Getting Along and Getting Ahead

Bias

Why People Morally Object to Experiments

Patrick Heck Ph.D. on August 4, 2020

Why are people so skeptical of experiments? New research finds that people often object to experiments even when they approve of the policies or treatments to be compared.

Why are people so skeptical of experiments? New research finds that people often object to experiments even when they approve of the policies or treatments to be compared.

Career

Visualizing Variability: Error Bars in Graphical Displays

Patrick Heck Ph.D. on February 18, 2020

Do you plot error bars when visualizing data? A new study suggests that the type of variability you choose to display can drastically change how people perceive a treatment.

Do you plot error bars when visualizing data? A new study suggests that the type of variability you choose to display can drastically change how people perceive a treatment.

Social Comparison Theory

People Think They're Better Than Average, but How Much Better?

Patrick Heck Ph.D. on January 23, 2020

Just how far above average do people tend to place themselves? A new meta-analysis of 124 published articles finds a large effect.

Just how far above average do people tend to place themselves? A new meta-analysis of 124 published articles finds a large effect.

Cognition

Predicting the Ideal Future for Ourselves and for Others

Patrick Heck Ph.D. on September 5, 2019

How do we go about predicting the future of automation, AI, and the changing landscape of policy? Often, we let ourselves get in the way.

How do we go about predicting the future of automation, AI, and the changing landscape of policy? Often, we let ourselves get in the way.

Personality

The Better-Than-Average Effect from 1985 to Today

Patrick Heck Ph.D. on July 8, 2019

What kind of personality traits do we think we have more (or less) of than the average person? Surprisingly, not a lot has changed since a popular psychology study from 1985.

What kind of personality traits do we think we have more (or less) of than the average person? Surprisingly, not a lot has changed since a popular psychology study from 1985.

Confidence

Why Don’t Politicians Admit When “More Research Is Needed"?

Patrick Heck Ph.D. on June 27, 2019

Some politicians (like Elizabeth Warren) appeal to science and evidence. Why don't more do this? I argue that it can be a risky prospect.

Some politicians (like Elizabeth Warren) appeal to science and evidence. Why don't more do this? I argue that it can be a risky prospect.