Everybody Is Stupid Except You

Intelligence

I Swear I'm Not Stupid. I'm Just Slow.

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on September 30, 2020

Speed and intelligence are not the same thing. This is one student's story of what it's like to have one but not the other.

Speed and intelligence are not the same thing. This is one student's story of what it's like to have one but not the other.

Halo Effect

Bad Internet, Bad Student? No, But It Feels That Way

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on September 14, 2020

Poor-quality Zoom can hurt your reputation and drain your enthusiasm. Here's some science and advice about how it works and what to do.

Poor-quality Zoom can hurt your reputation and drain your enthusiasm. Here's some science and advice about how it works and what to do.

Motivation

I Made My College Class Easy to Pass When We Went Online: The Balance

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on April 21, 2020

Part 2: Give students a chance to climb high, but don't flunk them if they can't

Part 2: Give students a chance to climb high, but don't flunk them if they can't

Education

I Made My College Class Easy to Pass When We Went Online: What's Important

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on April 21, 2020

Studying from home is hard and some students have extraordinary burdens. I don't want to cheat my students out of an education. I want to give it to them but also be realistic.

Studying from home is hard and some students have extraordinary burdens. I don't want to cheat my students out of an education. I want to give it to them but also be realistic.

Dreaming

Here's How Talent Actually Works

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on June 3, 2019

Why you should be patient and try a lot of things before deciding what career and pastimes will define you.

Why you should be patient and try a lot of things before deciding what career and pastimes will define you.

Bias

Compliments: How to Get Happy and Make a Better World

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on December 19, 2018

How many compliments do you give out? Most of us could give more. Here's why you should.

How many compliments do you give out? Most of us could give more. Here's why you should.

Fear

How to Choose the Best Pre-Game Pump Up Music for Your Gym

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on December 16, 2018

At sporting events you hear a lot of pump-up music. It usually pumps everyone up. If you want a home-court advantage, you should choose your music differently.

At sporting events you hear a lot of pump-up music. It usually pumps everyone up. If you want a home-court advantage, you should choose your music differently.

Anxiety

Researchers Promote Questionable Math App in Major Journal

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on October 5, 2018

Articles should be as open and up-front about their findings as possible. Some clues suggest that a recently released study on a new math app may be hiding something.

Articles should be as open and up-front about their findings as possible. Some clues suggest that a recently released study on a new math app may be hiding something.

Play

Why Hard-Working Kids Typically Lose in the End

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on September 12, 2018

As kids get older, effort evens out as everyone starts to practice more. Skill levels converge but talent doesn't, and talent is the differentiator.

As kids get older, effort evens out as everyone starts to practice more. Skill levels converge but talent doesn't, and talent is the differentiator.

Education

Have a Lot to Study in a Limited Time? Evidence-Based Help

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on March 16, 2018

Learning a huge amount of material in a short time is never easy. But it helps to study smarter. Here are a few tips.

Learning a huge amount of material in a short time is never easy. But it helps to study smarter. Here are a few tips.

Education

It's Always Sunny in Correlationville: Stories in Science

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on March 7, 2018

Scientific storytelling can be misleading. It makes the world seem sunny even when it isn't.

Scientific storytelling can be misleading. It makes the world seem sunny even when it isn't.

Psychology

Three Words That Helped My 13-Year-Old Study Better

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on January 17, 2018

Are you a parent who is trying to figure out how to help your child study? Cognitive psychology research might help.

Are you a parent who is trying to figure out how to help your child study? Cognitive psychology research might help.

Friends

How to Email a Professor, or The Art of Kissing Pompous Butt

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on September 4, 2017

Do you want your professor to like you? Then you should probably play it safe and assume he/she is a jackass.

Do you want your professor to like you? Then you should probably play it safe and assume he/she is a jackass.

Creativity

Imagination Is More Important than Knowledge? No, It's Not.

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on July 2, 2017

You can't be a good shot-putter without lungs. And you can't be a good physicist without knowledge.

You can't be a good shot-putter without lungs. And you can't be a good physicist without knowledge.

Memory

Do You Learn More When You Make Your Notes Beautiful?

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on May 22, 2017

Taking beautiful notes might help students learn.

Taking beautiful notes might help students learn.

Judge people for what they do. But don't pretend you can understand why they did it, or whether their motives were good.

You might have heard about the proposed Secretary of Education's views on charter schools and vouchers. But where does she stand on a more fundamental issue: The role of evidence?

Struggling in class? There's a solution. It's not easy, but it works.

Are you a college teacher? A small question might make you want to make big changes. It did for me.

Health

Foodstagramming Rhymes With Cramming (Food in Your Mouth)

Nate Kornell Ph.D. on June 7, 2016

Does taking pictures of food put a barrier between you and spontaneous experience? Or does it actually heighten your senses?

Does taking pictures of food put a barrier between you and spontaneous experience? Or does it actually heighten your senses?