Social and Behavioural
Explore Social and Behavioural
Professor Will Greaves | How Donald Trump Reshaped Canada-US Relations
For decades, Canada and the United States have maintained one of the world’s closest security partnerships. While disagreements have surfaced occasionally, such as disputes over trade, climate policy, and military interventions, these tensions never truly threatened the deep-rooted trust between these allies. However, new research by Professor Will Greaves from the University of Victoria suggests that Donald Trump’s presidency fundamentally altered this relationship, putting its stability at risk.
Professor Semra Sevi | How Big Data is Uncovering the Secrets of Canadian Elections
A key challenge in studying democracy is understanding who runs for office and what factors influence their success, particularly when it comes to descriptive representation – the extent to which a legislature reflects the demographic makeup of the population. Until recently, however, researchers had limited data on Canadian political candidates. Professor Semra Sevi of the University of Toronto has created the largest dataset of its kind, documenting every candidate who ran in Canadian federal and Ontario provincial elections since 1867. This comprehensive dataset has already enabled several groundbreaking studies on Canadian democracy.
Dr Hana Jee | Do people who speak different languages share preferences for letter shapes?
Writing systems are one of humanity’s most important inventions, allowing us to communicate across time and space. For centuries, researchers thought the relationship between written symbols and their sounds was completely arbitrary – that there was no real connection between how a letter looks and how it sounds. However, recent research has challenged this, suggesting that writing systems often contain hidden patterns linking symbols to sounds. A new study by Dr Hana Jee of York St John University investigates whether people from different language backgrounds share similar preferences for how symbols should connect to sounds.
Professor Özlem Atikcan | How the Migration Debate in Europe Changed During the ‘Crisis’ Years
The way we talk about complex issues shapes how we understand and respond to them. In social science, different ways of presenting an issue are called ‘frames’, which are like lenses that highlight certain aspects of a topic while downplaying others. For instance, ‘framing’ migration as a security issue creates a very different picture compared to discussing it as a human rights matter. Professor Özlem Atikcan and her colleagues at the University of Warwick, Sofie Roehrig and Tim Henrichsen, have studied how conversations about migration evolved between 2000 and 2020.
Dr. Luis Teodoro da Luz | Bridging the Communication Gap in Trauma Care, one Handover at a Time
During high-pressure patient handovers between emergency services and trauma teams, communication errors can lead to critical information falling through the cracks, potentially endangering patients. To enable streamlined information sharing in high-stakes medical settings, Australian researchers devised the IMIST-AMBO tool, which is short for Identification, Mechanism of injury, Injuries, Signs/Symptoms, Treatment and Response, Allergies, Medications, Background, and Other. If its value in improving communication during handovers can be confirmed, then this approach could pave the way for enhanced patient care.
Dr. James Morris | A Strong Sense of Social Support Boosts Academic Confidence in Male College Students
The gap between ability and achievement in male college students has become a pressing concern, particularly among those from underserved groups. Many male students exhibit potential that is not fully realized, and a lack of social support has emerged as one possible factor contributing to this disconnect. Research by Dr. James Morris provides important new insights into this relationship. He explores the idea of academic ‘self-concept’, which describes a belief in one’s own academic abilities, and how this can be enhanced to improve educational outcomes.
Improving the Understanding of Mutual Sexual Consent to Address Sexual Violence Among Rural South African Teens
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa is a place of beauty, culture, and tradition. However, intimate partner sexual violence against adolescent girls and women is an ongoing concern. A recent study from Gloria Mfeka-Nkabinde and colleagues at the University of KwaZulu-Natal examined the negotiation of sexual consent in heterosexual relationships among teenagers in rural KwaZulu-Natal.
Balancing Ethics and Innovation in Biobanking
Biobanking, which describes the collection, storage and sharing of human biological samples and data, has become essential to medical research. Biobanks are central to various types of scientific work, including cancer research, vaccine development and genetic studies. As the field of biobanking grows, so do various ethical, legal and political challenges. Anna Holzscheiter and Maria Weickardt Soares at TU Dresden have extensively analysed these complexities, focusing on how international organisations address contentious issues surrounding biobanking.
Dr. Brianne Donaldson | Balancing Belief and Medicine: How Jain Values Shape Healthcare Decisions
The intersection of religion and professional practice is increasingly important, especially in the field of medicine, where ethical decisions are a daily reality. Different belief systems offer unique perspectives for approaching moral challenges. One perspective comes from Jainism, an ancient Indian religion and philosophy that emphasizes nonviolence, multiple perspectives, truth, and non-attachment. In recent research, Dr. Brianne Donaldson at the University of California, Irvine provides insights into how Jain medical professionals integrate their beliefs with modern medical practice.
Professor Tobias Heidland – Professor Philipp C. Wichardt | Building Community Acceptance of Refugees Through Mutual Understanding
The successful integration of refugees continues to be a major challenge for many countries. While there’s often a strong desire to help people who are fleeing dangerous situations, concerns about cultural changes and social impacts can create tension in host communities. Recent research by Professor Tobias Heidland of Kiel Institute for the World Economy and Professor Philipp C. Wichardt of the University of Rostock offers fascinating insights into how these competing feelings affect attitudes toward refugees. Their findings reveal that when refugees show an understanding of local concerns, it can significantly improve how they are perceived by host communities.
Confused By Social Prescribing? The Splossary Can Help!
Social prescribing is a way of connecting people to local community services, to help them better manage their health and wellbeing. A social prescribing practitioner – someone who performs social prescribing – can help people to access community groups and services, such as welfare support, exercise clubs, gardening events, creative activities, and befriending groups. However, a lot of confusing language is used in social prescribing, with many different terms used to describe the same thing. This can create barriers to communication and engagement.
Dr Kerem Öge – Manuel Quintin | The Changing Discourse on Facial Recognition Technology
Facial recognition technology has become increasingly common in our daily lives. However, its use raises questions about privacy, security, and human rights. Dr Kerem Öge at the University of Warwick and Manuel Quintin at Université Laval examine how public discussions about facial recognition technology have changed over time in Europe and the United States. They explore how the shifts in narrative have shaped policy.
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