Squeezing the Orange

Police Body Cameras Reveal Racial Respect Bias

A squad of researchers analysed a month's worth of police body camera footage from routine traffic stops in Oakland, California. Their findings highlight a racial bias that contributes towards the dysfunction relationship between Black Americans and the police. Dan and Akin squeeze the findings.

 - Research Paper: 'Language from Police Body Camera Footage Shows Racial Disparities in Officer Respect' by Rob Voigt, Nicholas P. Camp, Vinodkumar Prabhakaran, William L. Hamilton, Rebecca C. Hetey, Camilla M. Griffiths, David Jurgens, Dan Jurafsky, and Jennifer L. Eberhardt

Self-Affirmation and the Health Benefits of Expressive Writing

Improve your mental health, and your physical health follows. Dan and Akin squeeze research which finds positive, self-affirming expressive writing has real and measurable benefits for women being treated for breast cancer.

 - Research Paper: 'Does Self-Affirmation, Cognitive Processing, or Discovery of Meaning Explain Cancer-Related Health Benefits of Expressive Writing' by J. David Creswell, Suman Lam, Annette L. Stanton, Shelley E. Taylor, Julienne E. Bower and David K. Sherman

Guilt and Shame: Competition and Motivation

To be the best, you've got to beat the best! Dan and Akin squeeze research looking into the roles guilt and shame play in competition and motivation.

- Research Paper: 'May the Best Man Lose: Guilt Inhibits Competitive Motivation' by Uriel Haran

Too Good to Hire: Commitment, Capability and the Job Market

What do we mean when we say someone is "overqualified"? Dan and Akin look at why and when highly attractive qualities work against the best person for the job.

 - Research Paper: 'Too Good to Hire? Capability and Inferences about Commitment in Labor Markets' by Roman V. Galperin, Oliver Hahl, Adina D. Sterling, Jerry Guo

Dilution Effect: Pharmaceutical Drugs, Advertising and Arguments

Something rather peculiar happens to the strength of your argument when you add everything and the kitchen sink to it. Dan and Akin squeeze research that will have you rethinking how the best cases are put forward.

 - Research Paper: 'The Unintended Consequences of Argument Dilution in Direct-to-Consumer Drug Advertisements' by Niro Sivanathan and Hemant Kakkar

Replication Crisis, Signatures and Dishonesty

What do you do when you're wrong? For the first time, Dan and Akin squeeze a research paper by a team looking to correct findings previously thought to be true.

 - Research Paper: 'Signing at the Beginning Versus at the End Does Not Decrease Dishonesty' by Ariella S. Kristal, Ashley V. Whillans, Max H. Bazerman, Francesca Gino, Lisa L. Shu, Nina Mazar, and Dan Ariely

Nostalgia: Past, Present and Future

Centuries of research have turned our understanding of nostalgia on its head. What was once believed to be a psychiatric disorder is now hailed as serving key psychological functions. Dan and Akin squeeze the findings.

 - Research Paper: 'Nostalgia: Past, Present, and Future' by Constantine Sedikides, Tim Wildschut, Jamie Arndt and Clay Routledge

Loving-Kindness Meditation: Positive Emotions, Life Satisfaction and Reduced Depression

If you're into meditation, you're going to love this! If you're not already into it, this might be what draws you in. Dan and Akin squeeze research which finds you can significantly improve your life without having to lift a finger.

 - Research Paper: 'Open Hearts Build Lives: Positive Emotions, Induced Through Loving-Kindness Meditation, Build Consequential Personal Resources' by Barbara L. Fredrickson, Michael A. Cohn, Kimberly A. Coffey, Jolynn Pek, and Sandra M. Finkel

The Scrooge Effect: Mortality, Attitude and Behaviour

Some very interesting things happen to our attitudes and behaviours when we're reminded we won't be around forever; at least not like this. Dan and Akin squeeze a research paper looking for answers of what those changes are and why they matter.

 - Research Paper: The Scrooge Effect: Evidence That Mortality Salience Increases Prosocial Attitudes and Behavior by Eva Jones, Jeff Schimel, Jeff Greenberg and Tom Pyszczynski

Does Personally Customising Products Improve Performance?

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