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The Less We Know, the Surer We Are, Study Finds
Business Week: Here’s a study that rings true: People tend to hold more extreme positions on complex policies when they don’t know very much about them, according to a research article in the academic journal Psychological Science. Having people attempt to explain how the policies work is enough to reduce their sense of certainty, as well as the extremity of their political positions. Research subjects stated their positions on six political policies on a scale from strongly against to strongly in favor, and then rated their understanding of the policies. After that they were asked to provide a detailed explanation of two of the policies.
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What’s the most ‘natural’ way to learn? It might surprise you
The Washington Post: Here is a counterintuitive piece on what we consider the “natural” way to learn, from cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham. He is a professor and director of graduate studies in psychology at the University of Virginia and author of “Why Don’t Students Like School?” His latest book is “When Can You Trust The Experts? How to tell good science from bad in education.” This appeared on his Science and Education blog. Which of these learning situations strikes you as the most natural, the most authentic? 1) A child learns to play a video game by exploring it on his own. 2) A child learns to play a video game by watching a more experienced player.
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The Science of Siblings
Parade: How your brothers and sisters shape your life—long after you’ve stopped sharing a room. What can Maggie, Bart, and Lisa tell us about family dynamics? Click here to find out what the experts say. Growing up in North miami beach, Tobi Cohen Kosanke, now 48, adored her brother Keith. Seven years older, he was a “laid-back surfer dude,” while she was a “chubby, nerdy” little girl. Tobi knew she could never live up to Keith’s cool persona, so while he was quitting school, experimenting with drugs, and focusing on riding the next wave, Tobi threw herself into school, with her brother’s encouragement. The hard work paid off: She went on to earn her Ph.D. and become a geologist.
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Happier Spending
The New York Times: SQUARE WALLET, an innovative new app, is changing the way we spend our money. Here’s how it works: you link your credit or debit card to the app, shop, take your items to a cashier at a participating retailer and, as the company’s Web site says, “simply say your name at checkout to pay.” Your name and photograph appear on the register, the cashier gives you a nod, and you walk happily out the door with your artisan shade-grown organic coffee. This kind of seamless convenience has obvious benefits. But it may come with hidden costs.
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Kids’ Reading Success Boosted by Long-Term Individualized Instruction
Students who consistently receive individualized reading instruction from first through third grade become better readers than those who don’t, researchers find. Visit Page
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Physical Environment May Affect Likelihood of Dishonest Behavior
New research shows that expansive physical settings -- such as having a big desk to stretch out while doing work or a large driver's seat in an automobile -- can cause individuals to feel more powerful, which may, in turn, elicit more dishonest behavior, such as stealing, cheating, and even traffic violations. The new research is forthcoming in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
