Nudging Ahead

Education

Designing Continuous Enrollment for College Persistence

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on October 28, 2025

Continuous enrollment can help college students persist until they earn a credential. Small changes to institutions' choice architecture could make this happen.

Continuous enrollment can help college students persist until they earn a credential. Small changes to institutions' choice architecture could make this happen.

Education

How to Help High Schoolers Succeed in College Courses

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on May 14, 2025

More high school students than ever are taking dual-enrolled college courses. Here are three mindsets they must adopt to succeed in their classes and earn a postsecondary degree.

More high school students than ever are taking dual-enrolled college courses. Here are three mindsets they must adopt to succeed in their classes and earn a postsecondary degree.

Artificial Intelligence

What College Students Think About Artificial Intelligence

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on March 13, 2025

Educators are afraid that students are using AI to cheat. But is that the case? Evidence paints a more nuanced picture of how and why students use AI in their studies.

Educators are afraid that students are using AI to cheat. But is that the case? Evidence paints a more nuanced picture of how and why students use AI in their studies.

Academic Problems and Skills

How to Support College Athletes

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on February 24, 2025

College athletes face unique barriers when it comes to academic success and well-being. You can employ multiple evidence-based strategies to help your athletes excel.

College athletes face unique barriers when it comes to academic success and well-being. You can employ multiple evidence-based strategies to help your athletes excel.

Anxiety

6 Strategies for College Students to Reduce Anxiety

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on December 3, 2024

Anxious about an upcoming stressful event? These behavioral science strategies can help ease that anxiety, boost your performance, and maintain your mental health.

Anxious about an upcoming stressful event? These behavioral science strategies can help ease that anxiety, boost your performance, and maintain your mental health.

Anxiety

Using the Power of Ritual to Reduce Anxiety

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on October 28, 2024

We all get jitters before a stressful event, like an interview, exam, or competition. Performing a ritual beforehand can calm those nerves and improve performance.

We all get jitters before a stressful event, like an interview, exam, or competition. Performing a ritual beforehand can calm those nerves and improve performance.

Education

5 Strategies for Reaching Out to Students

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on September 30, 2024

Are you tired of students ignoring your emails and texts? These 5 strategies will enhance your communications so more students read and take action.

Are you tired of students ignoring your emails and texts? These 5 strategies will enhance your communications so more students read and take action.

Career

3 Strategies for Successful Mentorships

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on August 8, 2024

Colleges, businesses, and other organizations have formalized mentoring programs. Research tells us the key ingredients to make sure those connections flourish.

Colleges, businesses, and other organizations have formalized mentoring programs. Research tells us the key ingredients to make sure those connections flourish.

Education

5 Strategies to Support Academic Advisors

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on June 27, 2024

Academic advisors are essential to a college's mission and students' success. A recent gathering of advisors in southeast Michigan produced key recommendations to support advisors.

Academic advisors are essential to a college's mission and students' success. A recent gathering of advisors in southeast Michigan produced key recommendations to support advisors.

Friends

How to Make Friends and Stay in School

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on April 30, 2024

Some students today struggle with the social skills necessary to make friends. Here are four evidence-based tips for the most effective ways to spark lasting friendships.

Some students today struggle with the social skills necessary to make friends. Here are four evidence-based tips for the most effective ways to spark lasting friendships.

Education

How to Get Students to Engage

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on March 21, 2024

Changing how we present opportunities and resources could change social norms around student help-seeking.

Changing how we present opportunities and resources could change social norms around student help-seeking.

Career

How to Get Students to Use Resources

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on January 11, 2024

How do we get students to take advantage of the help available to them? Changing norms around these resources can motivate students to get the support they need.

How do we get students to take advantage of the help available to them? Changing norms around these resources can motivate students to get the support they need.

Psych Careers

Advice for Aspiring Behavioral Scientists

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on December 14, 2023

Behavioral science is an exciting and growing profession for Ph.D.s who want to make an impact outside of academia.

Behavioral science is an exciting and growing profession for Ph.D.s who want to make an impact outside of academia.

Education

The Power of Self-Reflection

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on November 2, 2023

Self-reflection is a powerful tool for enriching learning. We can use it to help students get the most out of college and prepare for their careers.

Self-reflection is a powerful tool for enriching learning. We can use it to help students get the most out of college and prepare for their careers.

Education

What Quitting Tells Us About Persistence

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on October 3, 2023

Our society celebrates perseverance and scorns quitting, yet tens of millions of people have quit college. The book "Quit" suggests how to help more students graduate.

Our society celebrates perseverance and scorns quitting, yet tens of millions of people have quit college. The book "Quit" suggests how to help more students graduate.

Education

What Good Is College?

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on September 12, 2023

Many people question the value of college, with some seeing college as simply a means to finding work. A report highlights the benefits of college for health and happiness.

Many people question the value of college, with some seeing college as simply a means to finding work. A report highlights the benefits of college for health and happiness.

Empathy

How to Listen With Empathy

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on July 24, 2023

Students often quit without us truly understanding why. Listening with empathy can reveal what core needs of theirs are not being met and how to motivate them to persist.

Students often quit without us truly understanding why. Listening with empathy can reveal what core needs of theirs are not being met and how to motivate them to persist.

Education

What Ted Lasso Teaches Us About College Success

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on June 13, 2023

Ted Lasso always had a folksy lesson to teach us. How Ted motivated his players to seek help and grow can teach us how we do the same for our students.

Ted Lasso always had a folksy lesson to teach us. How Ted motivated his players to seek help and grow can teach us how we do the same for our students.

Education

A Simple Way to Show Your Students You Care

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on May 1, 2023

Students perform better when they believe that teachers care about them. Something as simple as a personal email may be enough to show students that you care.

Students perform better when they believe that teachers care about them. Something as simple as a personal email may be enough to show students that you care.

Intelligence

The Case for Automatic Course Enrollment

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on April 18, 2023

Many college students get lost when denied entry into an exclusive academic pathway. Leveraging automatic enrollment may keep them on the path to a credential and career.

Many college students get lost when denied entry into an exclusive academic pathway. Leveraging automatic enrollment may keep them on the path to a credential and career.