Social Studies

While the number of Californians ages 12 and older who said they experienced a hate act increased in 2024, a new UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (CHPR) study showed how someone's likelihood to experience a hate act was associated with race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual identity, disability and housing... Read more

Will humanity extend into the far future? It's likely many of us think it should. The problem is that each of us, individually and collectively, act otherwise—we are destroying the environment and climate at every turn. Now a group of scientists is arguing that civilization needs to specifically and systematically... Read more

In recent years, studies and media reports have blamed growing partisan hostility in the U.S. for shattered marriages, broken families, ruined holiday dinners, and increased stress. New CU Boulder research suggests it may have an even broader impact, hindering democracies' capacity to address climate change around the world.... Read more

From sportswear to cosmetics, brands love telling women they are strong and empowered. But women can spot inauthentic, performative messaging a mile away. New research by Macquarie University Ph.D. student Vu Phuong Uyen Ho and marketing experts Dr. Syed Rahman, Professor Jana Bowden and Professor Jamie Carlson reveals six make-or-break... Read more

As the news cycle shows, Australia and the world are confronting deeply distressing events, with experts warning that schools are increasingly carrying the emotional fallout. Children are coming to school carrying fear, grief and stress caused by events that shake their sense of safety and the effects are showing up... Read more

When it comes to the price of financial services such as loans, mortgages, and insurance, the perception of what is "fair" has a lot to do with how wealthy you are. In the study "Seeing Like a Company or a Customer: Selective Empathy in Pricing," appearing in American Sociological Review,... Read more

There's a common assumption that if someone starts learning a language when they are very young, they will quickly become fluent. Many people also assume that it will become much harder to learn a language if they start later in life.... Read more

A study by the University of New Hampshire challenges common assumptions about aging and intimacy, revealing that many single adults aged 60 to 83 continue to prioritize sexual activity in their romantic relationships—underscoring the enduring significance of sex for older adults.... Read more

Use of chat and text services has surged since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Rachel Joy Voth Schrag, a UT Arlington professor of social work. Understanding how survivors use these digital channels, she said, is critical for ensuring hotline advocates have the tools they need to support survivor and family... Read more

Social media platforms, often praised for giving everyone a voice, can reinforce inequality and deepen the exclusion of marginalized communities, new research from the University of Bath School of Management shows. The study focused on Dalits in India, formerly referred to as "untouchables" and now legally known as Scheduled Castes... Read more

When you make a small mistake that doesn't harm anyone else—such as tripping over a curb or misremembering a name—people will like you more if you can laugh at yourself rather than act embarrassed, finds research published by the American Psychological Association.... Read more

As a growing number of fast-food chains adopt artificial intelligence (AI) technology for drive-thru ordering, customers are more likely to order indulgent food options when interacting with voice AI rather than a human employee, according to a new study from researchers in the Penn State School of Hospitality Management. The... Read more

People who prefer structured, rule-based explanations may find conspiracy theories appealing because they offer a clear, ordered explanation for events that feel chaotic. New research led by Flinders University has found that understanding how someone processes information can be a strong predictor of whether they are drawn to conspiracy beliefs... Read more

"Play nicely, children," has been a familiar plea of stressed-out parents and teachers since time immemorial. Now, new research suggests that getting children to play together cooperatively may depend less on their social skills than the type of play involved—and who they are playing with.... Read more

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts have been around for a while, but their impact can sometimes be underwhelming. A pair of papers co-authored by ILR Assistant Professor Merrick R. Osborne examines why some DEI initiatives succeed while others fall short. The papers also suggest how to design more effective... Read more