecstasy in the Gig Economy: Cultivating Holding Environments for Precarious and Personalized Work Identities' by Gianpiero Petriglieri, Susan J. Ashford and Amy Wrzesniewski
Is the ability to be funny determined by an individual's sex? Dan and Akin are joined by writer, director and performer, Gem Carmella. The trio squeeze a research study that stirred up the masses after it found and proclaimed men to be funnier than women.
- Research Paper: 'Sex Differences in Humor Production Ability: A Meta-Analysis' by Gil Greengross, Paul J. Silvia and Emily C. Nusbaum
What costs would you pay to reduce burnout? Dan and Akin discuss research looking into the possibility of combating stress and emotional exhaustion by encouraging employees create and use self-reflective job titles.
- Research Paper: 'Job Titles as Identity Badges: How Self-Reflective Titles Can Reduce Emotional Exhaustion' by Adam Grant, Justin Berg and Dan Cable
With a focus on the colour black, Dan and Akin squeeze a research paper that looks into whether behaviour and judgement is significantly impacted simply dependant on choosing to wear the colour black. Culture, sports and misguided decision making for all.
- Research Paper: 'The Dark Side of Self and Social Perception: Black Uniforms and Aggression in Professional Sports' by Mark G. Frank and Thomas Gilovich
"The self is not static." It's rather the opposite, in fact. Over the course of our lives, one of the things we're guaranteed to do is change. Dan and Akin squeeze a study which looks whether or not a person can change based on how they imagine the people (and things) they encounter.
- Research Paper: 'Simulating Other People Changes the Self' by Meghan Meyer, Zidong Zhao and Diana Tamir
