Behavioural Sciences
Explaining how the mind works: A new theory
How and why do humans think and act in the ways that we do? To answer this question, Dr Paul Badcock and his colleagues have recently proposed a theory of the human brain that combines evidence from evolutionary and developmental psychology, neuroscience, and biology. This theory posits that the human brain is a complex adaptive system, composed of relatively specialised […]
The effects of workplace norms on women’s work behaviour in Japan
Professor Eriko Teramura from the Meikai University Faculty of Economics is a Japanese social scientist who specialises in human resource management and gender theory. Her current research centres around the workplace culture of Japan and the practices specific to Japanese companies that may be affecting the employment of women and their decisions to start a family. Using empirical analysis, Professor […]
Unveiling Muslim Voices: Fostering a culture of understanding
Many Muslim families in the U.S. face isolation, segregation, and increasing pressures at home due to a lack of understanding in the care sector about provision of culturally appropriate supports/services for ageing Muslim parents with disabilities, chronic health and mental health conditions. Dr Rooshey Hasnain of the University of Illinois at Chicago examines the challenges faced by these families and what can be […]
Supporting consumers in the sharing economy
The sharing economy is transforming the traditional consumer journey, with firms like Airbnb, BlaBlaCar and Etsy empowering consumers to become producers themselves. In his research at Erasmus University Rotterdam, Professor Benedict Dellaert draws on household production theory to suggest new marketing strategies that can support consumers as co-producers in co-production networks. Aman walks into a shop and buys a loaf […]
Facilitating regional inter-organisational collaborations for promoting competitive industries
Dr Yuki Kawabata, a professor at the School of Management at Chukyo University in Nagoya, Japan, is conducting research on inter-organisational collaboration. By exploring the process behind cross-sectoral collaborations to promote regional industries, Dr Kawabata aims to suggest ways to better facilitate it. The study builds on the theoretical basis of previous research conducted by Dr Kawabata in Japan. It […]
In the wake of catastrophe Japanese media after the Fukushima nuclear disaster
The Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 saw a clamour among the Japanese media calling for the phase-out of nuclear power plants. In his research, Professor Katsuyuki Hidaka at Ritsumeikan University looks at the discussions around denuclearisation since the catastrophe, and how they reveal tensions within Japan’s social narrative. On 11 March 2011, an earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale […]
Building high-performance teams through team psychological safety
Research confirms that when people feel safe within a team they will perform better; they willingly take risks, actively contribute and work hard knowing that they can depend on the others in the team to support them and put in as much effort. In a business context this is called ‘team psychological safety’ (TPS) and it is the key to […]
Measuring shared knowledge with group false memory
Research has shown that when we make decisions, we are influenced by biases relating to the way we structure knowledge in our brains. If these biases are shared by others, they can be exaggerated. This often results in false memories, which is the recall or recognition of phenomena that did not occur. Yoshiko Arima and colleagues at Kyoto University of Advanced Science investigated […]
Homelessness in Western Society: The Dark Side of The Moon
Homelessness is becoming a relevant phenomenon in western nations despite improvements across economic and healthcare indices over the last decades. Dr Fabrizia Faustinella, Associate Professor at Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, has crafted a compelling documentary on homelessness exploring both its causes and consequences and giving a voice to those living on the streets. The documentary, entitled […]
The role of social capital in the health development of children
Social capital refers to networks and ties, which deliver support, information and trust for the members. Being part of such a network is your social capital, which in turn can improve health and wellbeing. Andreas Klocke and Sven Stadtmüller from Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences investigated the impact of social capital on the health of children in their developmental process. Researchers aimed […]